Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Brittany Hoffman | Health & Life Insurance Broker

I wanted to show people that regardless of your age and what others tell you, you can do whatever you want. Being a young woman can be hard to get started in a mainly male-dominated scene. However, that has only pushed me to work harder for not only myself but other young women looking to get into the insurance business. Read more>>

George Mills | NAUI Scuba Instructor and Firefighter/Paramedic.

As a former Marine combat veteran serving exclusively in specialized units, I served 3 combat tours in Iraq and 2 combat tours in Afghanistan. The deployment cycle took its toll and when I returned home, I turned everywhere for help. The answer isn’t in VA pills and talk therapy – I needed a new mission. I needed a goal. I needed healing. Not only did I find healing in my faith but I also found it underwater. I’ve always been a diver, but I wanted more. Read more>>

Jessica Kalia, DO, FAAP, IBCLC | Neonatologist, pediatrician, lactation consultant

I started Preemie Pediatrics and Newborn Care in May 2022 after 20 years of working in the neonatal intensive care unit. I saw a need for continue care once babies left the NICU that expanded beyond what their pediatricians could offer. Most parents with NICU graduates experience emotional trauma in the NICU. The days and months are full of ups and downs as they hear good news and bad news about their loved one. When parents leave the NICU, many of them are still worried and anxious about their babies. Read more>>

Kim Falconer | Founder & Captain • Ocean Force Adventures Miami Boat Tours

My journey into entrepreneurship and founding Ocean Force Adventures Miami Beach was driven by a combination of passion, opportunity, and a desire to offer a unique experience to travelers in Miami. Having worked as a senior executive in Public Relations for a large publicly held firm, I reached a point where I wanted to pursue something that would not only be professionally fulfilling but also a genuine source of joy in my daily life. Read more>>

Dr. Rho Wellness | Yoga + Meditation Instructor | Scientist + Artist + Educator

Born in Philadelphia, PA with immigrated parents from Haiti, Dr. Rho learned the values of resilience, education, and community from an early age. As a child, she witnessed first-hand impacts of chronic disease on her family and community group as well as the need for better access to healthcare, the healing power of artistic expression, and the importance of health education. From these experiences, Dr. Rho was motivated to found her health and wellness firm, Dr. Rho Wellness, to provide speaking, consulting, and training services in diverse settings including K-12 schools, colleges and universities, non-profits, and private workplaces in the U.S. and abroad. Read more>>

Maria Perryman | Entrepreneur, Author, Life & Health Insurance Broker

I was an educator for 31 years. It was around the 25th year of teaching that I starting thinking about having my own business. It came from when I starting teaching financial literacy after school and it turned into an entrepreneurship club for 6th grade girls. I was enjoying teaching them an arena that I was not even part of. But I saw the richness of it while teaching them. I found myself wanting the freedom that was part of having your own business. I remember looking down the hall from my classroom door and seeing the hall looking like a prison. All the classroom doors were closed and there was no one in the hall. Read more>>

Ebony Ingram | Wife, Entrepreneur, Author, & Vegan Baker

After going vegan, I immediately begin to recognize the difference in my body, skin, energy and overall clarity of mind. Because this was nine years ago, the only dessert options available, were not to be desired. So I began creating recipes from scratch and testing them on my family and friends. I never introduced them as “vegan desserts” everyone loved them and no one knew the difference. Over the years, I was encouraged to begin selling my baked goods, and when covid hit, it just made sense. Read more>>

Briana Guevara | Founder

The thought process behind starting FL BABE was genuinely rooted in my passion for the ocean. I’m a proud Florida native (born and raised) that practically grew up on beach, and I wanted to find a way to combine that love with making a positive impact. The initial spark came from a realization that there was a way I could contribute to the preservation of our local beaches. Read more>>

Res Power House | Influencer & Production

I wanted to do something that focus on the people behind the scenes. A lot of times events or projects have a team of people who never get recognition and that’s why I wanted to do a show/event that would bring light to that. Giving people a opportunity to meet the people that make it happen. Focusing on the under dogs of the business. This is why I started the Thriving In Chaos Show. Read more>>