We had the good fortune of connecting with LJ Ugarte and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi LJ, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My thought process was establishing Firecreek Entertainment, my multimedia production company, which requires creativity, ambition, strength, perseverance, innovative ideas, and a commitment to excellence, as well as the ability to tap into my inner creativity and nurture it to fruition, much like cultivating a plant from seed to maturity. Incorporating my business with the state, registering an LLC, obtaining necessary licenses, and securing trademarks demands time, effort, financial resources, and unwavering ambition.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
it began at the age of ten I was an ambitious young kid with aspirations of becoming an actor, Singer, and Songwriter. to escape from being Bullied by my sister and classmates I initiated my career as a dancer during my teenage years, attending prominent institutions like Ballet Hispanico dance company in New York City in 1996. From there, I persisted in pursuing acting work, despite encountering numerous rejections and individuals telling me I wasn’t good enough. Following high school, I decided to pursue acting as a profession, and I simply couldn’t accept rejection. I studied the craft, respected it, nurtured it, and continued to persevere. Similarly, when I established Firecreek Entertainment, my motivation stemmed from frustration with rejection. I aimed to create a platform for producing my own endeavors. Eighteen years later, I am proud to lead an award-winning production company, which includes my recent 2025 Telly Award win for my producing contributions to the Reynaldo Rey Documentary, an achievement that brings me immense pride.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first destination I would recommend is Peanut Island, one of my favorite locations in West Palm Beach, Florida. It’s an island situated in the middle of the intercoastal waterways. The island offers numerous attractions, including the John F. Kennedy bomb shelter, now a museum. Additionally, there are various kayaking spots and floating tiki bars.

Secondly, I would suggest visiting Rosemary Square, home to my personal favorite restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory. We would explore the area, ride the trolley, and take in the sights while enjoying the fresh air of West Palm Beach.

Lastly, I would take them to the Keylime House in Lantana, Florida, renowned for serving the best Keylime pie in the city.

And for the remainder of the week, I plan to take them to Jupiter, Florida, which offers exceptional kayaking opportunities in the county. We would also visit the picturesque lighthouse, take in the scenery, and enjoy fishing, boating, and exploration.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The driving force behind my corporation and Firecreek Entertainment would have to be my mother, who instilled confidence in me from a young age, and my partner Michael Wiseman, who works diligently behind the scenes.

Website: https://firecreekentertain3.wixsite.com/firecreek

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lj.ugarte/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/firecreekentertainment/

Twitter: https://x.com/FireENT

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/lj-ugarte

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lj.ugarte.music/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/firecreek-entertainment-west-palm-beach-2?osq=Firecreek+Entertainment

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirecreekEntertainment

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2436905/.

Image Credits
all photos are courtesy of Firecreek Entertainment LLC

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