Through our work we have had the good fortune of seeing firsthand how success comes in every shape, size, color, faith, and orientation. More importantly we’ve learned that success is often the result of people embracing their unique backgrounds and so we’ve asked the community to tell us about their background and how it has impacted where they are today.

Dorothee Kumpe | Jewelry Creator

I was born in Lauterbach, Germany and raised in the countrysides of Hessen. Growing up in a village in the countryside is beautiful and very different from what most people know and understand to be every day life. I enjoyed daily hiking and exploring. Seeing wildlife in ancient forests and discovering plants and bugs. I loved this part of my childhood. In stark contrast, I later came to South Florida with my family. Here I embraced the sunshine and all the marvels that the ocean had to offer: seashells and crab life; floating seeds, and fish. These things were so fascinating and inspiring to me. Read more>>

Elise Gross | Artist/Author/Dancer

I am originally from California, but since I was a baby I’ve been traveling. Right now, I have no “home” but I have found my home within myself. It’s definitely been a challenge at some points, but in the end, I feel like in the process of letting go, I’ve gained so much. I was raised Christian by a pastor as my dad, but when I was 15, I moved to a spiritual healing retreat center my family and some friends started. From there I started meditating and shifted my consciousness into a more spiritual perspective and openness about life. Read more>>

Kevin Chupik | Pop Goes the West

Known as the city where the West begins, Ft. Worth,Tx. remains a city of contrasts A Place rich in the arts, while fully steeped in the ways of the Cowboy. While growing up there,these rich paradoxical sensibilities seemed to suggest a complementary relationship between the rural and urbane. My artwork strives to reconcile these two worlds by incorporating traditional western iconography with contemporary conceptual treatments. Read more>>

Chapel Hart | CMT’s Next Women Of Country

We are all from a small town in Mississippi called Poplarville but all of our family lives in a community called Hart’s Chapel. Growing up there taught us so much about life and what it’s like to be able to survive in the country with what you have. Those lessons are the things that have cultivated us into the women we are today. Read more>>

Sara Kirkendall | Professional Portrait Photographer

I am from the East Coast. I am a proud Air Force brat and I spent my childhood moving up and down the coast. Most military children will tell you that it forced them to be extroverted and easily making friends wherever you landed. That is not me. I am introverted by nature. I have to force myself to do the hard work of getting to know new people. However the mobile lifestyle of my youth caused me to settle down the moment I found home. Colorado is my happy place from the beautiful mountains to the amazing people … I couldn’t feel more at home and peace. Read more>>

Sarah Kupec | Owner, Mom, and Chaos Coordinator

I was born and raised in Northern Colorado. My whole family from my Dad, Grandpa, and my Uncles are hard working business owners. So, I was trained and groomed to run my own business from an early age. I always knew I would own my own business I I just never seemed to find the right one that I wanted to take a leap of faith on. Then, Covid hit. My husband and I were both in the oil field and we both lost our jobs. We have a 2 year old son and I had to find a way to make ends meet. With food shortages going on I looked into a way to preserve food long term and help provide for our family. I never even thought it would lead me to my dream job. Read more>>