Oregon’s Most Inspiring Stories

Jocelyn Stuart

My background has always lived at the intersection of creativity, organization, and people. My career began as a hairdresser, where I developed an eye for personal style and the confidence that comes from feeling put together. After an interior designer saw my home and encouraged me to pursue professional organizing, I followed that path and balanced both careers for several years. Read more>>

Shiv Shakti

I grew up in Punjab, India in a family that lived closely with the land. From an early age, I was surrounded by farming, food growing, and an understanding that nature is not something separate from us, but something we live within. That early relationship with the earth stayed with me, even as life took me in many different directions. Read more>>

Chris Geirman

The original idea for FrogQuest was sparked in San Diego. I had joined a local social community that put on all kinds of events, and one day they hosted a photo scavenger hunt. I grabbed my teenaged daughter, signed us up, and off we went — racing through the city, staging ridiculous scenarios, and snapping photos to prove it. We laughed so much that day. Read more>>

Tricia Schmorde

So I am not a business; I am an extreme hobbyist of raising Exotic Maine Coon cats and Shiba Inus, very small scale. Focusing on temperaments and the in-home raising. This is becoming even more rare for breeders. I focus my program on making therapy animals for those in need. PTSD, Mental health also has a few seizure detection dogs out there and helper dogs. Read more>>

Angela Anderson

Our Story In the Summer of 2018, a group of experienced business owners got together to share business ideas, thoughts, and concerns with the common goal of promoting our combined businesses. Some would call this collaboration, teamwork, inspiration, or a think tank. We started calling it “The Syndicate”. Read more>>

Sydney-Anne graves

I established Monarch Books during my senior year of high school, two years ago. At the time, I was working at a local tea shop and searching for a new job when I learned that our town’s bookstore was permanently closing. Read more>>

Lisa Duerre

Thanks for the chance to share my story. I’m based in the Portland area, and I lead RLD Group with offices in Portland and San Francisco. I co-founded the firm with my husband and business partner, Randy Duerre. I’ve always been drawn to the human layer underneath execution: what’s not being said, where tension is building, where teams are working hard but not moving together. Read more>>

Cheyanne Larsen-Glenn

I’m Cheyanne Larsen-Glenn, the founder of Lars Creative Co., and I’ve had a camera in my life for as long as I can remember. My dad, Jack Larsen, was always behind one, and growing up, he taught me the basics of composition and lighting—but more than that, he showed me how powerful it is to freeze a moment in time before it slips away. Read more>>

David Buzan

From a young age, writing was something that completely fascinated me. I sold my first short story while in high school, and began getting other stories and magazine articles published soon after that. I began screenwriting after graduating from film school, and was fortunate enough to have several of those scripts optioned. In 2023, my debut novel was published by Black Rose Writing. Read more>>

Joey Babylon

I began dancing to music videos on my neighbors tv from a young age. Then learning piano, guitar, and voice around the age of 10. I started writing my own music shortly after. I would take the bus to school as a young teen and picture myself on America Got Talent singing with my guitar. Read more>>

Mio Asaka

I originally studied piano, but became interested in design and cooking. Reading about Chez Panisse inspired me to pursue a career in food, and I trained in London and Tokyo. I moved to the U.S. in 2004, gained experience in Florida, and relocated to Portland in 2011. In 2014, I launched Mio’s Delectables, and seeing my customers smile is the greatest reward. Read more>>

Samantha Swaim

My journey into fundraising started in an unexpected place—theatre and television production. I learned early on that magic happens when you can feel the energy shift in a room, when an audience moves from passive observers to active participants in something bigger than themselves. That understanding became the foundation for everything I do. Read more>>

Pallavi Pande

Growing up in India, I ate meals on banana leaves—an everyday tradition that was simple, beautiful, and naturally eco-friendly. Years later, living in the U.S. and hosting parties of my own, I found myself staring at trash bags full of plastic plates and feeling uneasy. Read more>>

DEF Davyne And King Delane

DEF davyne- Inspired by the golden era of Hip Hop as a kid, I always knew I wanted to be a rapper. My quick wit and language arts skills helped me excel from freestyling for fun, to writing full songs with structure. In the late 90s I started recording in professional studios and performing at local shows. Read more>>

Chevone Card

My journey didn’t start with a business plan — it started with survival. After becoming a mom, I experienced postpartum depression and postpartum rage. I felt disconnected from myself, overwhelmed, and unsure of who I was outside of motherhood. Read more>>

Annie Wardle

My path into HVAC controls and building automation was not something I originally planned. It actually started at home. My husband has been in the controls industry for nearly 20 years. He began as a field technician, worked his way into project management, and earned his Project Management Professional certification along the way. Read more>>

Conor Grebel

I started out convinced I was not capable, or skilled enough to become a professional artist…so I did a lot to avoid it. I travelled a bit after high school, ended up learning some Japanese, which I decided might as well be my major once I went to college. Read more>>

Courtney Finley

I really got started in Chicago, where I’m originally from. Read more>>

Erik Sandgren

As a second generation artist, I’ve long been associated with the culture of visual arts in the Pacific Northwest. I make woodcut prints, easel paintings and large scale public projects. Read more>>

Rukshana Hafez-Triem

What began as a simple idea to raise funds for classrooms in rural African villages has grown into a movement that bridges cultures, creativity, and community. African Fashion Show PDX was born out of my work with Firmina Foundation, a nonprofit I founded to expand access to quality education in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia. Read more>>

Shay Casler

I’ve spent more than 20 years working with taxes and small business owners, but my path here hasn’t been linear. I started my career in tax preparation early on, drawn to the mix of problem-solving, strategy, and helping people make sense of something that often feels overwhelming. Read more>>

Rue Vashakidze

Seagrape Apothecary was born on the living room floor of my one bedroom apartment in college in 2009. While I was studying painting and earning my BFA, I also got a part-time job at a progressive adult shop. My paintings revolved around self discovery, expansion, and the beauty of intimate relationships. Read more>>

C.M. O’Brien

I spent much of my childhood and young adulthood reading, scribbling in notebooks, and getting caught up in daydreams. In fifth grade, I wrote my first book (and then completely erased it because it wasn’t “perfect enough.” My mother still hasn’t forgiven me for that). Read more>>

Christina Joann

My journey began with a deep desire to use my voice for something bigger than myself. What started as a personal goal to grow in confidence and leadership quickly became a calling to serve others and create opportunities for women and girls to feel seen, supported, and empowered. After experiencing the loss of my sister to cystic fibrosis, my purpose became clearer. Read more>>

Brian Bennett

I got into photography as a child it all started when my grandpa gave me a 35mm film camera and said go take photos of sunset, animals or whatever I wanted to photograph. Read more>>

Brandon Brooks

I found the love for cooking at a young age. As a young teenager I began studying my mother in the kitchen. Several comfort foods I remember watching her put together. Lasagna, Tuna Casserole, Meatloaf, Salmon Croquettes and the whole nine yards. So all that became a motivation to me to follow in those footsteps. Read more>>

Farhaan Hussain

I’ve always been drawn to the creative side, particularly photography and filmmaking, even before I fully understood how I might pursue it professionally. In college, one of my professors had built a sizeable Instagram following simply by capturing striking photos on his phone, and seeing that impact reminded me that creativity wasn’t limited by gear, it was about perspective and storytelling. Read more>>

Elizabeth Gudenrath

My life as an artist and entrepreneur is uniquely my own! I followed my heart into the arts, not an easy thing to do as a young woman. I was lucky enough to grow up in a supportive mid-west family, but at seventeen, after my father died, our perfect family life was shattered. Read more>>

RJ Ingram

I was stuck inside of a snow globe for ten years with nothing but a pack of tarot cards & a typewriter to keep me company Read more>>

Cedar Lee

I’ve always been an artist. My Nana and Papa were world travelers and art collectors. Their house was filled with original artwork and beautiful things from exotic places. They gave me books about art. Read more>>