Portraits of Nashville

It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Nashville.

Seth Connell

I started my practice at the end of 2022, shortly after my wife and I relocated to Murfreesboro from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. I had just graduated law school and was admitted to practice law in November that year. Read more>>

Kim Rank

I moved to Nashville nearly 20 years ago from Wisconsin! I started my Nashville journey in staffing where I was able to employ thousands of people for hundreds of clients. My first role was an Administrative Assistant and I worked my way up to Branch Manager. All of those roles prepared me to successfully run a business. Read more>>

Tamee Knapp

I wanted to start my own business and stop working for other companies. When I started Good Lather Soaps, I started out selling bar soaps, foaming hand soaps, and a few candles that I would purchase and resell. I would set up at events and festivals on the weekends while working my full-time job during the week. Read more>>

Sherry Ahern

I have always been creative and drawn to antiques and vintage pieces. and the stories they still have to tell. While I was raising my children, I helped family and friends design spaces in their homes as well as building and designing my own home. Antiques were a huge part of my inspiration. Read more>>

Andrea Clemens

Our therapy collective stands on the shoulders of Emily Pardy, who founded Ready Nest Counseling about a decade ago. Our continued mission is to help individuals, couples, and families navigate questions around building their families. Our work often starts as people consider becoming parents; it can include diagnosis, loss, fertility struggles, parenthood, and beyond. Read more>>

Nicole Catania

I grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, where I also went to school to study Fashion Design and Production, as well as, Business Marketing. My years there taught me everything from construction and sewing to design theory and styling — but more than that, they taught me how to take a creative vision and bring it to life. After graduation, life took me somewhere completely new. Read more>>

Ariel Bunch

The idea for Tini Baby really started back in 2021, long before I ever planned to turn it into a business. My best friend and neighbor, Heather, and I both love dirty martinis — and we take them very seriously. We’ve spent way too much time debating the perfect olive-brine ratio and how cold the glass should be. Read more>>

Andrea Davis

We (Andrea & Eric) saw a significant need in our city for a place that could become a family tradition and cater to as many people’s dietary needs as possible. With our previous experiences, we decided we should be the people to conquer that, so when the space next to our office opened up, we took the opportunity and dove in headfirst. Read more>>

Ryan Finley

I grew up in Lumberton, New Jersey, in a family of entrepreneurs and loving parents who built something really special. My mom and dad both came from humble beginnings in Levittown, Pennsylvania — high school sweethearts who started with nothing. My dad went to West Point, served in the Army, and later realized corporate life wasn’t for him. Read more>>

Lila McCann

I’ve lived a few creative lives, and somehow they’ve all led me right here. I started out in the music industry, signing my first record deal as a teenager. My debut album, Lila, went on to sell over a million copies, and my second record, Something in the Air, was certified Gold. Read more>>

Lauren Smith

I opened Speak Up Therapies, LLC in May of 2024. My company lives by the mission of Proverbs 31:8. I aim to give a voice to those who have difficulties with communication. I provide pediatric speech, language and feeding services in the comfort of my patient’s own homes and schools. Read more>>

Brynna Hower & Emma Frances

Honeywell unknowingly began when we first met in college. Emma had a scene recreation assignment for a film class and needed an actress to play Jenna Ortega’s character in Scream 6. We were really surprised when we uploaded the project to YouTube and got over 65,000 views! Read more>>

Lisa Kelchner

Like many people, I had a love–hate relationship with the small town I grew up in. My path has been anything but linear, yet I now know I am exactly where I’m meant to be. I was raised in a loving family that looked picture-perfect from the outside. Read more>>

Telani Lasoleille

In 2001, I adopted a puppy from a backyard breeder. I didn’t know anything about dogs at the time. Fortunately, a classmate of mine recommended a trainer for me to go to. The trainer ended up changing my life forever. She instilled in me a lifelong love for dog training. Read more>>

Heather Campbell

I’ve always had a deep love for books and writing. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of owning a bookstore one day. Florence Gail Bookshop began as a small mobile bookstore in 2021, where I traveled to local festivals and markets simply hoping to connect with other creatives and fellow book lovers. Read more>>

Chris Gaines

It started in 2005, My mother passed away and she told me, the one thing she wanted was for me to finish college. I was just trying to figure out what i wanted to do. I saw a commercial for Culinary School and applied. I had already been in the culinary world for years but wanted to take it to the next level. Read more>>

Anna Wolak

The first time I started doing hair, I was 14 years old. My mom is a wonderful hairstylist, and I always looked up to her. I worked at a fabulous salon in California, and when I moved to Tennessee, I wanted to find something similar. Read more>>

Lexi Stark

Hey y’all! My name is Lexi (Peto) Stark. Originally I’m from a small town called Warrenton, VA. I grew up in a musical household from day one. My dad taught me to play guitar as early as age six, and my mom was always writing poetry while listening to vast array of musical stylings across every genre imaginable. Read more>>

Reagan Burgenheim

I had been on ssdi for many years, and after I got sober in 2013, I realized I was getting better and would need to start working. Since I was in recovery from substance abuse and mental health issues, I knew I needed to work in substance abuse treatment. Read more>>

Missy Loftis

I went through an overwhelmingly difficult period of grief and loss in my personal life which led me to reaching out and establishing care with a therapist. Through this process I found healing and restoration as well as a career helping others at some of their most painful moments. Read more>>

Sam Wood

Back in the spring of 2024 I was working for a prominent wedding catering company in the Nashville area. I knew I wanted to be more than just a cog in someone else’s machine and while attending an event with a friend I saw a seemingly endless line in front of a food truck and thought it’d be worth looking into. Read more>>

LaZundra Mangrum

I’ve always loved creating, and my passion for it began in high school when I took a sewing class. My grandma, however, had her heart set on me becoming a nurse, so pursuing fashion design as a career wasn’t exactly encouraged—and I didn’t dare mention it. Read more>>

Wyatt Maxwell

My journey started at Centre College, where I took a glass blowing class from the late Stephen Powell that completely captivated me. That experience sparked a deep interest in the intersection of creativity and craftsmanship. I later transferred to Belmont University to finish my degree in business, with the goal of marrying art and entrepreneurship. Read more>>

Cathey Stoner

I’ve been a dietitian for 15 years, and like many in this field, I started out with a deep desire to help people feel better in their bodies and more at peace with food. For years, both Jessica Vancleave and I ran our own private practices, helping clients one-on-one—but over time, we both realized something was missing. Read more>>

sereena barga

I originally moved to Nashville to be a performing singer. I was making R&B music for about two or three years but couldn’t really get motivated or optimistic about my future. I was producing lots of tracks for myself and others but wasn’t happy. I knew I had always loved EDM music but was always intimidated by how much production work it took. Read more>>

camille hodges

It all began with a few hats for some my fellow soccer moms, just something fun, creative, and personal. Then a dear friend who runs a wonderful school in Ethopia asked if I could make some for her, and that little spark grew into something much bigger than I ever imagine. Read more>>

Jared Dalton

My journey into marketing actually started long before I ever planned to make a career out of it. After spending a few years in Australia pursuing music, I came back to the States and began sharing performances and collaborations online. A friend noticed how consistent and engaging my social media presence was and asked me to manage theirs. Read more>>

Emily Blackmon

Nine years ago, Emily took a bold leap of faith and opened Roots Salon in Cookeville, TN. Coming to a town where she didn’t know a single person, armed only with determination and some old salon furniture from her previous boss, she set out to create more than just a salon—she built a community. Read more>>

Salvatore (Torey) Martino

I have been a Hairstylist for 29 years and have never thought of a different career. In the late 80s , early 90s I was playing in a big hair rock and roll band in the Orange County, Hollywood music scene. I was never able to get the perfect cut or color on my hair . I decided to take it into my own hands. Read more>>

Emma Nelson

Growing up, I experienced firsthand how damaging diet culture can be — the constant cycle of restriction, frustration, and guilt that left me feeling disconnected from my body and my health. Those early experiences shaped not only my personal relationship with food but also my purpose. Read more>>

Lucas Bryant

I was originally inspired to go into medicine during a college leadership trip to Nepal in 2003. During the trip, one of the objectives was to find a way to serve and be helpful within the local communities. I felt like I was un-trained to be helpful in many ways, and decided I wanted to acquire the skills I needed to become uniquely helpful. Read more>>

Jamesia Johnson

When I first went to esthetic school, my dream was to become a makeup artist. Waxing honestly wasn’t something I was excited about at all. But life has a funny way of showing you where you’re meant to be. Once I got into the field and started hands-on training, I realized there was something special about the instant results and confidence waxing gives people. Read more>>

Jason Yates

Music has been the central passion of my life! Over the years, I’ve recorded and toured with numerous bands, performing for audiences from dive bars to amphitheaters all over the United States. These days, I’m focused on family life and managing Wicked Good Sandwiches, a restaurant and music venue in Clarksville, TN. Read more>>

Scott Knight

I’ve been playing guitar since I was four and a half years old—it just clicked for me in a way nothing else did. That early connection turned into everything: garage bands, small-town gigs, eventually performing at the Grand Ole Opry and even playing shows in Japan. But here’s the thing—as much as I loved performing, teaching is where I found my real calling. Read more>>

Dylan Dessert

I have always had an interest in fitness. What drew me in was the sense of empowerment that came with it. The knowledge that I was in full control of the outcome. Although achieving success may be more challenging than I was prepared for, knowing that the decision to succeed was mine and mine alone to make was incredibly powerful. Read more>>

Michael Brooks

Introduced to Primerica by my older Brother who joined and had a vision of us creating a family business, one that would serve people through education and then access to resources most wealthy people used. We would also build a business that can be hand down to our children and grandchildren. Read more>>

Ives Salbert

Before I started my filmmaking journey, I was a portrait painter. When I found the video world, I loved how collaborative it was so I started building a career in it. I think having a background in fine art has given me a unique perspective on my filmmaking work that I enjoy. Read more>>

Anthony Crockett

Over ten years ago, I came to Clarksville to help my grandfather, Pastor Walter Crockett, with small tasks at The Greater Faith Temple Church while he recovered from a serious medical condition. What began as a temporary assignment became a calling. I quickly developed a deep love for the ministry and recognized significant needs within the community. Read more>>

Pauline Renon

Born and raised near Lyon, France, I began riding horses at just three years old and entered my first competitions by age seven. Coming from a family deeply involved in sport-horse breeding for show jumping, I grew up surrounded by top-level horses and developed a lifelong passion for equestrian sport and training excellence. Read more>>

Samantha Rae

I grew up in a small southern New Hampshire town with just one blinking light, where music and horses were the heart of my world. I started singing in choir at an early age and began riding horses when I was five. These are two passions that have stayed with me ever since. Following my dream has always been a constant thread in my life. Read more>>

Danijela Covic

In 2019 both my husband and I started two different companies. Derek’s company was in construction and landscaping of commercial properties. I co-founded a business using artificial intelligence to predict athlete performances in college and national leagues. In 2024 both of our businesses were sold and required our family to move from Canada to Tennessee to finish the business transition. Read more>>

Aparna Jagadisan

I started learning dance and training very young at the tender age of 4. It was originally my mother’s interest that I should learn bharathanatyam, but with time what began as an extra curricular interest, grew into deep passion and love for the art. Trained under eminent Guru, the noted bharathanatyam exponent, composer and choreographer Kalaimamani. Read more>>

Eulaine Johnson-Adams

I started Love Basket Express in February of 2015 with one mission in mind and that was to “Spread Love, One Gift At A Time”. I have always been a very creative person and have always loved to give. So in 2015 I decided to launch my gifting business, putting God first, and trusting that my gift would make room for me. Read more>>

Sota Koy

I made a career change in 2014 and began esthetics school in Seattle, Washington at the Gary Manuel Aveda Institute. In 2019 I completed my CIDESCO certification in Saint Paul, Minnesota which is the highest and grueling global degree an esthetician can receive. This diploma allowed me to receive training in massage, nail care, body treatments, and advanced facial treatments. Read more>>

Ivann Garc

I grew up in Mexico City under challenging circumstances, but creativity became my escape and my way forward. I studied graphic arts and advertising and worked in design and marketing for several years, but I always felt drawn to something more expressive. Read more>>

Louissita Virgile

Photography began as a simple hobby for me — something I did just for fun. But over time, I realized how much joy it brought me to capture genuine smiles and special moments. Seeing others happy through my lens always made my heart full. The inspiration for Girls of Honor Leadership Mentoring Program came from a deep desire to make a real impact. Read more>>

Monica Sadler

Honestly, my story began from a place of frustration. If someone had told me years ago that I’d be sitting here on Music Row coaching artists signed to labels and publishing deals, I would have laughed. But that’s the beauty of God—He redeems the years you thought were wasted. Read more>>