Where you grew up and your background can often have surprising effects on our lives and careers. We’ve asked folks from the community to tell us about how their background has affected them.

Tobijah Ming | entrepreneur

I hail from Bermuda, but my life took a turn when, in the mid-90s, my mom relocated my older sister and me to Macon, Georgia following our father’s passing from cancer. During our time there, my mom pursued a career as a booking agent for reggae artists. This period significantly influenced my passion for music, inspiring me to pursue a path in the industry. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with incredible artists and am presently striving to establish myself in this dynamic field. Read more>>

Dana Dorris | Senior Partner

No one knows the local community like a local! Being born and raised in North Georgia has allowed me to see the heart of our community, and now I have the ability to give back. I grew up in the small town of Acworth Georgia, and living here all of my life has enabled me to connect with the people of our area. A philosophy here in our community is “you have to love on the people in your own backyard”, and experiencing this culture gives me the opportunity to be a friend to my clients. It is a great feeling to serve the community where I live, work, and play. Read more>>

Michael Stiggers | Actor

I was raised in West Point, Georgia which is right on the Alabama line. I grew up in the church as my father was a pastor and my mother was the choir director. My entire family sings gospel music so my love and ear for music started at a very young age. Once I made it to high school, I started to combine structure to those natural musical abilities by being involved with Drama and show choir. I was in the 10th grade when I discovered what Broadway actually was and from that moment on, I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life. You might be thinking ‘Ok…who doesn’t know what Broadway is?’. Read more>>

Rebecca Bargeron | Owner of Creative Transformations LLC

Growing up I was very self-conscious and struggled with depression and anxiety. Although I made good grades, I had difficulty making friends and felt uncomfortable in my own skin. I watched as other children seemed to be happy and well-adjusted and would wonder, “What is wrong with me?” In my adolescence and young adulthood, I sought out anything that could change the way I felt inside (i.e. religion, substances, relationships). Many of these things left me more isolated and confused. Personally, things started to change for the positive when I started listening to my inner voice and honoring my own needs. Read more>>

Maria Manson | Tutor & CEO

I’m from Charleston, SC where southern hospitality is everything! My background and upbring impact my work values: integrity, honesty, and servant leadership. I strive everyday to serve others the way that I would want to be served. It gives me great joy to see others meet their goals and gain confidence to accomplish it. From a child, I was taught how saying “please” and “thank you” takes you a long way. Also, greeting others with a smile or hug is a game changer(especially when someone needs it to encourage them. Read more>>

Jerome R Shuler Jr | Actor & Filmmaker

I’m originally from downtown Jersey City, New Jersey. Right on the Hudson River. My background and upbringing impacted who I am in many different ways. On a personal level growing up my family faced a lot of hardships, but because of where we lived I thought my parents were doing well. They were teenagers when they had their first child, my oldest sister. I’m their third. My parents separated the summer before I started high school and were divorced by my sophomore year. Read more>>

Kent Miller,MD,FACOG | OB/GYN, physician,Women’s Health specialist, Cosmetic Surgeon and Aesthetics

I grew up in a small town in the heart of South Louisiana, Cajun country, on a small farm in New Iberia, Louisiana. The son of an agricultural and livestock county agent. father and an English school teacher mother. I learned all of my values, ethics, responsibility ,drive for work. and to reach for the stars and live my dream from both of my parents and my involvement in the 4 H club in South Louisiana for 10 years. All of these experiences taught me that no matter what I did ,my number one priority was that I would make a difference in the lives of every single person that I touched in someway every single day… Read more>>