Our city is home to so many incredible businesses and so we asked the founders how they came up with the ideas for their businesses and have shared their responses below.

Janae Pollard | Tax Accountant

When it came to starting my business, I knew I wanted something that would last the test of time so I focused on me and my purpose in this life. I knew that successful and legendary business OWNERS were their business. I didn’t want to be a businesswoman, I wanted to BE a business. Thanks to some busines coaches, Courtney Matthews and Patrice Washington, I asked myself what do the people around me need and what do I have to offer? What passion in me won’t go away? Read more>>

Mary Thrailkill | Artist & Small Business Owner

I never thought that I would have an art business. I just loved creating and painting things that brought a smile or joy or others. What really pushed me was taking an entrepreneurship class with my college roommate – my project at the end of the semester was to have an art booth at the spring farmer’s market. I learned a lot by designing cards and prints, figuring out packaging and my brand. I’m definitely still learning as my business continues to evolve from that first market. Read more>>

Tinell Ruff | Body Sculptor & Fitness Influencer

I came up with the idea for my business with having a real life motto that I live by. My motto is ” Why would you want to be anyone else, when you can just be you!”. The idea came from really wanting to walk in my own identity and do it unapologetically, but also inspire others to do the same. I combined my motto with my training and love for fitness to create my brand JusBYou, which focuses on helping women reach their body goals without having to feel pressured to undergo surgery like society promotes. Read more>>

Alicia Sanchez | Founder & Published writer Dear God Are We There Yet

It all started with a fantastic, large, loud, loving hard working Dominican family. I was the only girl out of three boys, and my parents were entrepreneurs before I knew what that word meant. I grew up in a creative environment and decided to study Fashion right from high school which led me to experience fashion weeks as an intern with Oscar de Renta and Carolina Herrera. Read More>>

LaToya Randle | Pretty Girls Pound the Rock–CEO/Owner

All my life I have participated in ladies’ basketball somehow, someway. Whether I was starting on an undefeated All-boys team in Middle School, playing in front of a packed high school crowd, or competing in front of a sold out arena at Wichita State University; BASKETBALL has always been a part of my life. After competing in college I went on to coach high school basketball and in April of 2012, my dreams came true–I was given the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level. I could not believe it and I was looking forward to the challenge. Read more>>

Danielle Daniels-Gilbert | Founder/Child Advocate

Bri’s Closet Co. is a nonprofit organization that was created from me noticing a child welfare need and a simple idea that I had as a working mom. Working in the Juvenile Court System I noticed that there were not enough resources for teens in the foster care field. Along with raising a highschooler I learned the wants and desires that young adults have so I decided to create and collect consignment prom items. Bri’s Closet Co. is a non-profit consignment prom boutique, our closet provides prom attire to young teens that are currently in the foster care system and need formal wear for prom, formal dances, birthday parities, and military balls. Read more>>

Alexandria Garrison-Crews | Caterer

For as long as I can remember I loved being in the kitchen cooking for others. The happiness one gets from eating delicious food brings job to my heart. In college I begin to cook for parties and gatherings and the main thing people would always compliment me on was my barbeque; I thought maybe they just loved grilled meats. As I got older and started eating out more, I realized people were in love with my food because it was delicious, flavorful, and juicy. Read more>>

Jeremy Lewis | Aerial Photographer and Videographer

I have always been interested in the idea of flight. As a boy, I wanted to be an astronaut. As a senior in college, I applied for OCS (Officer Candidate School) to be a pilot in the Navy. I was accepted into the program but sight limitations ultimately kept me out. In the back of my mind, however, I never stopped thinking about seeing the world from the air. Approximately 10 years ago, I was flying a small remote controlled airplane in a field by my house and I thought about putting a small camera onto it just to be able to see how everything would look from the air. Read more>>