Shaping: Houston

When Scotty Sheridan isn’t shredding it down at the local skate park, he’s at the Scotty’s Fermented Foods headquarters making, as you can guess, fermented foods. Scotty knows that there is sort of a notion that fermented means “rotten.” However, he’s out to prove it's actually far from it. Scotty’s Fermented Foods cultivates live anaerobic bacteria that processes the foods, and essentially preserves them. According to Scotty, this creates a living culture that is extremely healthy and beneficial for gut bacteria. Scotty was born and raised in Houston, and he regularly finds ways to be active in the community. One of those ways is by keeping a constant presence at the local farmer’s markets. They are where Scotty’s Fermented Foods started, and Scotty considers them essential to his business. Scotty also likes to give back to the community by educating people on how to ferment food in their own kitchens. By showing people how to ferment and explaining its benefits, Scotty aims to break the stigma around fermentation. When reflecting on the city that he and his business calls home, Scotty takes pride in his Houstonian status: “Houston is such a wonderful town. There's so much going on in Houston that it's exciting to be a part of it. So many business opportunities, but so many cultural opportunities.”

With his company Goodfair, Topper Luciani is leading a counterculture movement…and his rally cry is “Think secondhand first.” Due to the creation of fast fashion, clothing consumption has increased tremendously. However, the re-emergence of thrifting has shown to be a worthy adversary. Topper himself has a long relationship with thrifting. Born to a fashion-loving family, Topper always loved the treasure hunt aspect of thrift shopping. Later, that love of thrifting, coupled with his environmentalist nature and entrepreneurial spirit, led to Goodfair. Being fundamentally a thrift brand, Goodfair is based on helping the environmental crisis that is unfolding in the apparel industry. That help starts with Goodfair’s mission: To make thrifting more accessible and seamless. With an online store and conveniently shipping out of the port city of Houston, Texas, Goodfair is doing just that. Topper has a message to other entrepreneurs trying to make the world a better place: “If you're not in Houston right now and you're an entrepreneur, this is the place to be.”

Ever since she was three years old, Marlana Doyle had a passion for dance. After graduating college, with a B.A. in dance no less, Marlana was faced with a decision on where to continue her career in the arts. After a suggestion from her artistic director about an “unknown dance gem” of a city, Marlana looked to Houston…and she’s still here 20 years later. Upon getting to know the city and dancing professionally, Marlana felt like it was time to make the next step. Marlana believed Houston needed a new centrally located space that encompassed all things dance, and that space was the Institute of Contemporary Dance. Created with acceptance and accessibility in mind, the Institute for Contemporary Dance not only serves as a hub for the contemporary form, but it features classes for other dance forms like ballet and jazz for young and mature dancers alike. Marlana also, along with 5 other founding members, created the Houston Contemporary Dance Company: A small nonprofit dance organization that has collaborated with music organizations such as Apollo Chamber Players and Loop38. As Marlana reflects on her choice to move to Houston, she knows she wouldn’t change a thing. According to Marlana, “it's a young city. It's a fun city, and it's a place maybe you could start your career.”

After taking four-hour bus trips with her friends just to get their hair properly styled and cared for the way they were accustomed to, Britney Winters knew there had to be a better way. She was well aware that she wasn’t the only one making sacrifices in the name of hair care, and she strived to bring the spontaneity back to the lives of her fellow hair enthusiasts; to help them live a less tangled life with less emphasis on their hair. Thus, Upgrade Boutique was born. Upgrade Boutique, located on what Britney calls “The Black Wall Street of Houston:” Almeda Road, is a managed marketplace for custom wigs and other curated beauty products. Their mission is to save women time and money on their beauty routine so they can do more of the things they love. Britney does plan to expand to other markets to help those still taking those long trips. Nonetheless, since Britney firmly believes the sky is the limit for local possibilities, Houston will always be Upgrade Boutique’s home.

During her media days, Claudia G. de Velasco first got a taste of meticulously producing something that people would get to look back on…and she was hooked. Now, with her company A Day To Remember, Claudia produces events that her clients can cherish forever. Claudia feels her niche is crafting events that represent the different lifestyles and cultures of Houston, like when she produces the quinceañeras that represent her own culture. With this in mind, Claudia conducts each event with the utmost importance, and puts all her love, passion, and care into it.

Jonny Rhodes has transitioned from table to farm. After closing his critically acclaimed neo-soul food restaurant, Indigo, Jonny is on a mission to fight food apartheid. Through his eclectic 6-acre farm, Food Fight Farm, and his culturally based grocery store, Broham Fine Soul Food & Groceries, Jonny aims to bring quality food to the communities that need it most. Jonny believes Houston is the perfect city for what he calls this “social exercise.” With Houston being such a diverse city, where residents are so willing to help each other, Jonny guarantees he’s on the way to restoring the quality of food in local communities.

Life, according to Natasha Dadwani, is for the “burds.” Born and raised in Pakistan, Natasha gained a love for jewelry and a passion for designing her own things before moving to Houston in 2009. Inspired by her religion, her culture, and her mother, Natasha established Burdlife, a jewelry store that specializes in stackable pieces, anklets, and piercings. As Natasha states, “Burdlife is every young lady and her tiny box of jewelry.” Natasha is proud to call Houston home – recognizing the strong sense of community and fervent support she’s received for her business – and she couldn’t imagine another location for Burdlife’s flagship store.

Charles Washington firmly believes in following his ABCs: ART, BUSINESS, COMMUNITY. According to Charles, “you get the artists and the business together, then you can heal or make the community.” Charles started his career in art by painting, and as time went on, his creativity fostered a career in upcycle art. Being an upcycle artist as he describes it, starts by asking an object what it wants to be and letting it evolve into that dream. Charles founded The Pop Up Place, a creative space and art exhibition venue, as well as the Harambee Art Gallery, both of which embody the diversity of the city, while educating and bringing different generations together.

Shekina Wiley-Sattiewhite has a passion to help young parents thrive. Her personal experience as a teenage mother and appreciation for a solid support system as she raised her daughter motivated Shekina to create Cradle2Career. The organization provides education and resources to adolescents who are pregnant or parenting in the Houston area, with a mission to build healthy families and bright futures.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, chef Aaron Bludorn’s passion for food has taken him on a culinary journey. After a decade in New York and experience working with some of the most celebrated chefs in the industry, Aaron Bludorn ultimately made his way to Houston to open Bludorn in 2020. With renovations of the restaurant space already underway, the team at Bludorn pushed through the challenges of the pandemic and opened their doors with the mission of delivering a vibrant, high-quality culinary experience to Houstonians. Of his move to Texas, Chef Bludorn says, “It took me 10 years to feel like a New Yorker. It took me 10 months to feel like a Houstonian.”

A fourth-generation farmer, Tyler Froberg has found a path to share his passion of agriculture with the community, while blending his experiences as a veteran and an educator. Today, he serves as Managing Director of Hope Farms, a seven-acre urban farm project through Recipe for Success that’s on a mission to combat childhood obesity and feed a food desert in the greater Houston area. Through innovative programs geared towards veterans, children and the community as a whole, Tyler and Hope Farms are providing a place to learn about and celebrate locally-grown food.

Marvin Pierre is on a mission to help Houston’s at-risk youth find long term success. See how he and his organization Eight Million Stories are giving kids a second chance through educational services, job training and emotional support – and how this investment in our future can make for a better Houston.

About the Shaper: Josh Sol is a digital & clinical innovation leader at Houston Methodist hospital, leading the charge in new healthcare technologies such as telemedicine and optimizing the patient experience. Moving around the country in search of his calling, he worked as a personal trainer, then in a physician’s office, before he was introduced to the world of telehealth. His passion for innovating in a budding telehealth industry grew as he began working in Houston’s Texas Medical Center. He helped found the Houston Methodist Center for Innovation & Technology Hub.

About the Shaper: Growing up in Houston in the fashion industry, Lindsey Leigh Hohlt  channeled her passion for design into launching a concierge jewelry business, designing high-quality, custom pieces and earning her the title ‘Houston Diamond Girl’. Learn how Lindsey and her team at Lindsey Leigh Jewelry are dazzling customers and shaping the Houston jewelry scene one stone at a time.

After 17 years as a professional stage manager—including stints on Broadway—Jennifer Kahn had seen her share of shows. But she’d also seen something else: just how much gets thrown away after the last curtain goes down. She started asking industry friends for their old scraps of fabric to palettes of scenery from warehouse cleanouts, and used these items to design clutches, totes, and jewelry. In 2017 she officially launched her line of repurposed accessories, Scenery Bags, from her then-home in New York. Three years after starting her business and moving across the country to Houston, she has saved nearly 25,000 pounds of items headed for the dump. A portion of every sale goes to benefit the Theatre Development Fund, a nonprofit that expands access to performing arts for all.

Nick Wong is a Californian turned New Yorker turned Houstonian, whose love for cooking stretches all the way back to when he was 11 years old. See how this incredible chef is serving up dishes that reflect Houston’s diverse population at UB Preserv.

Pastry chef Rebecca Masson earned her stellar reputation by baking delectable, and sometimes wacky, desserts and baked goods. See how she's whipping up goodness at Fluff Bake Bar in the Houston Heights.

A lover of the arts with a passion for beauty, David Armendariz is shaping Houston's hair scene through his business Studio A Salon.

 As an undergrad, Quinn Woodard realized there weren’t many individuals who looked like him in STEM. Inspired to make a change, see how he is providing early exposure to STEM for minority students through his inspiring book Like Me.

Nicole Buergers is bringing Houstonians hyperlocal honey distribution and beekeeping services through her business Bee2Bee Honey Collective.

Erin and Patrick Feges of Feges BBQ are innovating the way they serve world-class barbecue to the Houston community in the wake of COVID-19.

Never afraid to get her hands dirty, Jane Henry realized there was a massive need for well-fitting work wear made specifically for women. See how she's redefining high performance PPE through her company See Her Work.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Feed the Front Line is supporting local restaurants and healthcare workers across our city and country.

Kim Roxie is on a mission to change the world, starting with the beauty industry. See how she’s helping reveal beauty with her natural and organic makeup line, LAMIK Beauty.

When he’s not producing captivating artwork around the city, see how Houston muralist David Maldonado is unifying communities through art, music and culture with Pan Dulce HTX.

From opera singer to Master Sommelier, see how David Keck is cultivating Houston's creative landscape with authentic hospitality. 

A mom on a mission, Julie Friedman turned her search for quality sensory therapy into a rapidly growing business. See how she’s mixing up stimulating sensory play with Young, Wild and Friedman.

With hard work, dedication, and stacks of fabric books, Veronica Solomon is creating unique and memorable interiors in West Houston. See how she's transforming both living spaces and lives with Casa Vilora Interiors.

The tech startup scene doesn’t have many black faces, but Mike T. Brown and his Win-Win startup look to change that. A self-made entrepreneur, see how he's using gaming to make donating to charity more fun and engaging.

Ready or not, Christina Wells is coming to show that anyone who believes in themselves can make it in showbiz. See how this singer/songwriter is inspiring the world with her powerhouse voice and heartfelt message.

Fueled by her love of dance and the desire to inspire people through health and fitness, Jenny Sanchez left a successful career in oil and gas and founded Dance House Fitness. See how the Houston-based "Fitista" is empowering people to become the best version of themselves.

Carlos Salazar

As a child, Carlos Salazar's family moved to the U.S. in hopes of finding a better life in the land of opportunities. See how he shares that message of hope and hard work with his students through his educational book Yo Soy Americano. #ShapingHouston

Mike Malkemes

Mike Malkemes is on a mission to combat poverty and gang violence by empowering children to realize their fullest potential. See how he's bringing life-changing early childhood education to Houston's Third Ward at Generation One.

Estela Cockrell

Estela Cockrell is a lawyer turned entrepreneur, and at the heart of everything – a mom on a mission to make clean living easier. See how she is making it easier for others to buy clean products and purify their lives with Switch2Pure.

Morgan and Andy Sommer

Morgan and Andy Sommer left their traditional careers behind to pursue their shared dream of bringing an “artisan outpost” to Houston. See how these partners in life and business are lifting up the maker community at Forth and Nomad in the Heights.

Grant Pinkerton

Grant Pinkerton knew early on he had a passion for making first-class barbecue for his friends and family. See how this Texas-born and bred Pitmaster is serving up mouthwatering brisket, sausage and sides at Pinkerton’s Barbecue.

Rachael Volz

Through hard work and dedication, Rachael Volz worked her way up from the reception desk at A Fare Extraordinaire to become Owner and CEO. See how this fourth-generation Houstonian is using her fire and passion to reimagine the luxury event planning industry and make moments that last a lifetime.

Robert Jucker

The son of Polish immigrants, Robert Jucker has kneaded his historical family establishment, Three Brothers Bakery, into the folds of an ever-changing food world. See how this fifth-generation baker is remaining true to his roots while serving up some of Houston's finest baked goods.

Zach Ruhl

Zack Ruhl has never let anything hold him back – not even a birth defect that left him without the use of his legs. See how this adaptive CrossFitter is shattering both expectations and bench-press records at the same time.

Libby Koch

Libby Koch started performing music while in law school, but she never imagined it would become more than just a hobby. See how this lawyer-turned-musician is treading her own path in the Americana music scene using her classic country voice.

Ryan Baird

Their signature product may be Outlaw Bourbon, but there’s nothing criminal about Yellow Rose Distilling. See how co-founder Ryan Baird brought Houston’s first legal whiskey distillery to life.

Gilbert Perez 

Where many people see a teardown, designer Gilbert Perez sees opportunity. See how the founder of Bungalow Revival is restoring the roots of the Historic Heights neighborhood one home at a time.

Veronica Rademacher

Gaurav Khandelwal

Immigrating from India to the US in 1997, Gaurav Khandelwal did everything from sell kitchen knives to deliver pizza to pay for his undergraduate degree in computer science. See how his hard work lead him to create one of Houston’s fastest growing tech companies, ChaiOne.

Work Hard, Live Well – that’s the mantra Travis Weaver has lived by since he set out to create Manready Mercantile. See how this Texas native is bringing locally crafted, high quality goods and apparel to Houston’s historic Heights neighborhood.

What started off as a creative outlet to decompress from her daily life as a NICU nurse, turned into an treasured career designing hand-made, custom jewelry for women of all ages. Now, see how Jennifer Welker is weaving her way into Houston’s fashion scene with Golden Thread.

After an illness left him legally blind, Charlie Hardwick’s career as a graphic designer not only continued, it flourished. See how this innovative artist took adversity head on to create remarkable designs, posters and more at Uncle Charlie Art.

When Judy Camarena took over the family business in 2004, she set out to breathe new life into a renowned Houston franchise. See how she is putting her unique spin on traditional Mexican cuisine at Taquerias Arandas.

Rassul Zarinfar is shaking up the way people experience beer at Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. See how this poet-turned-entrepreneur is putting his own creative spin on the craft beer scene in Houston

Manabu Horiuchi

Following his profound passion for cooking, Chef Manabu Horiuchi (Chef Hori) came to the United States without knowing a word of English. See how this renowned Chef is shaking up traditional Japanese cuisine in Houston at Kata Robata Sushi + Grill.

Denise Hamilton

Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram 

Danielle Johnston

At age 19, Danielle Johnston's world was shaken when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and soon after lost her mother to cancer. Now a 10-year cancer survivor, see how she's helping others in their fights against cancer at Texas Children's Cancer Center.

Onyii Brown

Anat Ronen

Embarking on a daring career in a new country, Anat Ronen took a leap of faith to find safety and security for her family. See how this muralist is painting a bright and vibrant future for the City of Houston.

Zeljko Pavlovic 

A profound love for music and family drove Zeljko Pavlovic to succeed when the world was crumbling around him. See how this incredible instrumentalist created a place for musicians of all ages to develop and thrive in the Vivaldi Music Academy.

David Buehrer

The Suffers

Alba Huerta

Don Vaughn

By bringing together his passion for music and love for neuroscience, Houstonian Don Vaughn created a career that had never been seen nor experienced before. See how this drumming, DJing neuroscientist is stimulating the culture of Houston one beat at a time.

Amir Taghi

A lover of the arts with a passion for beauty, David Armendariz is shaping Houston's hair scene through his business Studio A Salon.