We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

William Ruiz

I believe my success comes from genuinely loving my career. I truly enjoy helping people, and I’m transparent about what I charge. I also take pride in being readily available for my clients, no matter the time or day. My customers know they can reach me by text, phone call, or in person.

Being bilingual in English and Spanish allows me to explain insurance coverage and details clearly to a wide range of clients, which helps build trust and lasting relationships. Read More>>

Christina Viola

The biggest driver of my success has been the mindset that anything is possible if you just keep showing up and putting in the work. I’ve learned that you don’t truly fail unless you quit. Right alongside that is the importance of being real—with yourself and with others. Staying curious, self-aware, and genuinely interested in people and the world around me has shaped who I am and how I approach everything. That same philosophy is at the heart of Inspired Coffee Roasters. It’s not just about crafting exceptional coffee with bold, unique flavor profiles—it’s about building a community around that passion. Our hope is that by sharing what inspires us, we’ll help spark something in others to chase what lights them up too. Read More>>

Blake Comfort

One thing about the manufactured housing community industry that people are unaware of is how difficult it is to build new communities and bring a new supply of communities online. It’s very hard to develop mobile home parks and then conversely sell those new mobile homes off. Zoning regulations and NIMBYism heavily restricts our ability to create new manufactured housing communities (mobile home parks). Maybe 5-7 new communities come online nationally each year, with tens if not hundreds of communities going offline and being redeveloped into other asset classes. Supply for MHCs remains around 40,000(ish) nationally with the supply ever dwindling. Read More>>

Denise Johnson

I have always been drawn to the arts, particularly photography. However, I also love creative writing, and singing. I feel like it’s been intertwined with me as early as I can remember. Music is also a vital part of my life, and I have been singing since I could remember. About two years ago I decided to incorporate music into my photography world and the opportunities that have opened for me are beyond my wildest dreams. So many doors that swung wide open for me. Read More>>