Through our work we have had the good fortune of seeing firsthand how success comes in every shape, size, color, faith, and orientation. More importantly we’ve learned that success is often the result of people embracing their unique backgrounds and so we’ve asked the community to tell us about their background and how it has impacted where they are today.

Allie Ramo

I’m a San Diego native who could never permanently leave San Diego. Growing up I had parents who were all about job security-put in your time and it will pay off. Both my parents ended up retiring with pensions, retirement savings, and a small mortgage. I never realized my parent’s own retirement plan was going to prep me for my future career. Read More>>

Keith Mooney

I grew up in Kirkland, WA, and I was raised by a single mom and my grandmother. The women in my life were hard working and made me who I am today. They instilled the core values I follow to this day.

From an early age I was taught to be kind, respect others, and treat people how you wanted to be treated. And that hard work pays off. As my grandmother would say, “Keith, don’t do your work half-a**s. It’s not over until the job is done.” Read More>>

Bethany Taylor Daley

I love this question! I’m originally from a small town in the Central Valley near Sequoia National Park, and growing up in that environment has impacted every creative project I’ve pursued as an adult. It’s an area of California which is often forgotten, and is culturally very driven by relationship to the land. Creatively, I’m very drawn to work that focuses on those kinds of themes– forgotten or discarded areas, being in relationship with different types of terrain, and a kind of minimalism which I feel is evocative of the landscape imagery I grew up seeing on a daily basis. Read More>>

Ricardo Heredia

I was born in Indiana just south of Chicago. I grew up without much parenting. My big sister was my mother figure as we were in and out of Foster Homes. Food always tied everything together, brought out emotion and evoked memories. Read More>>