Born in Ghana, the daughter of a diplomat, Chef Awo Amenumey was raised on tradition passed down in a multigenerational house. From an early age, Awo gravitated towards cooking and the passion of feeding others, though it wasn't what she had in mind for a viable career. It wasn't until later in life, after having a family in the United States, that she would follow her destiny in the kitchen. Out of school, Chef Awo has worked as a cook, instructor, and food buyer in the corporate food space. To share her culture and food with the world around her, Awo started Eh Vivi Ghanian Cuisine, a pop-up immersive dining experience. Eh Vivi is a chance to explore the many flavors of West Africa and modernize and reimagine what food can be. Since starting the company, Chef Awo has collaborated with fellow African chefs and local farmers to better understand her country and the culture that is otherwise out of view in the Carolinas.

To learn more about Eh Vivi and find out about Chef Awo's upcoming dinners visit online at www.ehvivi.com or on social at @eh_vivi

Regardless of industry, the working world can sometimes be pretty cutthroat, especially in a competitive market. We often work ourselves beyond what is humanly possible to do right by our clients at the cost of our teams, families, and ourselves. For Anna Stallmann, it is essential that we course-correct this mentality and bring kindness to the equation. By setting healthy boundaries, everyone benefits, most importantly, the client.

Anna started her career in political communications in Chicago, IL, and moved to Washington, DC, to work for the Department of Defence. She then went on to work for a political PR agency that helped navigate national and global issues daily. After moving to Charlotte, NC, her work continued through the pandemic before she decided to go out on her own to positively impact her clients and usher in her belief that kindness will take you much further in life. Her success came when she built a PR agency around her ethos and created an environment focused on healthy relationships with clients and the team.

To learn more about Anna Stallman Communications, visit them at www.annacomms.com or visit them on social at @annacomms

While living abroad in Italy, James and Miracle Yoder fell in love with the cafe experience. They realized that it was more than just a great cup of coffee that made them feel; the smell, noise, and atmosphere also contributed. In 2011, they opened Not Just Coffee in Charlotte to deliver quality barista-focused coffee with unmatched hospitality. By 2019, they had expanded to six locations and were interested in getting into roasting their own beans. After a conversation with friends Erin and Todd Huber from Under Current Coffee, the two teams of entrepreneurs set out to create a third coffee brand, Night Swim Coffee, which would roast the coffee they would use and go on to open its own coffee shops under the new flag.

For James its always been more than just coffee, it is about walking away from an experience feeling good about yourself. His focus on intentional hospitality has propelled his original concept into success and has become a tried and true recipe with everything he approaches.

To learn more about Not Just Coffee or Night Swim Coffee, you can check them out online at www.notjust.coffee and www.nightswimcoffee.com or find them on social at @notjustcoffee or @nightswimcoffee

For Emmanuel Threatt and his wife Adrienne, giving hope daily has become a life purpose. Starting out, they were moved to bring sanitation and toiletry supplies to the homeless, but they would come to find the answers to what community truly means. Hope Vibes is a Charlotte-based non-profit that serves the homeless by providing an opportunity to shower and wash clothes as well as something nourishing to eat each week, giving folks in need a soft reset in an otherwise challenging time.

The Threatt's answered a higher calling by selflessly serving the community. They understood that community happens when people of different belief systems and backgrounds come together to better understand each other. Not only did they witness the homeless coming together to find community, but also those who volunteered found it. Now they look to the future to continue to serve but also to create community around hope and purpose.

To learn more check Hope Vibes out online at www.hopevibes.org or check them out on social at @hopevibesclt

Not every story must be told for your concept to resonate with your audience. Justin Hazelton, founder and owner of Lorem Ipsum Listening Bar in Charlotte, NC, has championed the concept of leaving room for your customers to complete the balance, and it works. An award-winning mixologist, bar director, and industry consultant, Justin has been behind many bar programs in the city, but it was his own adventure that he had the biggest thirst for.

Justin brought his passion and skillset and put them on the canvas, leaving room for balance. Lorem Ipsum is a listening cocktail bar with a high focus on vibes. The perfect spot to meet up with friends or romantic partners and enjoy each other's company without too much distraction or overwhelming flavors to get in the way. Leaning on his work as an audio engineer and DJ, Justin wanted music and atmosphere to be a focal point in the space as well as in the drinks.

To learn more about Justin and Lorem Ipsum, Check them out online at

www.loremipsum.bar

or find them on social @ @justindrinks @loremipsum.bar

Matt Terry is a seasoned vet in the tattoo industry, having worked for over 25 years, most of which have been custom large-scale work. During his tenure, Matt has worked in a range of shops, from walk-up flash-focused stores to custom tattoo parlors to a private studio built on atmosphere and comfort. His calendar reflects his reputation in that most people he sees daily have been coming to him for years, jumping from one project to the next. His secret? Recognizing the importance of the experience.

On a day of discomfort, Matt wants his clients to feel relaxed, turning an otherwise painful day into something they can look forward to. His studio is comfortable, clean, and vibey, with a relaxing scent and a playlist that helps you zone out. This is not a rock' n' roll in your face kind of joint; it's a place where those who live hard come to unwind and open up about life and its many challenges and joys. His style can be described as highly detailed and hyper-realistic, with a touch of abstraction.

To learn more about Matt Terry Studio check them out online at

www.mattterrystudio.com

or follow them on social @mattterrystudio on Instagram or Matt Terry on Facebook

Todd Boera with Fonta Flora Brewing is a brewers brewer. He's a creative director, baker, farmer, and is widely seen as an industry leader for his approach to leveraging agriculture to push beer forward. While attending school as an agriculture student, Todd learned how the food and produce that was being grown on the farms could be used to elevate the flavors of beer he was learning to make. From this discovery, he has made a career out of seeking out ingredients that make amazing beer while holding on to tradition.

Todd's mission in Nebo, NC, is to bring romance back to the brewery experience, allowing guests to discover the time and place in which their beer is made. You can try a beer made with fruit and grains grown on the estate and then go out into the fields to touch and smell those ingredients. Beyond their Whippoorwill Farm in Nebo, you can also enjoy their beers in their pub in Morganton, or their tasting room in Charlotte at Optimist Hall.

To learn more about Fonta Flora Brewing check them out online at www.fontaflora.com

or check them out on social at @fontaflorabrew or @fontaflora_clt

One might assume that all pastries need to be sweet, but that couldn't be further from the truth for Samantha Ward. Finding balance in flavor and making her baked goods more palatable sent her on a journey of discovery, opening her own bakery, Wentworth & Fenn. Throughout her career, she honed her skills working at fine dining establishments around Charlotte, NC, but truly found her voice when she started baking for herself and her palate.

Once Wentworth & Fenn opened its doors, Samantha's journey continued as she became acutely aware of the experience she needed to offer and the atmosphere it would take to resonate with her customers. Realizing that the city wasn't ready for an all-savory pasty shop, she added a mix of sweet and savory and worked to convert folks to her POV. As she pushes on, her secret ingredient has been using local produce and building quality relationships.

To learn more about Samantha Ward and Wentworth & Fenn, check them online at

www.wentworthandfenn.com

Or check them on social at @wentworth_and_fenn

John Hairston Jr. is, without a doubt, Charlotte's artist. If you went to any event in the city over the last 15 years, there was a good chance he was painting live. From art shows to hip hop and b-boy battles, John was communicating with his brush. He paints big, larger-than-life dreamscapes of another dimension, bringing viewers into Jago's world where all are welcome to live and prosper.

These days John Hairston Jr, aka Jago 13 aka Professor Jago is teaching arts at Winthrop College, sharing insights lived and lighting the passion of tomorrow's creatives. To know John is to understand his wisdom and appreciate his warmth and charisma. His approach to visual art reflects his lifelong wonderment with underground hip hop, comic books, Saturday morning cartoons, and science fiction.

In this episode of CreatexVision, John shares lessons lived and the journey he has gone on to reach the ultimate destination of creative actualization.

To learn more about John Hairston Jr's art check him out online at www.johnhairstonjr.com

or check him out on social @john_hairston_jr

From jumping down a rabbit hole in the discovery of insulating organic mushrooms to leaving a career behind, Hiram Ramirez found his passion in a world unknown. At the time, there wasn't a local purveyor of mushrooms at the restaurant level or consumer market, so Hiram took a leap of faith, and it paid off.

Urban Gourmet Farms produces over 1,000 pounds of mushrooms each week, feeding restaurants around the greater Charlotte region and at three well-attended Farmers Markets. But the secret to their success has less to do with the immaculate product they grow and more with the relationships they have built over the years with chefs and market goers.

Hear how Hiram found his vision and created something amazing, in a second act he never saw coming.

to learn more about Urban Gourmet Farms check them out online at www.urbangourmetfarms.com

or on social @urbangourmetfarms

One of the hardest things we face is the need to make hard pivots. Holly D'Amico faced uncertainty and a need to start over, finding inspiration in the spirit of renewal. In 2016, she founded Re:New Home, a repurposed, refurbished furniture company that gave less-than-desirable pieces a new lease on life. After eight years in business, Holly finds inspiration in design styles—guiding her clients through a process that gives them the perfect pieces for their home and business interior puzzles.

Holly is the perfect small business owner and an example of what it takes to succeed. On any given day, she wears all of the hats, from picking up furniture to meeting clients to discuss their needs to delivering finished pieces, posting on social media, and running a shop (front and back), and somehow still projects an effortless persona who loves what she does.

To learn more about Re:New Home check them out online at:

www.renewhomecharlotte.com

Or follow them on social at: @renewhomeclt and @renewhomeclt_inventory

Culinary Executive Kris Reid has been the glue that has kept the food community together in and around Charlotte for well over a decade. Whether working in a community garden, manning the line in a kitchen, or leading operations for restaurants and food groups, Kris has earned her stripes in the industry. She was instrumental in bringing the Piedmont Culinary Guild into existence in 2013 and has acted as the non-profits Executive Director ever since.

In this episode of CREATExVISION, Kris Reid shares how her passion for connecting the community through food came to be. Regardless of the problem that needs to be solved, Food is the Answer. It nourishes our bodies, feeds the economy, and pleasures our souls. Over the years, Kris has built community by bringing people together to break bread and celebrate the harvest, but she is more driven now than ever before as the industry faces hardships like never before. In 2017, she established a consulting company, Total Hospitality Consulting, to help local restaurants and food groups with their operations, certifications, and recruitment.

To learn more about Piedmont Culinary Guild, visit them online at:

www.piedmontculinaryguild.com

or follow them on social at @pcg_charlotte

To learn more about Total Hospitality Consulting visit:

www.totalhospitalityconsulting.com

With a dogged drive and creative intensity, Chef Jamie Lynch has fought his way through the ranks in his career to become something many didn't think possible. The difference that would set him apart was that he had a story to tell through his food.

Throughout Chef Jamie's career, he has been able to find his voice and go on to capture audiences across the Southeast and into the national spotlight. Proving his integrity, discipline, and culinary chops time and time again. As a Chef Partner with the 5th Street Group, Lynch leads culinary teams in Charlotte, Charleston, Nashville, Miami, and Denver with multiple concepts and cuisines—guiding a new generation of chefs in finding their voices and inspiring the industry to stay true to themselves and their purpose.

To learn more about Chef Jamie Lynch follow him on social @chefjamielynch or check him out online at www.chefjamielynch.com

To follow along with the 5th Street Group or make a reservation at one of their concepts in a city near you go to www.the5thstreetgroup.com or follow them on social @the5thstreetgroup @churchandunioncharlotte @churchandunioncharleston @churchandunionnashville @churchanduniondenver @churchandunionmiami @ophelianashville @labellehelenecharlotte @tempestcharleston

Few people have had the same impact on Charlotte as Blair Primis. His dedication to elevating the local community as a partner has helped build culture and shape the city into what it is today. During his time at OrthoCarolina, Blair was the advocate the city needed. As a result, he helped create several running races, establish a local news blog, help breweries find their voice, and assist several creatives in their journey for purpose.

Now, Blair is with Flagship Partners and is bringing a renewed focus to the city to help encourage and build the community of tomorrow. In this episode of CREATExVISION, Blair Primis shares his key to success and why building relationships and community is good for business and the city.

Follow Blair Primis on social at @bpqcb

Learn more about Flagship Partners at:

www.flagshipspecialtypartners.com

or follow them on social @flagship_hp on IG or @flagship-specialty-partners on LinkedIn

Torrie Savage and her partner Paula Bartlett changed the marketing game in Charlotte by introducing the city to out-of-the-norm mediums such as clean graffiti and moss art. They brought an organic take to their client's brand ID and showed the town something refreshing and new.

They now run a successful all-women agency focusing solely on clean graffiti and moss art, putting creativity at the forefront of everything they do. Hear how it all came together for Torrie, and the moment it clicked, she was on to something that would forever change her life.

Follow The Savage Way on social at @thesavageway

or check them out online at:

www.thesavageway.com

Bob Peters was cutting his teeth behind the bar when Charlotte was still a brown-bag city. When Charlotte went through its cocktail revival many years later, Bob was at the forefront and became a leading figure in the city's mixologist community. If you've ever had an opportunity to sit at the bar when he was manning the ship, you know that it's an experience unlike any other—leaving a lasting memory of feeling right at home.

Bob is currently the Beverage Director for the Built on Hospitality group, guiding beverage programs at several restaurants and preparing to open his very own, Chiefs cocktail bar in NoDa. His mission for each of his guests has remained the same for many years, to treat everyone like they're the most important person in the world. Hear his story, where his heightened sense of hospitality came from, and why he brings so much love into everything he does.

Follow him on social at @bob_peters

Learn more about his hospitality group:

www.builtonhospitality.com

www.thegoodyearhouse.com

www.oldtownrockhill.com

Charlotte food writer Keia Mastrianni fell in love with making pie and the joy of sharing homemade heritage baked goods—turning passion into a thriving business. As a partner with her husband on Old North Farm in Shelby, NC, she uses seasonal ingredients grown outside the door of her cottage bakery to make some of the most wholesome pies served in the Carolinas.

Hear how she built her company Milk Glass Pie up during the pandemic, with an unwavering commitment to using sustainable local ingredients.

To learn more about Keia and Milk Glass Pie check her out on the web:

www.milkglasspie.com

or follow along on social @milkglasspie @keiaishungry @oldnorthfarmwnc

Brian Mister started by inquiring if anyone wanted to join him for a run—kicking off brewery run club culture in Charlotte. His passion for bringing people together has led him to create the city's keystone race that shuts down a major beltway, giving participants a new vantage point of the QC.

To inspire the many running communities around the city, he knew he had to join them. Today, Brian is a leading advocate for race sustainability and ensuring that the starting lines of Charlotte's races reflect all of Charlotte.

Legendary Charlottean Andy Kastanas has successfully created a cornerstone culture in the city for the last 50 years, finding his inspiration in emptiness. Andy looked for empty buildings and desolate corners throughout Charlotte to create a spark. Hear how it all came together.

Photographer and visual storyteller Jonathan Cooper shares how his hunger to bring more depth into his work led to him sharing stories through his lens. His work centers around cultural food experiences rooted in heritage throughout the South.