B Yourself

New Songwriting Talent New Song writing Talents: Whitney Mitchell and Jim Lowe Grand Prize Winners for the John Lennon International Songwriting Competition Hometowns: Whitney: Trussville   Jim: Irondale Profession: Jim: I work in the Pastoral Care department of the Guiding Light Church, attending to the needs of our congregation.  I also work in the music ministry here. Whitney:… Read More

Name: Bill Dexheimer Age:55 My hometown: Binghamton, NY/Hoover, AL Profession: Entrepreneur. My passion: Birthing companies that fit business needs that may not yet be obvious to everybody. Who most inspires you? The younger generation of entrepreneurs that effectively leverage technologies to solve operational challenges that used to be debilitating to companies in the past.  The speed… Read More

Age: 35 My hometown: Gardendale, Ala. Profession: Owner of Mallory Communications Inc.  We provide media relations services for companies catering to the outdoor industry. I’m also a freelance writer for national outdoor publications. My passion: My four children and my husband Brett, as well as all things outdoors. Who most inspires you? My phenomenal parents… Read More

b Name: Amanda M. Hardin Age: 33 What company do you work for? Southeast Commercial Partners, LLC. What do you do there? Commercial real estate brokerage.  I help owners of commercial real estate (office, restaurant, retail) find tenants, tenants find space, and investors find commercial properties.  I discuss and analyze all of the factors that… Read More

Age: 51 My hometown: Birmingham Profession: Musician Who most inspires you? The people of Alabama inspired me with their resilience and strength during the tornadoes back in April. My most overused words or phrases: “I know, right?” Most treasured possession: My Red Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion guitar. I am guilty of: Working way too much…. Read More

Name: Jessica Lazarus Age: 26 My hometown: Mountain Brook Profession: Hair Stylist at Joelle Salon and Entrepreneur My passion: Connecting with people and leaving them better than I found them. I am so lucky to be able to channel this passion into my hairstyling career. Every day I live my passion in one way or another…. Read More

The atypical life of our ultimate blended family Name: Tonia and Young Choi Hometowns: Moselle, MS (Tonia), Washington, D.C. (Young) What is Kornbread & Kimchi? It’s a blog I created to journal the untypical life of what we consider the ultimate blended family. I’m Kornbread. My husband Young is Kimchi. As most of us know… Read More

Age: 26 My hometown: Jasper, AL Profession: Registered Nurse My passion: Volunteering, ovarian cancer research, and making strangers smile. Who most inspires you? My Mother, she’s my strength and inspiration. Without her, I wouldn’t be the woman I am becoming today. I watched her endure ovarian cancer and felt helpless. She didn’t need me to… Read More

Name: Shae Hicks Age: 28 My hometown: Gardendale Profession: Veterinarian My passion: Veterinary medicine and surgery and animal welfare Who most inspires you? My furry patients! When were you happiest? When a patient goes home happy and healthy with their owner. What started your love for animals and career path as a vet? My father is animal lover, so I grew up surrounded by horses, dogs and cats. I also worked at vet clinics and soon realized that veterinary medicine was the only job for me. It’s a fascinating and demanding field that requires knowledge of all aspects of medicine and multiple species—so there is never a dull day! Who was your favorite all–time doggie patient? (Haha, kidding:) Miss Wiggles, of course! If you could do anything besides what you do now, what career path would you lead? I also have a fine arts degree, so maybe an art curator or career in art restoration—something to mix my love of science and art. Favorite city? Paris. Favorite movie? Gone With The Wind My most overused words or phrases: “Make sure you’re dog is on heartworm and flea prevention!” Most treasured possession: My pets—Albert Einstein, Aubry, and Monet! I am guilty of: Believing in the best in people, always. My best friend says I am: Inspiring and have a big heart What is your greatest extravagance? Vintage jewelry What is your greatest fear? Not being able to do what I love or not being with the people I love. Favorite book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Talents (or talents you wish you had): Painting, sculpture, and photography. I wish I had x-ray vision, it would make a job a lot easier! Heroes: All my patients! Animals are unyieldingly honest, unselfish and forgiving. They represent the best things in life, and I’m so lucky to work with them every day. What is your motto/mantra? Stay calm and carry on. One day I hope to… Partner in a clinic and find time to travel the world. Quality you most like in a man? Compassion and intelligence What trait do you most deplore in others? Rudeness What is your most marked characteristic? Optimism What is your idea of perfect happiness?… Read More

Name: Kathryn Petras (Kat) Age: 30 My hometown:  Birmingham Profession: Freelance stylist: Make-up, hair and wardrobe. Production, print, weddings and events. Resident Birmingham bombshell stylist. Image consultant. My passion:  Tacos, beauty, talking, writing, passion itself and the repeat button. What inspires you most? Music and driving my car. Usually they happen together. What is your most marked characteristic?… Read More

Photo and text by Angela Karen; Hair and Make-up by Kat Petras Name: Krista Conlin Age: 34 My hometown: Birmingham Profession: Principal of KC Projects, a full-service public relations agency that brands companies and positions entrepreneurs. My passion: Travel. I try to go somewhere new at least once a year. As writer Miriam Beard says,… Read More