The Next Level STORY: Amy Meadows PHOTOS: Stephen Payne Shoe designer Antonio Brown had no idea who Jason Derulo was when the singer-songwriter’s stylist contacted Brown to ask him for a pair of his kicks for Derulo’s appearance on Good Morning America. Brown had recently launched his footwear company, LVL XIII (pronounced “Level 13”), after ...

Inspiring Atlantans share their stories of successful career changes STORY: Amy Meadows PHOTOS: Stephen Payne Spanx founder Sara Blakely sold fax machines door-to-door before launching the now famous billion-dollar company. Harrison Ford was a professional carpenter before transforming into a bona fide Hollywood legend. And Mark Twain piloted riverboats prior to trying his hand at ...

Fit for Success STORY: Amy Meadows PHOTOS: Stephen Payne Five years ago, Monica Dioda walked into Flywheel Sports and took an indoor cycling class. She loved the boutique feel of the studio and started thinking about opening one herself. As a single mom of two young children, Dioda had been considering her career options. Although ...

Feeding Her Soul STORY: Amy Meadows PHOTOS: Stephen Payne It was 2014, and Cristy Lenz spent nearly every moment of every day on her phone. “My Blackberry could have been superglued to my hand,” she says, recalling her intense career as the director of coverage and supervisor of the national desk for CNN. Over 20 ...

Fetch Park & Ice House STORY: Karon Warren PHOTOS: Stephen Payne CAUSE: Enduring Hearts, which funds research to increase the longevity and quality of life for pediatric heart transplant recipients After opening Fetch Park & Ice House in the Old Fourth Ward, business partners Garrett Reynolds (right) and Stephen Ochs (left) didn’t take long to ...

Founders of Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q STORY: Karon Warren PHOTOS: Stephen Payne CAUSE: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Jonathan and Justin Fox of Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q in Little Five Points have always looked for ways to give back, and they have chosen Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) as one of their primary causes. One way they support ...

Owner & Baker, Little Tart Bakeshop STORY: Karon Warren PHOTOS: Stephen Payne CAUSES: Planned Parenthood Southeast, The Giving Kitchen, Community Farmers Markets, Wholesome Wave, No Kid Hungry, Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) For nearly a decade, Sarah O’Brien of Grant Park has searched for ways ...

These notable personalities are giving back to their communities in a big way STORY: Karon Warren PHOTOS: Stephen Payne The holiday season provides a great time to reconnect with family and friends, and celebrate the important things in life: love, laughter and kindness. It also reminds us that not everyone is as fortunate as others, ...

Chief development officer, Technology Association of Georgia STORY: Karon Warren PHOTOS: Stephen Payne CAUSES: Atlanta Community Food Bank, Junior League of Atlanta, University of Georgia College of Education, Atlanta Track Club, United Way Streets to Home As a lifelong resident of Atlanta, Cara Turano Snow, who now lives in Old Fourth Ward, continually seeks ways ...