Soul of the Glass City

Angela Lucas is an entrepreneur, community builder, and the co-founder of TolHouse, a private social club, and Earth Coffeehouse, a cafe and collaborative workspace in Toledo’s Historic Vistula District. A 2025 graduate of the University of Toledo, Lucas completed her degree while building multiple businesses. Her professional journey spans public service roles, including serving as executive assistant to the Mayor of Toledo and co-managing the City’s Human Relations Commission. Alongside her husband, she is also a real estate developer, revitalizing Toledo’s waterfront properties to create spaces that foster community. Angela’s work, whether in business, real estate, or leadership, is rooted in the belief that proximity matters and that the right room can spark transformation.

Jason Young is a Toledo-based creative, designer, and community builder known for blending the arts with fashion and cultural experiences. A graduate of the University of Toledo, he first gained recognition through his immersive art exhibition, Rossi, which fused contemporary art, music, and community engagement. In 2020, he pivoted to founding his footwear brand Donny, showcasing his skills in brand development and creative direction. Committed to community wellness, he founded the BRB Running Club in 2025, inspired by his own personal wellness journey. Tune in to learn more about how Jason continues to merge creativity, culture, and community to drive positive impact and foster meaningful connections.

Isabella Weik is an entrepreneur and the CEO of the Toledo Mindfulness Institute, a growing wellness company focused on yoga, mindfulness, and on-site corporate and school wellness programs. A proud graduate of the Toledo School for the Arts and the University of Toledo, Isabella has been recognized as a "20 Under 40" recipient in 2021 and named one of Toledo's "Visionary Leaders" in 2025. A musician, songwriter, and poet, she seamlessly blends wellness, creativity, and community building to help people reconnect with themselves and with Toledo, guided by her personal motto: “slow, steady, intentional, grateful.”

Autumn Gineen is a self-taught couture designer whose childhood sewing lessons with her mother planted the seeds for her career by blending tradition and personal expression. Gineen's philosophy in her designs emphasizes individuality, embracing what others might see as “flaws" as unique characteristics that become features rather than drawbacks. Beyond making clothes, Autumn channels her passion into education, utilizing her atelier, House of Ginnie, to teach people of all ages to create for themselves. Learn how Autumn empowers those around her by encouraging individuals to craft their own style.

Dr. Shanda Gore is a #1 International Bestselling author, President of Mays and Associates, Ltd., host of the PinLeader™ Podcast, and a consultant featured on the Big10 Network. Dr. Gore is recognized for her work with major collegiate athletic conferences, and her latest book, The PinLeader Path, became a #1 Amazon Bestseller in HR and Personnel Management in March 2025. Tune in to find out more about Dr. Gore and her perspectives on organizational leadership.

LaShawnda Kinnebrew is an advocate whose life’s work centers on empowerment, healing, and community transformation. Kinnebrew is a proud mother, and grandmother who channels her strength and empathy into creating opportunities for others to grow and thrive. Following the tragic loss of her son, Christopher Kinnebrew, to gun violence, LaShawnda founded Angel's Haven to honor his memory and uses its proceeds to support families affected by similar loss and to raise awareness about gun violence. Guided by her belief in the transformative power of compassion and opportunity, LaShawnda continues to inspire hope, resilience, and positive change in every community she touches.

John Alvitre, is a proud Mexican-American and physician assistant, whose life journey embodies resilience, service, and transformation. From his early years growing up in the heart of Los Angeles to a 25-year career in the U.S. Armed Forces, Alvitre’s story is one of perseverance against the odds. After retiring from the military, he found purpose in education, mentoring the next generation of physician assistants at the University of Washington. Traumatic circumstances caused life to shift dramatically for Alvitre, but his strength, and courage helped him to adapt, so that he could rebuild his life, continue to grow, and give back to society.

Dr. Valerie Simmons-Walston and Jim Snodgrass bring a powerful blend of leadership, strategy, and community-focused vision to their business partnership. Dr. Walston, CEO of Next Chapter Enterprises and VP of Public Relations at Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union, is a seasoned higher education executive with over 30 years of experience driving strategic partnerships and community engagement. Her career in academia, nonprofit leadership, and public service, focuses strongly on empowerment, wellness, and transformational leadership. Jim Snodgrass complements this partnership with over 15 years of operations and supply chain expertise in the automotive industry. A strategist passionate about mental and financial wellness, Jim holds a BBA from the University of Toledo and an MBA from Wayne State University. Hear how they use their combined expertise to build innovative pathways for personal and organizational growth in Toledo communities and beyond.

With an entrepreneurial spirit that started in junior high school, Christian is no stranger to getting it out of the mud. From planning events and icebreakers as a freshman at the University of Toledo, to graduating with a Bachelor's in Business & Marketing, Christian and his identical twin brother Christopher are the proud owners of a prominent nightclub in downtown Toledo. Hear how growing up in Glass City helped to shape his career and his ideas for the future.

Saundra Irvine, is the current Director of The Inspiration Kitchen at Lott Industries. Spending the majority of her career in the food and beverage industry, Irvine has done impactful work in workforce development and community engagement. An experienced chef, consultant, and lecturer, she has developed and led multiple programs aimed at helping individuals with employment barriers achieve self-sufficiency, including The Opportunity Kitchen at Catholic Charities and the CENARE program at The Sophia Quintero Art & Cultural Center.