Surprisingly Free
stories for professionals, by professionals
Leadership Articles
Lisa Stone
Lisa Stone is a human rights activist based out of Buffalo Grove, Illinois. One issue that Lisa cares deeply about is preventing heroin abuse. Lisa experienced the devastating effects of heroin abuse when a close family member’s life was derailed entirely because of it. It was then when she realized how dangerous the drug truly […]
Dan Bellows: Owner Of Sydgan
Dan Bellows is someone who can see a diamond in the rough. There are many construction companies out there that focus on the renovation and new construction of a home or building. Yet, there are very few who focus on renovating and restoring a portion of his home town. This is exactly what Dan Bellows […]
Steven A. Miner II: Principal Partner At The Miner Law Firm
Lawyer and Harley Davidson enthusiast, Steven A. Miner II is the principal partner at the Miner Law Firm. Based in Barrington, Illinois, Steven practices in five counties and is licensed to practice in the Federal Court in the Northern District of Illinois. Steven always knew he wanted to be a lawyer and grew up going […]
Ephraim Vashovsky: CEO of Vasco Ventures
Ephraim Vashovsky is the CEO of Vasco Ventures, a commercial real estate investment company based in New York City, NY. The company began due to Ephraim’s love for real estate, and his desire to remodel and renovate properties. Ephraim can see the beauty in each property and loves making them look their best. From taking […]
Matthew Magrone: Senior Account Executive and Founding Partner at Ocean View Funding Group
Matthew Magrone, real estate financier, brings over two decades of experience in the financial industry to his role at Ocean View Funding Group. Working as a Senior Account Executive and Founding Partner of the company in Tallahassee, Florida, has allowed Matthew to bring his passion for the industry to the forefront of his day-to-day life. […]
Patrick Ambron: Founder & CEO of BrandYourself.com
Patrick Ambron is a leading expert in online reputation management, online privacy, search engine optimization and startups. More than anything else, he’s passionate about helping consumers control their own information and own lives online. A few highlights: Founder and CEO of BrandYourself.com, which helps individuals clean up, protect and improve their online reputation and online […]
Dr. Mark Smith: President of Columbia International University
Born and raised near Galax, Virginia, Dr. Mark A. Smith has been a devote Christian for his whole life, passionate about spreading the words and message of Christ. Dr. Smith made the decision early in his college career at Hobe Sound College to answer the call of ministry in his profession. He received his Bachelor’s […]
James B. Pepper Rutland: Founder, President, & CEO of MMR Group
James B. Pepper Rutland, of Baton Rouge, is the founder, President, and CEO of MMR Group. MMR Group is a leader in the instrumentation and electrical construction industry. MMR Group has the largest privately-owned open shop electrical and instrumentation contractor in the U.S. Clients of MMR include the chemical, energy, petrochemical, industrial, and manufacturing sectors. […]
Dr. Sandra Dunn: President and CEO of Phoenix Molecular Designs
Location: Vancouver, Canada Dr. Sandra Dunn has dedicated over 20 years to breast cancer research and the biotech industry. She earned a degree in molecular biology from Hiram College, an institution she believes has a tremendous research program. A few years later, she pursued an MSc and Ph.D from North Carolina State University’s Department of […]
Issac Qureshi: Director of Client Services at Ogilvy & Haart
Few people embody leadership with quite the same fervor and Issac Qureshi has throughout his career. Living in Manchester, UK, he has built an impressive career for himself over the past two decades. Currently, Issac is working as Director of Client Services at Ogilvy & Haart. As a professional who is highly regarded for the […]
Merrette Moore: Founder of Tidewater Equity Partners
Merrette Moore is a Private Equity professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Tidewater Equity Partners and believes in making a positive impact within his company and community. Over the course of his career, Merrette Moore has accumulated a wide range of experience in […]
Destry Witt: President at RELiANCE Investing
From an early age, Destry Witt demonstrated the spirit and drive of a true entrepreneur. For more than 30 years, Destry has cultivated his skills as a leader, businessman, and financial adviser to achieve success and establish his prominence. The stock market has been an object of interest for quite some time, and when the […]
Kelly Hoggan: Principle of H4 Solutions
Kelly Hoggan brings over three decades of industry experience in aviation security, operations, and management to his role as Principle of H4 Solutions, the transportation consulting company he founded in 2016. H4 Solutions delivers unmatched experience and innovative industry insights to those who seek security solutions across the transportation sectors. Based in Washington D.C., Kelly […]
Joseph Lorenzo Hall: Chief Technology Officer
Joseph Lorenzo Hall is the Chief Technology Officer for the Center for Democracy & Technology based out of the Washington D.C. area. He has served as a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkely within their well-respected School of Information. Before that he got a Master of Information Management and Systems, a Master of Arts, and a […]
Recognizing Hidden Leaders Within Your Organization
Most of our focus is shining a light on the underrated leaders in their industry who might not get as much attention as they deserve. These people have an immense amount of knowledge to share, but often don’t get the chance to do so. However, we want to use this post as an opportunity to […]
Habits Of The Best
When looking at individuals who are top performers in their specific field, you start to notice some common habits. But are these habits what make them great at what they do? Or are they simply a coincidence? We believe strongly believe the former. And because of this, we’ve put together a quick list that shares […]