Most entrepreneurs do not become famous. They work anonymously doing the important job of creating jobs and serving clients. Some also take advantage of creativity and scarce resources to help their communities or industries in ways that rarely make headlines outside of local newspapers.
Here are just a few highlights from the past decade:
Grace and Kevin Reynolds, founders of Handmaid Cleaning, in Walla Walla, Washington, chair a Facebook community of more than 19,000 home cleaners, many of them financially struggling and poor self-esteem, which support each other with advice and encouragement.
Frank Díaz, founder of Tin Hut BBQ in Honolulu, hires (and sometimes houses) veterans with PTSD for his food truck business and is developing a center to provide vocational training and other services to that population.
Mark Tilsen and Karlene Hunter launched Native American Natural Foods to create jobs at the Pine Ridge Preserve in South Dakota and, with their Tanka Bars, a new market for conflicting buffalo farmers.
And Eric Williams founder of Silver Room, a Chicago jewelry, clothing, and home goods store. Williams draws tens of thousands of people and generates more than $ 1 million each year for local vendors with the block party he created to, among other things, highlight more artists of color at community events.
