We asked experts from a broad range of industries to open up to us about things they know about their industry but that we probably don’t and we’ve shared some of those responses below.

Aniyah Davis-Alix | Chef and Special Event Coordinator

One this about the culinary industry that many may not understand is how competitive and cut-throat it can be. You have to be humble yet confident in your work. I was always the youngest chef in the kitchen, so coworkers with seniority would always doubt my skills. I took that and used it to fuel my fire. I moved from prep stations to various line cook positions, on to Banquet Sous Chef and working for very high profile clients. Now I work for myself and own my own catering business. Read more>>

Lee Steiner | Bookbinder & Artist

When asked what I do, I tell people I make books by hand and the response is often, “Oh! I didn’t know anyone still did that.” In a casual conversation, how can I tell someone that bookbinding has been going on for almost two thousand years? Right now, there’s a skilled and vibrant community of bookbinders and book artists stretching around the world and, thankfully, they’re not just hidden in the basements of museums, but connected through websites, university tutorials, and every current social media platform. With bookbinding, there is always something new to learn, whether it’s mastering an ancient technique, experimenting with a newly developed tool or material, or just making it up as you go along. The follow-up question is usually, “What do you do with the books you make?” Here’s where I get excited. I get to share all the ways a book with blank pages can enhance the life of someone who normally would never dare to write in a bound volume. I even wrote a little booklet I give away for free that tells you no to be afraid of the blank page and lists ideas to inspire you. Read more>>

Doug Rohelia | Owner- First Choice Duct Installers,LLC

Being a HVAC commercial sheet metal duct installer is exciting but also a true dying breed. I truly believe that people consider the trade work we perform is the same as air condition tradesman and its not. We are only responsible for the air duct distribution system on projects and install equipment connect to any duct work. We play a very important role but face the current issue of not having enough people seeking interest in the trade for the future. Read more>>