Editorial: Celebrating 100 small business spotlights

by Rachel Andreoli

People tell me I’m a superconnector. That’s not a title I gave myself, but it fits. Over the past two years, my Small Business Spotlight column has been where I get to do what I love most: connecting people and highlighting their work. Meeting over 100 local business owners has taught me not just about entrepreneurship, but also about how relationships, connection and support can transform both a business and a community. These lessons form the foundation of the work I do today, helping people build social wealth, make meaningful connections and grow opportunities that compound over time.

A little over two years ago, I met the editor of The Sentinel for lunch and shared an idea: I wanted to give local business owners a chance to put their work in the spotlight. Part free advertising, part local interest, I thought it was the perfect blend for our hometown paper. We decided to run an eight-week trial and see how it went. Looking back now, it is hard to imagine we started with such small expectations given the overwhelming response and popularity of the column.

What stands out most isn’t a single story or business. It is the energy and inventiveness I’ve seen across every corner of our local economy. From arts studios alive with imagination to the wellspring of physical and mental health practitioners to the businesses that pride themselves in doing a hard job in an honest way, I’ve witnessed how originality and persistence flourish when people follow their passions. Each column has been a window into the courage it takes to build something from the ground up and each story has reinforced a truth I carry into my work: connection is powerful and it multiplies when nurtured intentionally.

Writing this column has shaped me just as much as I hope it has reflected the community I belong to. Before I became a business owner, I didn’t fully understand how isolating it can feel to wear every hat and carry every responsibility alone. Meeting the people behind these ventures, learning about their struggles and triumphs, showed me that everyone feels that way sometimes and that I am not alone. Their stories offered me perspective and they also revealed the power of connection. I’ve worked hard to use this space not just to highlight businesses, but also to build bridges, small events and introductions that helped solopreneurs meet each other and feel part of a wider community.

Looking back, it’s clear this column played a vital role in the work I do now. It taught me how meaningful connection can be, how loneliness can be softened through shared stories, and how supporting one another doesn’t have to look like traditional networking. Today, when I teach others about building social wealth, the kind of “relationship currency” that grows richer the more you invest in it, I carry the lessons of these columns with me. The small steps, the thoughtful gestures, the willingness to reach out and share expertise: all of it compounds, and all of it starts with showing up.

I am ridiculously proud of this milestone. What began as another one of my “crazy ideas” has grown into something profoundly meaningful. Scrolling through the photos on my website, rereading the words, my heart swells with the talent, ingenuity and determination of this community. These columns are more than profiles; they’re snapshots of possibility, proof that vision combined with action creates ripple effects far beyond what anyone can imagine.

Celebrating 100 columns is about more than hitting a number. It’s about honoring the people who inspire us to dream bigger, take chances and support each other along the way. And for anyone reading this, I hope it inspires you to recognize the potential in your own circle, to reach out, to connect and to take the small steps that compound into something far greater than you imagined possible. And if you’re ready to build your own network of meaningful, mutually supportive relationships, I’m here to help you take the steps that compound into lasting impact.

Here’s to the next 100, and to all the connections, stories and possibilities waiting just around the corner.