Traveler, daughter, family's IT Dept

Denver is someone who loves to stay connected. Connected to her home. To her family. And to the entire world. She’s actually structured her life around doing just that. 

Denver has a special bond with her mother and her grandparents. In fact, Denver’s the full-time caretaker for her aging grandparents, who live just 10 minutes away from her Prince George’s County condo. “What compels me to take care of them? They took care of me,” she says. 

About her mom, Denver says, “She’s my best friend, but there are some boundaries. She reminds me every day that she’s still my mother. But we do everything together.”

A big part of that togetherness revolves around travel. Her mom says, “That generation just knows a little more about the technology. I try to keep updated with it, but they still seem to know more.”

Looking at everything Denver does, her mom is rightly proud. “She’s always been very self-sufficient, and very respectful,” she says. “I don’t think I could have asked for a better daughter. I’m very grateful.”

The feeling is mutual. According to Denver, “My family empowers me by showing me every day how strong they are, how smart they are. And I want to continue these blessings that my grandparents and my mom have offered me.”

Fiance, Gamer, Host

Talk to Adam, and you’ll hear the word “amazing”—a lot. And when you learn more about his life, you can see why. 

It all begins growing up in a neighborhood north of Baltimore. That’s where he made his childhood friends that he’s still close with even to this day. 

Sure, they may have traded their skateboards for day jobs, but they still know how to have fun together. Most nights, they play video games online, chatting and catching up during even the most heated sessions. 

Childhood friends aren’t the only important people in Adam’s life. He recently got engaged.

“Rachel is the most supportive person in my life,” Adam says. “We make time for one another. We’re foodies, so we love going around Baltimore, Fell's Point, Canton, Fed Hill, and trying different restaurants. It’s kind of perfect.”

Rachel and Adam rent a row home in Baltimore City. Between game nights with friends, planning the upcoming wedding and working for NASA several days a week from his home office, it’s quite the hub of activity.  Most of all, Adam appreciates the people in his life who are there for him. “It makes me feel good,” he says. “It makes me feel … amazing.” Truly amazing, indeed.

Composer, Artist, Chord Wrangler

Michael is someone who sees potential. It could be a vision for what a scrap of wood can become in his woodworking shop. A fragment of a melody that becomes a tune on his guitar. Or the chance to make deeper connections with his Native American heritage. 

He says, “What I passed on to both of my boys is the idea of being productive, having a really good work ethic.” And Michael’s still that way.

For Michael, working hard and being productive is nothing new. He began playing drums professionally when he was just 12 years old. In subsequent decades he’s focused on the guitar and writing his own music. 

The urge to create is something he shares with his wife, Lisa, an accomplished artist. In a recent trip to Newfoundland, Lisa set up her easel and painted, while Michael set the mood with his acoustic guitar. That’s real creativity at work. 

As Michael adds, “There’s this joy that I get by being creative and building things and having a vision. I’ve always felt gratitude. I wouldn’t trade my life for anything.”