Cameron Harris
Co-Owner, Purple Donut Studios
What do you love most about living in Frederick County?
The balance between city and rural life...Being able to breathe fresh air and still be five minutes from a grocery store. And the gorgeous sunsets.
What does success look like to you right now?
Building a business that can support not just my family, but other creatives who might not be able to make a living doing what they love otherwise.
What are you trying to get better at right now?
Finding the balance between work and family. Our daughter, Penny, just turned one, and if work keeps me late, it doesn’t feel right until I’ve kissed her goodnight.
Trung Huynh
Owner, Lucky Corner Vietnamese Cuisine
What do you love most about living in Frederick?
What’s not to love? The beautiful scenery, wineries, history and great schools. The people are friendly and kind. Frederick has grown so much over the past 20 years...more diverse, more vibrant and the community events bring people together. We’re blessed to be here.
Favorite way to spend a Sunday?
Lounging in a folding chair watching my kids compete—flag football, baseball or basketball. I just love being there and cheering them on.
What are you trying to get better at right now?
My health. Twenty years in the restaurant business hurt my eating habits. I’m focused on eating the right foods at the right times. I want to live long enough to watch my kids grow up and have families of their own.
What are you working on right now?
Learning to trust my team and step back. I have four sons who remind me the restaurant will survive without me. They just want their dad in the stands, going to paintball on weekends and watching movies together.
What does success look like to you right now?
I hope to expand the business, put my kids through college and one day pass it on to one of my sons. But honestly, success is making sure they never have to work as hard as I did.
Brian Hall
Endodontist, DDS, PA
What do you love most about living in Frederick?
Being born and raised in Frederick, I’ve seen so many changes. But what continues to stand out is that this county stays the same at its core. People either come back or take a piece of it with them wherever they go.
A moment that changed your perspective?
The day a truck literally drove through my first dental office. It made me realize that negative events don’t have to block your path and they can push you forward, open doors you never knew existed.
What does being a good man mean to you today?
I used to think being a good man meant providing for your family. Now I realize it’s about being present, as a husband and father, and bringing God to them through me. That means more than anything else.
Devon’te Cills
General Manager, Nelson Coleman Jewelers
What do you love most about living in Frederick County?
The diversity. As Frederick has become one of the fastest-growing counties in Maryland, I’ve met people from all walks of life. Being from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, it’s meaningful to connect and collaborate with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Best advice you’ve received?
“Do what you mean and mean what you say. Stay authentically true to who you are and keep it real.” —Mark Coleman
A moment that changed your perspective?
When my stepfather passed away, my perspective on life shifted drastically. It reminded me that life is short and we have to cherish every moment with the people we love.
What does being a good man mean to you today?
Doing right by your people. If you take care of your partner, family, friends, colleagues and community, it comes back around.
Dan Schiffman
Founder & Wealth Management Advisor at Capital River Wealth Management
What do you love most about living in Frederick County?
The sense of community, paired with access and opportunity. I’ve lived here nearly 30 years. I grew up in a small town with strong community and later lived in large urban areas with endless things to do—but less connection. Frederick strikes that balance: a real sense of community with plenty of opportunity and proximity to everything else.
A moment that changed your perspective?
When I was 20 and studying abroad, I visited Winchester Cathedral in England. That day, I held a stranger—a woman likely in her 80s—as she took her last breath while waiting for first responders. That experience stayed with me. The contrast of that moment—the end of her life and the beginning of mine, the beauty of the day and the sorrow within it—made me more humble and deeply grateful.
What are you trying to get better at right now?
Two things: becoming a better listener and getting more comfortable with courageous conversations. The second doesn’t come naturally to me. Both are ongoing work. I consider myself a constant work in progress.
CapitalRiverWealthManagement.com
CJ Dorman
President of Dorman Home Remodeling
What do you love most about living in Frederick County?
Frederick offers the best of both worlds—a vibrant downtown with shopping, dining and music, plus quick access to the mountains for camping, fishing and outdoor adventure.
What does success look like to you right now?
After 40 years of remodeling homes, success is being part of a team that helps create beauty and harmony in families’ lives.
What does being a good man mean to you today?
Being honest and trustworthy with my wife, children, friends, family and business partners—and always showing up for them.
Kevin Oakes
DDS, FACP Owner of Dental Arts of Frederick
What do you love most about living in Frederick County?
I love that Frederick blends community, history and a quality of life that just feels like home. There is always something fun to do—whether it’s a Keys game, a show at the Weinberg or a stroll through downtown or Baker Park, this county provides balance with a great work environment.
What you’re working on right now?
We are nearing the completion of One Oak Dental, a concierge level dental experience scheduled to open in Fall of 2026. It’s exciting to be able to enhance our business community in this way.
What does being a good man mean to you today?
Being a good man means being honest and having integrity, showing up for family, working hard, supporting the community, being positive and passionate and having fun.
Richard Ohnmacht
President & CEO of Woodsboro Bank
What do you love most about living in Frederick County? I love the fact that Frederick retains our special community feel while at the same time benefitting from being on the edge of two major metros. I like that you can always run into somebody you know.
Best advice you’ve received
From an executive coach, empowering people do what they are great at, especially when they are better at it than you. Letting go of control sometimes, has served me well over the years!
What are you trying to get better at right now?
Besides pickleball? I am trying to develop more depth and reach within the community banking space as I am relatively new in my current role.
What are you proud of that no one sees? My Three Kids! None of them are local currently, but each of them in their own way are crushing it as they take on this complex world we live in.