ROCK ISLAND — She grew up in a small Arkansas town and learned early on to rely on herself.

DAVENPORT — Vicki Thompson has struggled with homelessness and disability. But she has songs in her heart and likes to share them.

GENESEO — Jolynn Kitterman often is found searching through shelves and racks for the right size clothing for a client. At other times, she is filling sacks or boxes with food items.

MOLINE — If Hy-Vee boasts "a helpful smile in every aisle," Theresa Bull has to be one of the best helps in the entire supermarket chain.

If Christina Heald’s schedule read like a piece of music, there would be many more fast tempo notes and crescendos than rest signs.

MOLINE — While telling the story — one he's shared hundreds of times — Tim Masterson asks you to listen with him.

DAVENPORT — Though she works at a minor-league baseball stadium, Barb Wier, of Coal Valley, did not start out as a baseball fan.

KEWANEE — As site superintendent for Henry County's only state park, Jim Modglin stands ready to facilitate people's camping and hunting experiences, regardless of their expertise.

With a nail in one hand and a hammer in the other, she makes her way around the board, following the template she created and marking the spots where she'll pound in nails. 

DOCENT:  1. a college or university teacher or lecturer; 2. a person who leads guided tours especially through a museum or art gallery.

 As the saying goes, there are two certainties in life: death and taxes.

If you take the Arsenal Bridge in the morning, there's a good chance Jay Pearce has saved you from showing up late to work.

ROCK ISLAND — A former college anatomy teacher, Brian McMaster now personifies the anatomy of a devoted church volunteer.

SILVIS — An affinity for the game of golf drew both Bill Anderson and Harvey Green into an interest in the professional golf tournament held in the Quad-Cities each year.

MOLINE — The shape is unmistakably that of a guitar. But after that, Tony Carducci's creation takes a sharp, tumbling turn into science fantasy.

SILVIS — Jim Franz has worn many hats during his adult work life — all in the Quad-Cities.

 A few years ago, Joel Ryser was a football coach. Now, he’s a glass-blowing artist.

At  Inspiredesign Jewelry in Rock Island, owner and designer Mindy Diaz personally hand-creates every piece, giving each a unique twist, often literally.

ANNAWAN — For Patty Greteman, it's all about numbers.

ROCK ISLAND — He loves his job because he gets to talk to God. And then talk to his congregation about God. 

ROCK ISLAND — The thin man wearing the gray baseball cap politely chuckled at the word "typical.''

GENESEO — It’s safety first for Geneseo school-bus driver Mary Ann Girten.

GENESEO — Bruce West said he saw the "wave of the future" as he watched a farmer's kids huddled around a computer mapping the farm in the mid 1990s.

Marc Zyla likes to toot his own horn — and he has several jobs where he makes that happen.

On most Friday and Saturday nights, Eric Finley is at home in Moline watching TV with his kids.

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL — The air compressor wakes with a shudder, filling the shed with a breathy whine as Carvel Morgan dons his red helmet and its attached gray smock. 

Forty years as a machinist has helped Phil Hendrix see new purpose in old silverware. “What began with a man and a fork is now a treasure that is being enjoyed by so many families,” said Mr. Hendrix, the owner of

Rock Island Hy-Vee store director Jim Banasik said he loves his job, employees, customers and what the company stands for.

Two area volunteers have given hugs, smiles  and comforting words to thousands of families. Blanche Schutjer, 94, has been a volunteer for UnityPoint Health-Trinity Moline for 50 years. Mary Ann Otte, who turns 90 in April, has been a volunteer at Genesis Medical Center in Davenport for 35 years.