Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Travis Curley
I started in the jewelry business at a young age as it was a family business. After high school I went to get my gemological degree at GIA, and just had after that I went to work full time in the family business traveling and selling manufactured jewelry and closeouts to jewelry stores. Read more>>
Julie Pal
I started growing peonies as a young mom who had just moved back to Kansas. My mother gave me three plants from her own landscape and from my grandmother’s yard as a housewarming gift. For the next ten years, I enjoyed those plants and their beautiful spring fragrance. Read more>>
Jeannine Lindstrom
My journey has always been one of service. I spent the first part of my career in the staffing industry and human resources, but I always sensed I was meant to be an entrepreneur. I come from generations of business owners and farmers, and that spirit of building something with your own hands has always been in me. Read more>>
Danielle Walker
My story is rooted in service. Before I ever became an entrepreneur, I spent years in behavioral health services and the medical field as a medical assistant and phlebotomist. Working closely with patients taught me compassion, patience, and the importance of clear communication. I learned very early that people feel more confident when someone takes the time to guide them. Read more>>
ReGina Edmondson
When I was a little girl, my family had a neighbor that was a cat hoarder. Him and his wife would even tell the people that came to visit them that if they didn’t want their cats or kittens, they could bring them to their place and drop them off. Read more>>
Holly Lavender
After nearly 30 years leading teams, developing product lines, innovating with suppliers, and partnering with buyers, I built a strong career in Product Development and Merchandising. When my company relocated, I chose to remain in Kansas City and pursue a new path. After connecting with a Franchise Consultant, I completed an assessment that highlighted Costa Oil as one of my top matches. Read more>>
Erica Resseguie
I grew up on a 500-cow dairy farm, where I learned the value of hard work early. Even though farming shaped my childhood, I went off to college thinking I’d never return to it. That’s where I met my husband. We got married shortly after and welcomed our first child, and that’s when everything changed. Read more>>
Rob Haake
Rob Haake is the President and Owner of AJ Manufacturing and brings nearly three decades of experience in the HVAC and healthcare construction industries, with more than 25 years dedicated specifically to operating room environments. Read more>>
Edgar Galicia
I was borne in Mexico City in 1966, and at age 18 traveled under a student visa to the KC area, I was supposed to study graphic arts but had no English, so I enrolled at Donnelly College ESL program and learned as much as I could before I continued my professional education. Read more>>
Elizabeth Suh Lane
My story starts with my immigrant parents who chose to come to the U.S. on my father’s fellowship invitation and eventual job offers in the U.S. I grew up in Kansas taking violin lessons with Eleanor Allen, then Tiberius Klausner, but my professional life started as an international musician residing and working in Europe, eventually, coming full circle to the midwest. Read more>>
Tam Singer
I was born in England and immigrated to the United States in 2002—a move that felt natural given my multicultural roots. My mother is Indian, my father half Austrian, and the spirit of exploration has always been part of my story. I built a successful career in corporate recruiting, but my true passion emerged when I began volunteering in animal welfare. Read more>>
Lillian London
Being an entrepreneur was the last thing I expected myself to pursue as a career. I’d been a server/bar tender for about 12 years, dropped out of college, and didn’t really have a direction for my future. I knew I had a passion for helping others, but I wasn’t sure what that looked like for a long-term career. Read more>>
Troy Paul
My name is Troy Paul. I’m the Owner and Founder of Next Generation Construction, LLC (NGC), a licensed general‑contracting firm based in Kansas City, Missouri, and I’ve spent more than 15 years building a career around innovation, transformation, and purposeful construction. My journey began with a simple but ambitious goal: to bring modern, sustainable, and efficient building solutions to the Kansas City area. Read more>>
Gavin Crump
My passion for massage therapy began when I was very young at the age of 5. My grandma developed diabetes and I would massage her hands and feet with lotions and creme to help give her some relive from the onset of neuropathy. Read more>>
Pam Hecker
It all started as a gift-a gift given by a friend, a gift given to others, a gift of retirement, a gift of family. We began offering 2 delectable flavored of gourmet infused pretzels in 2014 and now have expanded to 5 addicting gourmet infused pretzels, seasonal favorites, dipped & decorated rods, and spices to take your dishes up a few notches! Read more>>
Chelsea Johnson
Spent my entire childhood and young adult life striving to become a doctor. Then, having spent 20 years in academic medicine, eventually realized I forgot to make new personal/career goals for myself once I achieved the MD title. Sadly, this resulted in feeling stuck in my career for too long. Read more>>
Krissa Miller
When I first learned about this career path dedicated to sustainability, improving home performance, and helping people live in healthier, more efficient homes, it immediately resonated with me. The idea that I could contribute to both environmental stewardship and better living conditions for families was deeply fulfilling. Read more>>
Charla Brewer
R2M2 Software began nearly 10 years ago at the time, in hopes of providing a software platform for small businesses with focus on resorts, campgrounds and other hospitality businesses. Along our journey our platform has evolved to encompass Reservations, Retail, Restaurant and even Consignment all within one interface/application. Read more>>
Melissa Vaughns-Guein
For most of my life, I thought my path was set in concrete—a career in criminal justice, working behind the walls of a county jail, then stepping into the role of a probation officer. But destiny had other plans. A single job shift in 1998, from the Jackson County Jail to Children’s Mercy Hospital as a home visitor, rewrote my story entirely. Read more>>
Danni Small
I’ve always had an eye for photography, and enjoyed the art. My love for photography really started over 10 years ago in high school, where I took photography and photojournalism classes. Though my assignments in photojournalism, I met my late mentor, Jeff Billings while photographing a basketball game. Read more>>
