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.
Fernando Gonzalez and Mariale Narváez (Maria)
Papelón ArepaBar began as a simple dream and a big curiosity. In 2019, we realized that Metro Detroit had very few Venezuelan food options, and we wondered whether our cuisine could find a space here. Read more>>
Kevin Jean-Paul
Kevin Jean-Paul is the Program Director for Serve the World Charities ( S.T.W.) S.T.W. Partners with school districts. (Center & Raytown ) to end student homelessness and transform the way we deliver social services in our city. Read more>>
Ashlee Araujo
Carmen’s cocina started back in March of 2012 by my parents Judy and Luis Araujo. They were recently called to ministry to plant a church in north west Indiana. My sister Carlee and I, Ashlee decided to keep our family restaurant up and going. Read more>>
Brock Schulte
I started Fountain City Ice in 2017 when I opened up The Monarch Bar. We wanted clear ice for our cocktails and there wasn’t a whole lot of opportunity to source cubes in KC. So we decided to do it ourselves. Back then we would cut 2 or 3 -300lb blocks a week if we needed to. Read more>>
Karla Juarez
Three pastors, one sister, one father, and one immigration lawyer founded Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation in 2006 in response to the anti-immigrant narrative growing in the metropolitan Kansas City area. The faith-based organization counteracted the hatred voices of the media and the anti-immigrant group the Minutemen, which was opening a chapter in Kansas City. Read more>>
Ruth Zhou
Over the past seven years, my church community and I have faced multiple heartbreaking losses. We’ve said goodbye to eight dear friends—three of them children. In fact, the first ever funeral I went was that of a 7-year-old child on a cold winter day. That day is forever etched in my memory. As a trauma. And a reminder…. Read more>>
Joseph Ruby
Growing up, I was always told there was something wrong with me. That I had a learning disability, I was dyslexic. I had ADHD, depression, anxiety, pretty much anything they could throw at a kid. they threw at me. So I never did good in school. They didn’t teach the way that I learn. Read more>>
Jake Wingo
I came into the finance world after working for several years in communications and sports production. I decided that I wanted my work to have a direct impact on other people’s lives. Being able to reduce the stress and anxiety that finances cause for so many people quickly became my main focus. Read more>>
Brad and Lorie Brunner
It feels like both forever ago and just yesterday that Lorie and I met in a Statistics class at UW–Madison. We’re proud Badger fans and lifelong Cheeseheads at heart—but we’ve adapted well to Chiefs Kingdom and never miss a good football game. Lorie continues to pour her heart into teaching Kindergarten in the St. Joe school district. Read more>>
Kody Sapienza
I started Triple Double Electric LLC after spending years working in the trade and realizing how much pride I take in helping people feel safe and confident in their homes. I began in the electrical department at MVP, where I learned the fundamentals, built relationships, and developed a strong work ethic. Read more>>
Dawn Rhodes
Rhodes Creek Health & Wellness was not created in a single moment. It was formed quietly, over years—shaped by thousands of patient encounters, long shifts in trauma units, rural clinics, and specialty practices, and the growing realization that something essential was missing from modern healthcare: a human connection that truly supports long-term wellness. Read more>>
Sarah VanLanduyt
From early on, I knew the arts would be part of my life. I still remember watching the Nutcracker Ballet on PBS as a child and thinking, I want to make music like that. I grew up drawing for fun and taking music lessons all the way through college. Read more>>
Matthew Carver
My journey with Ronson Machine & Manufacturing is really a story about humble beginnings, hard work, and a commitment to building something that lasts. The company started long before I ever imagined I’d be the one leading it. In 1989, my father, Terry Carver, purchased a small sheet metal shop that occupied just 20,000 square feet. Read more>>
Jere Hinson
I grew up in a small town in the Boot Heel of Missouri. After earning a master’s at the University of Missouri at Rolla in mathematics, I was called to become a priest in the Episcopal church. That’s a long story in and of itself! More schooling followed leading to various adventures in ministry including 29 years as a Navy Chaplain. Read more>>
Jeremy Wassink
I was in the Marine Corps for 8 years, straight out of high school. I did 3 tours of duty overseas during that time. After the military I transitioned into the sales world. I bounced around a few different places and then landed at a company that taught real estate investing education. Read more>>
Rick Ford
The Blind Broker began in 1999 by Rick Ford. Rick was a National Account Manager for one of the largest window covering manufacturers in the United States for 5 years prior to starting The Blind Broker. Read more>>
Madhu Singh
I started my law practice back in 2009 because I saw something broken. Entrepreneurs were getting shorted. The traditional law firm model was expensive, slow, and disconnected from what growing businesses actually needed. So I did something about it. I founded MK Singh Law in Seattle with one goal: cut the inefficiencies and focus on what matters. Business growth. Sustainability. Long-term planning. Read more>>
Adeola Ajayi
I was born and raised in Sango Ota, Nigeria, in conditions that taught me resilience long before I understood the word. My family of eight lived in a 9×9 room where survival was the daily priority. Hunger was normal, shoes were a luxury, and playing basketball barefoot on cracked concrete was my reality. Read more>>
Corbin Bosiljevac
After graduating college and working as an outside salesman for a Fortune 1000 Tech company, my health started to degrade. Living a fast-paced lifestyle by working hard and playing harder led me to make some bad dedisions and drug use entailed. It got so out of hand that I ended up getting a 90 month federal prison sentence. Read more>>
Thalia Tucci
I didn’t originally plan to run a multi-state psychiatric practice — I simply wanted to change the way people experience mental health care. I started my career inside systems where appointments were rushed, clinicians were burnt out, and patients were reduced to symptoms. Read more>>
Stephanie Winter
I have always known animals would play a major role in my life. Growing up on a lively small Midwestern farm filled with dogs, cats, horses, hogs, and cattle, I’ve always loved animals and immersed myself into their worlds. My first spoken word wasn’t “mama” or “dada”—it was “Sugar,” the name of my family dog. Read more>>
Kerri Robinson
I I’ve been in the hair industry for over 33 years. I started behind the chair as a stylist, worked my way up to master colorist and master stylist, and eventually became a supervisor overseeing salons across four states for the Regis Corporation. Because I have fine, thinning hair myself, I’ve always been especially interested in helping clients with those concerns. Read more>>
John Cox
Our story really began with a conviction about food. About 10–12 years ago, my wife and I started rethinking what we were eating and how it was raised. That shift led us to put a small garden in our backyard, which quickly turned into a desire to grow more of our own food and find land where we could raise it ourselves. Read more>>
James Blecher III
I was born here in Olathe KS. I started out working for my dad at the age of 12 years old. I really started to get good at the trade once I reached my late teens. All the while starting many small little businesses (Vending, MLMs landscaping), and working multiple jobs. Read more>>
Jillian Kurz
For more than forty years, the mission now known as Manos Amigas has grown through compassion, partnership, and a heartfelt commitment to the families living in the colonias near Ciudad Juárez. What began in 1983 as a small outreach from St. Read more>>
Ken & Karli Romine
Absolutely. My journey with Ten Penny began with a simple observation: our community deserved an updated, welcoming environment where people could enjoy great food, connect with friends, and feel proud of a local spot that truly represented them. There was a long-standing restaurant in town that had history, heart, and potential—what it needed was a fresh vision and the right kind of investment. Read more>>
Daniel Alvarado
I started working in this trade since i was 19 years old with 2 big name company’s in the area. I learned the trade and at a certain point started doing side jobs after work and on the weekends. I saw the benefits of buying the tools and machinery necessary to do the work instead of borrowing and renting them out. Read more>>
Steve Farber
My story has always been shaped by a deep interest in people—what inspires them, what connects them, and what helps them bring their best to whatever they’re doing. 35 years ago, I started my career inside the world of leadership development, working closely with teams and executives who were trying to create cultures where people could genuinely thrive. Read more>>
Elizabeth Serago
My older sister, Elaina, inspired me to start playing soccer. She began when I was about four, and by the time I turned five, I was hooked. Since then, soccer has been a driving force in everything I do. My journey with the Astras began on a sunny soccer field in Kansas City, after a coed game. Read more>>
Maggie Seele
My story did not start in business, it started in the classroom. I began my career as a special education teacher, where I learned the power of patience, communication, and advocacy. I loved the work, but I also discovered early on that I had a strong entrepreneurial drive. Read more>>
Melanie Mfuh
It was the summer of 2014 when Uzuri Closet was born, even though I didn’t know it at the time. I had been invited to an event and really wanted to wear something in African print but I couldn’t find anything anywhere. Read more>>
Illiyas (Eli B) Uthman Karabell
I have been a businessman since the age of 8 and now lead a multinational corporation, Karabell Industries. Karabell Industries has been in business since 1918 and my story is centered around my Islamic faith, my commitment to family and the campaigns to eradicate colonialism. Read more>>
Jamie Martinko
My story was never meant to be intricate or appealing. My life looks completely different than I had ever imagined and I have loved every single moment of the journey. I am a wife and a mom of two. Read more>>
Jennifer Roe
My career has taken a few unexpected turns, but each step has shaped how I lead today. I began in Washington, D.C., working on Capitol Hill for the U.S. Senate Majority Leader before joining a Presidential campaign. I went on to serve at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Read more>>
Jasmine Markanday
I started my business in 2015 to help organizations with grants management and compliance. My dream was to work from home so that I could be more present for my three young children while also caring for my aging mother. I am grateful for the risk I took, and by 2017, I was able to leave my job and focus on my business full-time. Read more>>
Wesley Wood
I started as a mechanic before I could drive, working for a family-owned car repair shop – Deer Auto, which was close to the main square in Independence, MO. During high school at Fort Osage, I went through the auto repair votech classes and soon started working as a heavy equipment mechanic for DECO construction company. Read more>>
Steve Stegall
The Kansas City Blades got me into hockey and 20 years later decided KC needed a hockey bar 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>>
Joshua Tillotson
Well, I grew up in a small town in south central Kansas called Towanda. I was living out in the country and was raised in a very tight-knit family where family reunions were often, and you always had someone you could call on for help. Read more>>
Chad Doyle
We are a father and son team dedicated to creating a welcoming and vibrant community for our members. As Parkville residents and business owners, we dreamed of creating a space for our community that combined our hobbies and pastimes in one location. Together, we are committed to offering a space where members can immerse themselves in a community that provides excellent amenities and 24/7 access. Read more>>
Julie Broekman
The road is never smooth. I’ve experimented in a lot of mediums, some I loved and others that were a real struggle. Marketing and social media can be the hardest part of the job. Being a maker is a blessing because you keep your hands busy, but sometimes feels like you are shouting into the void! Navigating the depths of social media and bringing your art to the right audience can be very challenging. I appreciate every friend and family member of mine that helps share my business through word of mouth. Read more>>
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>>
