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.
Rebecca Leveridge
I set out to start a business, but not in the traditional sense. I wanted to build something that felt manageable, meaningful, and aligned with the season of life I was in. After losing my children’s father, everything slowed down. My priorities changed, and I realized I wanted work that felt personal, creative, and connected to people. Read more>>
Cassie Bullion
As a single mom for 20 amazing years there have been a lot of up and downs getting to where I am. Owning an educational salon has been my dream since I was little, ive always wanted to help people see how beautiful they are and helping younger stylists see how amazing this industry truly is . Read more>>
Becky Swanson
My story as a Life and Health Insurance Agent began after about 30 years in real estate and the need to have a new challenge and professional focus. At first, I tried all types of services, such as groups, life insurance, individual, and Medicare when I started out finding my way. Read more>>
Charise Marti
-I’ve been a nurse since 2001. I spent the first 16 years in the pediatric world—NICU, Pediatric ICU, and the children’s ER. Eventually, I moved over to the adult ERs at KU and Research. After 20 years on the floor, I knew I wanted to do more, so I went back for my Masters to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Read more>>
Michele Rickman
I grew up in a impoverished family in Wichita, Kansas, and my path to where I am today was anything but easy or predictable. At 17 years old, while still in high school, I became pregnant. My pregnancy was complicated and high-risk — marked by preeclampsia and frequent medical appointments — which kept me on bed rest for much of that time. Read more>>
Candy Masuch
Hello! I am so pleased to be a full time working realtor in beautiful Kansas City Metro! I moved to North Overland Park in 1991 from Las Vegas, NV. This was just in time for my freshmen year of high school. I grew to love the areas of Northeast Johnson County, Westport, Plaza, Brookside and Waldo during that time. Read more>>
Kelly Byrnes
My passion for business started early. At eight years old, I stocked shelves at a neighborhood store. In high school and college, I worked in restaurants, grocery stores, and retail, often learning about operations directly from managers after hours. Those experiences shaped how I still think about organizations today, from the front lines to leadership decisions. Read more>>
Heather Harper
As a child I loved fashion and wanted to learn to create all those beautiful garments that I saw on the runway. As I got older, I taught myself to sew and created things for myself and my family. I also opened my own business in 2008 and sold my creations on Etsy. Read more>>
Katie Feuerborn
My journey with photography began long before motherhood, back in high school when I joined the yearbook staff. That’s where I first fell in love with storytelling through a lens. I loved the way a single image could capture emotion, connection, and belonging. I followed that passion to college, majoring in graphic design at Pittsburg State University. Read more>>
jason Clarkson
Jason Clarkson, the man Kansas City now knows as the “Chief Turf Geek,” didn’t start out in lawn care at all—he started in golf. For more than 13 years, Jason worked in the golf industry, including time as a golf course superintendent, where he developed a deep love for turf science. Read more>>
Steven Gordon
Steven Wittenberg Gordon, MD has been Board Certified in Family Medicine for over thirty years and has performed over 10,000 immigration medical exams and related services. A first generation American, Dr. Gordon made the decision in 2022 to devote 100% of his private medical practice to Immigration Medicine in memory of his father, who was a refugee and Holocaust survivor. Read more>>
Jessica Sweet
My journey into real estate was shaped early on by my family. When I was young, my dad was a broker-owner, so I grew up seeing firsthand how much trust, strategy, and care go into helping people navigate major life transitions. Even with that influence, my path into real estate wasn’t a straight line. Read more>>
Marcus Foster
Hello my name is Marcus Foster Sr. I graduated from Elmar Barber college on 12th,Brooklyn class of 1996-1997. I started my barber profession at the House of Voge barber shop. In 1997 I transition to a new location in Overland Park kansas called ‘In the image of Barber and beauty salon’ under Cheryl and Myron Nevels ownership until 2010. Read more>>
Kyllie Farrow
I first started volunteering at the Humane Society in 2020 through a club called Northwest Animal Advocates. This club required that you have a certain amount of volunteer hours at the Humane Society for you to remain a member. After a few months of volunteering with this program, I applied for a position with the Humane Society and got the job. Read more>>
VICKIE REHRER
Martin’s Memories began as a vision to preserve history while creating opportunity. I took on a 133-year-old warehouse in the West Bottoms and transformed it, floor by floor, into a multi-level vintage department store where independent vendors could grow together. Read more>>
Kevin Smith
I was a printing expert for artwork for several years, until the industry changed enough that I needed to choose a second career. I decided to become a counselor and then wanted to specialize, so I moved towards being a marriage and family therapist. Since then, I have completed my education at Capella University and obtained full licensure. Read more>>
Kristen Rising
I founded Rising Construction Services, Inc. in November of 2018, but my path to construction wasn’t a straight line. I spent several years in a different industry that didn’t offer the growth or earning potential I was looking for, and I knew I needed a change. In 2015, I made the leap into the construction industry—and quickly fell in love with it. Read more>>
Steffany Aye
Helping families through adoption wasn’t what I thought I’d do when I grew up – but looking back, every step led me here. It started in high school when I found myself drawn to stories about teen pregnancy. Where I grew up, it wasn’t all that common, but when it happened, these girls were facing life-changing decisions with little support. Read more>>
William Mills
It started 1.5 years ago with just Shaun and John, it was called Shaun-John Detailing and they didn’t have much, but they got the job done. 8 months ago, Liam joined the team, bringing a car, our iconic company mustang, and some good marketing and business skills. After that, the company took off to now having 9 employees and fully booked summer months. Read more>>
Jennifer Sweeton
My professional story begins with neuroscience. I trained in affective neuroscience at Stanford, where I became deeply interested in how trauma reshapes the brain and nervous system. That scientific foundation led me to clinical psychology, because I wanted to translate what we know about the brain into meaningful, real-world healing for people impacted by trauma. Read more>>
Troy Burns
I was born and raised in the St. Louis area, then moved to Kansas City after high school to attend medical school at UMKC. After graduating from medical school in 1986 and completing an internal medicine internship at St. Read more>>
Floredith Rodriguez
I arrived in this country four years ago carrying nothing but fear, hope, and the responsibility of being a mother. I am Venezuelan, a Certified Public Accountant with a master’s degree in business, but I was forced to leave my country because of the devastating economic and political crisis. I fought for the freedom of my country until the situation became unbearable. Read more>>
Austin Gurney
I started in the excavation industry strait out of high school. From the first day I walked onto the job site and saw all the guys working together and tractors working as one big team I knew that day that I wanted to own my own excavation business. Read more>>
Elsa De La Torre
Our family’s business story started back in 1996. Salvador De La Torre, came from Mexico to the state of Kansas chasing the American dream. A dream where all he wanted were better opportunities for his family. All he brought with him were his hard work ethic, his grit, and resilience. He worked endless hours and days for a restaurant business that was not his own. Read more>>
Will Averill
I was born in Lawrence, Kansas in 1974. My parents were deeply involved in the theatre scene in Lawrence, Topeka, and Perry, Kansas. My mother is an actress and a (now retired) theatre teacher, and my father ran a melodrama theatre palyhouse at Lake Perry, as well as a children’s theatre company called Seem-To-Be-Players. Read more>>
Olivia ‘Liv’ Fry
I’ve been a dancer for as long as I can remember—starting at just three years old, following in the footsteps of my older sisters. That lifelong passion led me to dance at the collegiate level and eventually become a dance teacher, a role I’ve proudly held for the past 15 years. Read more>>
Ray Dixon
Brothers Lawn & Home Care was founded with a simple idea: treat every property like it is our own. What began as a small, hands-on lawn care operation grew out of a desire to build something honest, reliable, and rooted in service. Read more>>
Karesha Worford
I got started in real estate because I wanted something that offered flexibility, ownership, and long-term stability. At the time, I was looking for a way to create more for myself and my family, and real estate felt like a practical path to do that. I began by learning the basics, getting licensed, and jumping in even when I didn’t feel fully ready. Read more>>
Nico Brogoto
After spending six years as a Firefighter with the Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD) and working Asphalt on my days off, I had hit a turning point. My beautiful wife and I were expecting our first baby, and I knew I couldn’t keep working 90+ hours a week and living paycheck to paycheck. Read more>>
Rebecca Martin
Hi! I’m Rebecca. I have been working in the business marketing world for almost 20 years. It all started after I received my undergrad in Design Merchandising and then got my Master’s Degree in Secondary Education. From there I started teaching business classes to high school students. Read more>>
Kerianne Nunez
My husband, Javier, and I met while attending The Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley back in 2013. After graduating, we lived in Los Angeles and both worked in the food industry there until we made the decision to move to Kansas City in 2018. Read more>>
Andrew Lentell
I founded MVP Physical Therapy in 2021 after graduating from the University of Kansas Medical School DPT program and seeing too many patients frustrated by rushed appointments and impersonal care in traditional physical therapy settings. Read more>>
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>>
