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.
Kirsten Sundell
I have always had a love for vintage and antique decor, growing up going to auctions with my parents. When I got my own space, I wanted it to feel curated and cozy, not staged and just following the latest trends. 15 years ago, my youngest went of to school and I was looking for a part time flexible job. Read more>>
Aracely Sanchez
I have been an entrepreneur for 15 years. My mind is always on the go, thinking about new ways to expand or start a new business. 4 years ago. After our mom passed my brother and I started our mobile coffee cart concept and have been working hard ever since. Read more>>
Ann Owens ✨Fabulous Annie✨
My name is Ann Owens, and many people know me as Fabulous Annie. I was born an American citizen but raised in Nigeria, in the village of Agbarho in Delta State. Growing up, I was inspired by my father, who was the only medical doctor in our community. Watching him care for others planted in me a deep love for science, medicine, and service. Read more>>
Christian McIntosh
The internet has decided that I am an ‘entitled influencer’ but I hardly consider myself an influencer. My journey starts in 2019. In an attempt to combat PPD, I started a YouTube channel with the hopes of starting my own little show and just having a creative outlet. Read more>>
Dane Newton
My mother and father are both artists in their own right. My mother has done paintings as long as I can remember and my father restored classic cars in our garage. Both are very technically skilled and I’ve always tried to emulate their talents and attention to detail. Read more>>
Ronni Grandberry
I started my professional photography journey in 2016, about 6 months after my husband gifted me my 1st camera. Originally, the idea was to just be able to take my own family photos, but it went much further than that. I build my skills by practicing on family and friends, then I quickly put services online to begin accepting clients. Read more>>
Brandi Stimpson
I started my Etsy shop when my photography studio was closed for a bit during COVID and it took off and I’ve worked it for seven years now. This past year I’ve added two vintage booths in Antique malls near me. I adore sourcing vintage home decor for others to create a unique home of their own. Read more>>
Deanna Johnson
As far back as I can remember, I always had an interest in taking photos. I was the friend that brought a disposable camera to every event. I grew up with my mom begging me to please put someone in the frame and don’t just take a picture of the building or the mountain. Read more>>
Jasyn Turley
Back in 2009, I start putting to page a story that I was obsessed with; the story was of a game me, my brother, and our friend played outside or when on the road, anytime anywhere. And the ‘putting to page’ this story was the momentum of falling snow that preludes an avalanche. And now, I have a passion for storytelling and books. Read more>>
Lowen Millspaugh
Growing up, my fabulous gourmet cook of a mother was always entertaining – hosting dinner parties and happy hours. Food has always been a love language in my family. We love a cheese and charcuterie spread. I had the privilege of travelling to Europe every summer when I was young, where would feast on proscuitto and melon, cornichons, pate and stinky cheese. Read more>>
Shannon Anderson
My name is Shannon Anderson. I am 38 years old. I have 3 kids – Greyson (7), Harrison (5), and Sutton (2). I have been married since 2017 to Eric. I grew up in South Kansas City. I was 1 of 6 kids. I grew up Catholic going to private schools my entire life until I went to college. Read more>>
Jacquinta Nelson
The evolution of STEP Movement is really the story of how one young girl found purpose through stepping and turned that purpose into a movement that now impacts hundreds of youth across Kansas City. STEP Movement did not begin as a business. It began with adversity. Read more>>
Kelly Lipscomb
In December of 2020 my husband and I were ready to leave HOAs behind and started to look for land where we could let our daughters roam and explore freely, own and raise animals, and build our dream home. After searching for 2 years, we finally found the property that checked all of our boxes in Louisburg, KS. Read more>>
Alex Anderson
I studied graphic design at the University of Kansas. After college my first job was at a small branding studio called Willoughby Design. I learned a ton and got to do a ton of work designing for local clients including the KC Streetcar and Ride KC. After Willoughby I wanted a change of pace and decided to go out on my own to freelance. Read more>>
Brandy Spearman
My journey with Black Lemon Boutique started in 2018 as an online boutique. At the time, I was working full-time in a federal contracting role and looking for a creative outlet that would allow me to connect with women in a different way. What began as a side business quickly grew into something much bigger. Read more>>
Joedi Woods
I originally started my business while planning my own wedding in 2008. It became very frustrating to talk to vendors and venues. I knew if I was having these issues, I couldn’t have been alone. So I took my I entrepreneurial upbringing and Kelis Monae Events(KME) was born. The name of my business comes from my daughter’s middle names. Read more>>
Jared Moser
My journey with Nerkco comes from a long-standing passion for competitive gaming, technology, and building strong digital communities. Over the years, I’ve worked across game development, web platforms, publishing, and leadership-focused roles, all of which helped shape the vision behind the company. Alongside my military career, where I developed experience in leadership, operations, and international collaboration, I continued pursuing game and platform development. Read more>>
Markcus Sanders
* “I became a musician and entertainer because I love what I do and enjoy connecting with people through art.” * “I love music and connecting with people through my art.” * “I became a musician because I enjoy sharing my art and connecting with others.” * “I love what I do, and music lets me connect with people in a meaningful way.” Read more>>
Derrick Schmidt
I didn’t get my start in a traditional way. I am a self-taught artist and everything I’ve learned has come from mentors, experimentation, and years of discipline. Growing up in a ‘less than perfect’ home, our main concerns were survival. Our family has experienced a lot of death and times of financial hardship. I didn’t really know what art was until I was around eighteen. Read more>>
Kelso Martin
I started sewing when I was young, creating outfits for my teddy bear. As I got older, I became frustrated that I couldn’t find the clothes I wanted to wear in stores. Sewing gave me the freedom to create my own designs and express my personal style, turning a childhood hobby into a lasting passion. Read more>>
Tyler Woods
I gained my interest in music in 5th grade when my sister would burn music on cds for me off mixtape websites. artist like tyga, lil Wayne, drake, big Sean, Kanye west and Eminem. Read more>>
Cameron Morse
Cut Me Some Slack LLC was founded in 2021, as live music began returning across the United States following the pandemic. At the time, I noticed that very few people in my local community were helping bring the artists and bands that people wanted to see to Kansas City. Seeing that gap, I decided to step up and create Cut Me Some Slack. Read more>>
Cassie Thiel
Having an artist for a dad, I have been heavily immersed in the art world for my entire life. Every road trip we went on was an opportunity for my dad to capture a new idea for a painting with his camera. When I was around 11 or so years old, we took a trip to visit my Aunt with my grandparents. Read more>>
Megan Brown
I worked at a high volume, low-income spay/neuter clinic in mid-town Kansas City. I started seeing right away that these animals had more needs than just spay/neuter. The animal might have been crawling with fleas, might be chained up outside without a dog house, etc. There were multiple problems that the animals were facing, in addition to the reproducing issue. Read more>>
Rachel Rains
A little over ten years ago, I was working full-time for a locally owned healthcare facility doing physician recruitment and marketing after many years working for a Chamber of Commerce. I loved showcasing my community in my hospital position, but the culture was a little sterile. Read more>>
Conrad Wright
I got started in 2006 printing t-shirts from my home. One day I got introduced to a man that had a screen printing shop that was looking for someone to pass it along to. I worked with Ted (the Owner) for about 2 and half years before he retired and left the business to me. Read more>>
Teddy Love
I come from a legacy of singers from my grandfather to my Dad and now me! Started off singing at the age of 3.. Singing in the church allowed me to have a major Gospel background. I’ve sang in various choirs in the community and school from Elementary all the way to college. Read more>>
Kalyn Bell
My story starts with a lot going on at once. I was in college full-time and working full-time. There wasn’t much downtime! During that season, I came across a woman on TikTok who owned her own marketing agency out of Chicago (now NYC), and it seemed like something I would be interested in. Read more>>
Joe Bussell
I’m a contemporary painter and multi media artist and long time AIDS and gay activist currently based in Kansas City. I have maintained a professional contemporary art practice for over 50 years. In that time I received a BFA in painting at Kansas University, two MFA’s in painting and ceramics at Washington University in Saint Louis. Read more>>
Joshua Sinclair
I started out playing the guitar at 10 years old. Took lessons for 6 years, started a band in high school and played some shows around my hometown. Went to college for a year to study music but I was more interested in performing and touring rather than learning how to teach music so I moved out to the east coast. Read more>>
Della Smith
A passion for animals and nature inspired me to animal photography. To capture their beauty and personality in a way that becomes true art. A cherished piece to display our love for the adopted part of our family that gives us constant support and encouragement and always offers love, without expectations. Read more>>
Nancy Burciaga
I started in retail a long time ago, I had found my calling! Sales, fashion and fun! It was really great but soon found myself wondering why things had to be done the way they were, why couldn’t we have some input in the store? We couldn’t even dress with the clothing we used to sell! Read more>>
Jennifer McCartney
In 2015 i was a struggling single mom that wanted to show her daughter what paying it forward was all about. With my daughter, I started a non-profit to help those in KC in need. A big part of our outreach is with the homeless community. We started doing street outreach about 8 years ago and never looked back. Read more>>
Megan Osmundsen
It was February of 2025 when I was looking for a birthday present for my dear friend Felicia who I play Mahjong with. I really wanted to give her a fun Mahjong gift book and realized it didn’t exist. There were American Mahjong books on the market but they felt more instructional and textbook-like. Read more>>
Rachel Hiles
Sandwiched KC began out of a need for connection. When Sandwiched was born, its founder, Rachel Hiles, was working to balance caring for her grandmother with Alzheimer’s and another aging loved one with a full-time career and the single life of a 20-something year old. She began searching for a way to connect with her fellow family caregivers. Read more>>
Rokco Sym
I’ve never been someone who follows a traditional path. I’m a single mom of four, and most of what I’ve built came from learning as I went. I’ve always been creative, and I found a way to turn that creativity into a career through barbering, braiding, locs, and hair. Building my business hasn’t always been easy. Read more>>
Asakhe Mtshisazwe
Asakhe Mtshisazwe is a South African gospel artist, singer, and songwriter based in Johannesburg. He was born on 31 March 2003 in Qumbu, Eastern Cape. His musical journey began in a local church within his community, where he discovered his passion for singing. Read more>>
Dylan Horsch
Hey, My name is Dylan Horsch, owner and body piercer at Golden Buffalo Body Arts. I appreciate Voyage KC for reaching out to find out more about Golden Buffalo Body Arts and myself. Read more>>
Makenna Gray
In 2019, my family was greatly blessed with purchasing Lake Paradise Resort. We camped there for many years and have always seen the potential that it held. Lake Paradise has slowly become the place of our dreams. We have continued to pour our hearts into creating the best campground in Missouri. There have been many wonderful weddings and celebrations held out at Lake Paradise. Read more>>
