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.
Bri Hull
Since I was a little girl, I’ve been extremely creative. I’ve always loved to write, tell stories, and understand why people like what they like and are the way they are. Read More>>
Elizabeth Lang
My path to business ownership started with realizing I was on the wrong career path. After college, I accepted what I thought was my dream job in the nonprofit sector. While I loved the mission, I quickly realized the role wasn’t the right fit for my strengths or the life I envisioned for myself long term. Read More>>
Omega Edwards
I started my journey in 2017 as a ravager on Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2. Afterwards, I created a film with Kent Bernhard titled “Street Runners” starring myself, Benzino from The Source Magazine and love and Hip Hop Star which is now an award winning film. Read More>>
Trae Venerable
Trae Q. L. Venerable is an author, horseman, educator, and advocate whose work focuses on preserving and sharing the history of African American cowboys. Raised in a family with deep roots in ranching and agriculture, he developed a love for horses, cattle, and the outdoors at an early age. His upbringing taught him the values of hard work, responsibility, and respect for tradition. Read More>>
Pauline Berndt
I remember when I was around 6years old, I was sitting in my grandmother’s kitchen just watching her in her element, making something sweet for the family to enjoy and she said something that I will never forget. Read More>>
Emilia Ivanova
I am the Head Coach of Heartland Fencing Academy, and my story began 26 years ago when I moved to Kansas from my home country of Bulgaria. As an experienced national-level fencer and Olympic coach, I brought my passion and expertise in fencing to the Kansas City area. I was invited to start a foil fencing program at a local club, and it quickly grew. Read More>>
Carlos Ortiz-Gallo
My path to making art started from very young (4-5 years old). My grandfather remembered I would ask for pen and paper as soon as I would arrive to his house to visit. Read More>>
John Lewis iv
I have been in the arts in some way shape or form my whole life. Be it an arts class in grade school, dance in jr high, theater in high school and college. I didn’t start doing poetry until my early 20’s; started as a way to understand what I know now as mental health. Read More>>
Ken Frank
My wife, Shelly, and I have been in Ottawa since 1996, and I have practiced medicine there since then. Around 2018, we felt called to do something for our community in the way of opening a bowling alley/restaurant. Ottawa has traditionally been a good bowling town, but had been without a bowling alley for 18 years, and had also had a paucity of quality restaurants. Read More>>
Rebekah Bloom
I began the tours 15 years ago because I wanted to share the incredible food, rich history, and unique stories that make Kansas City such a special place. At the time, food tours were still a relatively new concept, but I saw an opportunity to connect people with the local restaurants, chefs, and neighborhoods that give our city its character. Read More>>
Justin Grabouski
My path to chiropractic started in an unexpected way. Growing up in Beatrice, Nebraska, I was heavily involved in sports, particularly baseball. During college, I suffered a significant baseball injury that changed the direction of my life. Through my own recovery, I experienced firsthand the impact chiropractic care can have on healing, performance, and overall quality of life. Read More>>
Eric Daniel Ze Biakath
Honestly, I didn’t plan to go freelance. In 2021 I was stuck doing generic designs at an agency and started taking small gigs on Fiverr at night. My turning point was a project for a fitness coach. He came to me with just an idea and zero visuals. I created his logo, workout PDF templates, and 30 days of Instagram posts. Read More>>
Shelby Stangl
I started Serenity Speech Language Therapy in December of 2020 because I saw a real need for in-home early intervention speech therapy. While there are many wonderful community resources available, I kept meeting families whose children didn’t quite qualify for those services but still clearly needed support. Read More>>
Char’vez Johnson
My story starts in Kansas City, Kansas. Born in KU Hospital to Carolyn Davis & Carl Johnson. They met at a Kool & The Gang concert in 79’. My mother recognized my father from a news article about a devastating house fire in 75’ that claimed the lives of 2 of my aunts and my uncle. All under the age of 6. Read More>>
Breanna Hicks
In 2019 my supervisor at the time asked what I enjoyed doing in my free time. When I responded reading, he challenged me to write. He had no idea that becoming an author was my childhood dream that I pushed aside years and years ago. So I began with writing a blog. Read More>>
Diana The Great
I am a creative, maker, cosplayer, sewing specialist, crafter and all around nerdy individual. Everything began organically enough– as a child I loved Marvel, DC, and that little bit of escapism that you fall into when you get a good book. Middle school brought on anime, and my love for being a magical girl stemmed from there. Read More>>
JACOB MATZ
Hello, we are Wicked Grain Custom Furniture a family owned custom furniture business from the heart of the Midwest (KC). We pride ourselves in making amazing, one-of-a kind, hand crafted pieces of furniture from live edge slabs, hardwoods, authentic barn-wood, and reclaimed wood. We love making custom pieces that are functional, affordable, and super cool!! Read More>>
David Zuercher
I started my career in the automotive industry in March 2000 as a Sales Consultant with Courtesy Chevrolet, which was part of the Van Tuyl Automotive Group. Like many people entering the business, I was focused on learning, working hard, and earning the opportunity to grow. Read More>>
Roger Figueroa
One of the most meaningful risks I’ve taken recently was stepping away from a career I spent nearly a decade building as a nationally recognized fashion designer. Rather than staying in what was familiar, I chose to pursue my esthetician license, driven by a desire to expand my knowledge and deepen my expertise in the esthetics industry. Read More>>
Jessica Kibby
I’ve spent most of my adult life helping people navigate some of the hardest moments they’ll ever face. For the last 11 years, I’ve worked at Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City, where I currently serve as the Director of Social Services. Read More>>
Jessie Green
Usually I was content with having something in my right hand to making drawings with. It wasn’t until I was drawing one day and someone mentioned being a doctor in the future that it felt like there was a lighting bolt in my head. From that day I made it my mission to just make art. Read More>>
Michael Reece
I’ve always been a guy who loved music, technology, and bringing people together. What started as DJing small events eventually grew into DJ MIC Productions, and later into SmartMic Karaoke, a platform that’s now helping karaoke hosts and venues across the country. The journey definitely hasn’t been a straight line. I’ve had successes, failures, setbacks, and opportunities that I never could have planned myself. Read More>>
The Kansas City Canaries Amanda Bernice (Founder & Director)
The Kansas City Canaries began very organically, just three friends who were deeply involved in the local dance and music scene, and who loved performing alongside musicians at our jazz bar. What started as a fun creative outlet quickly grew into something much more meaningful and intentional than I could have anticipated. Read More>>
Weston Charles-Gallo
I am both an activist and a consultant because my life taught me that surviving foster care and thriving in adulthood are not the same thing. As a young person, I experienced the foster care system from the inside. Like many youth in care, I was navigating trauma, uncertainty, and the challenge of figuring out who I was. Read More>>
Bre Coulter
My passion for beauty started long before I ever owned a business. Growing up, I was surrounded by it—my mom did hair, my grandmother did hair, and beauty was always a part of my environment. Watching them create, connect with people, and help women feel beautiful planted a seed in me at a very young age. Read More>>
Ashlee Tyler-Lemos
I’ve always loved doing hair. My Oma ( German grandmother) was a hairdresser, and she encouraged my creativity and love for the beauty industry form a young age. After my divorce in my mid-twenties , I decided it was time to pursue that passion and enrolled in cosmetology school. at the time , I was a single mother balancing school, work, and raising my son. Read More>>
nathan schwarz
What started out as just a small 700 sq ft general store, that seemed as if youd walked into the early 1900s at our old location across the street, grew into a 3300 sq ft restaurant, general and feed store. That offers fresh homemade scratch kitchen menu options, while offering the feel of grandmas kitchen. Where we know everyone’s name and treat them like family. Read More>>
Kevin Oldham
My story starts in a skate shop in Topeka, Kansas. My mom owned Square One Skateboards, and I grew up watching her pour everything she had into that business. When it closed, she walked away with nothing. Read More>>
Jennifer Tremain Dudgeon
Our journey began as a quest for restoration, born from personal trials and experiences that shaped our founder’s path, Jennifer Tremain Dudgeon. With every product in the CityGRL Professional Hair and skincare lines, you’re not just getting a formula, you’re receiving a piece of a personal journey. A journey that acknowledges the need for reliable solutions that cater to rejuvenation and transformation. Read More>>
Ty McDuffey
I founded Duff Radio in 2021 as a podcast for local Kansas City rap artists, producers, and audio engineers. At the time, I was fresh out of law school from UMKC but had failed the Missouri Bar Exam on my first attempt. I was living in the Northland, frantically applying to writing jobs on Indeed. I was so young then. Read More>>
Luke and Paul Harwerth
Growing up in a small town in northern Nebraska, We didn’t have much to do, but that gave us uncountable opportunities to try new and different hobbies. We also had incredible supportive parents that wanted us to try everything with the hopes that we would find things that we’re personally passionate about. Read More>>
Vee (Vidhi) Heiland
My earliest memory of India is sitting still while my mom carefully piped henna onto my tiny hands. When I was eight years old, my family moved halfway across the world to Topeka, Kansas. Third grade was incredibly tough. Between the language barrier, the culture shock, and just trying to figure out a completely new school system, I felt lost. Read More>>
Kyle Mayfield redemptionroad9@gmail.com
I’ve been a diesel mechanic since 2002 and have spent more than two decades working in the industry. During that time, I helped build and operate two successful businesses while continuing to grow my skills as a mechanic. In 2023, I decided to take a different path and started my own business as a semi-truck driver. Read More>>
Johanna Miller
I’ve always loved color and been fascinated with the way color creates moods and stories. After more than a decade as a hairstylist, I decided to learn how to dye yarns in order to achieve very specific effects I was envisioning but couldn’t find anywhere for purchase. Read More>>
Brian Haynes
I started making content about 8 years ago to share my passion for gaming with others. Since I started, I’ve expanded my content creation to several different venues and areas. I got to where I am today by constantly learning, working, and observing different areas of the internet. Read More>>
Megan Luttrell
I have always been drawn to music. I started with flute and bassoon in elementary school band and then picked up the guitar when I got to high school. It wasn’t until college when I joined the “Old Time Music Club” at the University of Vermont that I really discovered a love for bluegrass and classic country music. Read More>>
Chelsea Teater
I started CAT Designs Jewelry in January 2020 after working in social services/non profits for most of my life. I was dealing with some health issues and just wanting a change in my career overall. Read More>>
Shaunita Phillips
My journey into entrepreneurship began from a deeply personal place. As a woman who started my menstrual cycle at a young age and later supported my mother through her battle with cancer, I became passionate about women’s health, wellness, and the need for holistic support throughout life’s transitions. Read More>>
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>>
