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.
Angela “Chef Ang” Lacy
People often ask me how I manage to wear so many hats, but the truth is, every chapter of my journey has been connected by one purpose: serving people. I’m the founder of Vision Enterprises Unlimited, where I have the privilege of creating memorable culinary experiences as Chef Ang, as well as helping people explore the world through curated travel experiences. Read more>>
Nikky Weaves
My journey into the beauty industry started long before I ever thought of it as a career. In high school, I began doing my own hair, and before I knew it, other girls were asking if I could do theirs too. Looking back now, I realize I had my very first salon right in front of my mom’s house. Read more>>
Jim Langford
I grew up in Kansas City most of my life. In the 1960’s and 70’s, music and sports were a big part of my life. Album art, concert posters, comic book art and the editorial illustrators Sports Illustrated commissioned back then was mesmerizing for me. I was fascinated by the the radically new lettering styles on album covers and concert posters. Read more>>
Blake Hudon
My fitness journey started because I was the kid nobody expected to become strong. I was naturally skinny growing up, so I turned to running and eventually found my passion in strength training. What began as a personal challenge became a lifelong pursuit of learning how the body works and how fitness can completely change a person’s confidence. Read more>>
Imene McCoy
I founded Savvy Bridal in 2013 with a simple mission: to create an elevated bridal shopping experience where every bride feels seen, celebrated, and confident. Over the last 13 years, that vision has grown into multiple bridal boutiques across the country, serving thousands of brides while building a team and brand I’m incredibly proud of. Read more>>
Diana Chaloux-LaCerte
My story really began with my own transformation. More than 20 years ago, I was working in the fitness industry, but privately I was struggling. I was unhappy, uncomfortable in my body, and using food to cope with emotions I didn’t know how to process. Read more>>
Jasmine Merrill
It all started when I became a single mom at the age of 19. I knew instantly that I had a greater mission on this earth that my children catapulted me into. Around 2017, I started a ministry called SMILE (Single Moms Inspiring Leading and Empowering), which landed me on stages of religious organizations, non-profit orgs, and other prominent women’s empowerment events. Read more>>
Annie Jordan
Annie Jordan & Trisha Sien – Annie Fannie’s Sunshine Annie Fannie’s Sunshine was born from a passion to help people heal naturally and feel confident in their own skin. What started as one woman’s mission to find healthier solutions for herself and those she loved has grown into a trusted skincare company serving customers across the country. Read more>>
Marcin Mosiezny
I’ve always enjoyed fixing things. Quads and motorcycles fascinated me long before I started YouTube, and over time I realized that bringing neglected machines back to life was just as rewarding as riding them. I created FixYourATV to share real repairs, diagnostics, restorations, and the occasional project that most people would probably consider impossible. Read more>>
Dr. Christopher On
I grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, and attended Iowa State University, where I studied Kinesiology and Health. From a young age, I always had a passion for sports, rehabilitation, and helping others. Read more>>
Nicole Peters
My partner and I started the Witch and the Geek originally as a podcast idea, but we realized we weren’t good podcasters, but we were good artists. As disabled veterans we are in a unique position that has allowed us to not only start a small business in selling our ceramicware but to expand it into a nonprofit venture as well. Read more>>
Enase JEAN-BAPTISTE
We are a husband-and-wife duo. Our journey into wedding planning and design began with a passion for creating beautiful, meaningful celebrations and just $500. We didn’t have a large budget, an established name, or endless resources. What we did have is creativity, determination, faith, and a clear vision. We started small, using what we had wisely and reinvesting in our business whenever possible. Read more>>
Elizabeth Michel
My name is Lizz and I started my business Nugget’s Healthy Treats to raise money for my ESA so she could get her knee surgery. It was my way to raise funds to afford her surgery after her 1st birthday. Thankfully I had found non-profits that were willing to also help pay for a portion of her surgery. Read more>>
Rod Zirkle
Every kid struggles with what they want to be when they grow up… an archaeologist-adventurer, astronaut, secret agent, super hero, or alternatively, a comic book artist creating super heroes. It seemed to me that working in the movie industry would be the only opportunity to be (or pretend to be) any and all of those things. Like most kids, I drew a lot. Read more>>
Carrie Siems
This all started when our child was selected to participate in Broadcom Masters Top 30 science fair projects in the nation for middle school students. We were flown to Washington, DC where 30 middle schoolers competed in a variety of science focused projects, with the winner getting a $100,000 prize. Read more>>
Alex Chingiz A. Alasgarov
My journey into spirituality began long before it became my profession. From an early age, I was fascinated by the esoteric world, symbolism, astrology, tarot, and the deeper psychological patterns that shape our lives. One of my greatest inspirations was my grandmother, an intuitive reader whose wisdom and natural gift for understanding people left a lasting impression on me. Read more>>
Jennifer Vallejo
Spanish for Little Learners was born from my own experience as a mother raising two bilingual children. When my first child was born, I realized how difficult it was to find engaging, high-quality Spanish programs for young children that also involved parents in the learning process. I wanted to create the kind of program I wished had existed for my own family. Read more>>
Koreyon Robinson
People know me in the sports world. People know me in the business world. But what many people don’t know is that I’m also a songwriter behind the scenes. I’ve been writing music and poetry since I was a kid, and over the years I’ve had the opportunity to write for numerous artists behind the scenes. Read more>>
Drew Thompson
I’’ve always had a passion for music and videography. I started producing music when I was around 16 years old, and over the years I became good friends with people in the music industry, I’ve written songs for some of those people. Read more>>
Tim Leland
I’ve been playing music for as long as I can remember. I always knew that’s what I wanted to do. After I graduated high school I went to college for about half a semester and decided it wasn’t for me. I dropped out, bought a ukulele and a laptop, and learned how to play and started performing live. Read more>>
Quiana Walker
Pictures have always meant something special to me. When I was younger, all of my baby pictures were destroyed in a fire. Growing up without those memories made me realize just how valuable photographs are. From that point on, I became the person who always had a camera or phone in hand, making sure life’s moments were never forgotten. Read more>>
Preston Jordan
I honestly don’t know how I got to where I’m at today I don’t give myself alot of credit. I’ve never really fit in anywhere. I’ve never fit in with my family or friends. I never really was ever accepted but any 1 set of friend group. Read more>>
Endia Dawkins
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to helping people grow into the fullest version of themselves. Long before I had the language for it, I was creating spaces where people felt seen, encouraged, and capable of more. For over a decade, that looked like a career in the beauty industry. Read more>>
Tiffany Goss
If you’ve read anything about me before, you know the résumé — building the Academy for Injection Anatomy alongside my brother-in-law, Chris Surek, DO, FACS, national training tours, a partnership with the American Med Spa Association. That’s the work, and I’m proud of it. But the résumé isn’t where the story starts, and it’s not really the point of the story either. Read more>>
Braxton Po
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved movies and animation. Some of my earliest memories are waking up early on weekends to watch Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network. As I got older, one of my favorite things to do was go to the movie theater with my dad. Those experiences sparked a passion for storytelling that has stayed with me ever since. Read more>>
Olivia Elder
My career as a hairstylist started back in 2022. I had dropped out of college in 2020, started working full time at a retail store and didn’t know where to go with my life. A co-worker at the time had suggested cosmetology school, noting how often I did my hair and others around me. Read more>>
Joaquin Martinez
M A S, which stands for Most Amazing Sound, isn’t just a stage name. It’s a reflection of everything I bring to my craft. I’m a rapper, poet, musical engineer, master beatboxer, and EDM/Hip-Hop DJ. I never wanted to limit myself to one lane because music has never been one-dimensional to me. Read more>>
Lorna Trigg
was born in South Africa and immigrated to the USA in 1988. My study and use of Herbal and Medicinal plants has been a life long journey, beginning with my grandmother and the local indigenous people of my home country. Read more>>
Jada Bailey
Art has always been my safe haven. Growing up in a military family and constantly changing schools, the art room was the one place I always felt at home. I even started college at 17 to become an art teacher. Read more>>
