Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

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.

Taylor Ho

Looking back, we’re so grateful for the journey—the challenges, the triumphs, and the moments that brought us closer as sisters. Mon Chéri is a testament to what can happen when you dare to dream and have someone by your side who believes in you. As we look to the future, we’re excited to continue growing—not just as business owners, but as women who want to inspire others to chase their dreams, embrace their passions, and find beauty in every step of the journey. Whatever comes next, we know we’ll face it together, with the same courage and love that brought us here. Read more>>

Joshua Williams

A friend, Lynell Diggs, encouraged me to try painting, and after much persuasion, I did—starting with a King Tut piece featuring a cybernetic eye. Since then, painting has become my focus. I’ve exhibited my work in various art shows, museums, and festivals, including The African American Jazz Museum, Berkeley Art Garden, 80 Santa Fe Art Gallery and ArtsConnect. My art has been featured in The Evolution Magazine and installed in venues like Urban Restaurant and Aizen Root Remedy Cafe. Currently, I’m working on a Patrick Mahomes mural for a barbershop. Read more>>

Solomon Buckley

Another area has been building an organization from scratch and having many not fully support in the beginning. But today I can truly say that picture is very different. Im so thankful for my family especially my mother Minister Ella Mae Buckley (deceased) who taught me many things along with my late father Pastor Billy Buckley who passed on November 30,2024. My father and I did ministry together for many years together. My father was an advisor, friend and spiritual leader to many. As I am conducting this interview. I am still grieving over my father and would request for positive prayers and encouragement. Read more>>

Rick Nuñez

In 2021, I decided to go back to school to pursue one of my longtime passions: business. I enrolled in Johnson County Community College’s Business Administration program, but even while studying, I kept getting pulled back into the creative world. I’d throw on graphic design videos on YouTube while doing my accounting homework and even ended up taking a few art classes as electives. As I got closer to finishing my degree, I had a big realization—I could actually combine both business and art through graphic design. That lightbulb moment led me to extend my academic journey by jumping into a Design program at JCCC right after wrapping up my Business degree. Read more>>

Benjamin Blevins

The toughest part of being in a band is finding like members with like goals. Having a cohesive unit is always a struggle, but our current lineup feels like family! Another challenge is feeling growth in a creative field. Having set goals and motivations isn’t always plausible in this field, but we have learned to manage ourselves very well from it all. Read more>>

Pamela Cates

That lead to selling our large home in Loch Lloyd and moving into a RV on 350 in Belton, MO.I had been volunteering at the Belton Middle School pantry for 7 years and felt like I wanted a place that I could bring kids and have them unplug and experience nature. We started with raw farm land that had been stripped of its top soil due to poor farming practices. We set out to build a life here and restore the land. I sold my Mercedes and bought a John Deer. This city girl had gone country. In the process of building and having our daughter wedding here we decided to start a wedding venue/event space. 4 horses, 3 goats, 2 dogs, 8 chickens and a herd of Japanese Wagyu and Rubia Galega cattle we are off and going on this farm life. Kids from Belton come out and find peace on the farm. Read more>>

Sara Harms

Travel advising was a natural extension of that. After working with an agent to plan a Disney trip, I became fascinated by the world of travel planning and knew I wanted to master it. Goodness knows there is so much to master when it comes to a Disney vacation! I spent six years as an independent agent with a local travel agency, honing my skills, building relationships, and falling more in love with the process of advising while building relationships with my clients. Since the beginning, my clients have known me as Sara Sent Me, and in late 2024, I took the next big step by attaining the credentials to allow me to open Sara Sent Me as a fully independent travel agency. Read more>>

Gary Price

Founded in the 1990s, PE/GC, Inc. has been delivering top-tier electrical solutions, backed by over 47 years of our founder’s experience. Our journey began with a passion for the trade—learning, training, and eventually building a company committed to quality craftsmanship. Unlike other electrical contractors, we are licensed in Missouri and Kansas, ensuring compliance with state regulations across a wider service area. As a family-owned business, we bring a personal approach, treating every project with the care and precision it deserves. Read more>>

Sierra Jenkins

I went to Missouri State University for art for 5 years- with an emphasis on Illustration and minor in Printmaking, Art History, Graphic Design. My senior year, I ended up getting my first ever tattoo (a design I made myself) and after that experience I was hooked. I dropped out of school and pursued apprenticeships at tattoo shops. It was an arduous 5 years of learning the craft and growing as a person but I am so happy I landed at Working Class Tattoo. This shop was well worth the wait, and being around other artists that take the craft as seriously as I do is a dream. I have been licensed for 3 years now and am loving every minute of it. Read more>>

Candace Torres

Before cosmetology school, I got a job at Beauty Brands working in retail and eventually moved up to booking appointments. I absolutely loved it there! Naturally, after finishing school, it was the first place I worked as a stylist. I didn’t initially get the location I wanted, but I eventually made my way there. I’m so grateful for my time at BB and all the amazing people I got to work with. While there, I participated in several Kansas City fashion shows and took advantage of every extra education opportunity I could. Read more>>

Ryan Colvin

Working out was my favorite hobby, so I decided to make it my career. My passion for fitness training developed in Manhattan, KS where I was a member at what was the time the oldest gym in Manhattan, Pro Fitness. There, I not only was under the influence of other gym goers, but also one of the best trainers, Walter Barr. My training consistency at the gym lead to a desk job which ultimately lead me to pursue my personal training certification. Today, it has been almost ten years & personal training has led me to Kansas City. I love Kansas City. I would visit here often, so being able to call it home is a true pleasure. Read more>>

Jake Scarbo

I cut my teeth in a hurry, processing mortgage loans for some of the top people in the entire company. In fact, some of my favorite memories is processing loans for the number one loan officer in the company and here locally in Kansas City often times going out of my way to ask for his advice, his council His secrets to success along the way. I knew one day I wanted to be but I was happy to put in my time on the operation side of things truly learning the business Read more>>

Nate Holt

My leg, usually the right one that’s used for the sustain pedal, would shake uncontrollably sometimes, I still struggle with sheet music – there have been a several times when I’ve had to keep going regardless of how it sounded; more than enough embarrassing and humbling moments. But you learn, hopefully, how to be better or prepare better and keep going. That’s probably one of the most important lessons I’ve learned, is to keep getting better; confidence comes with that and you can have fun, take risks, make mistakes and move past them. Read more>>

Melinda Parks

One of my former Sprint colleagues left in 2009 and founded Freestate Advisors with a business partner. Their extensive experience in corporate finance provided an understanding of the business cycle and its relationship with investment risk. In a quest to achieve better investment outcomes, they developed a unique management approach to protect from catastrophic losses when recession risk was higher due to the business cycle. Eventually, they were looking for a succession plan. They approached me and another person to consider coming to work in the business, with the agreement to buy out the partners eventually, which we have now fully executed. Being an owner at Freestate has allowed me to utilize all the skills I have developed throughout my career. Read more>>

Chris Johnson

After the event I stayed connected with the other athletes and team from Iron Adaptive. At the end of 2024 there was an opportunity to formally join the leadership team and so I volunteered to serve as the Director of Operations and Director of Technology. It has been an exciting journey of transitioning from my own recovery to now helping other athletes in their journey. The adaptive community is so strong here in KC and there are many organizations and groups who do amazing work to help people with disabilities all across the KC region. I am humbled and honored to play a small part in that community. Read more>>

Libby Rule

Like in the beginning I mistakenly thought there would be ambient light to work in the whole time (there was not, I have to bring my own light). I had to figure out how to license my business and conduct invoicing (my least favorite thing, really). I needed to learn the best process to get information from the client and get information back to them so that everyone feels really secure that they know what’s going on come wedding day. The art side of things, I had a great hold of. But the business side of things had a real curve! Read more>>

Lauren-Ashley Walls

I sang for the first time at an open mic in September 2022 and was extremely nervous. Once I got over my nerves, I realized performing was a part of me. It was comfortable in an uncomfortable way, it was fun, it was exciting, it was invigorating. Most of all, it was engaging. I got to share a piece of me with the audience; something I never thought I’d do, let alone enjoy. It was this performance that solidified that I should be sharing my talent and gift with people. Read more>>

Carmelita E. Clark

Both Theresa and I are Children Illustrated Authors. Our books are included in our programs along with our full Antibullying Curriculum and Lesson Plans for grades Pre-K to 12th. Prior to Covid we visited Schools, Churches and other organizations with our Live AntiBullyMan faclitating Workshops, Assemblies and Seminars. We have partnered with Sonic, Mazuma Credit Union and, McDonalds . For the past 7-8 years we’ve participated with Kauffman Stadium/KC Royals/Channel 4 and Channel 41 at Day At the K, where we have passed out Mazuma Banks & Pencils, Sonic Coupons, etc. to over 10,000 students. Read more>>

Kayci Rosenak

In 2022 I began making sourdough, and I decided in 2024 to add that, as well as chocolate chip cookies, to my flower cart for customers to purchase. For the first year of running this as a business, I have really enjoyed meeting and getting to know different people in our community that I may not have crossed paths with otherwise! One of my main goals for Homegrown Flower Farm & Micro Bakery is to be a place in Lawrence and the surrounding communities that loves people well and always helps brighten the day for everyone who stops by! Read more>>

Mariela Villeda

I go to my grandmas, my aunts, my friend’s houses, and I’ll see my once gifted floral arrangement baskets hanging around filled with purpose again. I believe that just because something is given up, doesn’t mean that it’s no good, you can find beauty in everything, even inside a basket. Eventually I became passionate about this new creativity and decided I wanted to open up a floral business with a little twist! And Vintage blooms and baskets were born. With this blessing I’ve been able to bless my community by supporting a local animal shelter with 5% of our profits in early March, and will continue to support my community. Read more>>

Amber Dawkins

In 2016, I decided to specialize in branding photography, and that’s when my business really took off. It started with photographing headshots of business owners for features in local magazines. Those clients often called back after seeing the results of our sessions, wanting more in-depth photoshoots to showcase their whole story – from staff headshots to architectural photos of their spaces to action shots of them providing services to their clients. Read more>>

Michelle Mazel

I was in the gym from that point on though the age of eighteen every night straight from school for 4 hours each and competing on weekends. I loved it because not only did I develop some amazing skills but more importantly I was developing incredible friendships with teammates, discipline of hard work, responsibility, competitiveness, and the ability to overcome both winning and losing. Major life lessons were learned in that gym day in and day out. Gymnastics for me, taught grit. The ability to push through when life doesn’t go your way.. I owe that to my coach who is my stepfather, Jeff Conner. Read more>>

Gina & Brian Richardson

In Jan of 2020 Mike started to have significant health issues and became more of a consultant at that point since he was unable to come down to the office on a regular basis. When COVID hit, we applied for PPP funds and were able to keep our doors open & pay all employees without skipping a beat. By the middle of 2022 is was evident that Mike would not be ever able to return in any type of capacity. That is when DHD was formed. We wanted a new name to stand out & also to be able to offer more than just shade structures. Brian & I have a lake house at lake of the ozarks & the cove we reside in is named “Duffer Hollow”…. DHD offers permanent shade structures for both commercial as well as residential. We also offer metal fabrication services and have made several arched signs for the City of Rich Hill & the City of Nevada. Read more>>

Luigi Franco

Today I operate this DJ business called “DJ Luigi El Picosito” that includes a full production team, with not only lighting but special FX, screen panels, large audio production, and much more. Now, it’s not just about a dream or business, it’s about doing things differently, creating a style as a DJ, and uniqueness has been an important key to me. Happy to say as a DJ here in Kansas City, this city has given me tremendous amounts of opportunities. So many doors have opened, so many contacts and places we continue to take our show including several cities. Very grateful for all of our friends, connections, business partnerships, business collaborations, and especially family! Read more>>

Danielle Anderson

In a lot of ways I’ve been my biggest obstacle. I’ve realized the importance of checking in with myself to make sure I connect to the work and am doing what feels right as an artist, not just what’s easy or safe. In 2018, I moved from Colorado to Kansas City, MO, to take a break from the intensity of my music career and explore the possibility of a new life. I had big personal losses during that time, losing my grandma and my dad. After the big move and intended break from music, came the pandemic, so I had a 4-5 year hiatus, and came out of it with feeling quite shaken and unsure of what was next. Read more>>

Niki Staab

As I walked alongside families in my doula work, I became increasingly aware of the immense struggles caregivers face. These individuals, who dedicate themselves to supporting their loved ones, often do so with little help, navigating physically and emotionally demanding journeys alone. I saw the urgent need for caregiver-specific support and began exploring ways to fill that gap. This led me to meet Rachel Blankenship, and together, we co-founded Rings of Care. Read more>>

Kristen Koerber

Content creation started as a fun way to document what I was making in my kitchen on a tight law school grocery budget, but over time, it’s grown into a true passion project. Being both a lawyer and a food content creator is the best of both worlds for me. I genuinely love getting to do both, and I feel so grateful that this is my life. Practicing law and creating food content bring me joy in completely different ways. My legal career challenges me intellectually, while food content creation is my creative escape where I get to experiment, share, and have fun. Read more>>

Anna Pence

It has also allowed me to become an extremely active ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) and ALC (Advanced Listener Copy) reviewer which means I am provided with copies of books or audiobooks before they are released to the public to review and provide my honest feedback to the publisher. Although I love reading and posting my book reviews my absolute favorite thing that has come from creating Positivity and Pages has been becoming an advocate for the library. Kansas City has some of the most fantastic libraries in the nation and I feel so blessed that I have a platform where I am able to share information about our library’s programs, the importance of reading to children, and the many free ways books are accessible to everyone! Read more>>

Tri-Beats

Before we started as Tri-Beats, two of us were interested in K-POP (Korean pop) choreography. In 2022, we teamed up to create Tri-Beats and perform original choreography for the first time. The current majority of our performances include original choreography to J-POP (Japanese pop) music; however, there were not a lot of choreographies already on the internet to learn from. Starting original choreography was a first-time endeavor for us, but we soon realized how fun it was and received positive reactions from the audience. Read more>>

Nick Briney

I started my fitness career at Lifetime Fitness, where I worked for seven years, earned multiple certifications, trained hundreds of clients, and grew as a leader. In 2020, when the world shifted, my wife Britni (who has a background in nutrition and college athletics) and I saw an opportunity to create something we felt was missing—a fitness and wellness experience that blends expert coaching, accountability, and sustainable results. Read more>>

Mary Fischer

My journey in the beauty industry began with a deep passion for both creativity and connection. After earning my B.S in Education at Kansas State University I completed my cosmetology license, I worked behind the chair as a stylist, where I quickly realized my interest extended beyond the technical aspects of the craft. I was drawn to the business side of the industry—particularly leadership, education, and building strong teams. Read more>>

Alexis Davis

My husband and I made a decision: I would invest in myself—not just for me but for my family. I wanted to do something that made a difference, something that made others feel good. So, I enrolled in esthetics school. But it wasn’t easy. My husband worked long hours, and at the same time, we began noticing signs that our youngest child might be on the autism spectrum. We were desperate for answers and help. On top of that, it was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, making everything even more overwhelming. But despite the sleepless nights and the chaos, I graduated. Read more>>

Andrea DeLong

My pivotal moment came in college when I realized this passion didn’t have to stay a hobby—it could be my life’s work. Attending Brooks Institute of Photography turned that dream into reality. I immersed myself in the technical and artistic intricacies of the craft, refining my ability to manipulate light, compose striking images, and tell compelling visual stories. Every click of the shutter is more than just a photograph; it’s a celebration of strength, beauty, and confidence. From those early high school photoshoots to the deeply personal portraits I create now, photography has always been my way of connecting, empowering, and capturing the essence of a moment. Read More>>

Kassidi Upton

As with any path, the road hasn’t always been smooth, but every obstacle has taught me something invaluable. I am originally from Oklahoma, so when I decided to start my own business, I had no prior connections and had to build my clientele from the ground up. The decision to leave a stable career path and pursue something entirely new wasn’t easy. Building trust and relationships with clients from scratch was especially challenging, but the connections I’ve made along the way have been incredibly rewarding. Read More>>