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.

Lara Dowdy

In 2006, the transportation industry was booming with many trucking companies at a shortage, and at the same time in Michigan too many hardworking individuals found themselves at a dead end. Families struggled to make ends meet, veterans returned home searching for stability, and countless others longed for a second chance. Seeing the growing need for reliable, well-trained truck drivers in an industry facing a massive shortage, we decided as a family to step forward and make a difference. Read more>>

TJ Tyus

I started running Speed and Agility camps around Portage, MI for youth ages 6-18yrs old. During COVID I built a weight room at my house and started training my boys after local gyms shut down and eventually other parents saw my boys success and asked me to train their children and that’s how I became a personal trainer in the community of Portage. I have trained over 1,000 youth in the Portage area rather through Speed and Agility camps or personal training. I have over 10 student athletes playing college sports who I personally trained 1on1 in High School and or middle school. Read more>>

Jenna Tasker

The first time I walked in, it was nothing like the vision I now hold so dear. It was a broken-down office space with cubicles, stained carpet, and a backyard filled with waist-high weeds—and a family of wild turkeys who had made it their home. But when I looked past all of that, I saw something no one else could see. I saw light pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I saw warmth, community, healing. I saw what could be. Read more>>

Jimmy Grosse

Following a successful High School running career, where I competed at State Finals all four years, I continued to compete in college. I attended Hope College a NCAA Division III school in Holland, MI. At Hope I learned to train consistently and my love of competition continued to grow. More importantly at Hope College my understanding of faith as a Christian was formed and blossomed. Like so many students at Hope, I met my wife who was from Zeeland, Michigan. We settled down in Zeeland where we are currently raising our family. Read more>>

Tiffany Damle

I have learned a lot from watching my mother put together little vignettes throughout the home, style a bookshelf, and use bold, bright colors and patterns. My childhood was an amalgamation of my father and mother’s influence of design, and my love of Chicago’s architecture. I’ve always been passionate about interior design, you can say it’s in my blood. However, the courage to start my own firm grew out of designing and decorating many homes for my husband and me. Friends, family, neighbors, and even competing buyers of one of my homes, have asked for my assistance in creating beautiful spaces. This inspired me to create Tiffany Jane Interiors, a full-service interior design firm. Read more>>

Chris Abolio

Currently, I am an international performer and professional coach. Much of my work has been towards giving back to my community in Southwest Detroit; Teaching dance, hand balance, contortion, and adult fitness classes. I also teach online and in-person lessons in these disciplines. I have performed for notable events such as Theatre Bizarre, Electric Forest, and was part of the opening number for PitBull, as well as toured with multiple circus companies as a contortionist, clown, hand-balance artist, and show girl. With my skills, I work with various talent agencies and have started pursuing my certification as a Physical Therapy Assistant. Read more>>

Delonte Pearson

During one of the talent shows, I told my mom that I wanted to sing “dad’s song”. She asked if I was sure; my response called for a chair to be set in the front of a group of about 100 people. I stood on the chair with no fear, and sang with an instrumental backing, never missing a beat, a word, or a note. The product called for tears and applause from the entire audience. That’s what pulled my blush. I sheepishly climbed down from the chair I’d stood on, and walked shakily over to my mom’s warm embrace, not realizing I’d just set the tone for the rest of my life’s performances. Read more>>

Eric Ruano

I was 14 when my mom was deported to Mexico. Wanting her children to finish their education in the states, my mom gave up legal guardianship over my sister and myself. No adult that we knew of would be willing to take on two teenagers into their home at once, so we were split up. My sister went with her best friend’s family, and I moved in with my girlfriend’s family. Our two younger siblings went to Mexico with our mom. Read more>>

Alexandra (Allie) Van Velsen

There were definitely struggles along the way. Being a creative I mostly struggled with (and still struggle with) deciding what part of the fashion industry I belonged in. I love styling and designing jewelry, but I also love visual merchandising for retailers, so finding the balance between all the creative things I want to do, and putting my all into it each project while still maintaining everyday life wasn’t and isn’t always easy. Read more>>

Demisha Harper

From childhood kitchen adventures to publishing my very own cookbook, my journey with food has been nothing short of fulfilling. My love for cooking started at a young age, rooted in cherished moments with my great-grandmother. She encouraged my creativity by allowing me to walk to Farmer Jack, pick my own ingredients, and experiment with dishes of my choice. My aunt used to have me helping her peel potatoes, teaching me the basics of preparation and patience in the kitchen. My granny and mom, to this day, always have an answer for all of my cooking questions, guiding me through recipes and techniques with their wisdom. Read more>>

Natalie Rantala-Strach

Unfortunately for Joshua Martin, some of the editing projects got delayed, because I was struggling with my mental health due to a work from home job. After struggling with finances and finally deciding to leave the job that just wore me down, my husband and I moved to Traverse City where we both work at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Read more>>

Ainsley N. Harvey

My journey as an abstract visual artist started at the age of 6. I colored on coloring pages, coloring books and used tracing paper. By the time I got into middle school I was drawing different animated characters and various subjects. I went on to college and graduated with a B.A. in Studio Art-Painting. Read more>>

Diane Harris

With every business there are always struggles and MHOS is no different. Continuing to grow our client base and making sure we connect and resonate with younger buyers is always a challenge. In order to continue to grow we need to offer the most current trends that will appeal to their taste and wants. It is something that I work at on a continuous basis. Also, finding new Designers is a full time job, as well. The store has to stay “current” to showcase and offer fresh looks to keep our customers engaged and coming back. Read more>>

Erin Dulong

I started out, just bored while my husband was working on our house. I ran to Hobby Lobby and decided, okay I think I’ll make some candles. My name came from our house, which was built in 1894, and I chose to do craft company because I didn’t want to be tied down to just candles. In the last 2 and a half years, I have added so many more products to my line. Read more>>

Hannah Avdek

I was hooked. The owner of that studio suggested I take teacher training. I was rather disinterested. I went on to take yoga in community college while pursing my basic credits to get into homebirth midwifery school. My professor there also suggested I take teacher training… I again denied it until she offered to cover all costs except my books. I still don’t know where the money came from, but I took the training. I taught for a year and then moved for midwifery school. I stopped teaching to focus on school and my own personal practice. Read more>>

Marquin Evans

Finding time to explore my creative passions during my schooling and 5 years of corporate work were not easy. There were some late nights and events missed during those years, but I knew it came with the nature of the work and that was something I was going to have to get used to. I think at times I looked at those who were in pursuit of the same dreams as me and wondered how they were able to do it so “easily” (not knowing all of the hard work it likely took them to get there). But in the midst of those periods of comparison, I began to understand that to do something this different would require a level of dedication that I didn’t initially anticipate. Read more>>

Beth Richardson

I was a single 32 year-old woman at the time so an adult with adult bills (apartment, vehicle, etc.) and decided that my dislike for the legal field outweighed the financial burden of going to college to become a PT which was a 7.5 year graduate program. I knew I wouldn’t be able to help my brother personally, but he found a PT and was able to rehab back to his old self. However, he was the catalyst for my venture – and a tough venture it was. Read more>>

Troy & Crissy Willett

So in order to reestablish a positive work/life balance we have been making sure to reconnect with our great passion for sailing. Even though we are about an hour away from the nearest Great Lake, we have found pleasure in sailing our small sailboats on the inland lakes close to home. We both love the great outdoors and are happy to be surrounded by this beautiful forest. We fill in the time when we aren’t thinking about sailing with hiking, off-roading, XC Skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting and spending time in the woods communing with nature. Read more>>

Molly

Since then, multiple studies have been conducted with respect to the financial challenges cancer patients face when in treatment for the disease. These studies have resulted in various interventions to help mitigate the financial fallout patients and families face like treatment non-adherence, prescription abandonment (prescriptions that are never picked up at the pharmacy due to lack of transportation or inability to cover the co-pay), medically related bankruptcy and in the most egregious cases, earlier mortality because patients stop treatment and return to work because they are at risk to lose everything. Read more>>

Taylor & Austin Leader

Once Austin accepted a full time theatre and communications teaching position, we moved from southeast Michigan to the westside where the inspiration for Leader Theatre began. The Grand Rapids area is filled with visual and performing arts, so much so that we found it challenging to keep up with all of the show dates. Taylor started to keep track of upcoming local theatrical performances which we initially shared on instagram and now have a dedicated space on our website (leadertheatre.com) for Michigan theatre performances and audition opportunities. In addition to highlighting resources, and supporting the arts we share our theatrical adventures on social media. Read more>>

Candice Whitson

I am very grateful to have found a wonderful network. The dog community is family like. My biggest challenge I would say was figuring out my niche market, of course dog people! But my first year I spent a lot of time doing craft shows instead of dog related events because I just didn’t know that so many dog events existed! My first dog event was the Mid Michigan Pet Expo in Flint, March of 2024 and I knew those were businesses I wanted to work with and be around. Another small challenge is of course Michigan winters, being a leash company in Michigan the winter can get a little slow. Read more>>

Nicole Michaels

Outside of work, I spent my time either dreading my next shift or working on anything creative. Handmade, themed family Halloween costumes every year. Over-the-top birthday parties that my daughters and I spent the summer planning. Last year, when they asked for a “Jaws” theme, I built a replica of the Orca out of two rafts from the Dollar Tree, cardboard, spray paint, and a vision, ending with a cinematic shark attack reenactment in my parents’ pool. Or maybe I was upcycling a cool piece of thrifted furniture. Read more>>

Romero Vonlonte

I started by offering free financial coaching sessions just to build my confidence and see if people found value in what I had to say. The response was overwhelming. People kept coming back, telling me I made financial concepts easy to understand and actionable. From there, I built my business, focusing on helping people with credit, investing, estate planning, and debt strategies. I also incorporated my passion for trading, teaching people how to navigate the markets with smart money concepts. Read more>>

Kenneth Dandridge

By no means was this journey smooth at all, in fact, it’s still rocky. A lot of people still don’t know of my music. Most are even surprised to even know that I do. I pride myself in being an extremely humble artist, therefore I’m not the type to hassle anyone or reach out more than once concerning performing anywhere here in the city. I’ve never had the “right equipment” to put my music out with good quality until 2020. A lot of my most meaning lyrics in my past music was overlooked because of it. Read more>>

Miranda Coombs

I poured my entering savings into it, crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. I ended the season well above and beyond my expectations. I had massive support from the community and went over every financial projection. I made enough in sales that one summer that I was able to open a brick & mortar cafe the following year with an expanded menu and large indoor dining area. It’s definitely been a wild ride and I’ve learned a lot but this has been an amazing experience! I couldn’t do what I love without the love and support of family & friends, they have encouraged and supported me though this every step of the way. Read more>>

Evans Tasiopoulos

Detroit will always have my heart. Growing up, a lot of people saw the city as one in disrepair, focusing on its struggles. I’ve always wanted to show a different side of Detroit—the beauty, the strength, and the soul that make this city so unique. That’s what I try to capture with my photography. When I’m behind the camera, it’s not just about snapping a picture—it’s about capturing the heartbeat of the city. I want people to see Detroit for what it truly is: a place with energy, life, and endless stories waiting to be told. But beyond that, I want to show people how I see the beauty in this world—often the details that others might overlook. Read more>>

Lauren Scott

For many years I chose to stay home and just be there for all the needs of the children. One cold January day I was going about my normal day getting my children to and from school and I found out that during that day my dad had suddenly passed away. The shock and grief of that trauma set me on a path to find away to heal myself. I ended up stumbling upon a Reiki I and II class and felt guided to take it. I went on to get my Master training as well as my Animal Master training. During the pandemic I decided to teach Reiki to women with Lupus virtually. This ignited my passion for teaching. Read more>>

Katie Burdett

I’ve been farming and gardening organically for over 12 years in the Great Lakes Region, from rooftops in Chicago to acres of rolling grain fields in Michigan. I’m an environmentalist who cares deeply about small business and localized food systems. In 2024 I opened my first business, farmette, a small farm, marketplace, bakery + cafe in New Buffalo, Michigan. Read more>>

Kellie Overholt

There’s definitely been some little bumps in the road, but it’s all a part of life as a small business owner. One of the more challenging aspects of my business was when I became a mother- the absolute best thing to ever happen to me, but learning how to integrate motherhood into this one woman show has been tricky. I’m so extremely passionate about the work that I do, but my highest priority in life is being their mom, so the balance is often tipped one way or another. It’s something I am constantly evaluating and adjusting to ensure a healthy, happy little business! Read more>>

Ashley Rose Klein

Ashley’s path to wellness advocacy was forged through her own health challenges. Struggling with PCOS and hormonal imbalances, she faced the complexities of weight management and health. Determined to transform her narrative, Ashley founded Be Bold Fitness Co., offering personalized coaching that emphasizes strength training, nutrition, mindset, and habit-building. Her approach guides women toward sustainable fat loss, empowering them to reclaim control over their health and embrace a balanced lifestyle.​ Read more>>

Ali Haidar

It hasn’t been a smooth road, but that’s what makes our journey meaningful. Like any grassroots organization, we faced our fair share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was expanding our reach while staying true to our mission. Growing from a student-led initiative to a multi-chapter organization required careful planning and the right people. We had to figure out how to balance advocacy, fundraising, and building a strong community sustainably. Read more>>

Alyssa Cairns

Another challenge? Managing inventory. We’re committed to offering beautiful, well-made furniture that’s ready to go—no long waits. That means constantly sourcing the right pieces and staying ahead of supply chain issues. Since we don’t stock mass-produced furniture, we’re always on the hunt for the best finds at the best prices, which takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work. We’re always watching the stock levels, and rely heavily on our US-made and warehoused vendor collections. Read more>>

Alivia Culhane

The reason I started my business was to be different. As someone who enjoys natural products and the outdoors, I wanted to create a brand that would represent both. This started with finding sustainable raw materials and the inspiration for my styled brand was right in my own backyard. Living in Norhtern Michigan nature is all around us and I wanted my business to have the woodsy feel. I wanted a brand that was for anyone! Read more>>

Cate Kidder

It all started when the Kidder family was gathered around in a hotel room on family vacation. Diana (mom) and Joe (dad) wanted to begin their family legacy, Brandon (son) had been managing Ocean Prime in Troy at the time, and Jocelyn (daughter) was a culinary school grad eager to pave her way. In ONE WEEK, the Kidders created an LLC, bought an old diner in Auburn Hills, created a menu and opened their cafe. Read more>>