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.
Renarldo Conley
I got my start in the cleaning industry around 2012, shortly after losing my son. That loss pushed me to find a new direction in life, and office cleaning became my first step forward. Read more>>
Renee Suban
I all started several years when I landed a job as a receptionist at a local Hair Salon. I’ve always loved to play with hair but when I seen the relationships happening between stylists and guests I knew I wanted to become a stylist. Making people look and feel their best while being artistic was a dream job! Read more>>
Keana Karim
My journey began with a deep love for fashion, design, modeling, and creativity. As a child, I was always drawn to art and self-expression, but just as deeply, I felt a calling to uplift people especially those who felt unseen, misunderstood, or without a voice. For a long time, I didn’t know how all of my passions would come together. Read more>>
Thomas Walk
I began to struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder mid-deployment while serving in the army. I experienced something that I simply could not comprehend. For a long time, I was lost and overwhelmed by my illness until I even got to a point where I attempted to commit suicide several times. Read more>>
Moss Lee
Moss Lee (they/them) was born August 6th 2000, in small town Michigan. As a queer transgender artist they have found home and community in Grand Rapids. “Earth To Moss” was created by fashion designer Moss Lee in January 2023. Their focus is sustainability in fiber arts, creating unique garments out of repurposed yarn. Read more>>
Ber-Henda Williams
My story begins with two lifelong threads: empathy and expression. I grew up in Southfield, just outside of Detroit, as a bilingual, creative kid who felt the world deeply. I didn’t have language for it at the time, but I was an empath—sensing emotions, reading rooms, and understanding the unspoken. I also loved storytelling, culture, and community-building. Read more>>
Kelly J
I’ve always had a thing for making other people look and feel better! As a kid I enjoyed spending hours in the shop with my mom and sister getting beauty services for holidays. As I got older I began doing hair, eyebrows and makeup for friends and family. Read more>>
Erin Sees
My name’s Erin and I am the owner and operator of St. Clair Shores’ latest and greatest gourmet grilled cheese food truck, The Cheese Pull. You may have seen us popping up around town at a couple of the Downtown St. Clair Shores Social District events or at Baffin Brewing Company or maybe even Copper Hop Brewing Company! Read more>>
Dr Chris Moran
The Heart Behind Whole Health Regenerative Medicine Whole Health Regenerative Medicine was created from a simple but powerful question: What if healthcare were truly built around the person—not just the symptom? Read more>>
Christine Bresett
My journey in photography and graphic design began with a genuine love for being behind the camera and creating meaningful images. While studying at Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, NC, I learned from photographer Peter Rulon in several continuing-education photography classes. Read more>>
Patricia Yiu
Absolutely — my story really begins long before I ever became a healer. For most of my life, I carried wounds I couldn’t fully name. I was the “good girl,” the peacekeeper, the one who held everything together — even when I was falling apart on the inside. After becoming a mother of three, those hidden patterns became impossible to ignore. Read more>>
Terri Stearn
Terri Stearn stood at the bottom of a winding staircase; beside her was a yapping dog, making himself quite comfortable on the deep-green carpet. The woman on the second floor called: “Thank you! Here’s what I owe you!” and dropped a check that came fluttering down. Read more>>
Emily Miller
Growing up on a small hobby farm in Reed City and active in 4-H, I developed a lifelong passion for supporting local agriculture. In college, I met my business partner, Mary Galvanek, who shared a mission to strengthen the Cadillac farmers market, support small farms, and address local food insecurity. Read more>>
Keaune Little
Well, first. Thanks for having me again… As you know, im from Detroit, MI born and raised and it all started when I was young. I always been a fan of music and arts and took a liking early in my childhood. Over the years ive mastered my craft in beat making, rapping and drawing. Read more>>
Becky Kamp
The journey to starting my dog training business began when I realized I no longer wanted to work for anyone but myself. I craved the freedom to create my own path. One afternoon, while driving home from a secretary job I never truly enjoyed, I heard a radio ad about becoming your own boss through dog training. It immediately caught my attention. Read more>>
Emily Crombez
I started photography thanks to a dear friend of mine, Alex of Alexandria Blake Photography. Back when we were in college, we met each other through some fashion focused student events. Once we connected, we started spending more and more time together. I learned about fashion photography with her, and I developed a love for photography that had been growing since I was a child. Read more>>
Charles Ellison
I started creating long before music became the focus. I’m from Detroit and raised in Ypsilanti, and for years I worked behind the scenes as a photographer and videographer. That experience taught me how to tell stories visually, how to frame emotion, and how to let moments breathe—skills that still shape how I create today. I also took my craft seriously in school. Read more>>
michelle powell
I have been in business for almost 17 years. I started Spruce Organizing in 2009 in Park City, Utah when I had 2 small children at home and knew I needed to work for myself in order to quickly adapt to a rapidly changing schedule that is parenthood. Read more>>
Lauren Figueroa
After studying vocal music in undergrad, I found my way into interior design in a bit of a roundabout way. I was always interested in design growing up, but I got my first real hands-on taste while spending time putting together my first home with my husband just after we got married in 2014—a two bedroom apartment in Cherry Hill, Grand Rapids. Read more>>
Shannon Stricker
Stricker Cosmetology & Esthetics is newly named but is the Cosmetology Institute I graduated from in 2018 as an Esthetics student. My time in school I always dreamed of what I would do with the building and the programs if I could ever own it. I had known the previous owner for many many years- she made it look so easy. Read more>>
[email protected] Muszynski
I found my love for baking when I was decorating cookies with my family for Christmas when I was younger. This led to me attending culinary school with a focus on pastry. After going through many iterations of treats I enjoyed baking, cupcakes, cakes, macarons, etc., I finally found my passion for decorating sugar cookies. Read more>>
Lisa Johnson
Since 2019 in Ada, Michigan, Lisa Johnson, certified yoga instructor, has been providing a joyful experience for people of all ages and levels of yoga practice. Folks are invited to enjoy nature, yoga, and interact with goats at Bluebird Meadow Goat Yoga in Ada, Michigan, located just 20 minutes northeast of downtown Grand Rapids. Read more>>
Michelle Meiring
In 2012, we opened FiveOneSeven Salon & Spa with a team of 12. Since then, we’ve grown to more than 20 talented team members and built a strong associate program designed to mentor those new to the industry and support them in building successful, long lasting careers. Our focus has always been on cultivating a positive team culture and continuously strengthening our skills and collaboration. Read more>>
Emily McKim
I’ve always been drawn to transformation — not only in how a person looks, but in how they feel when they see themselves. I started my journey at the Paul Mitchell Academy in Denver, Colorado, where I graduated with honors before advancing my training in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and internationally in London, England. Read more>>
James Donley
I graduated from the University of Detroit in 1967 with the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. I set up my practice and started from scratch in a very small dental office. I rented from and shared a reception room with a medical doctor. Two and a half years later, I listened to a lecture by Dr. Robert Barkley from Macomb Illinois. Read more>>
Yana Benjamin
While studying photography in San Francisco about 15 years ago, I was immersed in a world of art theory, visual storytelling, and the vibrant creative culture that surrounded institutions like SFMoMA, the Legion of Honor, and the de Young Museum. That period became a turning point for me. Read more>>
Christy Howden
Our business all started with a new year’s resolution in 2017 to lry a quirky sport – Pickleball! When ai showed up to play, I was told I was too young and needed to purchase a senior in training card. Unbeknownst to me I showed up to play at a senior center time at the local school. Read more>>
sarah tombelli
My story starts with imagination. As a kid, my mind couldn’t help but wander and create, and that desire carried me all the way to Detroit to begin my journey as a freshman animation student at the College for Creative Studies in 2019. Read more>>
Milton Marentette
I started repairing cars and installing car audio out of the trunk of my car in the 90’s. I got my first DBA in 2000. I did mobile repair for local businesses and individuals in Traverse City and surrounding areas. In 2006 after the birth of my second child, I went to work for Lakeside Automotive in Traverse City. Read more>>
Steve Gettle and Nicole Sudduth
Steve started with his photography nearly 40 years ago. Over the course of his career he has done many things – from traveling around the country and selling prints at fine art shows to owning a gallery. This led him to teaching other photographers and leading photography tours around the world. Read more>>
Catherine Zudak
I have been involved in theater production since forever. I started by running the spotlight for my older sister’s senior follies. I performed on stage and worked backstage in plays and musicals in my teens and early 20s. I took a break from my creative life during my first career in public policy research. Read more>>
Umelo Onyejiaka
Transitioning from accounting into tech was far from simple. I had to teach myself, work through setbacks, and navigate a lot of uncertainty just to break into the industry. And once I found my footing, launching DevOps Detroit became its own demanding journey; one that required vision, resilience, and a willingness to build something from the ground up. Read more>>
Thomas Martin
My wife Heather and I started Jude’s Barbershop in 2005 with our children Megan, Elle, Paige, and Nicholas. Heather worked for a company named Success Club, which went out of business (extreme irony) sometime in 1997. This opportunity enabled her to pursue her dream of becoming a hairstylist, so she enrolled in Chic Beauty School. Read more>>
Keely Iacovoni
I started my career in tech sales after realizing how much I enjoyed the mix of problem-solving, communication, and relationship-building. Early on, I learned that I’m most energized when I’m helping people connect the dots. Understanding what they’re trying to achieve and guiding them toward solutions that genuinely make their work easier or more effective. Read more>>
Courtney Dirschell
2nd Story Marketing was created in order to share the good in our community through marketing. We do this by helping businesses create a marketing strategy that enables their business to flourish. Read more>>
Madison & Haylee Evans & Van Aken
By coincidence—and a bit of fate—the two became coworkers at a local salon, where their shared vision and creativity quickly bonded them even more. Just six months into working together, they realized it was time to take the next step. With courage, determination, and a shared dream, Haylee and Madison took the leap and opened H&M Hair Studio, turning their passion into a thriving partnership. Read more>>
Catrinia Kubur, Angelina Kretz, Bob Tapp
Guided by intuition, light, and love, we formed The Energy Apostles — a sacred collective devoted to awakening consciousness and spreading healing energy throughout the world. Together, we hold space for transformation, unity, and the remembrance that we are all connected through vibration and divine source energy. Read more>>
Shasta Fase
Our Journey Our journey has been nothing short of a life-changing experience of travel and discovery. After many years as a local real estate broker, I felt compelled to make a change — something more meaningful, something that could help others. That’s when the discovery began. Read more>>
PJ Gordon II
I launched PJG Photography in June 2025 with a simple goal: help listings in our corner of Michigan stand out. I’d photographed family, sports, and the outdoors for years, but real estate demanded a new kind of precision—clean compositions, true-to-life color, and images that make buyers feel like they’re already walking the space. Read more>>
