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.
Olivia Sabellico
My journey as a nail artist began in 2020, during the height of the pandemic. What started as a creative hobby quickly became an outlet that allowed me to express myself through art. Read More>>
Jeanette Faria
Sure! I’m the founder of Field + Flow by Jeanette Danielle Wellness, where I help clients uncover potential root causes of symptoms through bioenergetic testing and functional at-home labs. My path into this work wasn’t something I planned. Read More>>
LaToya Coleman
The Single Housewife was born from my desire to create a softer, more intentional life for myself and my family. Like many women, I found myself balancing the responsibilities of home, motherhood, and everyday life while also craving freedom, creativity, and financial independence. I wanted a life that felt beautiful and fulfilling not one that was defined by constant hustle and burnout. Read More>>
Cassie Lacina
Photography has been part of my life for a long time, but Cassie Lacina Photography really began in a season where, on paper, it probably would have been easier not to start. I officially started my business when I was 39, as a wife and a busy mom of two. I wasn’t fresh out of college with endless free time. Read More>>
Loren Johnson
My journey has been anything but linear, and honestly, that’s what makes it meaningful. I’ve always had a passion for beauty, creativity, and helping people feel confident in themselves. Before becoming a licensed esthetician and makeup artist, I spent years exploring different creative outlets, including, music, acting, modeling and content creation. Read More>>
Sharon Middendorf
I’ve spent my whole life building things on my own terms. First as a model in New York City and Paris, then writing and producing music with a band called Motorbaby. In 2003, five years before Airbnb existed, my husband and I found, renovated, and restored a 1924 cottage in Lake Placid, NY and named it GO-Cottage. Read More>>
Wax Canvas
Wax Canvas is an alternative rock band made up of four friends from Detroit, founding in 2023 the group set out to create a unique flavor that could quite possibly be the soundtrack of the next generation. Read More>>
Leighcia Meylan
I started out doing wedding makeup as a side gig back in 2015 when some co-workers wanted me to help out with family weddings. It started to become more and more common for me to be booked, but I couldn’t afford to go to school full time and quit my job. Read More>>
Hannah Achille
Hello! My name is Hannah Achille. I am a licensed cosmetologist and small business owner. I provide various beauty services but specialize in Russian style dry manicures and pedicures, as well as special event hair and makeup and makeup lessons. Read More>>
Jalyn Bowers
This hasn’t been an easy journey to become the next sensation, but I’m no stranger to putting on a show. Read More>>
Linnea Schoen
I am a Michigan based artist and maker! I have been drawing and painting for my entire life and when I met my (now) husband back in high school, we definitely knew we wanted to build an amazing life together filled with art, nature, and connection to the land. I’m happy to say we’ve been able to do just that! Read More>>
Ekin Aytaç Josh Davids
The Aytac | Davids Collective is the collaborative practice of Ekin Deniz Aytac (Edremit, Turkey) and Joshua Davids (Colorado, USA). Since 2014, our work has been shaped by shared travel, cultural exchange, and an ongoing dialogue between distinct personal histories. Through glass, we investigate the ways place, memory, and identity become embedded within the environments that shape human experience. Read More>>
Lupita Gonzalez
I’m a first-generation Latina from Kansas, and my story begins long before mine—it begins with my parents. They crossed the border from Mexico in search of a better life, leaving behind everything they knew so my brother and I could grow up with opportunities they never had. They worked tirelessly to give us a safe, stable home and a future full of possibilities. Read More>>
Molly Meek
I spent 16 years in the beauty industry. Owned a salon, trained other stylists, built a whole identity around being the person who held everyone else together. And I was good at it. But I was also burnt out in a way I didn’t have language for yet. I was regulating everyone in my chair and falling apart everywhere else. Read More>>
Mark Friday
I joined what was then RJ Telecommunication when I was 17 years old. The funny version of the story is that I worked with the previous owner’s daughter at Meijer, and she went home complaining that we were the only two people working hard. He decided he wanted to meet me, interviewed me and hired me. Read More>>
Leon EL-Alamin
My journey is one of redemption, resilience, and purpose. In 2003, I was sent to prison and ultimately served seven years, from 2003 to 2010. While incarceration was one of the most difficult chapters of my life, it also became a turning point. Read More>>
Simone McIntosh
Luxury Label Hair Company officially launched in 2019 while I was still in college. The idea came from my own experiences purchasing hair extensions. I was spending a lot of money on hair that didn’t always match the quality that was promised, and I felt there was room for a brand that focused on providing a more reliable, elevated experience. Read More>>
Elizabeth Llewellyn
I’ve always known that art was something I wanted to do professionally. After earning my associate degree, I took my first major step into this industry by securing a tattooing apprenticeship. Read More>>
Dr. Jasmine Stephens
Growing up, I spent a lot of my life hiding—hiding behind other people because I didn’t truly know my value. I often believed my worth was tied to what I could do rather than who I was. As I grew, God began to reveal my identity in a deeper way. Read More>>
Ryan Martin
I never did well in school my mom will attest my notebook’s were always covered in doodles and while I was getting my leg tattooed every month I was able to watch and I thought to myself “I could do this” and so I made the decision to dedicate my free time to learn anything and everything I could about tattoos. Read More>>
NeCole Dash
**Meet NeCole Dash: Creative Director, Photographer, Model, DJ, and Founder of Stay Artsy Please** For NeCole Dash, creativity has never been confined to a single medium. Read More>>
Jamie Krueger
If you had met me years ago, you probably would have thought I had it all together. I had a successful career in marketing. I was always busy, always saying yes and always taking care of everyone else. But behind the scenes, I was exhausted. Looking back, I can see that many of those patterns started long before adulthood. Read More>>
Donnie Lennon
I started modeling either towards the end or at the end of the pandemic. I originally wanted to be a sports commentator, but then I tried content creation. I wasn’t really into either as passionately as I am with modeling and music. I started my modeling journey with a couple of smaller brands and a shoot with Sarah Fleming. Read More>>
Rebecca Nagy
After I retired from nursing, my husband and I were on vacation walking along a boardwalk on a beach, checking out quaint little shops along the way. We went into an ice cream shop where you got to dispense your own soft serve ice cream and customize it with toppings. Cupcake shops were offering every kind of cupcake you could imagine. Read More>>
Zainab Mirza
I’ve always been a creative person. Growing up, I was constantly sketching, painting, and finding different ways to express myself through art. I was drawn to color, detail, and the idea that something beautiful could be created from a simple idea. Looking back now, it feels like beauty artistry was a natural extension of who I’ve always been. Read More>>
Rusul Ali
As a child, I had a tendency to notice things, the small, often meaningless things. I often would sit outside and watch. Watch the sunsets, the birds, the people, and simply take everything in. However, I was raised with the belief to always be of service to others. To learn and obtain an education that can help others in the future. Read More>>
Marielle Jackson
My story begins as a little Detroit girl who was uprooted and moved to Mississippi. Bringing the grit, creativity, and hustle of Detroit into the slower pace of small-town Mississippi wasn’t always easy. I spent much of my childhood creating my own lane and figuring out where I fit. Read More>>
Austin Ahmad
Kozy started as a band on similar interests between myself (Austin) and Bill Kozy. Bill has been a local staple for decades, playing in bands the Meanies and Speedball, and working as a sound engineer for legends such as Cheap Trick and Shane MacGowan and others, and approached me about starting a project to let out a Discharge-esque steam. Read More>>
Marwa Mussa
My journey began over ten years ago when I became a mother for the first time. During that season of life, I was looking for a creative outlet that would allow me to stay connected to my passion for art while being present for my growing family. What started as hand-painting mugs and creating personalized gifts from home gradually turned into a small business. Read More>>
Jamie Ita
My love for exploring and experiencing new places really began during a six week study abroad program in Italy while I was in college. That trip opened my eyes to how much there is to learn through travel, different cultures, and stepping outside of your comfort zone. It sparked a curiosity that has stayed with me ever since. Read More>>
Mitch VanPutten
A little less than 20 years ago, our family was close friends with another family from Church. Through many different circumstances, that family moved to the Chicago Suburbs area … and stayed for about 10 years, then came back to Holland. While away, they fell in love with a small pretzel company. Read More>>
Melanie Fritz
I’ve been a hairstylist for over 23 years and have spent most of my adult life helping people feel confident and safe through beauty. Read More>>
Jonathan (Jon) Hales
I’ve been a content creator since I was about 15. I’ve always been drawn to making videos, mostly because I love it, but also because I’ve always gone against the grain. That might just be the Asperger’s (autism) talking, honestly lol. Back when I was 15, I started out doing smaller things online because it was easy money at the time. Read More>>
Orass Mussa
My name is Orass Mussa, and I am an Iraqi-American actor, creative professional, and storyteller. My journey began with a passion for connecting with people and expressing emotions through performance. Growing up, I was always drawn to film, television, and the power of storytelling. I admired how actors could inspire, entertain, and bring meaningful stories to life. Read More>>
Lauren Marino
Scarefest Scream Park really started right in my front yard. Long before it was a premier autumn destination, it was just my father, John Marino, elaborately decorating our home every Halloween. He had a passion for entertainment, turning our house into the neighborhood must-see, and in 2003, he took a leap of faith to turn that beloved hobby into a full-scale business. Read more>>
Carsen Fredricks
Dropped out of college at Ferris State university to start my business, TruScope. At TruScope, we specialize in Web and Mobile application development, and business scaling services such as Website Development, Paid ads, Social Media management, email/sms campaigns, ai influencers, influencer marketing, and tailored systems and processes for any business niche. Read more>>
