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.
Brooke Chumachenko
TruCraft Inc .was started back in the 1990’s by my dad, Marshall. Before relocating to Georgia in the late 90’s, we did a lot of work for large corporations such as ADM and A.E. Staley Co. While we have the ability to do all kinds of construction, we have primarily focused on Horizontal Directional Drilling since the move to Georgia. Read more>>
Jennifer Key
My journey into counseling began long before I earned a degree. It started in high school at St. Hugh’s, where I admired the way our school counselor guided and supported us. At the same time, I witnessed the deep impact of my parents’ divorce on my brother, my mother, and myself. Read more>>
Hayden Howard
I got started about seven months ago. I was in an unfortunate situation where I had been to prison for 4 and a half years (maybe leave that part out) but wanted to beat the odds and turn my life fully around and plot a new course. Read more>>
Mitishela St Jean
When I was living in Florida, I became a Notary just to have an extra source of income. That’s when I found out I could also solemnize weddings, which I thought was really cool—and honestly seemed like one of the less stressful roles in the wedding industry. Weddings have always been around me in some way. Read more>>
DJ FIESE
GREW UP IN WOODSTOCK. PLAYED GOLF IN COLLEGE AT GEORGIA STATE. PLAYED GOLF PROFESSIONALLY FOR 9 YEARS. RAN OUT OF SPONSORS IN 2009 AND STARTED MY FIRST BUSINESS IN 2010. BUILT THAT BUSINESS FOR 7 YEARS AND SOLD IT IN 2017. SPENT A YEAR IN THE CRAFT BEER BUSINESS WITH AN UPSTART LOCAL BREWERY IN ATLANTA. REALIZED IT WASNT FOR ME. Read more>>
Rachel Linder
I’ve always been drawn to storytelling, and photography became the way I could preserve the fleeting, meaningful moments that matter most. I officially launched Rachel Linder Photography about eight years ago, starting small—photographing friends, family, and local celebrations—and quickly realized how much joy I found in capturing love stories. Over time, I transitioned into weddings, and that’s where I truly found my calling. Read more>>
Deborah Addington
My journey began at birth, growing up in a Christian home where my father pastored a small church in Rockdale, GA. At eight years old, I gave my heart to Christ, and during the four years my family served as missionaries in Jamaica, I came to understand that being a Christian is both a privilege and a call to obedience. Read more>>
Rakim Thompson
I broke into social media marketing in the UK by helping my father take his barbering business online. What started as a side hustle quickly grew into East London’s first Black-owned barber supply service — and before long, we were shipping across the entire UK. Read more>>
Harry and Beverly Pradon
Beverly and I started our business in 2020. Beverly had retired from managing an Optical office a few years earlier and I had just retired from Anheuser Busch. I retired early so that we could start out own full time business. We had been training dogs while I was still working for Anheuser Busch but not on as large a scale. Read more>>
Diana Hope-Baker
I became a therapist 21 years ago, driven by a lifelong impulse to help people find their footing in the face of challenge. I began by serving underserved youth and adults who were entangled with the justice system, witnessing how trauma, systemic barriers, and stigma can derail promising lives. Read more>>
Harold Hart
I began my career in the U.S. Air Force as an HVAC Technician, where I developed a strong foundation in the trade. Originally from Tampa, Florida, I later relocated to the Atlanta area in 2002 and continued building my career in HVAC while working with organizations such as Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Dekalb County Jail, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and the City of Atlanta. Read more>>
Terri James
About Terrific Mobile Notary Services Terrific Mobile Notary Services was founded in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and while I was recovering from breast cancer surgery. The idea sparked when we were refinancing our home and met with a Notary Public who shared how flexible, rewarding, and convenient the profession could be. Read more>>
Phil Biedron
Hi there! I am a Chicagoan by birth, a Los Angeleno by work, and an ATLien by choice. The story of Green Muffin Walking Tours began in Los Angeles. I had already held a job as a docent working on Navy Pier in Chicago, pointing out all the outstanding architecture, so starting my own company would be easy, right? (Taps mic) Right?! Read more>>
Elton Young
God called me to preach at the youthful age of sixteen. One year later, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served our great country for four years on active duty and two years in the reserves. My decision to join the military has truly served as a cornerstone in my development into manhood, shaping both my values and discipline. Read more>>
Leah Cebulski
I’ve loved art all my life, which led me to earn my BFA in Drawing and Painting from Georgia State University in 2005. After a few years of teaching, I realized my real passion was creating, so I launched Fancy Pants Painting—a mix of fine art and interactive work like face painting and balloon twisting. Read more>>
Marah Kamann
My story is rather recent in terms of opening my business. Why I opened is very personal. My hair removal journey didn’t start off all that great and wanted to provide a place where everyone feels comfortable. Read more>>
Izzy Briceño
I became fascinated with tattoos as a teenager and once I turned 18 I asked around and found a local shop and got tattooed. A few short yeas later I saw the artwork of Tony Olivas in a tattoo magazine and was so impressed my passion of the art grew. Read more>>
Lisa’ Kelly
I grew up in a musical and theatrical family in Dublin, Ireland. All my family sang. Our home was always a home filled with music. It felt natural that singing would always be in my life but I never quite believed I would be lucky enough for it to become my career. Read more>>
Julian Suter
Joe and I both came from long careers in healthcare, and for years our work was centered on caring for others in very direct ways. But over time, we both felt the pull to create something of our own—something that still served people, but in a different, more personal way. We didn’t know it yet, but that calling was leading us to Café Flōralia. Read more>>
Cheri Gerzabek
We relocated to the Atlanta area from Boston for a job, unfortunately after 2 years I was laid off. My daughter had both done the Disney college program and so I had started helping friends plan their trips which eventually turned in to a side hustle. Read more>>
Maddy Simone
In this season of my life, I am a senior at Georgia State University majoring in Marketing with a minor in Entrepreneurship. Alongside being a full-time student, I serve as the VP of Communications for the American Marketing Association Collegiate Chapter at GSU, a Career Advancement Center Champion Student for the J. Read more>>
Ugens T. Toussaint
I’ve always been someone who loves creating and solving problems. That really started when I joined the NAACP FSU chapter and worked for the school newspaper, FSView, while studying Studio Art with a focus in Graphic Design at Florida State. I didn’t just learn design tools there, I learned how to think visually and tell stories through creative work. Read more>>
Seven Jenai
I’ve always had a love for fashion. whether it was making clothes, styling, or putting fits together. But during Covid, I found myself in a toxic relationship that forced me to take a step back and focus on myself and my walk with God. Read more>>
Danielle Diggs
I started in the beauty industry back in Philadelphia, where I earned my cosmetology license in 2012. At first, I focused on weaving techniques, but I quickly realized there was a huge gap in knowledge about curly and kinky textures—even in our own community. That realization led me to shift my focus entirely to natural hair. Read more>>
Deante Johnson
Breeze is an electrifying hip hop artist currently igniting the music scene from his base in Atlanta, Georgia. Born with an innate passion for music, Breeze committed himself to his craft at the tender age of 14. Read more>>
Jamie Reeves/Daughtry
About Bibles and Bonnets Bibles and Bonnets was born from my story. I grew up with absolutely nothing—no guidance, no direction, and no woman to lean on when life home at 17 I felt overwhelming. For years, I carried those silent chains, believing I had to figure it out on my own. But deep down, I knew my story wasn’t just about survival. Read more>>
Brenda Vega
I am Brenda Solis, the proud owner of Solis Insurance Agency. My journey in the insurance industry began at the age of 18 as a customer service representative. During this time, I recognized the difficulties Spanish-speaking individuals faced in understanding insurance policies and the critical need for families and businesses to be prepared for unexpected life events. Read more>>
Tor Gundersen
I have been into comic books and toys since I was very young, and started seriously collecting comics in the early 80s. I would ride my bike down to the neighborhood drugstore and buy them off the spinner rack. I mostly collected Marvel and would read and then save everything I bought. Spider-Man was probably my favorite. Read more>>
Dr. Shanta McClurkin Joyner
I’ve always worn many hats, but the two that define me most are educator and real estate agent. Education was my first calling—I started in the classroom, later became an academic coach, and now also serve as a department lead for the college of education. Read more>>
Delmar Johnson
My journey really began in 2010, during one of the most pivotal seasons of my life. I had just lost everything, returned to my hometown, and found myself asking the hard questions: What’s next? Where do I even begin again? Additionally, I stepped into the unexpected role of caregiver, which added another layer of responsibility and uncertainty. Read more>>
Mandy Miller
When I was 13 I knew that I wanted to help people who are in emotional/mental distress. I was the kind of kid that random people would talk to about anything and everything. I began to notice patterns, that all people, no matter their age, gender, race, etc. had many of the same stressors and problems. Read more>>
Nalleli Dominguez
Here is my story, Raised in the heart of Texas, I always dreamed big but it wasn’t until I became a mother that my dream truly came into focus. Watching my daughter light up in her Sweet 15 dress, standing proudly beside her on one of the most important days of her life, was a moment I’ll never forget. Read more>>
Tamika Jackson
I began my career in accounting and government auditing, working with businesses across industries such as manufacturing, construction, engineering, and logistics. In my early professional experiences, I saw a consistent need emerge: many entrepreneurs had the vision and drive to succeed but lacked the financial clarity and strategy needed to sustain growth. Read more>>
Rosemay Mathieu Stewart
Atlanta-born and raised, I spent a few years in Miami with my mother before moving back to Atlanta to live with my father. A mother of one daughter (and a male dog), sister and aunt. From the moment I graduated high school, I’ve always had a natural talent for sales. Read more>>
Briana Forts
I’ve always been an artist at heart. I knew I wanted to go to college, but I wasn’t sure which direction life would take me. One day, I found psychology and thought I’d pursue art therapy—helping people elevate their minds through creativity and healing. After two years of college, I realized that path wasn’t truly my calling. Read more>>
Carolina Beltran Sonny Letak
Sonny and I met in 2015. Back then, he was flipping cars out of his backyard in the Old Fourth Ward. He was also working in sales and hated it. I was working at AT&T and had newly started business school at Georgia Tech. Read more>>
Howard Moore
My journey to becoming a Nation Wide Household Goods mover starts with a family tradition of entrepreneurs. The Moore family has been in business in Enterprise Al since the 1930’s. These generational local farmers and small business men raised me to believe in the Gospel, hard work, and love for family and community. Read more>>
My’Chel Robinson
My journey to founding Hecate’s Healing Haven has been deeply personal and holistic. I’m a registered nurse, which has given me a foundation in healthcare and a deep understanding of the mind-body connection. As a mother, I’ve experienced firsthand how nurturing and intentional care can transform lives, and I’ve always wanted to extend that same care beyond my family to the wider community. Read more>>
Romonica T
I started my cleaning business back in 2016. I love cleaning is therapy for me.So I wanted to start a business.And I really didn’t know what I was doing but I just went forward. Once I started. Learning business I was very intrigued with it. Read more>>
Kevin Hall
I started working in insurance during the height of Covid 19. My wife and I had friends and family that passed away during this time and had no life insurance. It was devastating to each family, as they were mourning the loss of a loved one. Read more>>
Miley Oorreel
I was often told I was too skinny. It wasn’t easy as I got bullied a lot at school because of how I looked. But with my mom’s support, we started looking into modeling, and I was lucky enough to get signed by Miles Models Agency. That’s when everything changed. What used to make me feel different became something I could be proud of. Read more>>
Emily Nichols
You know, I was looking through some of my old journals from when I was like eight or nine the other day, and I wrote about reading the Chicken Soup for The Soul series. The stories that touched me most were the ones where people helped others through a difficult time. Read more>>
DEANNA LARUE
When I graduated college, one of my finance professors chose me for a full time paid internship as a Financial Planner’s assistant. About 8 months into this job, I recognized that I wanted to be the Financial Planner. So my journey began! I started my firm, TimeWise Financial, when I was 24 years old and just celebrated my 20 year anniversary. Read more>>
Greg Janicki
At 72 years young, I’ve learned that life is less about the years and more about how fully you live them. My journey has been shaped by a lifetime of challenges and triumphs—from building a career in mortgage banking to embracing entrepreneurial ventures, and now sharing my story through my ICE brand: Inspire, Challenge, Encourage. Read more>>
Gina Micalizio
I graduated from law school and started my career as an attorney with a general practice firm in Florida. After that I was employed by the FDIC as an associate counsel. My responsibilities included liquidating the assets of failed financial institutionns, assessing claims against those institutions and evaluating deposit insurance coverage. I was also lead counsel for several FDIC receiverships. Read more>>
Leah Noel
The timing of this interview couldn’t be more fortuitous. I sit here, now, newly on the other side of my ‘chrysalis journey,’ with a deep and unshakeable knowing of who I am and what I am capable of. For years, I’ve been undergoing metamorphosis that has led me into this becoming: I am an astrologer, storyteller, and metaphysical death doula. Read more>>
Bryson Hollingshead
My journey really started with a love for building. I grew up with a hands-on mindset and found myself drawn to construction work early on. Working for other contractors gave me the skills to handle everything from framing to finishes, but more importantly, it showed me the value of craftsmanship done right. Read more>>
Laura Galinis
As a teenager, I began therapy with someone who was a game-changer in my life. That experience shaped my path — I wanted to offer others the same gift of being truly seen, heard, and supported in their growth. Early in my career, I worked in diverse settings — from men’s anger management groups to substance abuse treatment to trauma recovery. Read more>>
Slate Simons
So my first career started as a law enforcement professional. I started with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office in 2000. I began my career in the Jail, worked my way to Patrol, and was the first ever to graduate the infamous D.R.E. Program from Patrol Division. D.R.E. is Drug Recognition Expert. It is known for being the hardest class and certification in Law Enforcement. Read more>>
Allison Ramirez
I’m from South Florida—born and raised in Miami and the Florida Keys. I’ve loved reading and writing since I was a kid, but for a long time I worked in education. Read more>>
Cort Cox
I grew up in Atlanta. Went to school at Woodward and graduated at Brandon Hall before attending the University of North Georgia. School wasn’t always for me as I hated going and even hated doing the work more so high school was always struggle for me. Had lots of fun playing sports and made some dear friends but the academics always killed me. Read more>>
Kemba Howell
I was born in Brooklyn, NY and spent part of my childhood in NY and part in FL. They were wildly different experiences. In FL I had to learn to adjust, adapt, and find balance in being me while fitting into a new environment. Read more>>
JaQuay Copeland
Sweets were always a must-have for me, but it wasn’t until I reached my early thirties that my interest in creating original desserts compounded, which ultimately led to the launch of my first pastry brand, SweetSway. In 2023, I began working as a Kitchen Assistant at a soup kitchen in Atlanta, where I was exposed to the structure and demands of a commercial kitchen. Read more>>
Toshia Damptey
I’m originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, and I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia. My journey in visual arts began when I was 10 years old. After gymnastics practice, I would spend my free time creating graphics using random images I found online. By the time I reached high school, I started learning web coding and diving deeper into both development and graphic design. Read more>>
Hannah Claire Englishby
I have struggled with my skin, acne specifically, ever since my preteens. I remember trying EVERYTHING, seeing multiple doctors/dermatologists, trying all the products, home remedies, prescription pills, topicals- you name it. Nothing ever seemed to work and it truly took a toll on my self esteem. Fast forward to my early twenties, and my stubborn acne was still an ongoing issue. Read more>>
Nataliia Dmytrenko
My journey to opening ENDI Nail Studio started with an idea to bring European-quality nail care to my new home in GA. Two years ago, I arrived in the U.S. with my teenage son after the war began in Ukraine. My husband, meanwhile, stayed in Ukraine and has been supporting us in every way he can from there. Read more>>
Lisa H
Our journey started with a love for two things: family and experiences. As a family, we’ve always enjoyed taking photos and drinking boba tea wherever our travels took us, across the U.S. and even abroad. That passion for exploring flavors and sieze captivating memories sparked the idea to create Dat Tranquilitea Spot and DAT Snapped Spot. Read more>>
Jason Autry
It all started after I was injured in the military then discharged. I had 1 job for 15 years after that, doing land clearing. Then one day I had a near death accident and wasn’t able to go back to tge only job I knew, which was hard labor. I became severely depressed and attempted to end my own life. Read more>>
Juanita McCoy
I really got started by helping out a big sister/mentor in ministry with her book release. At first, it was just simple things like creating videos and content she needed. But because I’m naturally detail-oriented and like things to be done at a high level of excellence, I started diving deeper. Read more>>
Summer Moss
I’ve been in the beauty industry for over a decade, and my journey started with a simple love for styling hair and helping women feel their best selves. In 2015, I opened my first salon, Kinky Twisted Coils, formerly known as Summer’s Hair Boutique, and what began as a small dream quickly grew into a space where natural hair could be celebrated and cared for. Read more>>
Angie Baker
My career in commercial real estate began over twenty years ago with a globally recognized firm whose reach and reputation provided an invaluable foundation. The training and exposure I gained there shaped my approach to client advocacy, negotiations, and operational excellence. Read more>>
Bailey Shapard
Cushion Pros is a family-owned business based in the heart of Georgia. Our parent company, American Mills, was founded in 1938 by the Shapard family and has remained family-owned and operated ever since. Over the decades, we built a reputation for quality textiles and craftsmanship, supplying products to well-known retailers and brands across the country. Read more>>
Alli Allen
In 2018, I transformed my passion for crafting incredible travel itineraries into becoming a luxury travel advisor. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made for myself, as I now have the privilege of helping my clients experience the transformative power of travel. Read more>>
