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.
Dorothy Fobbs
Here’s what nobody tells you about transformation: it doesn’t announce itself with trumpets. It comes quietly, in the middle of the night when you’re too tired to pretend anymore. When you finally admit that burnout isn’t a badge of honor – it’s your soul screaming for liberation. When we last connected in 2021, I was in that exact moment. Walking away from what looked good on paper but felt like death to my spirit. Reclaiming my voice. Rebuilding from alignment instead of obligation. Read more>>
Earl Mells
For nearly half of his life, DJ EarlThe3rd has been honored to bring the hype and provide the soundtrack for events of all types and sizes, from personal birthday parties with dozens up to tens of thousands, from Florida to Chicago to Texas and beyond! Read more>>
Jennifer Yuan
Growing up in Augusta, Georgia, I was always fascinated by how people think, react, and make decisions. That curiosity led me to Atlanta, where I studied Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology at Emory University. There, I developed a strong foundation in interpreting medical evidence, understanding human behavior, and communicating complex concepts clearly. Read more>>
Latrice Quinn
I was a single mother who wanted more out of life. I prayed and asked God for direction, freedom, and a better life not only for myself, but for my children and my entire family. One day at church, my pastor spoke about purpose and encouraged us to speak out loud what God placed on our hearts. Read more>>
Laura Carmody
I’ve been interested in getting beyond “small talk” for as long as I can remember. I’m endlessly fascinated by the mind and human behavior. Read more>>
Jeremy Farlow
I was born and raised in Atlanta (literally a Piedmont Hospital baby) and I’ve been making and breaking things for as long as I can remember. As a kid it was bikes and motorcycles, and that naturally grew into cars and anything mechanical I could get my hands on. Read more>>
Stacie Franchell
My family in the Savannah area has been in the produce business for over 70 years. Polk’s Produce was founded by my grandfather and is still going strong today with my mom, dad, and brother. My husband has owned Padriac’s in the Vinings area since 1997, and I worked alongside him there until 2020. Read more>>
Amanda & Chad Hudgins
Chad and Amanda Hudgins, the owners of Get Your Goat Rentals, both come from strong backgrounds in animal husbandry. Chad is a lifelong Georgian, and Amanda grew up on a ranch in Oklahoma. In 2018, they moved back to Chad’s family farm in West Georgia to raise their family and continue their agricultural roots. Read more>>
Campbell Cosentino
We began from the inception of a previous screen-printing & embroidery shop in January of 2023, that had built a legacy over the course of the past two decades. Since this merge of the two respective businesses a few years ago, we have continued to serve the customers and clients from the previous years, but have also since added new clientele and businesses to serve. Read more>>
Yesenia Chavarria
Purchasing my first home at 21 marked the beginning of my commitment to helping others build wealth through real estate. What started as encouragement from my husband to pursue a real estate license quickly evolved into a career I never expected to love. I remember questioning it myself. Me, a real estate agent? I did not see myself as salesy or fitting the traditional mold. Read more>>
Candace Walker
Candace Walker is a fearless servant leader and dedicated advocate whose compassion and commitment to community service are unwavering. A graduate of Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma, she serves as President of the NAACP Henry County Branch, where her leadership has driven growth, increased membership, and strengthened community engagement. Read more>>
Pauline Walker
My journey began long before I ever called myself an entrepreneur. I started dabbling in hair at the age of 14 and then followed the traditional path—college, corporate roles, and the idea that stability meant security. But deep down, I always felt a pull toward creativity, service, and helping others feel confident from the inside out. Read more>>
Cayla Ridley
By any conventional measure, Quorra should not exist. It was not born from venture capital or a carefully modeled business plan. It did not begin in a boardroom or emerge from a pitch deck. It began in a moment when everything familiar collapsed—when ambition collided with survival, and survival, quietly, became purpose. I grew up on a farm. No connections. No shortcuts. No head starts. Read more>>
Phillip Hulme
I enlisted in the United States Army after graduating from high school in the shadow of the events of 9/11. Coming from a military family I felt drawn to service. I enlisted as a signal soldier (25F) in 2004 and earned several awards and decorations including the combat action badge, parachutist badge, joint service commendation medal and global war on terrorism service medal among others. Read more>>
Andre Inverdale
If you had asked me seven years ago whether I wanted to become the Founder & CEO of Ardinal Strategy Group, I would have said no without hesitation. At the time, entrepreneurship felt intimidating, something reserved for teams of seasoned operators with decades of experience, not a path I imagined for myself. Read more>>
Diana Alford
I started my photography journey when my daughters were born. I’m completely self-taught, and over the years I’ve learned so much through practice, trial and error, and experience. It’s been a process of growing both creatively and professionally, and that journey is what’s brought me to where I am today. Read more>>
Kaye Sanders
I’ve been drawn to management for as long as I can remember. According to my grandmother, it started when I was about three years old—I would walk around singing “I’m Going Down” by Mary J. Blige while missing my mom while she worked. Music became my comfort early on, and that connection has stayed with me throughout my life. Growing up, creativity surrounded me. Read more>>
Gianna Rankin
I’ve always had a creative spirit—in fact, there’s a whole folder somewhere that holds my childhood work, some of which was displayed at my first art club showcase at 5 years old, and looking back, I realize I incorporated elements of collage work, which remains my favorite. Read more>>
Dr. Walker
From a young age, I was drawn to the idea of helping people feel and function better without relying on surgery or medication. That led me to chiropractic—an approach that not only reduces pain, but supports the body’s natural ability to heal, adapt, and perform. Read more>>
Russia Johnson
My journey into fitness and wellness started at a young age through sports. I grew up active, running varsity track and participating in varsity cheerleading, which later led me to join the basketball dance team at Savannah State University. Being part of those teams taught me discipline, consistency, and the importance of staying active and committed to my health. Read more>>
Xavier Carrington
Xavier Carrington AKA “Big PlayZay” — The Renaissance Man Story Xavier Carrington, known to many as Big PlayZay, is the modern embodiment of a Renaissance Man — a creator who moves seamlessly between art, education, entrepreneurship, media, and community leadership. Raised between Bluefield, West Virginia and Macon, Georgia, Xavier learned early the value of grit, creativity, and hustle. Read more>>
Theresa Carcioppolo
It all started with raising three boys whose curiosity for the outdoors was matched only by their talent for surprising me with critters I couldn’t identify. Rather than panic (most of the time), I chose education. With a lifelong appreciation for animals—furry, feathery, and especially scaly—it was no surprise that I gravitated toward rescuing the underdogs of the animal world. Read more>>
Judy Rossi
I have been a physical therapist for over 30 years. For the majority of my career, I specialized in orthopedics until about 8 years ago, I started specializing in pelvic health. I had my own pelvic health condition that was ultimately solved through pelvic floor physical therapy. This is what inspired me to pursue advanced education in pelvic health. Read more>>
Tiffany Wilson-Revill
I do believe when you are called to do something, it comes off repetitively, like it starts the same way for many, and for me, I’m the same in that aspect. Life for me was great. I worked with the biggest wholesaler in the country, was topped out in pay with a raise, etc. Read more>>
Treva Sexton
To be honest, my career as a therapist was a fluke. I started working at Ford Motor Company when I was 24 and honestly, I thought that was it. I was going to work for 30 years and retire like my mom. My goals were simple, education, house, kid and by the time I was 25, I had checked all of those boxes. Read more>>
Kala Ramsey
I started my business in 2023 after recognizing a growing need for individualized, structured literacy instruction for students who were struggling to progress in traditional classroom settings. Prior to launching my business, I spent years teaching in public education, where I specialized in dyslexia-aligned and structured literacy interventions. Read more>>
Dymond Fogg
After graduating from North Carolina State University, my work has focused intentionally on community engagement, business development, and event planning. At a North Carolina land conservancy, I began as Community Engagement Coordinator and was later promoted to Community Engagement Manager. This role deepened my connection to conservation and my local community. Read more>>
Ebony Gaskins
LORE Co. was born out of necessity, curiosity, and years of quietly being “the person who makes things work.” I’ve been supporting businesses behind the scenes for nearly a decade, long before I officially named it. I naturally became the go-to for organizing systems, managing projects, customer service, cleaning up workflows, and filling in gaps wherever they showed up. Read more>>
Renata Broomfield
I have always been an entrepreneur, and I consistently prayed about which passion I wanted to focus on. That passion became my way of life and my motivation. I started out on the streets of New York and in shelters before my dream led to my first business. Years later, I pivoted from New York to Atlanta during the pandemic to start fresh. Read more>>
Infiniti Smith
Hi, my name is Infiniti, and I am the owner of Entwined Co. I’m originally from Birmingham, Alabama. I initially pursued nursing, inspired by my love for helping people and caring for others. While I still carry that heart for service in everything I do, it seems God had a different plan for my ministry, guiding me toward hair and entrepreneurship. Read more>>
Brittany West
I’ve always loved language and creating. After graduating with my Bachelor of Arts in English from Georgia State University in 2011, I began striving for my Masters in Professional Writing at SCAD Atlanta in 2012. Here, as a Graduate Assistant, I learned editing, grant writing, creative writing and content creation for online platforms. Read more>>
Chase DiDit
I started creating music at a very young age. Before writing full blown songs, it was poems. From beating on the tables in schools to producing my own instrumentals using programs like FL Studios and Reasons. Once I learn how to record and engineer myself, that change the game for me. Read more>>
Tomfrey Smith Jr.
My story really starts with a love for nature and a desire to build something meaningful. I was born in Atlanta and raised in Riverdale, Georgia, where I developed an early appreciation for plants, outdoor spaces, and how landscaping can completely change the feel of a home. Read more>>
Kathy Parsons
Impact West GA’s work began in the area of homelessness when the Director of the Carrollton Housing Authority approached us about a shelter for men. We had worked with the city on other projects such has hunger relief and language classes. We opened the doors of HOPE Center in January 2008. Read more>>
David Mosley
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial itch, and I turned it into No Cappin’, my mobile hat store. What started as a small hustle grew into a full on van setup what I call the ‘Cap Mobile’ decked out with custom graphics, LED lights, and speakers. Read more>>
Jody Sandwick
Circle Ranch Inc was a vision given to Jody Sandwick to help with the desperate need for alternative housing for the foster children within a 13 county rural area in Georgia. Read more>>
Robert Jones
I’ve always loved working with my hands. Since I was a kid, I was artsy — winning art competitions, always in shop class — but really it started in the garage with my dad. And the wild part is, some of my biggest skills came from punishment. When I got in trouble, my dad didn’t talk much — he put me to work. Read more>>
Carion Marcelin
Carion Marcelin serves as the Manager for Live Healthy Gwinnett, where she provides leadership and operational support across all four pillars—Be Active, Eat Healthy, Get Checked, and Be Positive. In this role, she manages the Live Healthy Gwinnett website, maintains the Community Dashboard with up-to-date health indicators, oversees budget tracking, and supports strategic planning and program coordination. Read more>>
Paris Johnson
The Healing Birthright began in 2020, during a time when the world was collectively unraveling — and so were many people silently. While COVID forced everything to stop, it also forced a lot of us to feel things we had been avoiding for years. Read more>>
Bonnie Serratore
When people ask me how I got started, the truth is my work began because I was in deep suffering. From a very young age I lived with severe trauma abuse and abandonment. By the time I was eight years old I no longer wanted to be here and for much of my life I was in a constant state of wanting to die. Read more>>
Kimberlyn Mccoy
Born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Savannah, my journey has always been rooted in creativity and hustle. Getting my hair license at just 16 while in high school and then In 2021, I moved back to Atlanta to step fully into my purpose. I originally began my career as a barber, mastering precision and discipline, before landing an opportunity in the film industry. Read more>>
Toby Spencer
I was raised in the once-rural town of Senoia, Georgia. My father was a local police chief, and my mother was a stay-at-home mom. Growing up, I had dreams of going to college and getting my pilot’s license to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps as an airline pilot. After graduating high school, I spent a year working full time, saving up money for school. Read more>>
Patricia Gonzalez
I came from Colombia, South America almost 28 years ago. I completed med school but I needed to take some boards in order to be able to practice medicine in the USA. Because I needed to work and improve my english, started working at Emory Hospital doing medical research. Read more>>
Amber Hipple
I have been part of the beauty industry since 2015, focusing on eyebrow, body, and Brazilian waxing. In 2021, I took a leap of faith by launching my own solo esthetic studio. This decision led me to pursue further education with professional skincare brands, allowing me to offer high-end facial and skincare services centered around natural anti-aging protocols. Read more>>
Chelsea Korzenko
At age 28, my life fell apart. I became a single mom overnight and found myself navigating heartbreak, debt, work burnout, healing from abuse trauma, and barely holding my business together. One morning, after daycare drop-off, I crawled back into bed—numb, lost, and crushed under the weight of it all. I reached for my phone to check work emails… and there it was. Read more>>
Ethelia & Jeffrey Carr
Carr-B-Que’s is a prime example of a lifelong passion transforming into a dream career. Jeff and Ethelia were raised in kitchens filled with the warmth of family, friends, and the irresistible aroma of smoked meats. Jeff’s father was the go-to man for meal preparation at family gatherings, known for his skill with a smoker. Read more>>
Terri Ann Heiman
The path I had so carefully constructed crumbled in a matter of minutes. The man I believed to be my soulmate, the partner with whom I had planned to spend the rest of my life, had been leading a double life. The betrayal was a shock to my system, a disorienting blow that left me questioning everything. I was lost, adrift in a sea of fear and confusion. Read more>>
Molly Mathis
About 15 years ago, I was planning a trip for a group of friends—something off the beaten path, filled with great food, local flavor, and a few spontaneous surprises. When I couldn’t find anything that quite captured what I had in mind, I decided to create it myself. That one trip ended up sparking what would eventually become MOJO Adventures. Read more>>
Kyla Hill
I started doing my friend’s hair and makeup for prom. When I was in college, I started taking “clients” which were just girls on my hall. After grad school I started moving more into the wedding scene. Read more>>
Denise Murray
My name is Denise Murray, also known as Niecy Murray, and I’m the founder and CEO of Unique Business Experience LLC (UBE LLC). Today I’m an accountant, business consultant, notary, and travel business owner… but my story didn’t start with success. It started with pressure. It started with uncertainty. It started with me trying to hold everything together while life kept life-ing. Read more>>
DeShon LeMay
I started making content roughly a year and a half ago. I didn’t have a plan or a vision on anything but I knew I could do something big. I created trimm.city on Instagram, an Atlanta fashion page where I go around asking people in the city who outfits are trim or unique and ask them where they got their pieces from. Read more>>
Paradise Johnson
I started my journey in 2010., a deep desire to help people heal beyond the surface. What began as a passion for wellness and self-care grew out of my own experiences with stress, burnout, and the need for balance in mind, body, and spirit. I realized that true healing isn’t just physical—it’s emotional and spiritual as well. Read more>>
Noah McNeely
I’ve been developing products for about 25 years—everything from simple gadgets to consumer electronics, sports equipment, and medical devices. Honestly, I’ve worked on so many things at this point that I can’t even remember them all. Growing up, I had very broad interests. I was good at both math and art, and I was always fascinated by how things work. Read more>>
Emma Dykstra
Deborah Dykstra began baking cakes for friends through her La Leche League group more than 30 years ago. What started as a thoughtful way to support her community quickly grew into a beloved local business, as word spread about her beautifully crafted, from-scratch cakes. As demand increased, Deborah began refining family recipes and adding new flavors to her offerings. Read more>>
Peter Bloeme
Hyperflite and Skyhoundz are sister companies with complementary missions. Hyperflite is a premium flying disc manufacturer – we engineer competition-grade discs specifically for canine athletes. Skyhoundz runs the world’s largest disc dog competition series, creating opportunities for teams to compete at every level from local events to world championships. Read more>>
Curtis Bunn
I am a long-time journalist–first in sports at the NY Daily News and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the last four years as a news reporter at NBC News Digital–who transitioned 25 years ago into an author who has written 10 novels and three non-fiction books. The foundation of everything for me started long ago, as a kid growing up in Southeast, Washington, D.C., where my parents provided me and my siblings with books to go with all of our birthday and Christmas presents. Read more>>
RIKKI MCKINNEY
The foundation of your career was forged at the age of 13 in Florida. On the very same day as your first performance with Chuck Davis’s African American Dance Ensemble, you experienced the loss of your father. That moment became a defining vow: you decided to use dance and entertainment as your outlet, promising to become one of the most unique male dancers in the country. The Reinvention in Atlanta Read more>>
Ashley Williams
Photography has always been my first love. Long before it became a career, it was a constant presence in my life. I began documenting memories as early as fourth grade, creating scrapbooks every single year and developing an instinct to preserve moments as they happened. Read more>>
Tahir Eloby
I started by working at Kroger for only nine dollars an hour at 17 years old. I heavily budgeted my paychecks, sometimes to the point where I would have to figure out how to survive off $40 for a week. By this time, I was already selling shoes a little bit on the side. Read more>>
Tatiana Davis
Hey….Tiana is my name and writing books is my thang! Lol. I’m from Chicago, I moved here to Georgia 8 years ago for a change of scenery and better opportunities. In the previous interview I did with you back in 2021 I was exploring life as an entrepreneur trying to get my cleaning business off the ground. Well life happened drastically. Read more>>
Kendra Michel, MD
As early as I can remember, I have always wanted to practice medicine. As a young child, I took it upon myself to bandage my siblings’ scabs and ease their pain when they weren’t feeling well. I grew up as a first-generation Haitian American in New Jersey. Read more>>
Frankie Henry
I was born in Atlanta to a Caribbean family, and from an early age I was surrounded by technology and problem-solving. My dad worked in computer engineering in the military, and watching how he approached systems, logic, and innovation naturally pushed me toward computer science. That curiosity turned into something more serious once I got to college. Read more>>
Nolana Murray-Bibbs, M.Ed.
Grants and More was established in 2012 with a simple goal which was to help nonprofits and small businesses access the resources they need to grow and make a meaningful impact. Read more>>
Heather Dean Frost
I’ve been in real estate for over a decade. No big master plan, just a natural pull toward helping people make big decisions without losing their minds. I started my career on the Nest Team, now UrbanNest, where I was lucky to be mentored by some truly great agents like Kerry Lucas, Jamier Walzer, and Lynne Garton. Read more>>
Briana Juskowiak
My clinic journey began in the throes of insomnia. And the inability to finish a sentence or get off the couch at 3pm. And a complete lack of sex drive (like zero). And four, yep four, steroid injections in my hip to address ongoing joint pain. Read more>>
Carol Douglas-Welter
I like to call myself a “young senior.” Yes, I’m 70—but let’s be clear, that number has very little to do with my curiosity, energy, or imagination. I was raised in the southeast of England, and I’ll confess right away: I was never destined to be a doctor or a barrister. My report cards made that perfectly clear. Read more>>
Marty Grace
My story started with service and creativity colliding. I’ve spent over two decades working for the United States Postal Service, and during that time I saw something most people overlook, the people behind the uniform. Postal workers are some of the hardest-working individuals in the country, yet the way we looked didn’t reflect the pride, professionalism, or excellence of the job. Read more>>
Linda Holloway
I grew up in the all-Black town of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, in the heart of the Delta—a place rooted in resilience, history, and community. I am the youngest of nine children, raised alongside my parents in a farming household where we picked and chopped cotton together. Those early experiences profoundly shaped how I see the world and how I move through it. Read more>>
Yashika Doshi
I didn’t begin writing online because I wanted to be seen. I began because I had too much to say and nowhere specific to put it. Writing, for me, always existed before the page. At some point, I realised that most of these words are written in the middle of the night — when the world is asleep and honesty doesn’t feel exposed. Read more>>
DJ Honey Nova
I’ve always been creative and multifaceted. In high school, I was deeply involved in extracurricular activities because I was gifted in more than one area. I participated in chorus, dance, step team, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), and served as captain of the cheerleading squad. Read more>>
BayLee Mares
I was very lucky in starting my business! I was working as an office manager at a psychological services office and when I decided to leave to make better money all of the providers (therapists and psychiatrist) decided to come with me. Read more>>
Ashley Matthews
I grew up in Northeast Georgia in a small town called Clarkesville. I learned to cook and bake from my mom and Nana. My mom owned a daycare and cooked all the meals. She also made a majority of the kids first birthday cakes with those awesome 90’s Wilton Cake molds. In highschool, I loved art. Read more>>
Michael Litten
I was working for Philips Children’s Medical Ventures, as the Manager of Education Programs, focused on providing continuing education for the clinicians who care for the most fragile vulnerable little people, premature infants. During my time in that role, I recognized, sadly, to often one of the first budget items to get cut was for clinician education. Read more>>
Mpumi
⸻ Growing up in South Africa, I was always known as a creative person. I loved working with my hands and truly enjoyed creating. I come from two families that ate artistic and creative in many ways, so creativity has always been a part of who I am. When I moved to America, my creativity grew even more. Read more>>
Sherwin Loudermilk
My career didn’t start in homebuilding. It started in corporate America. I spent many years at IBM, where I learned the importance of systems, consistency, and culture. That experience shaped how I think about leadership and business, but I always had an entrepreneurial pull and a deep interest in building something tangible and lasting. Read more>>
