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.

Camille McCoy

Then you realize you’re all in it by your self w/ God! And without him I’m not sure I would have made it this far. But one thing for sure I always turned to him for guidance when things got overwhelming and I was ready to give up on it all when everything became too much. Those talks with the man upstairs kept me going and motivated me not to give up. Read more>>

Donna Cochran

The Ansley Foundation was created to honor the extraordinary life and courage of Ansley, who spent nineteen years fighting neuroblastoma with resilience and grace. Read more>>

Yamona Pierce

My story is anchored in listening, to the quiet stories of my family and to the land itself; stories that were never meant to be forgotten. The Hamilton Hood Foundation grew from a deeply personal place. What began as a desire to better understand my own family history slowly revealed itself as a responsibility to preserve a much larger, shared story. Read more>>

Christopher Sams

originally when I got into the modeling industry I started out as a photographer. I liked the creative part of being a photographer but my background and upbringing was in business so I then created a photography company and hired photographers to work for me throughout the country. While the photography business was ok I wanted more. Read more>>

Donald West

I was very young when I discovered my purpose in life, and since then, I’ve pursued my passion in barbering. At age 12, I watched a neighborhood friend cut hair in my community. I was so intrigued by his skills I asked him to teach me and mentor me along the way. Read more>>

Ava Anderson

I got started in real estate while buying my first home and honestly, it wasn’t a great experience. The agent I worked with basically wanted me to do it on my own. She sent listings and told me to do drive-bys, and if I liked a neighborhood, she’d give me the code to take a look. Read more>>

Nicole Dorazil

My background is a Biology major with a Masters in Fine Arts. I have always loved both science and design. I started West + Peak making candles as a hobby while I worked as VP of Design at Carters. Read more>>

Tiffony Coleman

I started off doing Promotions and then I advanced into entertainment. Where I own TC entertainment and manage and promote artists. Register and code their music. Get them seen on bigger platforms and heard on bigger stages as well Read more>>

Karie Vieira

I encourage the audience to read this melodrama like it’s narrated by Werner Herzog, Judy Dench, Idris Elba, or anyone who makes everything sound like magic and intrigue. Karie was born under the sun sign Leo in a small city in Massachusetts. She dreamed of becoming an actor, singer, writer and dancer. Read more>>

Nicholas Hixon

I didn’t come to Atlanta in a straight line. I came by following a feeling I didn’t yet know how to explain. In 2011, that feeling brought me here for my first interior design job out of college. I was twenty-two, new to the city, still figuring out how to sound confident in rooms where everyone else seemed to know exactly what they were doing. Read more>>

Happiness

I was a kid who asked the darndest questions. I was naturally inquisitive and always wanted to understand everything about life. One of the first moments I really became aware of myself was when my mom was teaching me how to read. Read more>>

Cornelius Gamble

I grew up in Fort Pierce, Florida, in an environment where limits were assumed and expectations were low. Even then, I didn’t experience the world the same way as most people around me. I paid attention. I noticed patterns. I understood consequence early. I wasn’t searching for direction. I already had it. After high school, my goal was to become a sheriff’s deputy. Read more>>

Dianna Farias-Echeverria

As a first-generation Latina American, I’ve always carried the values of hard work and determination instilled in me by my parents. Ever since I was a child, I knew I wanted to own my own business. I’ve tried many things—baking cupcakes, exploring skincare and esthetics—but nothing sparked my passion like creating with flowers. Read more>>

Amanie Bussey

We are a family owned business that started back in 2005, with an idea that we wanted to carry my father and mother’s legacy of family owned businesses. We new that family owned businesses were the backbone of any community, and we wanted to preserve them. We also wanted to offer affordable fine furniture in a family atmosphere. Read more>>

Courtney Cammon

Courtney D’andre Cammon Personal Story My name is Courtney D’andre Cammon, and I’m from West Shawmut, Alabama, a small town about 30–40 minutes from Auburn University. I graduated from Valley High School, where I was deeply involved in basketball, football, and track, and was honored as Best Dressed of the Class of 2012. Read more>>

Krista Slater

Here is my brief Bio: Krista Slater is a visual artist turned sommelier who likes ice-cold martinis and intentional spaces. A certified sommelier since 2006, she has worked for nearly 20 years in the world of wine retail, bars, and fine dining, first in California and currently in Georgia. Read more>>

Le’Asia Dark

I don’t just think about the outcome of the arrangement but what the presence of these flowers are being asked to withhold & what they are being created for, What makes me proud is when my customers are happy & impressed, to some people it’s just flowers, to me it’s a gift of Life. I am excited for this year, as I plan to curate some signature pieces such as healing bundles, subscriptions, & more! Read more>>

Tevin Keith

My story is simple, I don’t now when to quit. And probably never will. I went from working a dy job at a plant repairing AC’s to shooting for one of T.I.’s label artists within a week thanks to my friend, Jude Boi. Read more>>

Jamella Nash-Charles

My journey into entrepreneurship started nearly a decade ago, I was driven by curiosity, independence, and a desire to build something that could evolve with me. I’ve always been interested in how people make decisions around money, lifestyle, and ownership—and that curiosity naturally led me into real estate, e-commerce, and brand building. Read more>>

Rev. Jim Hancock

What is my story? I’ll be honest—talking about myself doesn’t come naturally. I’m much more comfortable talking about the people around me or what God is doing through our church and community. But since this is meant to help tell the story behind Bethel Methodist Church and the work we’re doing here, I’ll share a bit of my own journey. Read more>>

Roger Charles

I am a retired New York City Police officer.. Three years before I retired at the age of 39 I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I was not going to take the medicine the doctor prescribed for because of the possible negative side effects. I did some research on cannabis and it’s effects of blood pressure. Read more>>

Dr. Leah Robinson

I never really knew for sure what I wanted to do in life. I had ideas, but I didn’t feel called to anything specifically and my interest were spread out all over the place. I got my Bachelor’s Degree in English and while I loved writing stories I didn’t see myself making a career out of it at the time. Read more>>

Christal Cherry

My path to this work wasn’t linear—it was lived. I started my career in nonprofit fundraising over 20 years ago, working inside organizations that were doing meaningful, community-centered work but often struggling behind the scenes. Read more>>

Michelle Allen

At a young age, I knew I wanted to be a pediatrician. By the fifth grade, that decision felt clear, and it went on to quietly guide every step that followed, from my education to the values that shape how I practice today. After completing my medical training, I entered traditional practice settings and followed the expected path.  Read more>>

Chris Knoxx

The only way I can start to describe this journey, is humbling. Younger me was somebody who went through more trials and tribulations than any person on this planet or any other one should have gone through by the age of 10. My mother was a blessing my stepfather was a curse. Guess you could say the balance of Good and evil was absolutely in my home. Read more>>

Crystal Miles

she specialized in special occasions hair including weddings, proms, and formal events, etc. While attending Aveda, she volunteered with Job Corp and the Shepherd Center, as well as Dinner for Divas and fashion shows at Clark Atlanta University and Kissworkstudios creations.  Read more>>

Malcolm Conner

I grew up on the west side of Atlanta, in a single-parent household with my mom. I became the man of the house early. My older brother passed away at the age of sixteen, I was eight. My mom did everything she could to make sure I had structure, discipline, and values, even when resources were limited. Read more>>

Sean King Gahdiliel Armstrong

I started acting in 2009 while living in Washington, DC. I got a part in a student film at Howard University. After moving back to Atlanta I continued pursuing acting and going to whatever auditions I could find. I eventually joined Central Casting as a background actor. Read more>>

Carlene Farrell

I began my journey with a clear sense of purpose and a deep conviction to serve. The Chayil Foundation was born out of both lived experience and a genuine awareness of unmet needs within the community—particularly among individuals and families who lacked access to consistent support, resources, and advocacy. Read more>>

Dr Cynthia Williams

Today, I serve as a grief and trauma specialist, author, speaker, and community advocate, leading Love From Afar: The Christopher Allen Williams Foundation and Parents Against Distracted Driving (P.A.D.D.). My work centers on helping individuals, families, and communities process grief, trauma, and life disruption with honesty, structure, and dignity. Read more>>

Anthony M. Wiley Jr.

Sure! Like most black children in Chattanooga, I grew up in some of the roughest neighborhoods. The kind where you learn early how to stay aware. How to listen more than you talk. How to read the room before you read the book. Home was not peaceful. Read more>>

Lyarra Regis

When I first walked into adulthood, I didn’t have any time to feel the ins and outs of my identity before I hopped right into college. Growing up, I always had a knack for writing and creativity, so I became an English major. It was the only thing that made sense to my reeling brain. Read more>>

Roane Loudermilk

My career has always lived at the intersection of people and homes. Before design, I was a public school teacher and later a hospital-school teacher at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where I worked with children undergoing cancer treatment. That experience shaped how I see the world. It taught me patience, empathy, and the importance of creating environments that feel safe, supportive, and thoughtful. Read more>>

Justin Shipp

Justin Shipp is a real estate entrepreneur and the driving force behind Kaotic Real Estate Solutions, a Georgia-based investment company that specializes in helping homeowners navigate challenging situations from distressed properties and pre-foreclosures to probate, repairs, and quick sales. Read more>>

Dr. Sheirra Marci

In 2013, when I graduated from Kennesaw State University with my Bachelor of Arts degree, I realized that I did not have the authentic support that I had given to others. After planning and hosting a graduation party to commemorate this accomplishment, the anticipated number of guests was substantially less than I planned. It was the last large event that I planned for myself. Read more>>

Jennifer Brader

Zell’s Cottage Bakery started as a hobby, baking cakes for my children and then friends before finally opening a cottage food business from my home. I relocated from Loganville to Gainesville and put everything I had into growing my bakery. I competed in my first cake competition in 2019, Cake Clash, and won the grand prize and was named the ‘Best Baker in Georgia’. Read more>>

Luke Morgan

Luke Morgan is a native of Huntsville, Alabama. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. After an honorable discharge from the USMC, Luke began his country music career in Bakersfield, California in 2019 and soon became a rising star. In 2020 when the pandemic hit he was forced to relocate to Atlanta, GA. Read more>>

Miguel Ramirez

Miguel and Brittani Ramirez are the proud owners of It Takes Two Cleaning and Laundry Services, an emerging, family-owned business serving Forsyth and Dawson County, Georgia. Together, they bring a powerhouse of experience in team management, large-scale operations, and delivering top-tier customer service. Read more>>

Kellyann Ho-Sang

When I look back, Style Connoisseur Marketing was never an idea I stumbled into. It was something I carried with me the entire time. I started my career inside fast-moving, high-pressure environments. Real estate, legal marketing, hospitality, corporate advertising. I was always the person behind the scenes making sure things actually got done. Managing timelines, coordinating creatives, overseeing budgets, keeping campaigns on track. Read more>>

Pedro Castillo

My name is Pedro Castillo. I am 28 years old, an entrepreneur, content creator and the owner of the cleaning company eMaids of Atlanta. I am a Venezuelan immigrant originally from San Fernando de Apure, and I currently live in the state of Georgia, United States. Read more>>

ALESSIO LACCO

I was born and raised in Naples, Italy—the birthplace of Neapolitan pizza. I started working with pizza when I was about 13 years old, learning the craft the traditional way, hands-on, in real pizzerias. Pizza for me was never just food; it was culture, discipline, and pride passed down through generations. Read more>>

Nadia Miller

I love hosting this race because I love bringing my Mexican culture to Atlanta. We partner with the Lawrenceville Co-Op and have been able to donate 20 thounsand dollars over the years. The Lawrenceville Co-Op is a local food bank that feeds 350 families per week so every dollar makes an impact. Read more>>

Vanessa Guerrier

My story really starts with my parents and their journey from Haiti. Although they didn’t meet there, they were both searching for better lives for themselves and their families when they came to the U.S. They worked incredibly hard to give me and my siblings opportunities they never had. Even with that foundation, trauma can still find you. Read more>>

Brady Rogers

My story is a long one…with gaps! My acting journey started when I was 6 years old when I auditioned for Roots. My first journey ended there. Fast forward to 18 and a senior in high school, a bunch of us at school were used as a crowd in an ABC made for TV movie called A Father’s Homecoming for a day. Read more>>

Shemeka McNair

My journey did not begin in business or ministry. It began in service. I am a OIF combat veteran and air assault trained, and my time in the military shaped the core of who I am long before I ever built a brand. Read more>>

Nicci Schwartz

I came to my current practice through a nonlinear path. Read more>>

Deitra Butler

I am a divorced single mother of one. I am an attorney by trade. I hold a Bachelor or Arts from Metropolitan State College (now University), and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver. I am also pending a Master of Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada at Reno. I have resided in Clayton County, Georgia for over thirty years. Read more>>

Jess Jaimes

My journey has been shaped by service, resilience, and a deep commitment to community. I served in the U.S. Army from 2012 to 2016, an experience that taught me discipline, leadership, and the importance of showing up for others—especially during difficult moments. Read more>>

Shaconna Haley

I came to birth work in a woman-centered way. In my mid-twenties, I became heavily engaged in my quest for community through both my commitment and service to youth, particularly the development of Black girls, and by connecting with women. I felt a strong need to be around women in support of women. Read more>>

Demarius Newsome

I am from Meadville, PA, born and raised by my mother, the late Jacqueline Newsome, and my grandmother, Berta Newsome Jones. Since childhood, I have always been fascinated by knowledge, understanding, and helping people, all of which contributed to my passion for the law and for the good. Read more>>

Candace Sneed

I’ve spent my career as a changemaker — starting in sales as a relationship manager, then as a consumer protection litigator, and now as a yoga teacher building systems that actually support the people doing the work. My legal career shaped how I see power: who has it, how it’s used, and who it’s meant to protect. Read more>>

Olivia Park

I am currently working in Korea as a VFX Project Manager, supporting large-scale visual effects productions from planning through delivery. My journey to this role has been shaped by a global upbringing and a long-standing interest in visual storytelling. I spent much of my childhood moving between countries such as New Zealand, China, and the United States. Read more>>

Ashley Sasher

My path has been anything but linear, but every chapter has prepared me for where I am today. I began my career with a deep interest in building brands, driving growth, and understanding what truly motivates people. Over the last 22+ years, I’ve built a career in B2B and B2C marketing leadership, working across national restaurant brands, retail fintech, and EdTech SaaS organizations. Read more>>

Mary Landers

I always knew I wanted to work in a creative industry but I wasn’t sure exactly what kind of career I wanted. I think for a lot of people the high school to college to 9-5 pipeline is really pushed on us from a young age and venturing out into a career that’s different from the academic paths of your peers is scary. Read more>>

Esther Edehomon

I’m a content creator who lives and breathes social media—specifically Instagram and TikTok. My love for marketing and storytelling actually goes way back to middle school, long before I even realized it could be a career. Read more>>

Ethan Bentley

The clients and time that I’ve built my attention to detail, plant knowledge, landscape design, and love of the outdoors isolate me creating the best customer service and best in class maintenance programs, including everything to take care of the home on any aspect if it’s outside, it’s my problem Read more>>

Debbie Hufford

Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like. My name is Debbie Hufford. Read more>>

Shukri Abdi

My story begins with a dream I learned to keep quiet. Growing up, I fell in love with soccer at a young age, but that love lived mostly in silence. I was the only girl in a house full of brothers, watching from the sidelines, carrying a passion I didn’t feel free to express. Read more>>

Andrew Jones

I was born in 1961 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the youngest of six children raised in a faith-filled, hardworking family. Rooted in the church from a young age, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in 1973 at Bass Chapel United Methodist Church. Read more>>

James Shannon

My journey in Atlanta began on May 1, 2021. I moved here from Southwest Florida during COVID knowing no one, without a job, and without ever having visited the city. I quickly got a job delivering pizza’s on the weekends and temping at apartment communities in the Southside of the Metro Atlanta. Read more>>

Geovani Ayala

Originally, I was an educator by trade and spent over a decade working in higher education, helping students transition to graduate and professional education. During the pandemic, I had an awakening of sorts, realizing I wanted to focus my talents on community improvement. Read more>>

Catherine Johnson

My small business was started May of 2021 which was a unique time to start anything due to Covid 19 still being so active, let alone a business that requires such a high level of personal connection and trust. Read more>>

Mindy Forbes

Cress Creeks Sheep farm and Corn Maze was founded just north of Atlanta in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in 2022. As a family run farm, it offers a unique hands on experience to the public for a not so common animal product. Read more>>

Nick Chiodo

Nick Chiodo’s path into the wedding and events industry didn’t begin behind a DJ booth—it began on the dance floor. Originally trained as a professional dancer, Chiodo spent years performing, hosting, and entertaining at private events before gradually transitioning into DJing full-time. Read more>>

Lacey Ellenburg

I started at University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, GA where I got a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology. I started pursuing a physical therapy degree and worked for a few different physical therapy but I just felt like it wasn’t for me, I wanted a more hand on approach to helping people. That’s where I found massage therapy. Read more>>

Jasmine Sinkfield

I’ve always loved reading since I was a child. Being immersed in someone else’s world was a form of self-care for me. Even with work, school, and responsibilities, I’ve always tired to prioritize reading. Of course, life got in the way sometimes but I always found my way back. On the other hand, I’ve never been a huge social media person. Read more>>

Jessica Breaux

I’ve always been drawn to creativity, the natural world, animals, and the joy of connecting with new and interesting people. For a long time, I didn’t know how these seemingly different passions would ever fit together—or that they would eventually lead me to the deeply fulfilling work I do today. Read more>>

Koral Ohana

I started KDO with a very simple goal: to create spaces that feel intentional, not generic. Early on, I noticed that many homeowners were forced to choose between good design and good execution. Designers weren’t always involved through construction, and contractors often focused only on the build. I wanted to change that. Read more>>

Ralph Howard

My name is Ralph Howard, a lifelong resident of LaGrange, Georgia, graduate of Emory University and Georgia State University, and an avid fan of the arts in LaGrange, Atlanta, and the world. Much of my business activity has long been in Atlanta, where my wife Nita, our family, and I have enjoyed gallery events, concerts, festivals, and incredible restaurants for decades. Read more>>

Kelly Reynolds

My path here wasn’t a straight line, but I wouldn’t want it to be. Before I ever designed websites, my world revolved around animals. I grew up in Ohio, then after graduating college, I followed that passion across the country out west, fulfilling a childhood dream of working as a marine biologist in Hawai’i. Read more>>

Grier Friedman

My name is Grier Friedman, and the earliest memory I have of a knife in my hand was stealing a boxcutter from the garage to open a toy sealed in that obnoxious plastic casing crimped all the way around — the kind cheap kitchen scissors couldn’t even dent. Ever since then, I’ve been fascinated with knives. Read more>>

LaRhonda Williams

I was drawn to helping people from a young age. Long before I had language for “mental health,” I knew I cared deeply about people, how they felt, how they coped, and how life experiences shaped who they became. Helping others didn’t seem like a chore; rather, it came naturally. I also grew up watching both of my parents thrive in the field of education. Read more>>

Cleveland Jones

I grew up in North, South Carolina, immersed in church culture, where my mom and grandfather sang. Though shy, my mom pushed me to perform, starting in church. I attended Morehouse, joined the Glee Club, and later graduated from Berklee. I performed at indie spots like Apache Café, did background vocals, and then released my first album, “Ace of Hearts,” in 2013. Read more>>

Sadie M Henry

My journey in esthetics began with a deep desire to help women feel confident in their own skin. I truly believe this profession chose me, because I’ve always been drawn to healing, beauty, and meaningful human connection. I fell in love with the way esthetics restores confidence not just through treatments, but through care, education, and presence. Read more>>

Herbert Gilliam

Well for me it was birthed through my trauma and how I had to face it. In doing so, a great cataclysm happened; face it and evolve or go back into the loop. I chose to face it and allow it to give me the freedom to become who I was supposed to be. Read more>>

Daria Williamson

Although I’ve been in education for 30 years, my experience with Collaborative Learning Teams (CLTs) began seven years ago while shadowing an administrator who led an 11th English CLT. As a participant observer, I watched the team analyze data, adjust instruction, and design interventions that led to sustained increases in students’ passing rates on local and state assessments. Read more>>

Mission Sales

I grew up in a family of twelve, in a home where film was a shared language. We watched movies together constantly, and storytelling was always present. Read more>>

Danielle V. Jackson

I’m from Southwest Atlanta, where I was born and raised. I came up through the Atlanta Public Schools, starting at Kimberly Elementary, then Ralph Bunche Middle School, and later Frederick Douglass High School. I went on to graduate from Clark Atlanta University. I’ve always felt drawn to communication and community. Read more>>

Jonnie Moeller-Reed

I began my law enforcement career with Marietta Police 25 years ago. My goal from day #1 was to become a homicide detective. After four years on patrol, I went to our investigative division and began my dream job working homicides and other crimes against persons. Read more>>

Kevin Rathbun

Community giving, philanthropy, humility and commitment to my team I’m most proud of ! Read more>>

Hugo Carrillo

I first picked up a camera seriously while volunteering to photograph services at my local church in Brooklyn, New York. At the time, photography wasn’t a business plan, it was simply a way to contribute and be present. Over time, fellow volunteers began asking me to photograph their family sessions, and eventually a wedding. Read more>>