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.
Joydan Dawson
Absolutely. I’m originally from Woodbridge, Virginia, and my path really started to take shape when I attended Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina. I majored in Communications with a concentration in Production, and I graduated in 2016 with my Bachelor of Arts. Read more>>
Dajour Ashwood
Breaking ground in Harlem NY, I was introduced to filmmaking in Junior High at an afterschool program. That program lead to me starring in an Documentary called ‘Harlem Diary,’ which won several awards in LA and aired on the Discovery Channel. Taking all that I learned from camera, editing and acting, I decided to create my own art. Read more>>
Heather Borlenghi
I moved here from Los Angeles where I was a commercial actress and had aged out. I needed to find a job. I studied and passed the Property and Casualty state test and started interviewing. In one of my interviews, I was told, ‘you don’t want to do this’ He pushed me into looking into Medicare. Read more>>
schauntrel calixte
honestly , it wasn’t my intentions on starting a full blown sweets business. my VERY first time dipping strawberries was for my aunts birthday. i had little to no knowledge of dipping sweets even though i did culinary my entire 4 yrs of high school 2 of them being at technical college. just because we worked more on the savory gourmet side of the kitchen. Read more>>
Sylvia Faircloth
My Story is one of triumph,overcoming,and again all odds.I previously resided in Atl.arra,but I have moved to Northern VA. Through all my heart ache and pain,I had to find away to turn Pain into Purpose.I knee I always had a heart for encouraging people and helping them if I could.I would birth Basketcase Ministry.I am always adding to this Ministry. Read more>>
Vinika Patel
Blooming Lillies started from a place of creativity, culture, and wanting to create beautiful moments that feel personal. I’ve always been drawn to details: florals, ambiance, storytelling, and the way small touches completely transform a space. What started as helping with decor and styling for family events slowly turned into something bigger. Read more>>
Sherman Perryman
My career began in the mortgage industry in 2005, and it trained me to spot the gap between what business owners want and what the numbers and process will actually support. From there, I progressed through roles at Wells Fargo and other firms, starting in real estate finance and then transitioning into commercial real estate. Read more>>
Rachael Nichole
My story began at just eight years old with a love for crafting and creating beauty from nothing. What looked like a simple childhood hobby was actually the foundation of purpose. In 2009, I turned that passion into a business now known as FIE, Inc., providing graphic design, custom printing and large-format signage for individuals and entrepreneurs in my community. Read more>>
Christian Jackson
What’s good! My name is Christian Jashun Jackson, formally known as Jashun. I am an independent artist and producer from Grantville, Ga. I grew up in musical and hardworking households. My granddad got me into guitar; my mom got me into singing; my friends got me into producing. Read more>>
Porschia Fisher
Entrepreneurship was not a foreign concept in my household it was modeled daily. Growing up, I watched my mother build and sustain her own business with determination, faith, and resilience. Observing her commitment to creating opportunities and serving others laid the groundwork for my own aspirations. Read more>>
Sara Bartley
Growing up, I always had a disposable camera in hand. As I got older, I would photograph my travels never imagining that photography could actually become a career. In 2019, while working at Van Michael Salon, a coworker began photographing weddings. Read more>>
Rajeene Rainey
Truth is, I didn’t start this business because it sounded like a good idea or a quick way to make money. I started it because life made caregiving personal for me, and the right opportunity came up when I was already looking for a change. I’m originally from Rochester, New York, and I moved to Georgia in 2010 for warmer weather. Read more>>
Fernanda Paz
Hi, I’m Fernanda Paz. I’m a Venezuelan woman, an engineer, and an entrepreneur. My journey has not been linear and has been shaped by resilience and reinvention. For several years, I worked toward building my career as an engineer, and although I practice my profession today, there was a long period when my reality looked very different. Read more>>
Janiyah Walker
I started my nonprofit Cloud100, because I know what it’s like to lack guidance in life. To be your own mother and father. The name ‘Cloud100’ comes from a personal blog I had during my time in the foster care system that helped me cope with the traumas and day-to-day experiences I faced throughout my life during that period. Read more>>
Elizabeth Michaud
I have been writing since I was a kid. I always dreamed I would be a writer. As I got older, I wrote short stories. I always loved the end result of my short stories, but I found that the writing process was antiethical to who I am as a person, which is super lazy and impatient (go figure). Read more>>
Earl Roberts
I always had a dreams for creating ideas. Once a barber with a dream to cook. And once a self taught cook and a dream for fashion. But I had to figure a way to put it all together. So became the brand Feed a your Dreams. The idea came in 2017, but didn’t blossom until 2020. Read more>>
Mikala Streeter
Wild Oasis Learning began with a question that’s followed me throughout my life as a learner and educator: What would school feel like if curiosity led the way? I first fell in love with building and problem-solving while studying computer science and engineering at MIT. Read more>>
Pashae Williams
Some people find their calling — Pashae Williams was born into hers. From the age of six, she was already learning the art of marketing, drawing crowds at trade shows, and mastering the psychology of promotion before she even knew the word for it. Read more>>
Ireon Valore
I actually grew up around hair — my mom was a licensed cosmetologist for over 30 years, and I was her shampoo assistant in high school. Read more>>
Christy Kuriatnyk
Here is a link below that has the background information to The Cake House Bakery. It is a unique and interesting story. We’ve been open 2 1/2 years now. We’ve won ‘Best of Georgia’ in 2024 and 2025, both years, since opening in the European Bakery category. https://www.times-herald.com/arts_and_community/sweet-taste-of-freedom/article_d11e9216-63be-11ee-a940-1383c10941b3.html Starting in 2025, we offer an elegant afternoon tea on certain weekends. Read more>>
Erica Ebije
I’m a licensed real estate agent and investor. My career has always been centered around ownership, development, and helping people build long term assets. Through my work in real estate, I became increasingly interested in commercial spaces and how the right environment can completely change the trajectory of a business. Read more>>
Joshua Goddard
My name is Josh, and I am the owner of Servant Plumbing. I have been in the plumbing industry for over 25 years and acquired Servant Plumbing in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2010. Since then, we have grown and expanded our service areas throughout the Charleston region and recently into the North Atlanta, Georgia area. Read more>>
TAYNA RIGAUD
CoreVitals was truly built on both friendship and vision. My partner, Sakeena Anderson, NP-C, and I met back in 2012 while working together in PACU. From the very beginning, we worked extremely well as a team. We shared the same work ethic, the same passion for patient care, and the same desire to do more for our community. Read more>>
Seth Pearson
I grew up in Syracuse, New York, and I’ve always been a little different — in the best and hardest ways. Read more>>
Tiffany Walker
I founded Creative Minds Learning Center in 2017 with a vision to create a nurturing, high quality learning environment where children feel seen, supported, and inspired. As a mother and an educator with a background in arts and early childhood education, I’ve always understood how critical those early years are in shaping confidence, curiosity, and long term success. Read more>>
Marianna Alzoukani
A love for coffee brought my husband, Ahmad, and me together. Ahmad grew up in Syria, where coffee is an essential part of culture and community, while I discovered my own love for coffee during college. We met at a coffee shop where Ahmad was working and I was studying during grad school. Read more>>
Yanina Jimena Serrano
My name is Jimena Serrano, and I am the founder of Balloons By Jime. With the long-term plan of moving to Atlanta with my family, I began my business in Tunisia while completing my Balloon Designer Diploma, with the goal of gaining the professionalism and experience I hoped to one day bring to this city. Read more>>
Yusef Crowder
YUSEF CROWDER Woodcarver, West African Percussionist, Artisan Yusef Crowder, born and raised in Monroe, North Carolina, attended Winchester Avenue High School and became heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement. In the late 50’s, Yusef joined the Black Guard under the leadership of Rob Williams (Negroes With Guns). Upon graduation, Yusef moved to New York City, found work and continued his political involvement. Read more>>
LaToya Henderson
My journey into the film and television industry didn’t start with a roadmap, it started with passion. I’ve always been drawn to beauty, art, and storytelling. What began as a love for creativity evolved into a 20+ year career as a professional makeup artist in film and television. Read more>>
Shelly-Anne Tulia Scott
An advocate for design justice, Tulia focuses on inclusive design, public-interest architecture, and the power of space to heal, gather, and inspire. She is committed to mentoring future architects, supporting grassroots community efforts, and guiding clients through the design process. In recognition of her impact, Tulia is the 2025 recipient of the Carmen Stan Elevation of the Profession Award. Read more>>
Alea Morren
I have always been drawn to the visual arts from a very young age. I received my first set of oil paints at age ten, and grew up watching & adoring Bob Ross. Always an adventurer willing to try it all, I studied ballet, played all the school sports, and served on the student council and newspaper in my small high school. Read more>>
Lelund Thompson
I’m a storyteller. I started making them up at a very young age. I remember watching the reactions from family and friends, they were laughing, they were crying, they were moved, and they always asked for more. That response stayed with me. It taught me early that stories have power. They connect people, they heal, and they help us understand ourselves. Read more>>
Jonathon Plummer
We didn’t start with a formal business plan. My wife Megan and I started with a shared interest in music, technology, and creating experiences. In the early days, it was small DJ opportunities and a willingness to say yes and figure things out as we went. As the events grew, so did the responsibility. Read more>>
Someen Javed
Before real estate, I spent years in corporate America working with companies like Delta Airlines, Bank of America, Chick-fil-A, and Amazon. On paper, it looked stable and impressive. But internally, I was burned out. I reached a point where I realized I was building someone else’s vision while slowly disconnecting from my own. Read more>>
Candice Pettaway
Growing up in the historic city of Selma, I learned early the importance of community, consciousness, and consistency. A proud graduate of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU), I moved to Atlanta three years ago after early retiring from a K12 education career to pursue my Ph.D. in Education Policy. Read more>>
Shawn B. Fletcher
Hi, my name is Shawn B. Fletcher, and I am originally from New London, Connecticut. My journey began growing up in a single parent household as an identical twin and the oldest of four. Being raised by a strong mother shaped my understanding of responsibility, resilience, and leadership at an early age. Read more>>
Juan Harris
When I first arrived at the illustrious Clark Atlanta University in 2005, I stepped into a world that would shape both my identity and my ambitions. Coming from South Jersey, I already had the hustle, the grind, and a deep connection to music culture—but Clark, my HBCU and my entry point into Atlanta, sharpened those instincts and expanded my vision. Read more>>
Kimberly Hanson
All I ever wanted as a teenager was to work in the beauty industry. I dreamed of living in a big city and doing celebrity hair. That dream led me to start cosmetology school while I was still in high school at West Georgia Technical College, where I finished shortly after graduating. Read more>>
Aliyah Terry
Creativity has always been a part of who I am. As a kid, I loved writing stories, coming up with new ideas, anything that allowed me to use my imagination. I was constantly drawn to creating, whether it was through words or visuals. Read more>>
Marco Medina
Lumexx Media is a distribution company that started once we started seeing the demand for streaming and not seeing a lot of Hispanics in the room. At the time, we were really focused on urban content and bringing that to different streaming platforms like Roku, Tubi and Amazon. Read more>>
Jimal Deas
I’m not the best at doing interviews. But here’s a brief summary of my story. I was born in South Carolina. While in high school and college, I injured my back and was forced to stop playing football. Read more>>
Marisa Stephens
My story actually started with a blind leap of faith. Growing up, financial literacy wasn’t something we discussed in my household. I had to learn everything on my own – through my own experiences and from watching others. My first real glimpse into the potential of money came early in my career when a coworker suggested I invest my 401k differently. Read more>>
Michael Michaelides
Michael is an Atlanta native with a lifelong love of fitness and coaching. A self-proclaimed “fat kid” that was active in sports, it was the discovery of wrestling in his early teens that finally whipped Michael into shape. Michael wrestled in high school for Woodward Academy. Read more>>
Danny Byl
My Story: From Dentistry to the White House: My obsession began in 1989 with a simple trip to an art store for oil paints and canvas boards. The moment I finished my first painting—which I still keep today—I knew I was an artist. Read more>>
Michael Mieske
I started with guitar in my early teens. Found out my guitar hero Randy Rhoads studied and played classical guitar. I wanted to learn classical guitar too. I received an associate degree in classical guitar. From there I found that I was interested in orchestra music so I decided to learn viola which led to the violin as well. Read more>>
Gracie & Angelo Felix
Angelo has had a passion for photography since he received his first camera at age 16. As he got older, that interest expanded into videography, which eventually led him to wedding videography. He began filming weddings as a side project during college and, after graduation, decided to turn it into an official business. Read more>>
Daneell Moore
One of my proudest full-circle moments was watching my children launch their first book on Lincoln’s campus alongside 80+ entrepreneurial students in the business program. Now, we bring our books into schools and libraries through experiences that help families connect, learn, and create together—and in the future, we hope to expand these literacy experiences into even more community spaces beyond schools and libraries, so stories and learning can reach families wherever they are. Read more>>
ayo dada
I practice monologues in my free time as many aspiring actors do, and am always looking for projects to better myself, whether that be student projects, smaller non-union projects, actor workshops and groups in the Atl area, etc. Consistency is key, and all progress is good progress. Every day I’m proud of myself for pursuing a passion that fuels me. Read more>>
Kim Richardson
I started by watching, learning and being inspired. Then, I started to play (which was so scary!), I took classes, and joined improv teams. I have been very blessed to build beautiful friendships, connections and teams in improv. My heart is so full of gratitude. I have been lucky enough to do amazing things such as expanding as a person and facing my fears, performing on stages, participating in festivals, traveling with my teams, and performing at Dragon Con (pinch me!). I have seen so much joy shared. Read more>>
Taylor Luiz
That isn’t to say that music therapy in college was easy. I found that I had to devote a lot of myself to the program, giving up opportunities to make memories with my friends in school, and devoting so much time to my studies. At times, I wondered if it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. However, with my support system and with my faith, I am dedicated to continuing to put 110% into my studies to become the best music therapist I can. Read more>>
Icet Herbert
I then created my Instagram page and registered my business. Slowly my followers started growing & interest started growing. It was a bittersweet moment, I had to make a decision and leave my corporate job. Ideally, that was the plan, but it was still hard. It was hard to leave a place that gave me stability & a company that was always so understanding of what life threw at me. Read more>>
Clayton Vaughn
Born and raised in Texas. I’ve been cooking bbq on a grill since I was about 6-7 years of age. Growing up my mother called me “Cookie” and I would help her when we would host different family events with grilling. Read more>>
Tekee Parker
I originally come from Flint, MI. I came to Atlanta for college in 1996. I graduated from GSU undergrad and CTU for graduate school.I started my career in commercial real estate about eight years ago, learning the business from the ground up and building my reputation deal by deal. Read more>>
