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.

Lenese Calleea

My journey into entrepreneurship really started with my love for fashion and storytelling. I earned my BFA in Fashion Design from Columbia College Chicago, where I built a strong foundation in design, but I quickly realized that understanding the business side of fashion was just as important as the creative. Read more>>

Santino Jones

My name is Santino Jones, and I’m from Cleveland Heights, Ohio. My journey started with a passion for inspiring others through both service and music. Over time, that passion grew into the Won’t Quit Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth and giving back to the community through sports events, mentorship, and outreach. Music has also been a major part of my story. Read more>>

Anita Seamans

I fell in love with photography the moment I became a mom. 🤍 For five years, I was a stay-at-home mom, and my world revolved around my kids and the little moments we shared every day. I started taking pictures just to hold onto those memories—the laughter, the chaos, the quiet in-between moments. Without realizing it, photography became something I truly loved. Read more>>

ReNay Nelson

I’ve always been a creative and loved telling a story through many different art forms. I love communicating authentically and creatively, whether that’s writing, modeling or creative directing. I always loved the “idea” of modeling—of creating an artistic image through the collaboration of different artists—makeup artists, photographers, models, creative directors. Read more>>

DeAndea Evans-Tolbert

Divinity Divine Business Solutions was born out of both experience and necessity. I’ve always had a passion for structure, organization, and helping things run smoothly, which started in my early career in retail management. Over time, I realized that what came naturally to me, systems, branding, and operations; were the very things many small business owners struggled with. Read more>>

Imani Bashir

I’m a military veteran, and my journey into real estate and entrepreneurship has been all about growth, self-discovery, and purpose. When I transitioned out of the military, I was at a point where I knew I wanted more for my life, but I was still figuring out what that looked like. Read more>>

Jodi Klaristenfeld

I am a preemie parent – my daughter was born at 28 weeks when my seemingly perfect pregnancy took a turn for the worst. The next thing I knew, it was 3 days after my daughter was born and I had no idea what just transpired. Read more>>

Stacii Lewis

I got out of prison in Florida in 2018 after serving 21 years in prison and when I came home I wrote a book about my life experiences growing up in Miami Florida and how I ended up serving 21 years in prison and that led me to the movie industry eventually because I was doing motivation speaking already in front of people and cameras so becoming a actor was simple for me. Read more>>

Maurice Willis

I started playing drums before I could walk- literally. According to my mom, I was already keeping rhythm before I was even born. By the age of four, I was playing in church, and by nine, I was touring across the east coast of the United States, performing with youth choirs and church organizations. Music was always present, but it wasn’t always the plan. Read more>>

Kyre Moseley

Hello, my name is Kyre Moseley, I’m from South Philly but I’ve moved around from Philly to Va to Georgia. When I was younger I was the kid who had what he needed, never had the fancy things or all the newest toys, clothes, shoes, phones, internet, cable, etc. Read more>>

Paige Wanamaker

Going back, my relationship with hair really starts before I had the language to call it a “career.” I’ve always felt a pull and interest towards all things creative, but specifically in creating things with my hands. I used to say this craft chose me VS. the other way around. Read more>>

Tara Covington

I started my real estate journey in 2016 when I earned my license in Arizona and began working in timeshare sales. That experience gave me a strong foundation in sales, communication, and understanding what motivates people when making big decisions. Read more>>

Caleb5k

It all started with me moving from Cleveland, Ohio to Atlanta, Georgia at 8 years old then moving into Kennesaw where I went to school from elementary to high school. Read more>>

Samson Lamadine

I’m originally from Liberia and now based in Schenectady, New York. I’ve been doing music for close to ten years, and I’m on a personal journey toward greatness—exploring sound, frequency, and different styles. My goal is to blend traditional elements with new techniques to create something unique and meaningful through my music. Read more>>

Marissa Carper

I’ve always loved making videos. Everyone makes iMovies with their siblings when they are young, but I was super into it. I was always making vlogs on family trips, taking photos everywhere I could. I took every media class I could in middle and high school. During covid, I was bored and started doing editing for YouTubers on the side to make some cash. Read more>>

Heir

I came into 2023 feeling like something was missing. At first, I thought I’d start a brand, maybe clothing or jewelry, but everything shifted on a flight to Paris when I watched the Donna Summer documentary. Around the same time, Beyoncé’s Renaissance was out, and something about that moment just clicked. Read more>>

Divine Burgess

I originally started this business in 2021 with my brother thus the name Flan Hermanos. After putting the business on hold for years I met the love of my life Tzoalli and we decided to revamp the business together. Almost all flan currently on the market is subpar or just inedible, that’s where Flan Hermanos comes in. Read more>>

Darius Miles

My story actually started as this second grader wanting to be a movie star. It took a big turn when we moved and because the technology wasn’t how it is now I had to work my way back up from numerous jobs and in and out of school because of so many life changes. Read more>>

Sherry Valenzuela

When my father passed away in 2021 I wanted to preserve his funeral flowers so I dried as many flowers as I could to dry them. Once they were dry I began to experiment with resin. From 2021-2023 I practiced snd in January 2024 I decided to take my Master Degree and put it use by opening my own business. Read more>>

Nubia Abaji

After a long journey of resilience and hard work, supported by deep faith, I have learned what people often say, that everything happening is meant to happen and ultimately serves a greater good. I have also always felt God’s presence and guidance along the way. I have continued on my path of overcoming loss, embracing new beginnings, and reinventing myself. Read more>>

Bria Knight

Hi Readers! I am Bria Knight, a proud Atlanta native who grew up on the vibrant westside of the city during the 1990s. As an only child, I developed an intense infatuation with the arts, immersing myself in music, beauty, fashion, and everything that celebrated creativity and self-expression. Read more>>

Heather Ryan

We didn’t plan to build a brand! We just started sharing our puppies. Clyde came into our lives first, a tiny toy poodle with a big personality. A few months later, Lola joined our family, and from the beginning, there was something special about the way they connected. What started as everyday moments, cuddling and playing, quickly felt like a story unfolding in real time. Read more>>

Michael Kelly

I’m Michael Kelly, a fashion designer with over 20 years of experience in the industry and 15 years dedicated to designing. My journey began in Pontiac, Michigan, before moving to Chicago, where I honed my craft. Over the years, I’ve been involved in a variety of creative roles, including photoshoots, short films, and production teams across cities like Detroit, Chicago, New York, and Atlanta. Read more>>

Kendra Thomas

My author journey began with a passion for storytelling and a deep love for creating meaningful books for children—especially stories where they could see themselves represented. As a mother and entrepreneur, I noticed the importance of diversity in children’s literature and wanted to create books that reflected real experiences, confidence, learning, and family connections. Read more>>

Alfonso Aguirre

Art has always been in my life. Whether it was drawing, acting, playing guitar, singing, photography or writing, creating was always something I was drawn to. I have a Bachelors Degree in Marketing, and I worked for different companies and two universities. I loved the people I worked with, but I always needed to do something creative. Read more>>

Dudley Peltrot

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, specifically in Flatbush, which played a huge role in shaping who I am today. Growing up there, I was surrounded by so many different cultures—Caribbean, African, and European—and food was always at the center. It wasn’t just about eating, it was about identity, tradition, and connection. Read more>>

Nikki Brown

I was raised in an abusive home with very little support. Of course, this led to me struggling with mental health issues and addiction as I grew up. If you’re treated like an unloved dog your whole life, you start to believe that and allow others to abuse you as well, without even thinking of standing up for yourself. Read more>>

Courtney Clardy

I consider myself a multi disciplinary creative with a background as a writer, speaker, social worker, content creator, and now media correspondent. My story has been shaped by evolution, growth, and consistently allowing myself the space to expand into new versions of who I am professionally and personally. Read more>>

Brenton Davis

I actually got started in the electrical field pretty early. I was in the 10th grade in my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, and my high school offered electrical classes. I took one and ended up really liking it, so I decided to stick with it. Read more>>

Desiree Dibia Crow Priestess911

My journey in self mastery was awaken in 2018. That year was destined for me to connect to my roots and the discovery was a huge release with being in bliss, pain, fearing the unknown. Connection to my roots continue to open many doors and close doors that no longer align with my soul energetically. Read more>>

Genevieve Volpert

I have always been artsy (I danced my whole childhood) and I have always been drawn to beauty and emotion. I finally made the leap and bought my first camera in 2023 after being interested for quite some time and I never looked back. Read more>>

Sandora Petty

Many people know me as a Visual artist. I’ve loved art, history, and literature since I was very young. I’ll say that at the age of 13-15 I started manifesting the person I’d like to become. Also,spiritually soul searching connecting to my ancestral practices, owning my queerness and creating my own bodies of work. It has not been an easy journey at all. Read more>>

David James

I started building effects and amplifiers for guitar because I love the echo effect on guitars and I couldn’t afford one! I saw plans for one that I could build in a cake pan for 100 dollars, rather than buy one for $1000 and it sounded great. I was absolutely hooked. Read more>>

Claire Weitnauer

I grew up in Decatur, but spent many years living first on the west coast and then in NYC where I learned the Baby Retail business. When I moved back home to Georgia in 2024, I was eager to dive into the Atlanta baby world. Read more>>

LaToya Gay

I’m a full-time freelancer with 16+ years of experience in customer service, helping brands create smooth, positive experiences that keep their customers happy and coming back. Supporting people has always been my lane — and I do it with heart, strategy, and professionalism. I’m also a UGC creator and wellness advocate, sharing my real-life GLP-1 journey where I’ve lost 66 pounds in under a year. Read more>>

Jordan Jetson

Oh, man, which part? I’ve lived about 4 lives. I’ve been a street level villain (like Riddler… or The Penguin), a premier musician, I had a prison arc, and now I do a lot of consultations and marketing, for myself and others. Read more>>

Heidi Beckles

Essentially- My relationship with scent began in South America, Guyana, where fragrance was part of everyday life. I vividly remember Sunday mornings filled with aromas of Limacol, Incense, Frangipani, and the earthiness of the yard—scents that quietly shaped my understanding of memory and atmosphere. Candles were not decorative—they were necessary. Read more>>

Barz Damu

My journey as an artist started when I was around seven or eight years old. My twin brother and I were introduced to music in the simplest way possible—our mother showed us how to press record on the tape deck. Read more>>

Chaz Maull

I’m excited to share my story with Voyage LA. I have over 20 years of experience in the restaurant and nightlife industry, and hospitality runs deep in my blood. I come from four generations of nightlife and hospitality—my great-grandmother was a bootlegger during Prohibition and throughout the Civil Rights era. Read more>>

Dante Chestnut Sr.

Hello, I started off as a Sous Chef after finishing Job Corp in Albany, Ga. Where I completed their Culinary Arts program. I began working at restaurants like Morrison’s Café at Perimeter Square Mall, Marriott Hotel and Houlihans in Lenox Square Mall. However, I was so adamant about following my dreams of becoming a record executive, I moved to College Park, GA. Read more>>

JaGerran Knight-Bryant

Mustard Seed Chiropractic was founded by husband-and-wife team Dr. JaGerran and Dr. Jessica, who met at Life University and shared a vision of building a family-centered practice focused on helping people function at their best. We didn’t start with traditional funding—our clinic was built through the support of a small group of people who believed in the vision early on. Read more>>

Sarah Reeder

Here at 1st Stop Georgia Driving Academy, we consider driver’s education to be the 1st stop on one of life’s most important journeys- not only getting your driver’s license, but learning how to drive safely and correctly. We are a family owned business, and believe we have some of most talented instructors in the industry. Read more>>

Telisha Nettles

I’m from small town Florida. (Graceville,Fl) left to Tallahassee for Nursing School at FAMU. Had a micro preemie at 24 weeks after graduating and working as a nurse for a year. During COVID, I began investing in my singing journey at a new level. Ended up being a travel nurse and traveled to Atlanta for one of my assignments. Read more>>

Anthony garrett II

.My name is Anthony Garrett II, also known as Actor AG and AG2Soul, and my journey really started with a deep desire to express truth through storytelling. Acting wasn’t just something I wanted to do—it became a way for me to understand people, emotions, and ultimately my purpose. I got my start in acting in 2017, performing in independent stage theater. Read more>>

Leo Matias

Cilantro Lime started as a true underdog story in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. Tucked inside the Fashion District, we weren’t in a prime location, didn’t have big foot traffic, and didn’t have investors backing us. What we did have was over 30 years of experience, relentless work ethic, and a vision to create Mexican food that hits different. Read more>>

Chianne Michaels

Growing up my father was a huge wrestling fan and that was something he passed down to me. When I was 6 or so my father opened a tattoo shop in Calhoun, Ga, called Immortal Tattoos and he would tattoos on some of the small independent wrestlers. Read more>>

Ron Tripodo

In 2006 my wife contracted a very lethal brain infection. They told me she had less a 10% chance of living. And if she did, she would most likely be completely bedridden. God spoke to me audibly in my year and told me he would heal Patsy. So, I claimed it and proclaimed to everyone… my wife would be healed and she was. Read more>>

Adriana Kopinja

My story with photography started in Poland, where my father was a crime scene photographer in the 80s. It sounds dramatic, but my memories are actually of spending time with him in the darkroom, which is where my curiosity for photography began. Read more>>

ConversationsOneonOne

ConversationsOneonOne is hosted by myself Sharon and Daniel Daniel and I started messaging on Instagram in 2018. I had a vision in the beginning for he and myself to start a YouTube page along with a mutual friend as a trio. Nothing happened we never met up, because Daniel was always working, years passed, but the vision never faded. Read more>>

Kayin Malik

My journey into Women’s Transformational Leadership Coaching is really an evolution of the work I’ve been doing for over 30 years. I spent three decades in corporate America, primarily in Human Resources and leadership roles, where I supported and developed talent across all levels of an organization. Read more>>

Sarah Garcia

I started in the industry behind the scenes as an artist coordinator, working major tours and really seeing how everything operates up close. It wasn’t glamorous all the time it was fast-paced, high pressure, and it taught me a lot about what it actually takes to keep things moving at a high level. Read more>>

Octavia Holder

From Sketches to Statement Pieces: My Journey to the Afro Spirit Collection I have always loved fashion. For me, it was never just about clothes—it was an escape, a way to imagine a life beyond the one I was living. Growing up in Jamaica with my siblings and my father, life wasn’t always comfortable. But in the middle of that, I found creativity. Read more>>

Kantii

Well… I’ve been in chorus since elementary school, I auditioned for leads, didn’t get them. I’ve done talent shows, didn’t win them. I’ve been in multiple singing groups that taught me valuable lessons… I decided to take my music career seriously right after high school. I decided to join “Playlist Academy” which was an artist development program. Read more>>

Anna Russell

My journey into this industry has been shaped by trusting my instincts and following what felt right, even early on. I was born and raised in East Tennessee and graduated from East Tennessee State University with a degree in Business, but while I was still in college, I already knew I wanted to attend esthetics school and pursue something more creative and people-centered. Read more>>

Justin Galmish

Nuggy Dog Co. didn’t start in a boardroom. It started with a dog and a routine. A few years ago, I brought home a Golden Retriever named Jasper. Back then, he was just my dog. Today, he’s known online as Jasper Golden Nugget. At first, we were just going on walks, riding around, and living our normal routine. I started sharing pieces of that online. Read more>>

Noelle Alcorn

I have been an animal advocate for many years including working at several zoos across the country and quitting my job on a whim and moving to Namibia (Africa) to work in conservation with pangolins and rhinos! I moved back to the states a few years ago and met a guy. Long story short, he got me into Pokemon. Lost the guy, kept the hobby! Read more>>

Brandon Ellis

Born to a hard working middle class Cop & Schoolteacher in Queens, New York. We separated from Dad when I was age 6 & moved to Washington DC & Prince George’s County to continue our lives. Mom put me in professional dance classes at age 7 later at age 9 Acting & Vocal classes at Howard University Children’s workshop. Read more>>

Delphine Breyne

I grew up in a small town in the north of France, with only about 10,000 people. Life there was comfortable and predictable—people followed the same paths and stayed within their comfort zones. But deep down, I always felt something bigger was waiting for me. For 25 years, I built a career in fashion. Read more>>

Christain Hunt

My music journey began in high school, where I first discovered my passion for songwriting. Shortly after graduation, I took a major leap by recording my first single, “R&B.” Recognizing that a successful creative career requires both a strong foundation and personal discipline, I made the decision to join the Navy. Read more>>

Jaden Wesley Brown

My story begins in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where I started my entertainment career on TikTok. I knew early on that I had a passion for creating and connecting with people, I just didn’t know how to use it yet. When I went to college, the freedom of having no one to dictate my decisions quickly turned into a war on my character. Read more>>

kyandukhta Kalantari

My path to becoming a Doctor of Dental Surgery started early, driven by a natural interest in science and medicine. I began my dental education at Phoenix College, studying dental hygiene, and later completed my Bachelor of Science at Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College & Hospital. Read more>>

Victoria Hudson

Humanitarian Gang Inc. was founded from something very simple—just a group of friends in Middle Georgia who wanted to make sure families in need had a good Christmas. Back in 2015, we came together and used our own money to provide Christmas gifts for a few families. It wasn’t a big production, but it was meaningful—and that moment really stuck with us. Read more>>

Aïda Lemma

I was born and raised in Ethiopia, where entrepreneurship was a way of life in my household. My parents were serial entrepreneurs who owned several businesses, many of which they built together, from restaurants and bars to hotel partnerships, factories, distribution centers that they still operate today. Although my father had an incredibly demanding schedule, he was intentional about carving out time for family. Read more>>

Rex Novi

I’m from Memphis which is a really musical city. My grandmother was a blues guitarist, and my family were big on playing music for every occasion. Cleaning the house, to and from school, parties, cookouts, etc. I listened to blues with my Dad, soul with my Mom, and hip hop with my sister. Read more>>

Kobe Grossman

My name is Kobe, and I’m an illustrator studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design, majoring in Illustration. I was born and raised in the Philippines, and eventually moved to Atlanta, Georgia where the city’s energy, diversity, and creative pulse continue to shape the way I work. I’ve always been an art kid. Read more>>

Kat Setlock

I’m Kat Setlock—47 years young and a NASM Certified Sports Nutrition Coach. After more than 20 years in corporate America, I walked away in 2025 because I couldn’t ignore what it was doing to my well-being. A big turning point started in 2019 when I returned to dance after being away for over 20 years. Read more>>

Breana Thomas

I started my journey with a love for storytelling that felt bigger than me—it was never just a hobby, it was something I needed. Pursuing that passion led me to train at Howard University, where I began to understand not just how to perform, but why storytelling matters. Being in that environment shaped me deeply, both as an artist and as a person. Read more>>

BIG PRI$E

Born and raised in east Atlanta I spent most of my young life riding around with my mom in an old Honda civic. I was exposed to all of my beginning inspirations of music. Artist like: OutKast, Erica badu, zap band, ludacris, future, jeezy, young dro, t.i., shawty lo, rich kids, two chains etc. Read more>>