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.

Dave Holland

During the pandemic I bought a grow kit for some mushrooms, online. It became a fascination, then an obsession, then a daily hobby, to a business, in early 2024. I didn’t come from agriculture, in fact, I cam from marketing and design for brands like Purdue University and Apple. Read more>>

Die Laughing Comedy

Die Laughing started as the brain child of JB King. I, Ryan Schrilla ran a few shows in north Georgia and JB had a mic as well as a show or two himself. Once we realized that the comedy scene needed some firepower, we combined forces and brought our rooms together and voila. Read more>>

Justin Henley

My journey into the fitness and wellness industry started back as early as 14 years old in my adolescent years. I began playing pop warner league football at a very competitive level During this time, I realized the importance of keeping my body well balanced with the proper nutrition and fitness training. Read more>>

Anamika Chrai

I’ve always been drawn to creativity and storytelling, which led me to study media and advertising and build an early career in PR, marketing, and social media. Because of that background, content creation felt like a very natural fit for me – it combined everything I genuinely enjoy creativity, strategy, visual storytelling, and connecting with people. Read more>>

Jamison Jones

My story really starts with service, growth, and building community from the ground up. I’ve spent years working in youth development, coaching, and public recreation. Creating programs that open doors for young people, from swimming and sports to tech and life skills. Read more>>

Derrick Utsey

I’ve always had a passion for music and technology, and over time, those two worlds have come together to shape my career. I started DJing in high school, and what began as a creative outlet quickly turned into a lifelong journey. Read more>>

Dj Big EZ

Always had the love for music so I purchased some Dj equipment around 2005 and Started djing around my neighborhood and was recognized by a local club owner in 2007 and now 19 years later I’m still djing clubs and local events and also a key member of Coalitiondjs . Read more>>

Tati Hayton

When I was little I used to watch horror movies with my grandpa. The makeups intrigued me and of course scared the hell out of me. They seemed so real—I didn’t even question it as a kid. Read more>>

Stephanie Rehberg

I started creating content in November while working full-time in the nonprofit space. Through my work, I saw firsthand how nonprofits and community-driven organizations are often left out of the influencer and marketing world, so I wanted to create something that could spotlight them in a meaningful way. Read more>>

Phenomenally Autistic

I feel like its worth to take the risk I always say when it comes to my advocacy that the uncomfortable conversations need to be had because you dont grow in comfort, im not afraid to have uncomfortable conversations, some people will like it, for some it may not be there cup of tea but thats all fine because there is a space for the work I do Read more>>

Ruth Vargas

My journey began as a mother trying to understand how to help my son after receiving his autism diagnosis in 2019 at 18 months old. Like many parents, I was told to simply accept the diagnosis, put him on medication, wait for therapies, and adjust to the idea that this would always be our reality. Read more>>

Joyce Gathright

I didn’t start this as a business. I started this as a response. My mother and my sister both transitioned as a result of disease. Read more>>

Canei “Ms. CiCi” Lampkin

My name is Canei Lampkin, but most people know me as “Ms. CiCi.” My journey didn’t start with a big plan or organization; it started with a heart for kids who needed someone in their corner. Years later, in 2017, that heart turned into something official: Visions of the Minds. Read more>>

Urmeer

I was born in Mexico City. During my childhood, I lived in Zitácuaro, Michoacán, a small town surrounded by mountains, volcanoes, and forests that fill each year with monarch butterflies. I spent my childhood and adolescence there, marked by one of the most difficult periods of drug-related violence in the country. Read more>>

Benjamin Anderson

I’m a 10-year Army veteran, and that background really shaped how I approach both work and people, with discipline, accountability and doing things the right way the first time. After transitioning out of the military, I got into plumbing and have been in the trade for about six years. Read more>>

Tania Cuthbertson

I got started with face painting in a way that felt very natural —I didn’t initially set out to turn it into a business. I’ve always loved being creative, and face painting first became part of my life through my own children’s birthday parties. I would paint for them and their friends, just as a fun way to make their celebrations feel extra special. Read more>>

Chloe Hefferman

I started out in theatre when I was in middle school, but all my life I was told that I lit up on stage. From performances for the end of the year in elementary school to any art class I had. I didn’t really start to take theatre seriously until 7th grade where I finally decided this was what I wanted to pursue for college. Read more>>

Jamon Hancock

Eklipse Worldwide started with a passion for bringing diverse entertainment to a wider audience. Originally a smaller media company connecting independent creators, it has grown into a global entertainment platform. Today, it spans documentary series, travel content, celebrity chef collaborations, and even its own streaming app. Based in Atlanta, it continues to expand across film, fashion, and digital content globally. Read more>>

Tonya Trow

Several years ago, I was a stay at home mom with four kids. I didn’t have much money and I was tired of struggling financially. I started painting landscapes on furniture and mailboxes, fairytale canvases, and doing some amateur photography of things that touched my life. Including a photo driving down Bankhead Hwy. one night after a rainstorm. Read more>>

Jennifer Looney

Before I ever set foot in a client’s home, I was designing for a living in a completely different world. As a fashion designer for a national uniform company based out of Nashville, Tennessee, I spent years immersed in the language of color, proportion, and texture. I was learning, without fully realizing it, the very foundation of everything I do today. Read more>>

Kordell Brown

Born in Chicago, IL and was raised in Metro Atlanta since 2008. Growing up I knew I saw the world differently. Over time I tried different outlets to express that until high school I stumbled upon a camera. Since then the world became my Playground. Read more>>

Adrienne Myles

When I was about eight years old, I hit my head on the wall when I was jumping under the bed and I had amnesia. I didn’t know who I was and I didn’t even know who my mom was. We had a cleaning lady over and I thought she was my mom. Read more>>

Ryan Kennedy

I started out in Atlanta just figuring things out like anybody else—trying different paths, learning what felt right, and what didn’t. Over time, I realized I had a natural pull toward being in front of the camera and entertaining people. Whether it was making people laugh, bringing energy into a room, or just being myself, that’s where I felt the most alive. Read more>>

Lisa Mullins

Three years ago we opened Stretchlab Sandy Springs. My daughter and I were looking for a wellness studio option that we both could readily endorse. Today, we are still here. Providing assisted stretches to everyone who would benefit: amateur athletes, seniors, folks in rehab. Read more>>

Kash 2Lit

After attending Detroit school of arts where I studied dance, but took interest in acting, studio production, radio and television music was just the icing on the cake. I’ve always had a love for poetry so playing with words came easy. I got my first big break when I met Detroit mogul DJ MIX. Read more>>

Capone Stroud

I actually started out as a lip-sync performer, which is where I really learned how to command a crowd and understand energy. From there, I transitioned into emceeing, and that’s when I found my voice—literally and professionally—being able to control the room, engage people, and keep the vibe where it needs to be. After that, I moved into promoting because I saw a gap. Read more>>

Ambe Comeaux Boyd

My journey into bridal styling began in a very personal way. In 2020, my mother, who was a widow, was getting remarried. She never had the opportunity to wear a traditional wedding gown when she married my father, so I was intentional about making this experience special for her. Read more>>

Chase Roosen

I got my first DSLR camera, a Canon Rebel T7, back in 2019. I would use it take nature photos, as I felt it was the easiest way to jump right in to an art form I had no proper experience in. Read more>>

Geraldine Gonzalez

My name is Geraldine Gonzalez, but everyone knows me as Geral. I started my business as a small passion project, creating custom pieces and exploring my creativity. Read more>>

Nikki Grover

I didn’t start out thinking I’d own a permanent jewelry business—I kind of built my way into it. I’ve always been someone who has a lot going on at once. I have a background in accounting and business, so I naturally think in systems, numbers, and how things can run better. At the same time, I’ve always been drawn to creative, people-facing work too. Read more>>

Dae Manson

I started doing music as a way to deal with things that happen in my life. Pain and love and mistakes and getting better. At first it was not about being perfect it was about being real. I was trying out sounds trying to find my own voice while going through good times and bad times. As time went on I started taking music seriously. Read more>>

Miles Megaciph

I’ve been making hip-hop music for over 20 years, moving through different cities, stages, and phases of life, but always grounded in the same purpose: using music as a tool for awareness, connection, and growth. I perform and create under the name MegaCiph—which stands for Mental Energies Gather and Circulate in Positive Harmony. That definition isn’t just branding—it’s the foundation of everything I do. Read more>>

Katie Kissel

My journey to Unearthing Farm and Market really started taking shape after spending about a decade working in the global food ingredient industry. While I was learning a tremendous amount about how food systems operate on a massive scale, my heart was always pulled toward the hyper-local level, specifically right here in Atlanta. Read more>>

The Makeup M.O.B.B.

The Makeup M.O.B.B. was founded to bridge the gap between exceptional talent and professional opportunity within the beauty industry. What started as a vision to create a more structured, supportive environment for makeup artists has grown into one of Atlanta’s fastest-growing makeup agencies. Read more>>

Laura Powers

I had the great good fortune to be mentored by an artist named Linda McGill in Durham North Carolina. I met her when I was still in college and she started training me in design, sales, and management while I was finishing my degree in Economics at Duke University. I worked and was trained at her beautiful store, Jewelsmith. Read more>>

Justin and Kristen Owen

We are entrepreneurs who cherish the freedom to pursue bold new ventures while keeping family at the heart of everything we do. As proud parents of two boys, ages 15 and 12, we balance our professional ambitions with the joy and responsibility of raising our family. With roots in the security industry, we’ve always been drawn to fresh opportunities and creative challenges. Read more>>

Rhiannon Belcher

New Lee Made started as something really simple and meaningful to me — creating handmade pieces alongside my grandmother. We’ve always bonded over crafting, and what began as making items for fun quickly turned into something more when people started asking to buy what we were creating. Read more>>

Amanda Gikas

Like many people in the industry, it all began when I was a kid. I grew up a theater kid doing community theater, church plays, school plays, and even a little modeling. I remember saying ‘I can’t imagine NOT being famous’. I wanted it more than anything. I have practiced accepting my Emmy, Academy Award, and/or Grammy more times than I care to admit. Read more>>

Brittany ‘Britni Lorraine’ Williams

I’ve always been a creative at heart, and entrepreneurship has been my way of bringing that creativity to life. I first stepped into business through fashion with my boutique, BLACC by Britni Lorraine formerly Boss Beauty Wardrobe, which was built around helping women show up confidently and objectively in every space they walk into. Read more>>

Megan Givens-Gilmer

I started Givens Event Co. from a genuine love for celebrating people’s biggest milestones and creating meaningful experiences they’ll remember forever. What began as a passion for planning, decorating, and bringing ideas to life quickly grew into a business focused on weddings and special events. Over the years, I’ve built Givens Event Co. Read more>>

Bob Dodd

I grew up in the West End of Pittsburgh, PA. Through my teenage years, I worked with my father as a roofer and truly decided that was not my path. I tried a bunch of different jobs. I wasn’t necessarily sure what I was going to do as far as work goes. Read more>>

Jaris WAV

I was born to Jamaican parents in The Bronx, but I grew up in New Rochelle, New York. I spent a lot of time in the church with my family, which is where I got a lot of experience with acting, music, and public speaking. I even met the mayor of my city for winning a big oratorical competition when I was like 9. Read more>>

Dr. Beverly Smith Moore PhD

Faith, discipline, and responsibility ground how I live and lead, shaping both my perspective and purpose. That foundation sharpened my awareness of people and the quiet challenges they carry—experiences that are often unseen but deeply felt. My work integrates trauma-informed practice with neurocounseling, allowing me to address both the lived experience of trauma and the underlying brain-based processes that shape behavior. Read more>>

Sabrina Dzyuba

I’ve always been drawn to beauty in a way that goes beyond just how something looks—I love how it makes people feel. Unofficially, my journey started as a kid styling dolls’ heads, which eventually turned into cutting and coloring my family and friends’ hair throughout middle and high school. Read more>>

Danielle (Dee) René

Sometimes I think I was born with a clipboard in my hand. Mentioning a clipboard probably tells you how long I’ve been doing this work. The clipboard has since evolved into a tablet, but the goal is still the same – crafting intentional experiences worth remembering. I’ve always loved experiences. Read more>>

Hailey Knudsen

I grew up on a ranch as a sixth generation cowboy, so hard work and resilience have always been a part of who I am. My journey really started with my family’s story, my dad surviving being struck by lightning while holding me on my first birthday, and having to relearn life from scratch. Read more>>

WaDerrious Sellers

I Was born in Monroe, Louisiana, enduring a rough childhood where my siblings and I witnessed and survived the murder of our mother and uncle. I use music as therapy because, I believe music speaks where words fail. I look up to Huey P Newton, another Monroe native, and decided to take on his legacy, but with a musical twist. Read more>>

Heather Toth

I started my business in April 2021 after working in a hospital where I handled cleaning and sanitation. During that time, I completed formal training and became nationally certified in cleaning and disinfection, which gave me a strong foundation in what a truly thorough clean should look like. Read more>>

Alfred Johnson

Started off writing lil freestyles and diss track with some friends. Had a homie in New York who used to beat me in those diss writing sessions all the time. Started recording when I got out in the room with folks that were really dropping music. Was going to open mics. Read more>>

Bryona Green

My vision is to create a wellness-centered brand that blends beauty, herbal care, and internal healing. Whether it’s through beauty services or herbal juices, teas, and milk teas, caribbean snacks everything I offer is rooted in helping people feel good from the inside out. I’m also have a career as a polysomnography technician, which ties into my passion for overall health, rest, and restoration. Read more>>

Rachel Vanatta

I graduated from scad Savannah in 2003 with a degree in jewelry design and have since developed my line, including having a retail storefront for 5 years which I sold after having kids. I’ve continued online and in boutiques and hosting trunk shows and also work for another high-end line out of New York. Read more>>

Tomica LaTrica Sarver

I come from a legacy of hairstylists, so this industry has always been a part of who I am. I am a third-generation hairstylist, and what I do today is a continuation of what my grandmother and mother started. That alone gives my work a deeper purpose. It’s not just about hair for me, it’s about honoring legacy and building something that lasts. Read more>>

Kameron Amerson

I was born in Nashville Tennessee, and moved to Atlanta when I was 3 years old. My family from Ohio but everything I know i learned it here (ATL). I’ve stayed a little bit of everywhere except for the westside. House fire in lithonia i think in like 2006, stayed in Clayco with my Uncle Lou’nem for a while. Went back to lithonia. Read more>>

Marlé Blu

I am a musical artist and lyrical genius, voiceover actress for The Roach Motel, published author “I Am: A-Z Positive Affirmations for Black Kids”, and an Airbnb Superhost Read more>>

William Burrell

I was born in 1995 in Alabama to a military father and my mother, who is a teacher. A few years after I was born, my dad’s career had us move to Belgium, where I was raised until I was 11. Growing up there – my parents took the opportunity to travel all over Europe, taking my sister, Elizabeth, and I along with them. Read more>>

Monica Lusk

My story starts a little different than most. I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, In what was considered the second worst neighborhood to live in, In the United States,I started doing hair as a way to express myself through art because I was a terrible at drawing. Read more>>

Chantrelle

Multidisciplinary artist and curator born in Suffern, NY, exploring memory, identity, and emotional truth through music, acrylic, and mixed media. My work is rooted in lived experience—transforming grief, trauma, and survival into visual narratives that center mental health, suicide awareness, and PTSD. I create to hold space, to connect, and to remind others they are not alone. Read more>>

Maria Hayes

My story really starts with recognizing a gap—and deciding not to wait for permission to fill it. I saw so many talented models, designers, and creatives being overlooked, not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked access. The industry can be incredibly gatekept, and I knew early on that I didn’t just want to participate in it, I wanted to challenge it. Read more>>

Candace Carroll

I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember, always carrying a notebook or sketchbook around with me. That early love for art led me to Kennesaw State University, where I earned my degree in fine art. It was there that my passion for painting really took root, alongside my studies in photography and printmaking. Read more>>

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>>