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.

LaDonna Jackson

I started my career in the entertainment industry modeling for Bronner Brothers, boutiques, showrooms in the Apparel Mart and local fashion designers such as the Wilbourn Sisters. During this time I was approached by a tv producer at People TV public access cable station in Atlanta to host his talk show, Focus on You. My love for being a talk show host was born. Read more>>

Lisa Smith

I didn’t get here overnight. Western Roots was built through years of showing up — even in seasons that felt heavy, lonely, and uncertain. Hair became more than a job for me. It became my creative outlet, my safe place, and a way to help people feel confident, seen, and loved. Read more>>

Ugonna Love

add being a therpaist and life style content creator My journey really started with my heart for people and my desire to create safe spaces where others feel seen, supported, and understood. Growing up, I watched my mom operate an in-home daycare for over two decades, caring for medically fragile children and children with disabilities. Read more>>

Brandon King

I started my career in the U.S. Air Force in 1995, graduating from the Surgical Services Program and stepping straight into the operating room. As a surgical assistant, I serve as the surgeon’s second set of hands—managing exposure, handling key intraoperative tasks, and closing the incision once the case is complete. Read more>>

Sana Neyazi

I moved to America 14 years ago from Europe. It completely changed the direction of my life and career. My background is in industrial engineering, and early on I imagined myself following a more traditional corporate path. But after getting married and starting a family, my priorities shifted. Read more>>

Fatima Diallo

I was in the United States Navy as a Second Class Petty Officer (E-5). I joined in 2013. Toward the end of my 5-year contract, I had to decide whether to reenlist or not. It was a hard decision. I was on deployment on a ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I had been on deployment for about 4 months. Read more>>

Ja’don Christian

Ja’don Christian, professionally known as Enerjaee, is a dynamic and multi-faceted artist: professional dancer, contortionist, creature actor, artistic director, dance instructor, content creator, and social media influencer. Born and raised in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, Enerjaee’s Caribbean upbringing instilled a powerful work ethic and a deeply personal connection to dance as a form of emotional expression and freedom. Read more>>

John & Jenn Milburn

United Travel was really born from our own love story and a realization that there had to be a better way for couples and groups to experience travel planning. Back in 2016, we planned our own destination wedding in the Dominican Republic while juggling careers and quickly realized how overwhelming and disconnected the process could feel. Read more>>

Loni T.

I’ve always been drawn to storytelling and creative expression. My background in theater played a huge role in shaping how I see art — it taught me how emotion, visuals, and small details can tell a bigger story. Over time, that naturally led me into fiber art and photography, where I could create and capture stories in my own way. Read more>>

Young Gorman

My name is Young Gorman, owner of Forever Young Salon in Cumming, Georgia. I am a wife to a retired Army veteran of 24 years, a proud mom, grandmother, salon owner, and educator who is passionate about helping women and children feel confident and beautiful again. I specialize in balayage, extensions, and advanced mesh and meshless integration hair replacement systems for clients experiencing hair loss. Read more>>

Joshua Mccullar

So I’m not sure if you know but I work in the fashion industry. I am an assistant to celebrity stylist Daniel Hawkins. I started my career in the industry about 10 years ago. Daniel who is also one of my closest friends needed help and I was there to assist. Read more>>

Christie Lambert

In 2014, my husband Brian, our daughter Averie, and I traded Macon for the charm of Forsyth—and quickly fell for its friendly faces and small-town magic. A few years later, in 2018, a childhood friend opened a Scoops in Lyons, Georgia, and one visit was all it took—we were hooked (pun very much intended). Read more>>

Dr. La’Tesha Sampson

My story is one of resilience, reinvention, and purpose. I overcame multiple forms of childhood abuse, homelessness, and adversity that could have easily defined the trajectory of my life. Instead of allowing my pain to silence me, I made the decision to transform it into purpose, healing, and service to others. Those experiences shaped my commitment to mental health, social justice, education, and community empowerment. Read more>>

MystiQuë Washington

I’m an R&B singer, songwriter, content creator, and entrepreneur from Charlotte, North Carolina. Music has always been a huge part of who I am, and growing up with gospel influences really shaped the way I approach contemporary R&B today. I’ve always wanted my music to feel authentic and honest while still evolving creatively. Read more>>

Angel Fabián Rivera

I grew up in Puerto Rico with a deep love for storytelling, theater, film, television, all of it. I studied Drama at the University of Puerto Rico and built my early career there, producing bilingual children’s television, performing on stage, and eventually becoming the face of a national Lottery campaign. Puerto Rico gave me my foundation, my identity, and my voice. Read more>>

Ami Ahuja

My journey began with a simple dream: to build a better future through hard work, faith, and resilience. I came to America with very little, but I carried something far more valuable determination. Like many immigrants, I started from the ground up, working wherever opportunity allowed. My early jobs included working in shoe stores, jewelry stores, Pizza place, cookie store and perfume retail and distribution. Read more>>

Katie Mansour

I’m born and raised in Atlanta. I spent some time in Washington, D.C., but moved back home about seven years ago with my husband and our family — and I’m so glad we did. Over the years I’ve worked across a pretty wide range of industries: management consulting, politics, and startups. Read more>>

Adreon Patterson

I began my entrepreneurial journey in 2010, working as a freelancer or independent contractor for multiple companies and brands. After a period of rest due ot burnout, I returned to independent contracting in 2017. By 2020, I was tired of working under others’ demands and time constraints. Read more>>

Angelica West

My journey started with a passion for creativity and self-expression through nails. What began as a hobby quickly turned into something bigger when I realized I could create custom designs that made people feel confident, stylish, and unique. I started experimenting with different styles, shapes, and luxury-inspired looks, slowly building my skills and developing my own brand identity. Read more>>

Kristina Munvez

My story with clay didn’t start in a studio. It started with my hands, some quiet, and a feeling I couldn’t quite name. For as long as I can remember, working with clay gave me something I couldn’t find anywhere else: a complete stillness. The moment your hands touch the material, the noise of the day just fades. No notifications, no deadlines, no rushing. Read more>>

Skylyn Quinones

I got started in hair because I was never fully happy with how my own hair was being done growing up. Even at a young age, I was fascinated with everything involving hair, beauty, and giving people makeovers. Looking back now, becoming a hairstylist was always right in front of me — even though I never imagined it would become my career. Read more>>

Gracie Pfaff

I grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, and at just 12 years old, I founded Harvest107, a sustainable agriculture nonprofit – long before I knew what entrepreneurship truly meant. Read more>>

Tabitha Nelson

I’m so happy to be here, thank you for your time! I have always been interested in people, connection, and the science behind relationships and how it relates with photography. I can remember all the way back to elementary school I had a 110 camera and I brought it with me everywhere. Read more>>

Dean Grieder

I was born and raised in Switzerland and began my professional career working in banking before deciding to make a major life change. In 2001, I moved to the Dominican Republic in search of a different lifestyle, more freedom, and the opportunity to build something meaningful of my own. What started as a personal adventure gradually evolved into a long-term vision. Read more>>

Desiree Scott

My journey into entrepreneurship began with a genuine passion for beauty, creativity, and helping others feel their best. In 2009, I transformed that passion into a business, establishing what would become Posh Nail Boutique. Over the past 15 years, I have developed my brand into a private and mobile luxury nail service. Read more>>

Autumn Sims

My journey as an actress started when I was very young through art. I belief those who partake in any of the arts end up making their way through multiple art forms. When I was around 6 years old, I developed a love for drawing/art. The fascination traveled with me through grade school/middle school. Read more>>

Victoria Mendoza

My first child was born the week the world shut down for COVID in March of 2020. I had been busy working as an elementary school teacher and between work, the festivities that come with a first baby, and life, I hadn’t thought to schedule newborn photos. I didn’t think I wanted them and left that for future me to figure out. Read more>>

Seven Meraz

Honestly, I never saw myself becoming a creative person. I was never the guy who said, “One day I’m going to be a photographer or videographer.” I was more of a regular dude-dude — sports, gym, work, and keeping it moving. The creative world was not something I thought I belonged in. Read more>>

Edwin Sainval

Biography Edwin Sainval is the founder and field commander behind The Agency Headquarters—a music brand built like a covert operation, where every release feels like a mission and every fan becomes part of the unit. For Edwin, music has never been a hobby. Read more>>

Nineside

I had never thought about being a music artist. Although my first love was music, I was content with just being a listener with an ear for good music. I was more of a sports guy anyway. Once the pandemic hit, I forced myself to learn new skills, and I gained the ability to record, mix, and master my own music as well as others. Read more>>

DaQuan Huff

I have always loved customizing photos and editing websites since MySpace. I used to get asked to design other people’s profiles after they saw mine because I always kept my profile updated and looking amazing! I also used to get asked to edit people’s photos as well and I became pretty popular doing this so I decided to turn it into a business. Read more>>

Shadae Small

Growing up, my life was always rooted in movement, culture, and creativity. I was born in Atlanta, spent five years living in the Bahamas, then nearly ten years in Panama before eventually moving back to Atlanta for high school. Because of that, I grew up surrounded by different languages, perspectives, music, and ways of life. Read more>>

Jeannine Kennedy

I started my first business in 2007, when my only child started kindergarten. I had loved being a stay at home mom, but knew that I wanted to keep busy while he was in school. I made a short list of criteria I wanted in a job, and considered my options from a list of work at home jobs. Read more>>

Sharonda Chiangong

As I got more involved in Atlanta’s food, fashion, nightlife, and African spots scene, I realized there wasn’t enough content showing people where to actually go and what experiences were truly worth it — so I started creating that content myself. Read more>>

Meghan Kennedy

I found music very early on in life and it has always been part of my most joyful moments in life. I played flute throughout my childhood and teenage years, and studied Music Education in college. I spent the early years of my teaching career teaching elementary general music, band, chorus and a little bit of high school marching band in the public school system. Read more>>

Mark Peterson, Jr.

My journey into branding started with creating flyers. As an educator preparing to become a father, I needed additional income and leaned into my creativity. That work grew, but eventually became limiting—so I learned early that if you want to sustain something, you have to pivot. I formalized my work by launching illgraphic Branding and initially focused on logos for small businesses. Read more>>

Marlene Waterman

I was born in London to Barbadian parents, but I was raised in Brooklyn, New York, where my journey into makeup artistry unexpectedly began. Ironically, I wasn’t even interviewing for a makeup position at the time — I was actually on my way to interview for a receptionist job. While waiting, I helped a customer who complimented me on my appearance and personality. Read more>>