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.

Sustainable Suburbs

Sustainable Suburbs is the epitome when two girls, Saanvi and Riya, come together and work for what they love. In our case, it’s the environment! When we began Sustainable Suburbs, it was just our Substack, writing about important environmental facts that we thought people were unaware about. Light pollution, pollinator disappearances, and convoluted environmental practices. Read more>>

Seth LaGrange

I have loved animals since before I can remember and have had all manner of pets throughout the years. When I was little I was notorious for bring snakes and turtles inside the house and keeping them as pets much to the dismay of my mother and sister. Read more>>

Saquita Acree

Graceful Gatherings Event Services was built from a lifelong passion for serving others and creating meaningful experiences. I’ve always been the person family, friends, and members of my community called when they needed someone to organize, coordinate, decorate, or bring an event to life. Read more>>

Taylor Maddox

It’s always a little surreal to talk about my journey because I don’t feel as though I’ve arrived anywhere. If anything, each project convinces me that I’m standing at the beginning of something new. I see my career less as a ladder to climb and more as an evolving body of work, each experience revealing another layer of who I am as an artist. Read more>>

Myah Young

I was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia. Growing up, I was pretty reserved, but I was always the friend recording everything. I loved capturing memories and having those moments to look back on later. I’ve also always loved food and the way it brings people together. To me, dining has never been just about the food. Read more>>

Matthew Black

My name is Matt Black, and most people know me as Almost Andy Reid — the Kansas City performer who accidentally became one of the most recognizable faces in Chiefs Kingdom. I moved to Kansas City in 1982, long before the championship era. Read more>>

Alana Caston

Dance has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started dancing when I was just 4 years old in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and I haven’t stopped since! This year actually marks my 20th anniversary of dancing, so when I say it’s been my whole life, I truly mean it. Read more>>

Bc Tray

I’m BC Tray, an independent R&B artist from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, now based in Atlanta. Music has always been my way of turning real-life experiences into something people can connect with. While balancing a career in leadership and raising my son, I continued building my music independently, growing millions of streams and a loyal fanbase. Read more>>

Emily Rish

We are a 4 piece femme fronted grunge/post punk band from Atlanta. Our origins start with all of us being in separate bands and really respecting each others music. Emily, our lead singer, was in a band called Dive Star and that whole band fell apart when it came to light that the bassist/ her former partner was cheating on her for months. Read more>>

Gina Malak

My journey to becoming a keynote speaker and innovation coach was built over more than three decades of helping people and organizations solve complex problems. I began my career in technology as an analyst, developer, and project leader. Over time, I moved into healthcare technology, enterprise transformation, interoperability, artificial intelligence, and executive leadership. Read more>>

Adira Kalon

2015 was when I posted my first Youtube video. It was my sophomore year in college and honestly I thought it was so silly but after a recommendation from my step-mom and constantly being bombarded with questions about my natural hair I decided.. why not!? For the next 12 years I would grow a combined following of almost 25,000 members. Read more>>

Mauricia Ikner

I guess you could say of all the past, I could’ve chosen for my life that this current one really was the result of humble beginnings where there were no limits to anything I wanted to be. My life seems to be focused around art because I dabbled in art at a young age, starting with piano at three and expanding from there. Read more>>

Makayla Atkins

My journey has been full of unexpected turns, but each one has brought me closer to who I am today. I grew up in Mississippi and, after graduating high school, joined the military. During that time, I thought my future was in medicine, so I applied to Spelman College as a biology major. Read more>>

Kalyn Farmer

I’m Kalyn Farmer, but most people know me as The Rock Queen. I’m a band manager, booking agent, social media manager, and co-host of the Sound Injection Podcast. I got my start simply because I loved music. Growing up, music was always an escape for me through some of life’s hardest moments. Read more>>

Walter Wardlaw Jr.

I started writing at an early age, later in life I started writing books. Over the years I continue to write books, articles, and doing YouTube videos. My goal is to educate, inspire and helping people understand the Bible. Read more>>

Brandon Karrington

From Lexington Kentucky residing in Indianapolis Indiana, 25 years old, started making music in 2020 bravo built his own independent record label ever since he’s been striving Read more>>

OPUL –

My story started with magic. Before OPUL, I built my path as a professional magician and illusionist, performing for private events, corporate conventions, and international audiences. Over time, I realized that I didn’t want to present magic only in a traditional way. I was always attracted to music, technology, lights, visuals, and the feeling of creating an atmosphere that people could truly step into. Read more>>

Vincent Stewart

I started off as photographer then moved into Video Production and Content creation, Djing, writing, acting, producing and I fell in love with Directing. Read more>>

Tate Butcher

I first got into photography at the beginning of 2023 when my principal asked if I would take photos at a summer camp. I said yes, and that opportunity started everything. Around that time, I bought my first camera from my mom, an old Nikon D3100. Read more>>

Lazarus Arufandika

It started in 2013 at a gym called Rolf valley in Harare , where I was Spin bike maintaince guy , hours and hours of watching spin class I fell in love with Fitness from 2 years down I become one of the spin instructors in 2018 I become an American Council on Exercise personal trainer. Read more>>

Tarryn Hoff

I often tell people that my career has never been about fitness alone—it has always been about helping people become the best version of themselves. My journey began more than 25 years ago when I became a certified personal trainer while I was still in college. What started as a love for exercise quickly evolved into a fascination with human behavior. Read more>>

Sofya Gneusheva

I honestly can’t pinpoint exactly how I started. My life has always been creative in one way or another. I just never realized that this way of existing was not everyone’s experience. I guess now I can say that my main focus is making elaborate clothing pieces and costumes, but there’s a lot more to it. I used to draw, paint, and sculpt a lot. Read more>>

Alexis Greene

Beauty has always been a part of who I am, but more than anything, I’ve always been passionate about helping people feel confident. While building a career in veterinary medicine, I spent my free time doing lashes and makeup because I loved seeing the confidence it gave people. Read more>>

Janice and Denise Tunnell

DXP Media & Sports began long before we ever stepped onto a sideline. We started our creative journey in 2018 as photographers who were simply obsessed with storytelling — the kind that captures real people, real emotion, and real moments that matter. For years, we honed our craft through portraiture, events, and documentary-style projects, building a visual language centered on authenticity and connection. Read more>>

Birnalisis Arias

I was born in the Dominican Republic and later moved to the United States, where I built my life around family, growth, and new opportunities. I’m a wife, a mom of three, and a full-time content creator with a passion for fitness, wellness, beauty, and everyday lifestyle. My journey has taught me resilience, creativity, and the importance of showing up consistently, even through life’s challenges. Read more>>

Jessica Melendez

Divine Cravins is the product of a powerful partnership, between myself and my bestfriend Joy, a shared culinary vision, with a deep friendship spanning over 15 years between us. ​Originally, the dream of Divine Cravins was sparked by Joy, a culinary powerhouse with 15 years of industry experience working alongside world-renowned chefs in some of New York City’s most prestigious kitchens. Read more>>

Alysha Pruitt Harvey

My journey into the tax profession wasn’t something I stumbled into—it was something that grew out of a passion for helping people understand their finances. I’ve always loved numbers and problem-solving, which led me to earn my Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Savannah State University and later my Master’s degree from Kennesaw State University. Read more>>

Lex Drayton

I grew up with a passion for creativity and always believed my future would be in art and design. That passion led me to earn my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Georgia State University, with additional coursework at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Read more>>

Charles Jordan

Photography has always intrigued me since I was a kid; the disposable camera era lol. For some reason capturing the moment has been a big thing for me I think it’s really cool being able to go back and look at photos from a long time ago and being able to relive that moment. Read more>>

Neil Lindley

I had a company in North Carolina for 20 years caring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I sold it in 2016 and moved to Key West Florida. To meet people down here I started bartending at the Rum bar and built on my previous knowledge of Rum. Read more>>

Acquenettea McKenzie

After serving twenty years in New Jersey law enforcement I learned discipline, resilience, and how to keep going even when the road wasn’t easy. Every late night, every sacrifice, and every challenge led me to this season, badge to beach. After I retired ‘Badge to Beach’ became more than a phrase, it became my reality. Read more>>

Candice Pettis

My journey into healthcare began in 2010 with a simple goal: to build a stable career in an industry that would always be needed. At the time, I saw healthcare as job security. I had no idea it would eventually become my purpose. After relocating to Atlanta and joining Grady Health System, my perspective changed completely. Read more>>

Matteo Marsili

Matteo Marsili was born in 1991 in Viadana (Mantova). He studied at the International School of Violin Making in Cremona under the guidance of Master Massimo Negroni, teacher of practical violin making workshop. He graduated in 2010 – Later he went through a period of internship in Master Negroni’s workshop where he perfected his technique and style. Read more>>

Bryan Hammond

Well! I am a filmmaker, writer, director, producer, executive director, executive producer, artist, author, CEO of several companies, and an actor. And my journey began in New Orleans. Louisiana. So, growing up in New Orleans I was raised in a culture that was filled with music, food, and the celebration of Mardi Gras and many different festivals. Read more>>

Keturah Barnard

I will say that Massage Therapy was not initially thought of as a career. I had many different jobs, none of which was fulfilling. To me, the jobs that I had were typically labeled as your average ‘9-5 type job’, simply to provide at the time for my two girls and I. Read more>>

Jerron Bennett

From the earliest I can remember I had a controller in my hand. I grew up on anime with Inuyasha being my first ever thanks to my mother. Read more>>

Hyunjung (Ancy) KIM

I was born and raised in South Korea. Before moving to the U.S., I owned and operated a café in Korea for several years and also worked in interior design and consulting. Those experiences taught me the importance of thoughtful design, creating welcoming spaces, and providing memorable customer experiences. They continue to influence the lifestyle, home, and family-related content I create today. Read more>>

Courtney Sensley

My journey into esthetics wasn’t planned, it was personal. For years, I struggled with my skin in silence. After my youngest daughter was born, my skin completely crashed. I was dealing with painful cystic breakouts, dark spots, and the kind of frustration that makes you try everything lemon, honey, whatever TikTok told me would work. It didn’t. Some of it made things worse. Read more>>

Phoebe Jackson and Angel Dubrey Jackson

Angel owns and operates an in home daycare called Angels daycare and I Have a cleaning business called Home Royalty Cleaning Service LLC. We met 13 years ago thru a classmate of mine because I was looking for a daycare provider for my then 6month old baby. Angel watched my son until school started and we became like family! Read more>>

Judie Young Joo Lee

I immigrated to Georgia, United States, in 1994 when I was 12 years old. At the time, I could only speak a handful of English words. Looking back, I think I survived those lonely years by observing people at school and escaping into my imagination at home. Read more>>

Nkengi Freeman

For as long as I can remember, creativity has been at the center of everything I do\. As a fashion designer, educator, creator, and visual artist, my journey has always been rooted in imagination, craftsmanship, and self-expression. Read more>>

Fulbright

I’m a product designer and creative director from Kansas City, Missouri, currently based in Chicago. I take pride in the fact that I’m a self taught designer with no formal education in the design field. I went to college for fashion and wanted to start my own clothing line, which naturally led me to learn software like Photoshop and Illustrator. Read more>>

Timothy Mahoney, M.S.

I was a late bloomer as an athlete, not just in lacrosse. I was always undersized, but I’m extremely competitive, and I care. I’ve always cared, about everything, and I’ve always been willing to work. In high school I had the physical tools but not the confidence to use them, so I played it safe and had a pretty unremarkable lacrosse career because of it. Read more>>

Stephanie Jenkins

A British Sensibility, A Southern Home. I grew up in England, spent decades helping British families move house and settle into new lives, and now bring my famous steady, dry-humoured, and big heart approach with me when I made Atlanta home. I’ve been simplifying homes here since 2014. ​ My clients notice the accent every time. Read more>>

Kalah Vance

Growing up, Halloween was a big holiday in my house. I would win awards in elementary school for the elaborate character costumes my mom would make — a life size slice of pizza made of foam and the statue of liberty to name a few — and a love for Halloween has followed me ever since. Read more>>

Adrienne & Sarai Sams

Our Story began 30 years ago when God gave me(Adrienne) A vision for my family. We started out doing talent showcases for unsigned artists in the Inland Empire located in Southern California. Read more>>

Ty & Ericka

Ty and Ericka didn’t start with a brand. They started with a $300 camera, no plan, no system, no strategy just a promise. A promise to turn their pain into purpose. Their obstacles into legacy. After moving to Atlanta with no roadmap, creativity became their lifeline. What began as survival turned into vision. Read more>>