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.

Veronica Dietz

I’m a Southern California beach girl who built a business in Las Vegas. Apparently, I like a challenge and very little humidity. I founded Tyche Digital Agency doing websites, branding, marketing, and strategy. And I was good at it. But the thing clients kept thanking me for wasn’t necessarily the thing on their invoice. It was catching what everyone else had missed. Read more>>

Anabelle Chiaravalle

As I was growing up, much of my experience was shaped by where and how I was raised in Upstate, New York. I graduated with a class size of 30, and built relationships with many of the same students from kindergarten through senior year. Read more>>

Allyssa K. Blair

The best way I’ve learned to express myself is through my creativity. I’ve been creating, sewing, dancing, singing, stepping, painting, acting, hair, nails, everything, as far back as I can remember; so crocheting came easy to me. I learned while doing work study in college (2012) and fell in love. Creative Crochet (CC) began in 20216 to solve one problem, I was cold. Read more>>

Kevin Shine

Kevin Shine, a Chicago native, is a visionary, entrepreneur, executive, and professor whose extraordinary contributions have left a lasting impact on both the music industry and academia. A graduate and educator at Columbia College Chicago, Kevin’s legacy includes securing internships and jobs for 70% of his students, earning him the Outstanding Service Award. Read more>>

shayna alana

I’m a first-generation Caribbean American, and a lot of my early life was shaped by perseverance, creativity, and learning what resilience looked like. I always knew from a young age—probably as early as elementary school—that I would be an artist in some capacity. Before I ever considered myself a visual artist, art showed up in other parts of my life. Read more>>

LS Jones

My journey with LS Jones & Co. began in 2003 when I started working as a modeling coach at Barbizon. Through that experience, I discovered a passion for helping aspiring models and talent develop their skills and find opportunities within the fashion and entertainment industries. Read more>>

ebonee blak

Since I came into this world, art has been the vehicle for my mind to explore, to make sense of the rigid, conservative world I was born into. Creativity poured out of me as soon as I became conscious. I explored all the art forms (writing, dance, fashion design, music, acting, painting, etc.). I dreamed up big imaginative worlds and got lost in them. Read more>>

Liyah Williams

My journey with Liyah The Tarot Reader started when I was just 14 years old in Hinesville, Georgia. I had been learning tarot since I was 12 & started reading for other people around 13, but at 14, I decided I wanted to actually charge for my services. My mom, who has been an entrepreneur since she was 19, was a huge inspiration for me. Read more>>

Frank Wolf

I’m a former Army medic, and after my retirement I dealt with a lot of pain issues that led to me being on several different medications that only masked the problems, and really took away my quality of life. Read more>>

DEONA DAVIS

Narcissist. Controlling. Dramatic. Always trying to be the outlier. Manipulative. “YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID.” Just a few words and phrases people have used to describe me throughout my life. Warm welcome, right? If you were to ask me who I am today, I would probably say something along the lines of: “Hi, I’m Deona Davis. Read more>>

Donovan Logan

The Lord has taken me through an incredible journey- ups and downs, a multitude of trials and tribulations, but he sustained me throughout. I once lived a life full of sin, with no regard for eternity, and then the Lord met me at a bible study my close friend RJ had on December 23, 2024. Read more>>

Shay Williams

Sashay Dance Team began in September 2016, and this month we are incredibly proud to celebrate 10 years! The idea for Sashay really started with family. My sisters, my mom, and I saw a need in our community here in Lawrenceville. Read more>>

Jessica Baker

Since a young child, I have always been passionate about music. My father used to install sound systems in show cars and both of my parents are avid music fans, so they passed that down to me. It wasn’t until I was 18 years old that I started REALLY attending concerts, volunteering my time, and surrounding myself with music as much as possible. Read more>>

liz pires

Our journey to YogaSix Santa Rosa is deeply personal. In 2018, we unexpectedly lost our 19-year-old daughter, Megan. She loved yoga, and before she passed, we had actually tried doing yoga together at a Bikram studio in Southern California. We weren’t experienced yogis, and about halfway through class we had to step outside to catch our breath and get some water. Read more>>

Jordan Green

My name is Jordan Green, I was born in Atlanta, raised in Suwanee, GA. I grew up a basketball athlete. I played basketball at Peachtree Ridge High School my freshman and sophomore year, then I transferred to Alpharetta and went to the private school, King’s Ridge Christian School. Read more>>

Abiba Karambiri

Growing up, I’ve always had a passion for fashion. Whether it was playing dress-up, practicing walking in heels, or spending hours playing games on Stardoll, fashion was always something I naturally gravitated toward. Read more>>

hirotoshi Ito

My family has been involved in stone work since 1879. From my birth I grew up surrounded by various kinds of stone and work such as stone lanterns and graves tones. Although I was determined to eventually take over my family business, I entered the Metal Work Department of Tokyo University of the Arts. Read more>>

VANESSA MITCHELL

My story has been a journey of growth, healing, and learning how to serve others while honoring myself. I began in the beauty industry more than 30 years ago. As a hairstylist, I loved helping women feel beautiful and confident. Over time, I realized that the relationships I was building went far beyond hair. Read more>>

Lawrence McGriff

McGIFTED Impact Foundation really started with my own journey of rediscovery. My life hasn’t been a straight line. I’ve experienced difficult chapters, made mistakes, had to rebuild, and learned that some of the things we spend our adulthood trying to heal from happened when we were too young to even understand them. Read more>>

Calesa Taylor

I created Teen Medic Talks as a result of my passion for medicine and the drive to inform teenagers on vital medical issues. After battling depression since I was 11, I knew someone in my position would value support and would appreciate individuals spreading awareness on mental health. Read more>>

Yunqi Zhao

I started my design career in Beijing in 2015. In 2019, I moved to Atlanta for my master’s degree, and in 2023, I came to New York to take the next step in my career. New York has been an important turning point for me. Read more>>

Qveen Solo

My story is really a story of becoming. I’ve always been a very multidimensional person, so it’s honestly hard to put me into just one box or title. I’m a dancer, pole artist, contortionist, creative, designer, entrepreneur, model, musician, and storyteller, and all of those parts of me are connected through self-expression. Read more>>

Hafsa Mirza

I became a Makeup Artist in 2016, which is really where my journey in the beauty industry started. I’ve always loved makeup and creativity, so turning that passion into a career felt like a natural step for me. I started working with clients, building my experience and especially loved doing bridal makeup and helping people feel their absolute best for important moments in their lives. Read more>>

Jacques Smith

My first interest in photography started back in 2018 when I came across this short-film documentary created by ‘Vuhlandes.’ It highlighted a different style of photography, one from living in the inner city of Detroit. It was a side of photography I didn’t know can exist outside of the ‘corporate editorial’ look. Read more>>

Jalyn Finley

My story is really about turning an idea into something people can see, wear, and connect with. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset and a strong interest in fashion, creativity, and building something of my own. I spent years working in retail, eventually growing into leadership and management roles. Read more>>

Lalibela Rigaud

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Growing up, my life primarily revolved around school and basketball. I began playing in middle school and continued through college, and I was always a high-achieving student. However, one quality that shaped me just as much as academics and sports was my independence. Read more>>

Gwen Woodard

The opportunity to apply myself in a creative capacity motivated me from early childhood on. As a preschooler, I filled up boxes and boxes with my drawings and paintings. In elementary school, I started writing stories as well, and by middle school, I was designing whimsical layouts on a computer program called Paintworks Plus. Read more>>

Ms. Dee Mays

Originally from Detroit, Michigan and moved to Charlotte, NC in 2017. My business, AMaysIn Productions, started back in my hometown when I decided to use my creativity with designing picture t-shirts. I was mesmerized every time I went from a blank canvas to a custom piece specific to the client. Read more>>

Tylen Miller

I have always been into gaming my entire life — from Atari, Nintendo 64, SEGA Genesis, Game Boy Color all the way until now. At first, I used to post clips on my Instagram story, but then I started seeing friends of mine such as Kerlizzle and OjayDaGoat livestreaming on Twitch. Read more>>

Merra Fallins-Pryor

Baking wasn’t something I grew up doing or learned from my grandmother. My journey started shortly after I graduated high school, when I felt lost and unsure of what I wanted to do with my life. I started a program to become a paramedic, but I quickly realized it wasn’t making me happy. Read more>>

Na’Kayla Eldridge

I grew up in a strict, religious household with many siblings, so there was always a lot going on. I had an outgoing personality, but I could also be shy and reserved. A lot of that came from feeling insecure about my weight and being afraid of rejection. Read more>>

Pernell Smith

My story didn’t start in fashion. I’ve spent nearly three decades working as an electrician. I’ve worked long hours, raised a family, and built a career in a completely different industry. But style and fashion have always been part of who I am. Eventually I reached a point where I wanted to build something that belonged to me. Read more>>

Cayla Ridley

I’ve always been the person who needs to know how things work. Give me a messy problem and a research rabbit hole, and I’m happy for hours. My marketing career started in the stands. In 2013 I was working brand events around Atlanta for Coca-Cola, Budweiser and AT&T at Braves games and college and pro football games. Read more>>

Katina Douglas

My journey as an artist began in an unexpected season of my life. I had always been creative. Before I became a painter, I was a photographer, drawn to capturing people, emotion, and stories through my lens. I studied photography at the Academy of Art and spent years seeing the world through a camera. Read more>>

Frank E. Brady

My story didn’t start on a stage. It started with a kid trying to figure out what to do with everything he was carrying. I was born in the Bronx and later moved to New Rochelle, New York. My childhood was difficult. Read more>>

Chelsea Craig

I’ve been working in the film industry for about 15 years, and my career has definitely not been a straight line, with a lot of reinventions along the way. Not knowing what else to do at age 17 after graduating from high school, I went to film school. After graduating, I started working in different production office roles for TV shows in Charleston, SC. Read more>>

Obasina Oosarinu

I came to Atlanta as a musician back in 2011, and began to play in the corporate bands like most musicians do in order to learn a bit more about the region and meet musicians. It was a great experience to help me earn some money and still travel a little and have fun. Read more>>

Rebecka Gregory

As I look at this question it is funny because I am at a crossroads right now of letting go of the story I expressed to myself for years and moving into the new chapter of the truth of who I am becoming.. Read more>>

Camille Solberg

My journey spans education, media, grassroots advocacy, and high-level government relations. Today, I serve as the Director of Hispanic Strategic Initiative for the Georgia House Republican Caucus to build bridges with the state’s Hispanic community. I was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Read more>>

Daria Jones

My journey—where do I begin? I’m just a girl from Jersey City with big dreams. I’ve always loved music and singing. As a kid, I thought I was Whitney Houston! My parents kept me involved in pageants, talent shows, and extracurricular activities, so there was always an opportunity to express myself. Hey, everybody! I’m Daria Jones, a recording artist, performer, educator, and founder of D.O.L.L. Read more>>

Lashina Lyrik Branham

My story has always been rooted in creativity, purpose, and wanting to make an impact. I go by Lyrik because writing lyrics was one of my earliest forms of creative expression, but as I grew, I realized that my creativity was never meant to fit into just one box. One of the biggest parts of my journey has been Edit TV. Read more>>

Aubree Fife

My journey began when I was 16 years old, with a simple idea; I wanted to create something of my own. I spent 7 months researching and formulating my product to make sure it was something worth trying for every skin type. On July 1st of 2025 I launched my website from my parents kitchen, with just a few bowls spoons and scales. Read more>>

Niyla Robinson

I’m Niyla R., a content creator, entrepreneur, and psychology student from Atlanta, Georgia. I’ve always been someone who loved expressing myself, whether that was through fashion, beauty, lifestyle, or simply talking and connecting with people. I started creating content as a way to share those parts of myself, and over time, something that started as a hobby grew into a real career. Read more>>

Moses M Maldonado

The business started off as a hobby during the 2020 Covid era. Everyone was home and usually on phones and online. I seriously was giving one to many ‘Likes’ and ‘hearts’ on Facebook. So to avoid getting into trouble with my wife, I decided to change what I view during this time. Read more>>

Christa Marsh, “chrissy.com”

As a young girl, I was always drawn to fashion, beauty, pop culture & politics. When people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grow up, I would say “I want to be a fashion designing lawyer”. A funny answer for an 6-year old but the message intertwined still holds true today. Read more>>

Penda

By day I’m a TV producer. But the page most people know me from, @theonlynakupenda, has more to it than my work. I grew up around cameras, and later spent a few years traveling the world for work, shooting and producing in places far off the usual tourist path. Read more>>

Leslie Anne

I first started my art career in 2015 when I began selling original acrylic paintings in my Etsy shop. After a couple of years I took a break and then reignited my passion for art in 2020 when I learned how to create digital art. Read more>>

SHERRI SMITH

I’m Sherri Smith, professionally known as Chef Bae®, a Cleveland-born, Atlanta-based chef, cookbook author, recipe creator and culinary entrepreneur. My journey in food started more than 20 years ago, long before social media became a career path. Cooking has always been the foundation, but over the years I learned how to turn that skill into a business and eventually into a brand. Read more>>

Shantarra Robinson

My love for fashion started long before I ever became a boutique owner. Growing up, I watched my mother sew, and she would even buy patterns so I could create clothes for my dolls. Even then, I always wanted things to look a little different. I didn’t want what everyone else had—I loved pieces that stood out and had personality. Read more>>

Dawn Parker

My background started in the dance world! My undergrad was in dance education from UGA and I taught dance in the private studio setting for over 30 years. When my body, particularly my feet and their many surgeries, decided it had enough of dance, I knew it was time to find a new avenue for my love of creating and telling stories. Read more>>

Kwana Jackson

My path to becoming the Founder of Kynder Konsulting was anything but linear— but every step was purposeful. As an Atlanta native, I attended the University of West Georgia, where I majored in Business Management. While pursing my degree, I worked part-time in retail, an opportunity that quickly opened the door to my first management position at just 19 years old. Read more>>

Ashley Jermece

I would say my story is about a woman who has had to revise the plan so many times, but it hasn’t stopped me from seeing it through. I have spent much of my adult life carrying several identities at once. I am a mother, student, professional, worship leader, administrator, and someone people regularly depend on. My path has not been perfectly linear. Read more>>

Domonique Stevenson

I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where my passion for beauty began at a very young age. I started doing hair when I was just nine years old. What began as a natural talent and something I loved doing for family and friends eventually grew into a lifelong purpose: helping people feel confident while creating opportunities for others through beauty and education. Read more>>

Dr. Natoshia Anderson

I was the girl who wanted to know how everything worked and then wondered if it could become something else. My dollhouse was ground zero. The furniture got redesigned, the rooms got rearranged, and I made clothes for my dolls even though they already had a closet full. I wasn’t being difficult. I was being curious. My dad, Clifford Larry Walker, fed that curiosity. Read more>>

Leona Yang

I was born in Xinjiang, China, a place with beautiful landscapes, vibrant clothing, and incredibly delicious food. Growing up, I often traveled with my parents. The landscapes and colors I encountered helped me develop a strong sensitivity to color from an early age. The cultures of Xinjiang’s ethnic minority communities also deeply influenced me, especially the vivid, richly varied colors of their traditional clothing. Read more>>

Coach Von Craig

My name is Javon Craig better known as Coach Von. I am a retired veteran, educated federal employee, and a logistics professional. I have started a step team and etiquette school for young girls and my daughters to help change the trajectory of young girls in Atlanta. Read more>>

Darien Dickerson-Green

My success story wasn’t built overnight—and it definitely wasn’t built without some hard seasons. It was built through years of dreaming, saying yes, learning, failing, questioning myself, starting again, and continuing to show up even when I wasn’t completely sure I belonged in the room. Read more>>