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.
Kris Cumnock
I was a sports marketing agent for 25 years and decided to make a career change where I could impact lives. My wife, who has been in the non-profit space her entire career, read a job posting for Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer and I went to their website and thought, “this is a mission that speaks to me”. I applied that evening and included a cover letter detailing how my 25 years in the sports marketing space would translate into running a nonprofit. I went through a series of interviews and convinced the WOKC Executive Committee I was the best candidate for the position. I have been the WOKC CEO for 2.5 years. Read more>>
Dena Stanley
As a licensed and certified lash artist, I specialize in creating a luxury experience for women in both lashes and brows. My attention to detail and passion for my craft ensure that every client leaves feeling confident and empowered. What sets me apart is my drive and determination to stand out in the beauty industry. I didn’t let my environment define my limits—I educated myself and worked tirelessly to elevate my brand to where it is today. Read more>>
Darius Yancy
Smooth, oh heavens no. There is so much that goes into putting on paper a story that you want to bring into this reality. Grammar, editing, beta readers, flushing out whats needed and what’s not before publishing. Oh, and lets not forget a marketing. These have definitely been humbling speed bumps. Yet I’m so grateful for them, because they helped me to understand the path to storytelling so much better. I must add that everyone needs just a few people around to bounce ideas off. But make sure it’s people who support you, because writing is a very vulnerable thing to do, especially in the early stages. Read more>>
Devin Wilmott Johnson
Devin Wilmott Johnson is your “missing peace” delivering a dynamic force in brand strategy, marketing strategy, event production, and operations to your business or personal brand. Through DWJ & Co. (www.officialdwj.com) , she serves as a fractional Chief Marketing Officer and Operations specialist. Devin also serves as Chief Development Officer for a local Non-Profit in Dallas, Texas Supremacy of Music and Arts Conservatory (www.txsmac.org). Additionally, Her family also owns and operates Blank Slate Therapy (blankslatetherapy.com) , a mental health practice with 4 locations in DFW. Read more>>
Bailey Price
That gap in the market inspired me to pursue certifications in nutrition, personal training, and pre- and post-natal fitness. I wanted to create a platform that would help moms like me navigate their wellness journeys, addressing everything from exercise to mindset to self-care, all while fitting seamlessly into their busy lives. Read more>>
Stephanie Gardner
Creativity, strategy, and an entrepreneurial mindset have always driven me. I’m obsessed with thinking outside of the box and I encourage others to do the same. Beyond Candid Creative, I co-founded The Launch Ladies in 2024, an online community where I mentor women business owners on how to elevate their brand, market themselves well, and grow their businesses intentionally to support the lifestyle they want- whatever that looks like. My journey has been one of evolution—learning, adapting, and embracing new opportunities—but at the heart of it all, I remain focused on creating moments that matter and helping fellow businesses thrive. Read more>>
Candace Cooper
Owning your own business is always a wild ride, but it’s the best investment I’ve ever made in myself. All of my production skills have been self-taught & “on the job training” so to speak. That certainly makes for some speed bumps & hard lessons right out of the gate. I graduated with degree in Agricultural Communications from Oklahoma State University, which is essentially a mass communications degree within the field of agriculture. I remember my adviser telling our class one day that we’ll come out of the program a jack of all trades. I think about that a lot. She was so right. It took me a couple of years to land on my passion, but when I found it, I dove in & never looked back. Read more>>
Kendrick Jones
A long time friend of mine name Mikey Nikey(from my hometown) presented one of my bucket hats to one of his friends name Tommy 2 that’s from Texas. He called me one day and said he needed some merch I meet up with Tommy we conversed for a couple hours about the brand, and the vision and how he can see my brand taking off in the future. He introduced me to some great people to name a few Dj Bubba, Big X tha Plug, Rosama, and Bash for the world, and so many more good people. They all have played a part in helping me get to where I am at today by wearing the brand to shows and on Tours all around the world. You can also shop the brand at ESL Emporium Studio Lounge 2138 North Collins st Arlington, Texas. Read more>>
Lacey Taylor
When I got into real estate, I saw how many first-time homebuyers felt lost, especially when it came to securing funds. I knew I could help, not just by guiding them through the process but by breaking things down in a way that actually made sense. Over time, I also started coaching other agents on branding and social media, showing them how to attract clients in a way that feels natural. Now, my work is split between helping buyers find homes in the Frisco area and teaching realtors how to grow their businesses. It’s not the path I expected, but it combines everything I love—helping people, solving problems, and making things simpler. And at the end of the day, that small-town grit still drives me to show up, put in the work, and keep pushing forward. Read more>>
Abhishek Bhaumik
When my wife and I had our son, we quickly realized that South Asian traditional children’s clothing has not changed much at all. Our son cries and hates putting on South Asian traditional clothing. On a personal note, growing up in India and then moving to the US, I was expected to wear our cultural clothing for special events or to go to the temple. I still remember how much I disliked the stiff and uncomfortable cultural attire. Now, it is a full circle watching my own son also not like our traditional clothing! Read more>>
Macy Farr
We partner with agents across texas that refer us business, once their referred home comes back on the market for lease or for sale, we send it back to our referred partner! This is what makes TMG different from your average property management company and this is what we are known for. We are most proud of how far we have come in the last few years. adding more people to our company has become such a fun experience and helping us grow faster and faster, we love what we do and we have the best people around us. We want readers to know that we offer lower rates than your average management group, with the best and most services out there, keeping our owners and partnered agents happy! No competition with TMG! Read more>>
Michel Konan
But choosing to fight and knowing how to fight are two different things. I was an international student, and that meant my tuition was three times higher than that of a resident. I took on two, sometimes three jobs just to stay enrolled, to pay rent, to afford a meal at the end of the day. I spent nights cleaning buildings when the world was asleep, worked shifts that left my body sore and my mind drained, and still, I had to show up in class the next morning like everything was fine. Read more>>
Amena Bakali
I’m a travel blogger, content creator, and family travel enthusiast! I create content around points, miles, loyalty programs, and personal finance. I educate my community and audience how to leverage their regular spend to earn points and miles, to travel more, for less – and travel better. Times are tough right now, and money can be tight. That travel fund is slowly dwindling! I also share on how we use award travel as part of our wealth-building strategy so we can travel now, while also planning for our future. Read more>>
Safa Tariq
So I decided to watch a bunch of Youtube makeup tutorials. And like trying anything new, you can’t just learn it and get it right the first time (well unless you have real good luck) – you gotta put it to the test! So that’s what I did! I played and played with makeup, even set my alarms earlier so I would have time to apply makeup before going into work. Happy to say it has paid off. Makeup, I have found, is a form of art I can do. And I’m not just stopping here! I am wanting to learn how to do hair styles as well, that’s the next step in the artistry journey! For now, having done makeup on brides, bridesmaids, mature skin, and others, it has been nothing less of a pleasure, an experience to bring a new type of beauty and confidence to someone, and mostly to work on another masterpiece! Read more>>
Nick Cianfaglione
I started RestauRent after recognizing a massive gap in the market: while platforms like Airbnb made it easy to book accommodations, there wasn’t a dedicated, user-friendly way to book private event spaces—especially for non-professional event planners. Whether it was a birthday party, a corporate dinner, or a wedding rehearsal dinner, people were struggling to find the right venues efficiently. Read more>>
Wassil Mian
Then there’s the vulnerability of it all—putting myself online, dealing with opinions, and figuring out how to stay authentic while growing. But every challenge taught me something. I learned that momentum doesn’t happen overnight, that engagement is more valuable than numbers, and that as long as I stay true to my vision, the right audience will find me. Read more>>
Nick Iniguez
The biggest struggle was tearing my labrum in my left shoulder 10 months into my career. I tried so hard to work around it & continue to train the way I was training. I began physical therapy for 2 months because I didn’t want to get surgery. Till June 14th, 2023 I tore it completely off the bone in practice & couldn’t move it at all. From that moment, I needed to listen to my body, see the doctor & schedule surgery. Read more>>
Susan Whigham
After surgery in 2022, the return to my previous career was no longer in the cards. At this point I decided I would pursue art full time. I started participating in local art festivals and shows in 2023. January 1, of this year, I opened up a small studio and gallery on the McKinney Square in the Historic District. I still do the dirty work of canvas prep, varnishing and framing at my home studio but I paint in the window of my new space Wednesday through Sunday. I tell folks, if you see me painting in the window at 115 W Virginia St, McKinney, come on in and say Hi. Read more>>
Saanvi Chiliveru And Lattika Adloor
Our biggest challenge at the beginning of Shade Seekers’ creation was finding a solution for the urban heat island effect around the globe. Since cities across the world face the UHI effect from big cities in the United States like NYC, Chicago, Seattle, and Dallas to London, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Lagos, Hong Kong, and more, this was a big problem to tackle all at once. We decided the first step towards success would be to find solutions for the urban heat island effect in Dallas, TX and create a scalable model for other cities to adopt! As a result, we could combat the rising urban temperatures in our community first and expand our knowledge before implementing solutions in other cities across the world. We decided to tackle the big problem of the UHI effect through small actionable steps towards success! Read more>>
