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.
Kimothy Sanders
Finding balance between family and work life can be challenging, when both demand your time and energy. It often means setting clear boundaries. Learning to say no, and being fully present in each role.While work provides for the family. It’s the moments spent together that truly builds connections.Striking that balance isn’t about perfection-it’s about making intentional choices each day. Read more>>
Mahi Shah
As I delved deeper into pressing issues like sustainability and soil degradation, I came across the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—17 transformative objectives aimed at building a more equitable and sustainable world. Inspired by Goal 2: Zero Hunger, I set out to create a tangible solution: an innovative app named AgroEtopia, built on that same model. I have recently started deploying it to local farmers for initial testing—something my late grandfather would surely have appreciated Read more>>
Taylor Middleton
One of the things I loathe the most is Apple, and my reasons are more numerous than we have time for here, lol but when the iphone 10 came out, I posted a video that poo-poo’d all over it, and it -exploded-. Over half a million views, the channel’s subscribers skyrocketed, it was one of the coolest feelings I’d ever experienced. Naturally that’s the direction the channel stayed in and for a few years after that I continued making anti-apple videos with a pretty good degree of success – at its peak the channel had a little over 14,000 subscribers. In the grand scheme of things that’s obviously not much, but it was -something-! Read more>>
Dexter Onyekuru
I (Dexter) developed my passion for media and film at a very young age, largely because of the environment I grew up in. My mother was a Nollywood actress and producer, and through her I was introduced to the beauty of storytelling both in front of and behind the camera. Watching her bring characters and ideas to life, and seeing the dedication it took to create films, sparked my own curiosity for the craft. Over time, that curiosity turned into a calling and pushed me to create a production company to put my passion into practice. Read more>>
Kandis Reese
I gained an interest in writing, graphic design, and photography, taking electives like Journalism, Yearbook, and Darkroom Photography in high school, and I also played saxophone in the Big D Marching Band at Townview Magnet High School. While in high school I started learning the Adobe Creative Suite thanks to a full-time graphic designer at our church who hooked me up with the software—back when you had to install it with multiple CD-ROMs, just to tell my age a lil’ bit. Read more>>
Shaun Wraley
We were introduced to the world of Tabletop Wargaming in 1992. Warhammer Fantasy Battles was the initial game we were interested in, along with Battletech. Ever since then, we have been collecting and painting miniatures. We talked about opening our own store back in 2000, 2001 or so. It wasn’t until 2021 that we took the plunge. Ever since, it has been a growing business that is bringing more and more people into the hobby of tabletop wargaming. Read more>>
Sebastian Mejias
At that time, I was searching for discipline, focus, strength, and positive role models. That search led me to a small dojo near our home in Plano, Texas. I walked in and started training Taekwondo. That was the beginning of my lifelong martial arts journey. From there, I discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and eventually the internal arts like Tai Chi, Bagua, and Qigong. Read more>>
Faye Hill
This led to opportunities for national training with National Seminars, where I shifted my focus to social media strategy, transformed initial setbacks into positive feedback, and started advising brands while still assisting churches. Along the way, I authored a book entitled Master the Art of Giving to help churches raise funds for projects, providing practical tools to strengthen both stewardship and sustainability. Over the years, I’ve also been honored with multiple awards for contributing to the community as an African American woman-owned business, recognition that affirms my commitment to service and impact. Read more>>
Danielle Sheriff
I lost my period (a condition called hypothalamic amenorrhea) during a time in my life when I was doing everything I thought was “healthy.” I was eating clean, exercising intensely, and pushing myself to stay lean and fit. On the outside, it probably looked like discipline and dedication. But inside, my body was shutting down. When my period disappeared, I told myself I could fix it with small tweaks: eating just a little more, training a little less. But months went by, and nothing changed. Every time I thought I was making progress, I would slip back into old patterns. I was confused because I had been told my whole life that lots of diet and exercise was good… but the feedback I was getting from my body was different. Read more>>
Will Baffle
My interest in magic and illusions started in 1987 where I was shown a coin trick and the “magic bug” certainly bit. Since then, I have been performing for private parties as well as public shows. Even toured for a number of years doing academic and motivational programs for elementary school nationally. Currently I reside in Fort Worth, Texas and perform wherever I can to entertain and put smiles on people’s faces. I also keep a collection of antique illusions that once belonged to “The Great Virgil”. The last of the golden age performers in America. Read more>>
Josh Painter
In the beginning, the city did not want to allow us to open in our location due to zoning issues. My wife, Erica Painter, had to attend multiple city council meetings before we were granted a conditional use permit and they rewrote the city ordinance regarding tattoo studios. Greenville would no longer allow new studios to open inside the city limits, and we were grandfathered in. We have outlived several studios in our almost 16 years of business. Read more>>
Kenneth Williams
I spent decades running from the call, hiding behind drums, businesses, and busywork. In 2016, my family and I hit rock bottom: I was broke, sick, and nearly done. I cried out to God, “There has to be more than this.” That night changed everything. What followed was confirmation after confirmation. I was called to lead, build, and restore. Today, I pastor one of the greatest church’s, in my opinion, Church Of The Redeemed, lead multiple purpose-driven companies, and help people rebuild what life tried to break. I failed forward, got refined in the fire, and now I teach others how to obey God’s voice, not culture’s noise. The oil came from crushing. The favor came from staying faithful. Don’t waste your waiting. God’s still writing Read more>>
Guadalupe S Toscano
We work closely with a talented designer in Guadalajara, bringing each girl’s vision to life. Our slogan is “Dress your dreams”, because we genuinely believe that if a quinceañera can imagine it, we can create it. Our approach is 100% custom-made, which means every dress is unique, one of a kind, and designed with a purpose: to reflect each young woman’s personality, style, and dreams. Read more>>
Alfonso Bachiller
My journey in the entertainment and live events industry began with a deep passion for music and a strong sense of purpose. I started out working behind the scenes in Puerto Rico, where I was involved in the production of some of the island’s largest cultural events, from Calle San Sebastián to the Día Nacional de la Salsa and university festivals like Justas LAI. These experiences gave me a strong foundation in audio engineering, stage management, and large-scale event coordination. Read more>>
Steven Wanjala
My name is Steve wanjala I’m a bussiness man my age is 28 but I’m single I started to work at tigo bussiness before I was famous but I’m a singer I’m looking forward to seeing my success Read more>>
Ashley McCain
I wasn’t being challenged, nor was I wasn’t being efficient with my time, so I quickly pivoted. Listened to more podcasts, asked fellow design business owners in my networking groups, and read more to learn what I was doing wrong. I quickly realized I was marketing to the wrong clients through my brand messaging and marketing, and I wasn’t tapping into resources that are put in place for designers to make profit, so I went back to the drawing board. And this is just one thing; there are a handful of other things I’ve tried and failed, but such is running a business. Read more>>
Ashling Han
But I craved an adventure of my own. I desired to discover my own values beyond being a “good daughter.” When I immigrated to the United States, I settled in Dallas—a city worlds away from my hometown—and saw it as my chance to start over. I began to explore other possibilities and found my voice in art. For me, art became an unlimited language to express my experiences as an immigrant, a woman, and someone rebuilding her life from scratch. Read more>>
Nicholas Walker
Culinary school in Charlotte, NC. Working in restaurants in hotels after that in the Carolina’s, California, and then landed in Miami Fl. I ended up getting an opportunity to work with Jose Andres at the Bazaar in the SLS hotel in south beach. One of the most influential positions of my life. I learned so much and set the standard for my work from there on. Read more>>
Titilayo Hassan
At many events, friends or children are asked to gather cash from the dance floor, pulling them away from the celebration and into a logistical task. Meanwhile, the celebrants—who should be basking in the joy of their special day—are left with the burden of sorting through thousands of bills after the party. Imagine having to organize $10,000 in $1 bills just to make a bank deposit. It’s time-consuming, overwhelming, and takes away from the magic of the moment. Read more>>
Nathan Ziehm
After High School I went to Nelson University in Waxahachie tx. I got a degree in Music Performance. I toured with the faculty jazz band there and played in most of the ensembles and bands. I got a lot of good touring experience and the teachers I met there really helped me get where I am today. Joel Griffin (RIP) and Tyrone Block. Read more>>
Alana Ruosch
I was introduced to yoga the summer of 2000 and fell in love with it right away. In 2015 I had my first spine surgery due to a car accident and Yoga helped me immensely. After my second spinal surgery in December of 2021, I became a different person. Yoga helped me heal physically, mentally, and emotionally. After completing my 200-hour RYT, I decided to immediately enroll for my 300-hour certification with Yogi Institiute and completed it shortly after. For me yoga has become a lifestyle, and my vision is to share it with others and all of its benefits to pay it forward. Read more>>
Tamara Taylor
In between all of this I have been writing a few articles that have been published in the Fort Worth Weekly. I also have been acting as a clinical visiting professor at various college and universities to precept mental health nurse practitioners. Some of universities include University of Texas at Arlington and Texas State University. This has been an enjoyable part of my practice. Along the way and throughout the years has have gain more certifications in health and wellness that I feel set me apart from other practitioners in my field. Read more>>
Katy Reddy
I wanted to replace my colorful, college-era pipe I had been using to something more sophisticated… something that felt more like me. I vividly remember driving down to the Camp Bowie area in Fort Worth, hoping to find a piece that was as refined and timeless as the vintage vanity jars on my dresser. I imagined a sparkling, hand-cut crystal pipe… Read more>>
Giovana Rautio
My journey into brows actually started by accident. I went to esthetics school with the intention of doing lash extensions and I swore I would never touch brows but somewhere along the way, I realized how much impact brows could have on someone’s look and confidence and how much I enjoyed the process. What I thought I would avoid ended up becoming the thing I loved the most. Read more>>
Jeremy Griffin
I first found my rhythm as a baby, using whatever I could get my hands on to make noise. By the time I was three, I was inspired by my church’s drummer—a spark that grew into a lifelong passion for music. My family recognized my gift early and encouraged me to begin formal training. At just five years old, I played in my first talent show at my elementary school, and soon after, I was playing in churches all across the Metroplex. Even then, it was clear—my small hands carried a big sound. Read more>>
Robert Lacey
Opening Shredder Richardson has been challenging, but the response has been incredible. Parents love seeing their kids build confidence before a ski trip, and kids love that it feels like play while they’re learning. For me, it’s been amazing to bring a piece of my Vermont roots here to Dallas and watch it grow into a community hub. My vision is to keep expanding Shredder across Texas so more families can experience the same confidence and joy I found on the mountain as a kid. Read more>>
Alyona Gibert
Children are incredible. They don’t fake emotions, they don’t pretend. If they’re happy, you see it instantly. And when I paint their faces, I don’t just draw — I turn them into what they dream of becoming. Adults chase “big eyes, small nose, perfect skin.” But kids? They want to be invisible, to grow a mermaid’s tail, to throw Spider-Man’s web, to move faster than light. With my paints, I make those wishes real — at least for one afternoon. Read more>>
James Pitstick
I have a Business Degree from UTA, however over the years I realized that there was a need for mentoring and teaching school aged kids on how to play guitar, sing and book gigs to perform in live venues. I started out as a soccer coach and really enjoyed working with young kids as my kids were growing up and playing soccer. I was performing around the metroplex at the time with a band named Scott and James and I had several parents ask me if I would teach their kids how to play the guitar. This was about 30 years ago. In 2013 I decided to go all in and quit my current job as a 911 Supervisor in Arlington. Read more>>
Shraddha Shrestha
Beyond media, I co-founded a nonprofit that raised over $70,000 for community initiatives and served as Secretary of the Nepalese American Chamber of Commerce for four years, helping raise over $100,000 to empower women and minority business owners. I also represented Nepalese-American voices globally as a delegate, speaker, and ambassador with Youth for Human Rights International and the United Nations Youth Assembly from 2019–2024. Read more>>
S.D. Booker
As my life progressed, and my professional basketball playing aspirations fell short, I also placed my gift of writing on the back burner and pursued a career in Information Technology. I rose through the ranks in that field aggressively and at a fast rate. No matter how successful I was in the Information Technology field, my gift of writing and my passion for writing and being creative would periodically move from my subconscious to my conscious mind and I would feel a sense of failure and inadequacy. I wasn’t doing what I am in this world to do. Read more>>
Shadan Kishi Price
After receiving my bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts Studies, I followed that with another bachelor’s in Hospitality Management. After college, I ran/owned the first award winning vegetarian food truck in Denton, TX which I followed with a frozen food product in local grocery stores. In between all this I have taught cooking classes, worked as a kitchen manager at the first fully vegan college dining hall in the United States, and much more. Read more>>
Janae Gipson
Shawntay, on the other hand, grew up surrounded by clutter — the product of second-generation hoarding. She knows firsthand how overwhelming and emotionally complicated a disorganized space can be, and the toll it can take on families. Her gift? Seeing past the piles to the potential. Through personal experience, she’s developed deep empathy and sharp project management skills, helping clients navigate the emotional terrain of downsizing and letting go. Read more>>
Felicia Conley
So off the cliff I went! My main idea was “How can I help people with my photography? I want people who think they’re unimportant to see that their beautiful existence deserves to be documented… Beyond that it needs to be documented for themselves, their loved ones, and the world. Everyone has had triumphs and life experiences that another person would marvel over and be in awe of. That’s why I started becoming more focused on photography. I love portrait photography. It’s my passion. I didn’t start photography to make a lot of money. I honestly don’t have to make money at all. I want to touch lives and help people be seen for the light inside them. Read more>>
