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.
Elle E. Evans
My passion for writing began early in life and I had the support of many high school English teachers to encourage me to submit short stories and poems to contests for publication. There is quite a bit of cringeworthy work out there that I wrote in those early years under my maiden name rather than my current pen name. Read more>>
Dawn Dillon
I have had a solo private practice providing psychotherapy since 2000, with a specialty in the treatment of eating disorders and originally starting in Parker County, Texas. After a move out of state in 2011, I returned to Fort Worth in 2015 and continued a private practice, reconnecting with TCU and local colleagues. Read more>>
Kelsey Murray
My passion for fashion began early in life, inspired by my mother, a talented costume designer. From a young age, she nurtured my creativity and taught me the fundamentals of design, fabric selection, and garment construction. I later pursued a degree in Marketing and Management at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Read more>>
Amanda Lewis
I began my career in Dallas working for the Office of Budget and Evaluation at Dallas County. From there, I transitioned to Parkland Health and Hospital System, where I began to utilize my Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration. After 10 years, I left Parkland having finally served in the role as the Budget Director. Read more>>
Marquenese Roberson
I am originally from Oak Cliff, Dallas Tx. Growing up I excelled academically, but I was never encouraged that I could truly become anything I wanted to be.. especially not a business owner. Once I realized that possibility, I devoted countless nights searching for a niche that aligned with my passion and my future vision. Read more>>
Brittney Hadnot
Hi im Brittney Hadnot im a 32 years old entrepreneur and my children was a big motivation for change for me I was looking to build something that was mine. Read more>>
Betsy Beaman
My story really began with always being the friend people turned to for style advice — whether it was what to wear to an event, how to shop smarter, or just how to feel good in their clothes. I didn’t set out to be a stylist at first. Read more>>
Cynthia McIntosh
Edge of the Lake Vineyard began as a family dream rooted in a love for both Texas land and fine wine. What started as a small planting of vines along the water’s edge has grown into a thriving vineyard and winery known for its welcoming spirit and dedication to quality. Read more>>
Jay’s Camp
Jay’s Camp started with my love for DFW Swingout. I was determined in my journey to master the craft and quickly developed the desire to train others. Through the years, I asked others to help me with this goal and now have five instructors who work hard alongside me: Tiffany, Kisha, Jermaine, Charles, and Gina. Read more>>
David Ruffin
I am a teacher and performer. I have worked in the market over 30 years. After retiring from the classroom I have expanded my activities to do Pirate shows especially for children as well as historical character presentations. I have also done some film and television work in front of and behind the camera. Read more>>
Ellen Turcan
Since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved being part of everything creative. In school, I was that student who participated in every event, helped organize celebrations, and brought ideas to life. I was part of a folkloric group called Odolean, where we sang at concerts and rehearsals filled with music, laughter, and tradition. Read more>>
Kerissa Poss
Hi, my name is Kerissa Poss, and my small business is called CrochazyKerissa. My journey to this business has been shaped by both challenges and unexpected little joys. For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived with chronic pain and invisible illnesses. Read more>>
Vanessa Pahua
I started my floral business just about a year ago, during a time when I was struggling with my mental health and looking for something to lift my spirits. What began as a spontaneous idea quickly turned into something so much bigger than I ever expected. Read more>>
Teresa Ngene
“Honestly, my journey really began with my own faith walk. When I learned about the Holy Spirit and experienced how it transformed my life — the way I thought, spoke, and acted — everything changed. I was actually working in the business field at the time, but I felt led to switch to education. Read more>>
Mike Danielson
Back in the late 1990s, I worked full-time for two years as an unlicensed assistant at The Real Estate Professionals under BJ Horsman in Richmond, Texas. Real estate had always been my passion. Around the year 2000, the internet was rapidly expanding, and the MLS was soon to be released to the public. Read more>>
Kendall Hester
I basically started my photography journey in 2020 during/after covid, I was 17 years old and entering my senior year of high school, I graduated in 2021. I remember feeling like I needed to pick up on a new skill/hobby during the time we were at home and it just so happened that the camera caught my attention. Read more>>
Lucien Campos
My story is deeply tied to family and tradition. I grew up surrounded by the rhythms of rumba flamenca and Latin music, and it shaped my path from the very beginning. My uncle, Kiko Motos, was an original member of the Gipsy Kings before 1987. His journey inspired me, and in 2018 I officially joined the Gipsy Kings family. Read more>>
Mason Meador
I started out wishing custom cookies and luxury treats were more affordable for my own childrens parties. I was a stay at home mom of 4, juggling college and everything life throws at you, and didnt want them to miss out on the special details. Read more>>
Stephen Prescott
The mortgage stage started as a direct result of a prior career that I was questioning. What started as an initial interest has become a long seasoned career with several aspects involving a larger sand box. From origination, to sales, operations & servicing I’ve sat in different seats expanding my experience & career. Read more>>
McKenzie Croy, LPC-A, LCDC-I, NCC
As a singer, dancer, and actress myself, being around the entertainment industry, I picked up on a few things. Substance abuse is one of the many ways to escape the constant pressure of performing. A lack of identity plagues most creatives, which leads to wearing a mask on and off the stage. Read more>>
Dr. Ally Wade
I grew up loving and playing sports all the way through college. During my senior year of high school, I took an AP Psychology course and simultaneously fell in love with the subject of Psychology. Read more>>
Christina Walker
My story started out as a teacher and decided my journey did not end there. I continued my education in school counseling, studying abroad and learning more about couples and families. After accepting a school counseling position and working with students, families and staff I wanted to make more of a difference. Read more>>
Jason Brown
I took the scenic route to law. Before I ever cracked open a casebook, I spent nearly a decade in the U.S. Army and then several years as a pharmaceutical rep. Eventually, I decided to dive into law school—later in life than most of my classmates. But where my story really takes a turn is right before my final semester. Read more>>
Amanda Gritt
Life has thrown more than a few heavy punches my way—but every struggle, loss, and challenge has shaped the person I am today. I’ve lost everything in a house fire. I became a mom as a teenager. I endured abusive relationships, faced the hardships of single motherhood, and grieved the devastating loss of my sister to cancer. I fought my own battle with cancer—and won. v
Lyle Wise
We were searching for a Christmas event that we could share with our children and grandchildren. Something truly sentimental and authentic to the spirit of Christmas. When we couldn’t find anything that reflected that vision, we realized we had the opportunity to create it ourselves on our 43-acre venue. Read more>>
Jeremy Millar
Treehouse Cupcakes and Frozen Treats came from our heart — our kids. When our kids wanted to spruce up our old treehouse, they decided to sell cupcakes to earn the money. Mom (our creative and generous Stephanie) helped… and discovered a passion. Before long, a backyard fundraiser turned into a bustling cottage bakery. Read more>>
William Rosser
I’ve had the entrepreneurial spirit since I was a child. I mowed lawns, picked up soda bottles, repaired bicycles and had a paper route. I came from a family of carpenters but rebelled and started a job as a trainee painting apartments at 17. By the time I was 22 I had an opportunity to start my own business in Dallas when my boss retired. Read more>>
Lori Wei
I began floral design as a child. I grew up in a large church where all of the women worked together to make a wedding beautiful. My mother played a large roll in my education. I would help wire corsages and put together bouquets. I dreamed for years of becoming a florist and a wedding planner. Read more>>
Leslie Padron
I have been in the service industry for 10 years now and genuinely love serving people. Throughout my time bartending I have been asked to work weddings and quinceañeras. I then thought of starting my own business doing what I love. I love celebrating others and being apart of peoples milestones in life. Read more>>
Haeven Gibbons
As a diligent and ambitious storyteller, I am the founder of Haev Studios, a storytelling agency that blends digital marketing and PR with powerful narrative development to help social impact leaders grow their reach and deepen their impact. I champion a solutions-oriented approach to storytelling—amplifying narratives that shed light on social justice issues and inspire innovation at the community level. Read more>>
BRANDI WALLACE
I have always been drawn to creativity, fashion, and building community, but my path to this point was not a straight one. I studied Mathematics at Spelman College, which taught me discipline, problem solving, and how to think analytically. After graduating, I decided to take a leap and pursue my creative side more formally by studying Fashion Design at Parsons in New York. Read more>>
Gabe Yoakum
We started in East Texas in 2001 me and my wife decided to start our own business in Auto Glass after about 10 years we moved around but we landed where we’re at now in Mabank Texas we make sure that our customers get the highest quality for the cheapest prices and we make sure that all our customers are very well taken care of we have a ton of repeat customers and some that have moved out of the area but yet insist I’m still coming to us Read more>>
Dick Zinnendorf
We all have to face some type of adversity in life. And the world will sometimes test us so harshly that it seems easier just to throw in the towel and give up. What separates the survivors from the dead, or what separates the ‘winners’ from the ‘losers’ is perseverance. Read more>>
FRANK MORRIS
I’ve always been an artist since a little boy. Born and raised in Monrovia Liberia, moved to the U.S. and resided in Boston Massachusetts. I grew passion fir art throughout middle and high-school. I attended Massachusetts College of Art and design. This is where I struck into my creativity. I studied all ranges of art from pencil drawings, paintings, to graphic designing. Read more>>
Amanda Boswell
I was originally a watercolor artist under the business name Peachy Keen Studio Art. I then moved onto acrylics, then oil painting, then tapestry weaving. In 2020 I took a chance on photography. I was contracted with a local studio that specializes in fine art portraiture and it opened my eyes to the photography world. Read more>>
Yelyzaveta Havrylchenko
I started my journey in hair removal over 10 years ago in Ukraine. For seven years, I worked hard to perfect my craft and helped thousands of clients feel smooth and confident. When the war began, I had to leave my home and spent a year working in Poland. But I always dreamed of living in America. Read more>>
Kinsye Miller
I grew up in Alvarado, where I discovered my passion for dance and developed a love for helping my classmates get their hair ready for the stage. When it came time to decide on a career path, I realized that I wanted to make people feel beautiful. This led me to enroll in hair school. Read more>>
Lisa Stephenson
My husband and I purchased our land in hopes of someday retiring on the beautiful property. When our daughter became engaged she had an elaborate plan to build a venue on the property. While we didn’t build the venue then, were all in for them getting married on the property. Read more>>
Susan Russell
How Mold Dog Knows Came to Be Nearly 30 years ago, I accepted what I thought was the pinnacle of my broadcasting career, moving from San Francisco to Fort Myers, Florida, to become the lead evening news anchor in a thriving market. What should’ve been a dream assignment and a big launching pad, quickly became a nightmare. Read more>>
Dr. Loretta Wall
From an early age, I was profoundly influenced by my mother, a single parent, was a significant source of inspiration. Her relentless work ethic and determination to care for our family, despite any obstacles, instilled in me the belief that our circumstances do not define our future. Read more>>
Natalie Gosline
I grew up in Spokane. WA and came to Texas for college. I attended University of Dallas in Irving and majored in psychology, receiving my bachelors in psychology in 2018. My time at UD was formative and I also met my husband there. We were married in June of 2018 and during marriage prep, we learned about Creighton and NaproTechnology. Read more>>
MICAH BELLIEU
I always wanted to get fluent in Spanish, so I decided to take a job teaching English in Mexico. I took a teaching training course, and then stayed for 1.5 years there. When I got back, I spoke Spanish well, and I also learned about language acquisition. Read more>>
Kendale Brown
I was born in the 1980s during the crack epidemic. Both of my parents struggled with addiction, but my mother always made sure we had a stable home. We never went without. We had nice clothes, food on the table, and a place to call home. Despite the challenges around me, I learned early on about strength, survival, and grace. Read more>>
Gene Stokes
I am Gene Stokes, the founder of AutoCare Anywhere, and I’m passionate about delivering high quality detailing that restores, protects, and enhances every vehicle. With a commitment to excellence, convenience, and customer service, I created AutoCare Anywhere to provide top tier detailing services from basic hand wash to deep interior cleaning, ceramic coatings and paint correction ensuring every vehicle shines like new. Read more>>
Cody Lawrence
My dad was a framer. I am 50 years old. I was on the job site in a backpack while he framed as a baby. I was called to do this type of work. It hasn’t been easy though. I have raan multi million dollar companies that weren’t mine that did very well. Ive had to learn from the school offhand knocks. Read more>>
Naira Kraipak
Hello! We are a family owned Dental Office serving Frisco and the surrounding areas for the last 8 years. After working as Dental Associates for 5 years for practices across DFW seeing 40-50 patients a day both Dr. Ali and I decided to open our own office so we could offer a more personalized care to our patients. Read more>>
rebecca.biehl83@gmail.com Birchmeier
After years of leading the body contouring division under a physician’s practice—where my team earned the distinction of being the number one CoolSculpting provider in Texas and number four in the nation—I realized there was so much more I wanted to offer my patients. Read more>>
Karissa Burden
I knew I wanted to be a nurse back in high school — caring for others has always come naturally to me. After graduation, I went on to earn my bachelor’s degree in nursing and quickly began my career at Baylor All Saints as a cardiac nurse. Read more>>
laTasha Carter
After living in London, England as a stay-at-home mom, I returned to the U.S. to complete my MBA in Accounting and Finance and went on to build a corporate career spanning more than 16 years. Read more>>
Donna Rawlins
My daughter and I was living together I. A two bedroom duplex and I was sellers g a multi level marketing product and we were bouncing indies off of each other on starting on own actual business. So with 500.00 we purchased some leather bags and wallets. We went live on Facebook and sold out the same night. Read more>>
Dane Wilson
My journey into the credit repair industry started long before I ever filed paperwork for Lenders Choice Credit Solutions. I grew up around the world of personal finance and credit education because my father owned a credit consulting business. I spent years learning how credit works, how much it impacts people’s lives, and how confusing the system can feel for the average person. Read more>>
PARKER CHERRY
I’m from Odessa, Texas. A small city in the Permian Basin all about football, family and the oilfield .. there’s not much else to do besides those three things. The high-school-football-player to oil-field-rough-neck pipeline is strong but I always knew I wanted more. Read more>>
Vatsal Dave
Vatsal Dave, based in Dallas, Texas, is a well-known sitarist dedicated to North Indian Classical Music (aka Hindustani Classical Music). He began his journey into music under Ghulam Rasul Khan and furthered his training under Pt. Budhaditya Mukherjee, a leading exponent of the Imdadkhani Gharana. Read more>>
Ryan Lambert
I started with a renovation company as a laborer at 18yrs old. I became a crew leader within 6 months for my hard work ethic and soaking up knowledge very fast. I continued to work at different companies throughout the years working my way up the ladder. Read more>>
Gloria Garcia
Hi, I’m Gloria, a certified birth doula and surgical tech. My journey to becoming a doula started in 2023, but to truly understand my passion behind this work, I have to backtrack to my first birth in 2011, when I was 17 years old. Without much support and very little understanding of the birth process, I was talked into an induction. Read more>>
Blanca Flores
Hello, my name is Blanca Flores, and I’m the founder of Confiable Multiservices, where we help individuals and small businesses with tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll, and business registrations. I founded Confiable Multiservices in November 2020, shortly after the Covid pandemic, because I saw how many people needed trustworthy guidance during a time of financial uncertainty. Read more>>
Lakeysha Ward
I get asked the question of how did you get started and how all the time. Simply put this is the only gift and talent that I possess and in high school people always asked me for my opinion. When the advice worked out as I stated, people were impressed so I took notice of it. Read more>>
Madison Crone
Fashion has always fascinated me, not just as clothing, but as a form of self-expression and communication. What we wear often speaks before we do, it’s how we show the world who we are, what we value, and even how we feel on the inside. Read more>>
Kevan Jowers
Cruise Car Wash was founded by three partners who bring decades of experience and passion to the car wash industry. Larry Ayres began his journey in 1997 when he opened All American Car Wash in Wichita Falls, Texas. Over the next two decades, he grew the business to four successful locations before selling in late 2021. Read more>>
Sonal Tandale
Hi – My name is Sonal Tandale, Founder and CEO of Carrollton Tutors. I began my journey in 2021 with a passion for education and a deep desire to help students unlock their potential. Also serving as a high school teacher, I quickly realized the difference personalized attention and strong mentorship could make in a student’s academic confidence. Read more>>
Courtney Green
Our bookkeeping and tax business started 3 years ago when my sister and I were tired of the corporate accounting grind. Working for major corporations left us feeling disconnected from what brings us joy, helping business owners. We started our business providing contract work for larger firms and eventually started sourcing our own clientele. Read more>>
Austina Brittain
I grew up in rural Kentucky, raised by a single mom, surrounded by fried chicken, tobacco fields, and simple living. After high school, I joined the military to pay for college, and somewhere along that journey—after becoming a mom and reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren—I felt a clear calling to become a nurse. Read more>>
Ben Dempsey
I’ve had a deep love for aquatic life for as long as I can remember. Fishing started as a childhood hobby, but it eventually evolved into something deeper. About ten years ago, while cleaning a fish I had caught, I found myself captivated by the beauty of its skeletal structure. The intricate design sparked a question: Could this become art? Read more>>
Shamica Sweat
My love affair with weddings started when I was just 13 years old. I remember attending my very first wedding and being completely swept away, the music, the flowers, the fashion, the sheer joy of it all. In that moment, I knew weddings would always have to be a part of my life. My story really begins with a love for creating unforgettable experiences. Read more>>
Mohamed Khanir
I was born and raised in Morocco, in a humble family that didn’t have much materially but was rich in love and values. My father was a baker, and my mother was the heart of our home. Life wasn’t easy — we didn’t have the comfort that many children around me had — but we had each other. Read more>>
Mary Peters
We wanted to build a gym that focused on a holistic approach to fitness. We believed that strength training mixed with pilates reformer and infrared heat would provide a unique blend of training styles to produce optimal results. More than that, we wanted to create a gym that anyone would be comfortable in. Read more>>
Jacqueline Crider
I didn’t take the straight road to where I am at all. I was late-diagnosed ADHD, a rule-breaker by nature, and for years I tried to squeeze myself into boxes that never fit—societal rules, family expectations, even traditional financial advice. I chased the “right” path, and sure, I had some success on paper. But inside? I was frustrated, exhausted, and unfulfilled. Read more>>
Jason STIER
My story starts with a deep respect for service — not just the kind that comes with a uniform, but the kind rooted in showing up for people when it counts. I didn’t wear the uniform myself, but I’ve always felt called to serve those who do. Read more>>
Mariah Snapp
I always knew I wanted to work with people in a helping profession. I started college at Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky where I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. During that time, I realized how much I wanted to do mental health therapy. Read more>>
Tramaine Francis
As the founder of Mosaic Legal Support Services, my journey has been deeply personal and driven by a passion for helping others navigate the complexities of estate planning and pre-need funeral arrangements. Read more>>
MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM
Being an entrepreneur feels like jumping into a vast ocean. It’s exciting and full of opportunities, but it can also feel a little overwhelming at times. My journey started as a solo freelancer on Upwork, taking on projects one by one, building relationships with clients, and learning how to deliver not only good work but also good communication. Read more>>
Morgan Schimmel Ruiz
With 10 years of mastery in esthetics and lasers, Morgan’s unwavering passion for skincare and cosmetics has driven her to shape her vision within the beauty and wellness domain. Establishing a thriving legacy spanning 8 years, nestled in the heart of DFW, she has cultivated Skin Essentials in Rowlett TX into a 5X award-winning medical spa. Read more>>
Natasha Faucher
I had been a stay-at-home for 15 years with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. When I sensed my marriage was ending, I decided to finally apply to graduate school for counseling. While taking the slow path (5 years) through graduate school, I was a middle school teacher raising my 5 kids largely alone. Read more>>
Barrett Bonds
For nearly five decades, Barrett Bonds has had a passion for developing children into ‘Smart, Happy Swimmers’. Blending a passion for swimming with a commitment to water safety and education. Her journey began in 1966 as a competitive swimmer for Millers Swim Gym and later for the Little Rock Dolphins, where she honed her skills. Read more>>
Kara Ireland
Vacation Your Way began offering vacation home rentals in the spring of 2020, meeting a growing need for safe, private escapes during the COVID-19 pandemic. As people looked for healthy ways to travel, private vacation homes became the perfect solution—and we were there to help. Since then, we’ve continued to hand-pick beautiful, unique properties and host fun events to create unforgettable experiences for our guests. Read more>>
Donovan Roa
iFlex Stretch Studios was founded by Steve and Craig Colmar, the creators of The Joint Chiropractic. Our story began on May 12th, 2024, with a mission to help people move and feel better through assisted stretching. Thanks to our incredible community, strong local partnerships, and a passionate team, we quickly rose to become the #1 studio in the franchise. Read more>>
Marisol Castro
Why Opened House of Spin One night, I was lying in bed thinking about which studio I’d go to for my next cycling class. I started reflecting on what I loved and didn’t love about other studios. Read more>>
Erica DiMiele
I hail from the coffee mecca of the nation – Seattle, Washington. My first barista job was 18 years ago, which began in me a love for the art and science of making coffee. Read more>>
Dain Polyniak
Not everyone has the ability to obtain all the tools they will need to safely work on their vehicle. I started The Shop DIY Garage to provide all the necessary tools and equipment you would need to preform basic maintenance all the way to more in depth jobs like motor/transmission swaps, while saving money compared to taking your vehicle to a dealer. Read more>>
Courtney Turner
Essential Oils combined with Lava rock and a touch of Sea Glass = the beginning of Lava The Sea What started as a search into the benefits of essential oils for me & my family, came an exciting venture that I never saw coming. Lava beads are naturally porous and carry essential oils really well. Read more>>
