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.
Lisette Diaz
I’ve always been into watching behind-the-scenes of television & film and into cartoons & Anime. After accidentally getting cast in my 1st play junior year of high school, I changed career paths from veterinary science to Theatre. Read more>>
Darrius Adger
I attended Southern University on a scholarship for the Human Jukebox Marching Band, where I studied Visual Arts. During that time, I began working at a family-owned printing company in Baton Rouge as a graphic designer. What started as a design role quickly expanded. They wanted me to learn how to print as well, including shirts, business cards, flyers, and church programs. Read more>>
Payton Howie
I started writing and performing at 14 years old and quickly realized this was what I wanted to pursue seriously. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to share stages with artists I grew up listening to, which pushed me to grow as both a songwriter and performer. Read more>>
Tess & Amber
Hi! We are Tess & Amber, the CEOs and founders of 2Girls1Brush Beauty! We met in 2020 at a wedding where we were both newbies in the bridal business and venturing out on our own. We have both loved the beauty industry for as long as we can remember so us getting into this business was no surprise to anyone in our lives. Read more>>
tiffany fulcher
My entrepreneurial journey didn’t start with a business plan. It started with a layoff, a newborn, and a decision to build something from nothing. Eighteen years ago, I had just stepped away from a career in education to become a stay-at-home mom. Before that, I worked in corporate—in sales and HR within the financial services and tech industries. Read more>>
Emerson Argueta
I got into fire protection at 19 years old. Before that, I was working tech support at a call center. Same desk. Same calls. Every day felt identical. I had gone to school for electronics and knew I wanted more than a headset and a script. A small fire alarm company owner called me after seeing my résumé. Read more>>
Shawnnita Buckner
My journey has never followed a straight line, it has evolved through seasons of leadership, service, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. I began my career in operations and communications, eventually transitioning into project management where I had the opportunity to build and multiple Project Management Offices. Read more>>
skye phillips
I spent a good bit of time researching, calculafing operating costs, designing a website, and building a brand, before officially Facebook launching Peachy Clean Mobile Laundry Service on International Laundry Day in 2024. To market my service- I posted flyers, handed out business cards, did a Teacher Appreciation giveaway, and joined every single Facebook group I could find. Read more>>
Mindy Hartman
I have a degree in Fashion Design and Patternmaking from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising of Los Angeles. I started out as a patternmaker and designer for Prom Dresses but my true love was costumes so I transitioned to working as a costumer in the film industry. Read more>>
Michael Briggs
I first got interested in creating music and audio in high school, playing around with early DAW and sequencer programs. I made this silly little piece and submitted it when my school asked for student music to play as the intro to the morning announcements, and they actually used it. Read more>>
Joe Guzman
I started writing poetry as a child and songs when I was 15 years old. In a household where there was no support for music I had to improvise and often ended up singing verses over rhythms made on a paint bucket. It was that summer that I started working and bought myself my first guitar. Read more>>
Monique Brown
Alloy Personal Training-North Mansfield is a franchise with three owners: Monique Brown, Dr. Kathleen Sharp, and Tamieka Means. Three of us are all former student-athletes. Tamieka and I are volleyball players who played in high school and college together. Dr. Sharp is a basketball player who played professionally overseas. So fitness is something that has been an intricate part of our lifestyles since childhood. Dr. Read more>>
stacey watkins
I have been a creative soul for as long as I can remember, always dreaming of opening my own art gallery. However, I often found myself pursuing conventional paths to make a living instead of following that dream. This diversion led me down some challenging roads and left me feeling quite broken. Thankfully, I had incredibly loving parents. Read more>>
Amber Lee
Once Upon a Wedding began in California in the special events world. In the early days, my business was called Everyday Events. I provided planning support along with bartending staff and wait staff for weddings and private events. At our very first wedding, we were bussing tables. Read more>>
Morgan Hart
Hi, I’m Morgan, the storyteller behind the lens at Morgan Rose Photography. I’m a full-time portrait and lifestyle photographer based in Abilene, Texas, serving couples, seniors, families, military homecomings, and last flights in Abilene and the surrounding areas. Photography has always been something I carried with me, from bringing a camera on family and youth group trips growing up to casually photographing friends. Read more>>
Farzad Kohan
I’ve been making objects since I was a child. I sold my first painting at age twelve, during the Iranian Revolution in the streets of Tehran, a moment that gave me the confidence to believe in myself. My life has unfolded across continents, cultures, and studios. Read more>>
Kesha Summerhill
Starting a business from the ground up with no prior experience in the food industry was another challenge. I had to learn everything about permits, equipment, inventory, budgeting, and marketing while trying to actually make sales. There were slow days that made me nervous, long nights where I was exhausted, and moments where I felt overwhelmed wearing every hat in the business. Read more>>
Will Ervin Jr
Will is an East Coast native. He started as a street performer, busking with friends while training in musical theater, vogue, hip-hop, popping waving, house, and Jersey club. He later earned a BFA in dance from Montclair State University. He also holds an MFA in dance from the University of Illinois. Read more>>
Jackie Tao Law
I’m Jackie Tao Law, an emerging artist in Dallas. My path to art started in childhood. I grew up in an artsy beach town on the Gulf coast. I painted and drew as often as I could. I tore through fiction books on mythology and other worlds. The museum down the road had huge, awe inspiring Baroque paintings that I grew up seeing regularly. Read more>>
William Derusha
I started in music the way many people do — through church and school — but it quickly became something deeper than an extracurricular activity. I was drawn to the physical sensation of singing, the architecture of language, and the way certain harmonies felt like they rearranged something internally. Read more>>
Lana Filice
I currently serve as the Recreation Supervisor at the Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center. I’ve been in this role for about a year, but I’ve worked for the City of Calabasas for just over 15 years in the Community Services Department. I started as a part-time employee at De Anza Park, where my focus was youth programming. Read more>>
Gabriel De Jesus
My name is Gabriel De Jesus, and I moved to DFW back in 2014 from Waco, Texas. It all begin when I had my first child on the way at the age of 19 and need it a good paying job to support us comfortably without a 4-year college degree education. Read more>>
Adel Azer
When i came to a new country, i had one suitcase and big dreams. i didn’t know the language well. i didn’t know anyone. But i knew i wanted a better life. The first few years were hard. washed dishes, cleaned buildings, worked construction—any job i could find. Some days i felt proud. Other days i felt small. People laughed at my accent. Read more>>
Lindsay Buck
Buckaroo Celebrations started with a simple idea: celebrations should feel unforgettable and memories should last a lifetime! What began 18 years ago as creating diaper cakes for fun and small party pieces slowly evolved into something much bigger as my family grew. Especially when people kept asking, “Can you do my whole setup?” I realized I didn’t just enjoy decorating; I loved designing experiences! Read more>>
Katelyn Hunter
I grew up in Southern California, in the LA area, and always liked to sing. My mom thought singing was like sports, where you practice regularly and have a game almost weekly, so she went searching for performance opportunities. I was a Girl Scout growing up, and joined a local Girl Scout color guard group as the national anthem singer. Read more>>
Leah Chikumbindi
In 2014, I officially launched Girls Set Apart Ministries after responding to a lifelong calling to serve and uplift young girls. My passion was shaped by my own journey, one marked by faith, resilience, and healing. I grew up in Zimbabwe in a loving, stable home. I never went without food, clothing, or care. Read more>>
Long Nguyen
Hello, I’m Long Nguyen, also known as Mr. SHi, the founder of SHi® Professionals. My journey in the nail industry began over two decades ago, not with a grand vision, but out of necessity. Like many immigrants and aspiring artists, I started in a small nail salon, learning everything from the ground up. It was survival at first. Read more>>
Ryan Leach
I’ve always had love for art since I was a child, it being my biggest outlet drawing constantly. I found tattooing kind of by accident. I made friends with a tattoo artist and he showed me the industry. It opened up the doors to meet even more people and further my career. 7 years later I’m still tattooing full time, married and have a daughter. Read more>>
Stevie Dawn Carter
I’ve always loved storytelling. Whether it was in the classroom or onstage, I’ve been drawn to spaces where people connect through shared experience. I have been a motivational speaker, professional dancer, and college professor, but through it all it has always been about connecting people through stories. Read more>>
Preston Manning Sr.
Pure Vizion started while I was working at a local grocery store. A vendor employee needed someone to video record his wedding, so I captured their big moment. From there I started the business, my wife came up with the name. Pure Vizion with a Z, not an S. Read more>>
Veneshia Garrett
I was born and reared right here, in Oak Cliff, (Dallas) TX, USA. As I’m a bicentennial baby, I will be 50 this year, August 22,2026. In fact, this year is a multi-milestone-year!!! When I was nine my dad an American Marine, who’d been stationed in the Philippines introduced me to “tea”, then he passed away when I was 12. Read more>>
Aimee Rodenroth
I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of North Texas in 1991. In 1992, I began my career in public education as a dyslexia teacher with a local school district, where I served for several years. Committed to advancing my expertise in structured literacy and dyslexia intervention, I became a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) in 2006. Read more>>
Monica Martinez
For us, the Broken Tree stands for change, and one’s life journey seeking a new beginning. It symbolizes our resilience, adaptability, and growth as individuals. Collectively, we are four friends who are artisans, educators, craftspeople with years of experience in the custom framing business. We specialize in custom framing with a focus on conservation and museum practices. Read more>>
Jesica Clay
I began my photography career as a wedding photographer and spent over a decade capturing some of the most meaningful days in my clients’ lives. It was an incredible season of growth, creativity, and connection. But as my own family grew and weekends became filled with kids’ sports and family commitments, I knew it was time to pivot into something more sustainable. Read more>>
Tony Duran
DiningBooths.com started off originally selling Vintage Cars and Memorabilia in the early 1980’s. Over time customers wanted furniture for their restaurants and homes. Since 2000 we have been selling custom dining booths and banquets all over the world to many different businesses and residential customers. Read more>>
Mary Lauren Shelton Vise, RDN, LD, CEDS-C
I grew up in Dallas, Texas, and began riding horses at just three years old. I competed in equestrian sport for most of my life, and that experience shaped so much of who I am today. As a competitive athlete, I worked with dietitians to learn how to properly fuel my body for performance which is when my passion for nutrition began. Read more>>
Agiebabe’s Ginger Beer
Agiebabe’s has roots tracing back to a curious teen experimenting with her mom in Sierra Leone. That tradition and flavor are now in every bottle of Agiebabe’s Ginger Beer, serving up a taste of West African culture. Read more>>
Julia Kang
My journey into dentistry started long before I ever stepped into a dental office. I grew up training as a classical pianist and spent years studying music at Seoul Arts Academy. That experience taught me discipline, precision, and how to turn a long-term vision into reality. Those same principles guide how I practice dentistry today. Every smile is built with intention, patience, and care. Read more>>
