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.
Griz Calderon
I didn’t begin my career as an author. For more than 33 years, I worked across a wide range of industries, including technology, health, entertainment, and automotive. My work was structured, fast-paced, and people-focused, and it taught me how to solve problems, communicate clearly, and see situations from many perspectives. Read more>>
Victor Hughes
My journey with food began at a young age. I was always in the kitchen growing up, watching my mom, aunts, and granny cook. I loved observing their techniques and often found myself glued to cooking shows, dreaming of becoming a chef one day. As I grew older, my athletic abilities took center stage and that dream took a back seat during my adolescent years. Read more>>
Stacie Tatum
I’m a lifestyle & documentary family and newborn photographer based in Dallas. I specialize in capturing real life moments and events. I’ve had a passion for photography since I was a kid. I constantly had a camera in my hands and I took every photography class that I could in high school and college. Eventually it evolved into creating portraits for friends and family. Read more>>
Skyler Jackson & Ashlea Gray
Skyler: I started working in childcare at 18 years old, and by 22 I had a dream of owning my own center. I even wrote a business plan and held on to it, but I never really gave it much thought after that. Life moved on and I shifted into corporate America, where I spent the next 12 years. Read more>>
Brandie Marie
My journey into the esthetics and lash industry really started with my passion for helping women feel confident, polished, and cared for — not just physically, but emotionally too. I’ve always been someone who values integrity, hard work, and relationships, and I wanted to build something that reflected those values. Read more>>
Brianna Manning
In an era where personal development and mental health have taken center stage, I’ve been grateful to find my voice in the Christian life coaching industry. I’m Brianna Manning, the 25-year-old founder of Growing Testimony, and my work is rooted in a blend of academic excellence, athletic discipline, and deep-rooted faith. Read more>>
Carla Kidd
From the time I was in High School there were two professions that I knew I wanted to do – acting and to be a therapist – so in college I got a double major in Theatre and Psychology. Read more>>
Jo Mellody
A small group of local ladies had a vision for a resale ministry, providing low cost goods to our community and then using the profits to support local ministries. We began with bi=monthly sales and have grown to twice weekly sales, on Thursday 4 to 7 and Saturday 9 to 2. The ministry has more than quadrupled in earnings since our beginning in 2022. Read more>>
April Morris
I am originally from Arlington, TX and I started my career in healthcare 23 years ago as an RN in the ER. I eventually returned to the University of Texas at Arlington to continue my education where I obtained a Masters degree in Science of Nursing as well as my Post Masters education as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Read more>>
Bea Carroll RDN, LDN, MBA
I’ve always been drawn to the why behind health, not just what someone is eating, but what they’re carrying, what they’re juggling, and how stress, routine, and life transitions shape their relationship with food. Read more>>
Whale Rx Coffee Co.
When we think about how Whale Rx Coffee Co. began, we always go back to the ocean. Many of us grew up near the coast, watching manatees glide through the shallows and waiting for whales to appear during their migrations. Those moments stuck with us. They shaped what we care about, and they never really faded. Read more>>
Bailey Motes
Bay’s Almost Home Pet Resort began in 2021 with a single goal: provide calm, fear-free care in a space where pets felt safe and understood. Operating out of a small room attached to our home, we focused on individualized routines, stress reduction, and earning trust one family at a time. Read more>>
Sania Baig
My name is Sania Baig, and I have over 13 years of experience in digital marketing. My journey started very humbly—I began my career working for free as an intern at a marketing agency. Within three months, that role turned into a full-time position, and from there, everything accelerated. Read more>>
Tommy Thompson
My love of the visual arts began in childhood and a native ability was recognized and encouraged. It was my fortune to have excellent early guidance, an important element was sketching out in the real world which provided inspiration, themes and visual material throughout my lengthy career. Read more>>
Spencer Eastwood
I got into commercial laundry after noticing Dallas businesses struggling to find reliable laundry partners. Restaurants dealt with inconsistent service. Hotels couldn’t get fast turnaround. Medical offices needed someone who understood sanitation but also cared about the relationship. I had a background in business operations and saw a gap. Read more>>
Steve Reilly
In 1990 I was looking through the classified ads in the newspaper under Businesses For Sale(I didnt have any Money at the time). I ran across a Man selling a Chimney Sweep Business. It sounded interesting and I called him. He wanted a $1,000. He let me give him $500 down( had to borrow that money) and then $100 a month for 5 months. Read more>>
Jared Wood
The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (FWNC&R) is a natural area comprised of forests, prairies, and wetlands, allowing you to step back in time and experience what the Fort Worth/Dallas Metroplex was like in the early 20th century. The FWNC&R was founded to protect our local watershed. Read more>>
Joaquin Urrutia
Growing up in northern California in a town known as Fresno, I had a paper route working for the Fresno Bee. During the 8th grade, I would get up at 5am everyday before school and deliver papers to 80 customers a block away from my house. Read more>>
Rachel Flowers
I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, with a mother who taught me early that everything has a home. That simple lesson planted a deep love for order, beauty, and intentional living. At 19, I followed a pull toward a more aligned life and moved to Hawaii with almost nothing. Read more>>
Carrie Shan
After graduating from the University of North Texas with an MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, I began my career in traditional 9–5 corporate roles. Everything felt stable and predictable—until COVID happened and I was laid off. Like many people during that time, I suddenly found myself at a crossroads, unsure of what direction to take next. Read more>>
Dr.Bridget C Outlaw
Dr. Bridget C. Outlaw: Building Blueprints for Destiny: Dr. Bridget C. Outlaw- PhD is a visionary serial entrepreneur and General Contractor whose life’s work is defined by a singular mission: turning systemic barriers into gateways of opportunity. Read more>>
Shyree Huggins Battle
So from that moment forward, we have been spreading the healing message & good news of Jesus Christ through our products. We look at the world around us as a garden, mosaic & different but all of value & beauty. Our motto is “Plant. Develop. Prosper.” because it encapsulates us as people being seeds. Seeds who are planted for purpose, and over time develop from “warmth” (love) & “water” (encouragement) to eventually sprouting & blooming to live prosperous lives; inspiring the world around us. Read more>>
Ben McDonnell
I’ve always been a storyteller—I just didn’t know at first what form that would take. I started out pursuing acting, which taught me a lot about vulnerability, rejection, and how to show up authentically even when things feel uncertain. Read more>>
Nealie Sanchez Ruek
Ruek Agency started from a mix of necessity, curiosity, and a deep belief that good marketing should actually work for real people, not just big brands with big budgets. My background is in journalism and digital communications, where I learned how powerful storytelling can be when it’s paired with data and strategy. Read more>>
Kimberly Talbert
I have been creating custom baskets for years for family and friends as gifts. In 2023 I decided i needed to work for myself so I could take care of my family. On June 8th, 2023 I created my business Blessings in a Basket. I create baskets for the receiver. I want the basket to speak to the receiver for the giver. Read more>>
Graham Hunter
My first career was in law enforcement in Nevada. I worked in both Las Vegas (“Sin City”) and Reno. I retired from law enforcement after 15 years and returned to my country of birth, South Africa, where my wife and I opened a bed and breakfast in the Western Cape. Read more>>
Daniel Broome
I started this business because I was having a tattoo mistake I made when I was 17 removed off of my arm at another clinic. I anticipated that I’d gain confidence from it being gone, but I didn’t anticipate how much confidence. It was life changing. Read more>>
Ievgeniia Manchion
My love for construction started early—with toy construction sets and LEGOs. I could spend hours constructing entire worlds. My parents were very restless people. They were always renovating and modernizing our family home in Ukraine. I watched, asked questions, and finally, I was involved in all this. It felt natural, so choosing a building college after school was an easy decision. Read more>>
Ivan Colon
Ivan’s journey into the automotive world began long before IPS Tuned ever had a name. Having spent nearly his entire life around cars, Ivan worked his way up through the dealership world and became a Subaru Master Technician after years of hands-on experience. While working at a Subaru dealership, his personal passion projects—especially his own WRX—began attracting attention. Read more>>
Mike Johnston
I grew up in NC and graduated from UNC-CH. Spent 12 years in the business world before attending Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA. As a teenager, my grandmother told me I would be a minister one day which I found to be quite comincal, but she was correct. Read more>>
Elizabeth Davis
My counseling journey began with an interest in child and adolescent development during a high school psychology class. After high school, my interest never really changed. I went on to earn an undergraduate degree in Child Development and eventually a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in School Counseling (after a short detour into the business world). Read more>>
Jacob Millican
My interest in finance started early through my grandfather, who was a postman and ran a small cattle operation. He taught me patience, discipline, and the importance of thinking long term—ideas that shaped how I see money and risk. Read more>>
Michael Mangrum
I am a guitarist and bilingual educator in Fort Worth. I grew up in a home filled with music. My mother plays piano and organ. She still plays organ for her church. Growing up, I spent many days staying quiet in my room while she taught lessons and napping on church pews during choir practice. Read more>>
Jatoyia Harrell
My journey as a nail technician began in 2017, but my love for nails started long before that. As a young girl, I was always fascinated by the process—watching closely, studying the techniques, and paying attention to the details every time I sat in a nail chair. Read more>>
Kala Neupane
Learning to understand the world around me, before I understood myself, was one of my earliest lessons. At seven, my family moved from Nepal to the USA. I didn’t yet have the language to describe displacement, but I felt it deeply. A new country brought a new language, unfamiliar customs, and the quiet confusion of figuring out where I belonged. Read more>>
John Ford
Since 2015 Fix It Planet contributes a positive impact in reducing e-waste in our local community and abroad by offering practical electronics repair solutions and providing DIY repair guides online. Fix It Planet is committed to doing our part to raise awareness of the impact of electronic waste on the environment. Read more>>
Kara Keeton
My career began in motion—airports, event floors, and long weekends running national dance competitions. As an operations manager, my weeks were spent coordinating logistics, schedules, travel, and production, followed by 16–18 hour days on the road executing live events. I learned how to lead under pressure, manage chaos, and solve problems in real time—but I also learned the cost of a life without balance. Read more>>
Aaron McGruder
I’ve been behind a camera since I was a teenager, but it wasn’t until 2010 that I truly committed to photography and videography as more than a hobby. I was drawn to the idea of capturing moments we can’t recreate—images that let you look back at life and remember how it felt to be there. In 2011, I started filming and photographing car shows. Read more>>
Krissy Sarine-Van Brunt
Did you know a routine grocery run can change your life? On a scorching Texas day—so hot you could bake cookies on the dashboard—my daughter and I headed out for last-minute back-to-school lunch items. At a red light near the store, we noticed a homeless woman in the parking lot, clearly at the end of her rope. Read more>>
John Bress
Well, no one really chooses to be painter….atleast no one I’ve met. My father is a painter and my grandfather was a paint chemist. Painting is in my blood! However, I did not want to be a painter. I had other aspirations a chef, a veterinarian, not a painter. God had other plans. I became addicted to drugs at a very young age. Read more>>
Caroline Batista
Pro Maid Services was born from a fresh start and the desire to build something solid through honest work and excellence. Founded by an immigrant entrepreneur, the company began with residential cleaning services and grew through client trust, referrals, and strong attention to detail. Every service is delivered with responsibility, respect, and a commitment to quality. Read more>>
Ipsita Mitra
I was born in Kolkata, India, and started my initial training in Bharatanatyam; Indian Classical Dance from the age of 3.5 years. My learning and training started at “Kalamandalam Kolkata’ established in 1968 by Guru Govindan Kutty and Guru Smt. Thankamani Kutty, which is the premier institution in Eastern India for Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam,and Kathakali. Read more>>
Kendra Jackson
I own a beauty and spiritual wellness business. I started my beauty business doing lashes in 2015 after being incarcerated for 6 months! When I got out of jail, within 2 months I was enrolled into Cosmetology school! School began in the fall and by then I was pregnant and it was hard staying awake at school. Read more>>
Michael Pinckney
My journey in film and television has been a fruitful one that I cherish. Starting as a production assistant and transitioning to assistant director and then writer/producer/director in addition to being a creative executive has given me the opportunity to see all aspects of the business. Read more>>
Nickelle Minsloff
There were very real practical struggles too — inconsistent income, learning how to sell my services, figuring out systems, pricing, boundaries, and trusting that my way of working had value even if it didn’t look like everyone else’s. But each challenge clarified what I was building and why. It taught me resilience, discernment, and how to lead with both softness and strength. In many ways, the difficulties shaped Rising Digital just as much as the creative vision did. Read more>>
Jill Hughes
My CrossFit journey started in a way I never expected. Growing up, I was always active—competitive cheerleading, dance, and most of all horseback riding, specifically Eventing. After getting married and starting a family, my priorities shifted. Like many moms, I stopped making time for myself, struggled with body image, and found myself wanting to lose weight but not knowing where to start. Read more>>
Neenah Crocker
1. Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like. Read more>>
Brian Fisher
For most of the past 25 years, I’ve been a corporate executive, both in the for-profit and non-profit arenas. Our family’s faith in Jesus has sustained and guided us for many years. However, in 2020, our family suffered a series of betrayals and departures that triggered a spiritual crisis and deep questions: about myself, Jesus, and the state of the modern church. Read more>>
Isha Hutchinson
I didn’t start out trying to build a brand or a movement. I started by showing up. My background is a mix of performance, structure, and leadership. I grew up immersed in the arts, musicals, plays, sports, so being on my feet and in front of people always felt natural. Read more>>
