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.
Shane Varner
I grew up in a small town and always had a love for art. But honestly, even though I was passionate about it, I never really thought I could make a career of it. While I was in college, people began asking me to design their tattoos. Read more>>
gerry dawson
began writing songs in high school, gigs followed, songs morphed into poems & posters &, eventually painting & print-making, all an ongoing pursuits Read more>>
Nirissa Hernandez
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, I’m Nirissa Hernandez—most people know me as Nerdi. I now call North Carolina home, where I balance life as a full-time professional, a proud mom to my beautiful daughter, and someone who truly believes in living life to the fullest. I’m a U.S. Army veteran and proudly served with the 82nd Airborne Division, 1-73 Sky Soldiers. Read more>>
Emily Brown
I’ve always been drawn to creativity and helping people feel beautiful and confident. For years, I worked a full-time administrative job while doing makeup on the side, but I knew my heart was pulling me toward something more meaningful. In 2017, I took a leap of faith by leaving my stable career and enrolling in esthetics school to pursue a future in the beauty industry. Read more>>
Ashley Jane Sargent McIntyre
The Charlotte Region Arts Fibers and Textiles Guild is based in Charlotte, NC and was founded in 2021 by nine women who all share the love of creating things with their hands. The group consists of crafters of all skill levels, but who all share common interests: learning new crafts and techniques, sharing ideas and inspiration, forming new friendships and connections. Read more>>
Tanya Turner
Back in 2008, we were a family of five surviving on a little more than twenty-three thousand dollars a year. I was a stay-at-home mother with a toddler, homeschooling our two older children. My heart was glad to be home with them, but the monthly stress of trying to make everything stretch was overwhelming. Read more>>
Jamae Davis
My story—like any good origin story—has a lot of layers, and it’s easy to get lost in the details. So instead of trying to tell everything, I’m focusing on the pivotal moments that most shaped who I am today, how I move through the world, and what I’m ultimately trying to give back. Read more>>
Leah Bradford
My journey into this work began quietly — not as a business plan, but as a lifeline. For years, I worked in corporate America as a project manager in the pharmaceutical industry. From the outside, everything looked successful and secure. But inside, I was exhausted. Read more>>
Angela Dudley
About 26 1/2;years ago I loss my first son to domestic violence. I was being abused constantly. However on June 29, 1999 I woke up to the most traumatic time of my life. My son was cold which meant I had to to take him to the ED. On the 29th I had to say good bye to my son. Read more>>
adé Oh
It was my early-mid 20’s and I was having a personal health revolution. I was ready to transform my life and my diet when a co-worker shared the registration link to an Introduction to Herbalism class. I felt an instant yes and seized the opportunity. Read more>>
Kelly Ruta
My path here has not been linear or smooth, and I don’t pretend that it was. I began my career in clinical psychology and spent over two decades working deeply with trauma, addiction, anxiety, and depression. I loved the work and I was good at it. I watched women stabilize their nervous systems, rebuild trust in themselves, and reclaim their lives. Read more>>
Hillary Smith
My journey into wedding planning really began long before Pearl & Pine officially existed. I’ve always been someone who loves building meaningful experiences, leading with heart, and helping people bring big visions to life, whether through business, community work, or creative projects. Read more>>
Marianne Breneman
I am the owner of Mindful Health and Harmony LLC, a coaching practice geared toward teens, young adults, and parents. I spent over three decades teaching music to middle school, high school, and college students and while I really enjoyed that time in my life, I knew prior to the pandemic that I wanted to make a shift. Read more>>
Trenita Childers
I am Dr. Trenita Childers, a family wellness coach based in Raleigh, North Carolina. My family business – Dr. Trenita Parent and Family Wellness, LLC – provides coaching, education, and inspiration for women and families navigating burnout or seeking deeper relationships as they become who they are called to be. Read more>>
Virginia Hocutt
I grew up on a farm on land that’s been in my family for over a century, so land has always meant more to me than just property. It’s legacy, memory, and responsibility. My professional path wasn’t linear. I started my career as a teacher, then transitioned into real estate, never imagining I’d one day become a developer. Everything changed after my father passed away. Read more>>
Megan Murphy
My story echos that of many other beauty professionals – a childhood love of dress up, beauty, and chopping away at my Barbie doll’s hair. What is unique is the path that has led me where I am today. Growing up in rural NC, it never occurred to me that hairstyling could be a “real career”, but looking back now, the passion was always there. Read more>>
Page Litfin
I opened Sun Bern NC 2 years ago to fill a gap in the retail market in our town. As a river front town, we lacked anywhere to buy swimwear less than an hour away. There were even fewer options for women to find suits that offered style and support. Read more>>
Sydney Jasper
Looking back, my path into this work feels deeply connected to my own childhood. I grew up in a high-achieving environment, balancing competitive athletics with academics and a schedule that always felt full. From the outside, it likely looked like I had everything together, but internally, I often felt under pressure to be perfect. What made the difference for me was support. Read more>>
Kathy Wilson
i love animals and people so we opened a nonprofit thrift shop that helps both we are nonprofit for cara (carolina animal rescue and adoption) we also help by having mission outreach , Haven which is battered womenshelter , foster kids from social services the families and the pregnancy program can all come get clothes by bring a voucher in a discreet matter, of course Read more>>
TROY KIRSCHNER
As a child growing up in humble beginnings I collected a variety of items and kept them organized. Things like rocks, sea shells, bottom tops, baseball cards, comics and coins. As I grew my interest changed and my collecting catagories changed focus. I began to buy sell and trade to fill in my comic book collection and than eventually my coin collection. Read more>>
Jennifer Horst
I’ve been a storyteller for as long as I can remember, whether playing with LEGO, writing short stories, or taking control of my mom’s camera. I fell in love with documentary storytelling in middle school and black-and-white photography in high school. Read more>>
Gabrielle McMurphy
I’ve been connected to the mental health world for most of my life. I grew up in a home that regularly welcomed individuals with developmental disabilities, which meant I learned early on what it looks like to live alongside people who need patience, structure, advocacy, and safety. That environment shaped the way I understand human behavior long before I had formal training. Read more>>
Jessica McNaughton
CaraGreen was founded as a source for sustainable building materials in 2008. As green building and environmental stewardship became more important to the design community, CaraGreen curated products with a sustainability backstory that were more responsible choices than conventional building materials. Read more>>
Terri Cutshall
Terri’s Bio: Reader | Writer | Author | Terri is an extroverted introvert. She loves animals, wholeheartedly considers chocolate a food group, watches cheesy rom-coms and writes about happily-ever-after. As an author of contemporary sapphic romance/fiction her main characters find the inner strength and courage to overcome their fears and insecurities to let love in. Read more>>
tiara wiley-king
My story in healthcare didn’t begin with ambition—it began with grief. In 2000, just three years after my father passed away, I entered the field as a surgical technologist. At the time, I was simply trying to survive, to find something steady to hold onto while quietly learning how to carry loss and responsibility at the same time. Read more>>
JOHNNY MITCHELL
I grew up in a shack in the backwoods of South Carolina and learned early what poverty feels like. By the time I was 13, survival often depended on government assistance and the kindness of others. I knew I wanted more—not just for myself, but for the family I hoped to build one day. Read more>>
Estefania and Junior Rivera Cavallo
My husband Junior and I both immigrated to the United States at a very young age—he was 18 and I was 16—coming from different countries but sharing the same goal of building a better future. Read more>>
April Dupree
The practice was founded to honor the memory of my late mother. She passed away in 2018, just weeks after I finished my graduate program. My mother navigated her own courageous battle with mental health issues, and seeing her struggles firsthand—especially the challenges in finding consistent, compassionate care—ignited a fire in me. Read more>>
Leslie Loyd
In 2015, the Greensboro–High Point metropolitan area was named the hungriest community in the country. What struck me wasn’t just the depth of need—it was how disconnected most people were from it. Read more>>
Rajendra Nath Dasari
Hi, I’m Raj Dasari as the Founder & Director of Project Med & Ed, Project Med & Ed started from a moment that seemed small at first. In April 2025, my dad came home from work after running errands with a $15 first aid kit and about $30 worth of basic hygiene supplies. Read more>>
Melissa Graf
Greenwood Psychotherapy & Consulting began not with a business plan, but with a shared recognition. Prior to Co-Founding this organization in January, 2024, we – Melissa and Sharon – met as colleagues at a local group practice, where we both served as Clinical Supervisors and outpatient psychotherapists. Read more>>
Kelsey Terfehr
I grew up on a farm in southwest Minnesota, and I was involved in 4-H growing up. One of my favorite things to bring to the fair every year was photos, and honestly, that’s where my love for photography started. I didn’t really realize it at the time, it was just something I loved doing. Read more>>
Nick Wrenn
I like to say that I came into this world with my intense love for trees from my first breath. As a toddler when my parents had a difficult time getting me to fall asleep one trick, they found helpful was to take me outside and carry me around the yard. Read more>>
Gedeon Maheux
The Iconfactory was started back in April of 1996 as a hobby between our three founding members: Corey Marion, Talos Tsui and myself. At the time, all three of us were working for a small multi-media company in Greensboro called Paradigm Interactive designing educational CD-ROMs for children. Read more>>
Deyvid Batista
I began my journey in ministry in the United Kingdom, serving as an ordained minister of religion. From a young age, I carried two deep callings: a commitment to serve God and people, and a lifelong dream of flying. For many years, aviation remained a distant dream, but faith has a way of calling us to take bold steps. Read more>>
Jamil Moore
Sweet Farm Syrups was started by my wife, Stacey Moore. One day during a Sunday dinner with her mother and I, she made some sweet potato’s. While cleaning up, her mother said ‘save the Sweet Potato Syrup in a mason jar. I put it on my my waffles’. We listened and decided to take samples to our church. Read more>>
Joseph Taylor
We managed to land a spot on Lollapalooza ‘96 and inked a publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing. Kind of makes you sick how lucky we got – huh? Then it all turned to dog barf. The head of the label got fired the week our record came out. The new guy did not dig it. We broke up after recording our second record out in Enciitas CA with Mark Trombino (Blink 182 producer). So the vampire known as the music business bit me, pulled my hair, and kicked me out of the van. Read more>>
Katelyn Schneider
In 2020 I started working at a corporate florist. While working for the corporate florist I fell deeper in love with the art of flowers and started questioning some of the industry standards. Then in 2021 I decided to branch off so that I could source flowers locally and use more sustainable practices. That is how Bee Bloomin’ Florist got here! It’s a story of pain and sorrow that turned into joy and love. Read more>>
Seton McGlennon
My witty, whimsical style naturally evolved from ornaments into my signature concept in art, storytelling with my brush. Capturing moments from my clients’ lives on ornaments, canvases and even furniture, is a truly refreshing personal way of preserving memories and my original Memory Canvases were born. Read more>>
Deanna Cloud
I travele a lot for work and it was hard for me to find a place to board my rottweiler. I couldn’t find many places that would take her, due to her breed, and the places that would take her would get filled up quickly. I was also trying to find something to keep me busy after the loss of my son. Read more>>
Antonio Trippett
Hi my name is Antonio and how I got started in the jewelry business was when I was a young boy. I was quickly influenced by entertainers that I saw on television such as Mr t, Ric flair. As I grew older I was heavily influenced by The hip Hop community and the record label Cash money records. Read more>>
