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.
Frederick Surgeon
My story begins with a deep belief in entrepreneurship and hard work. From an early age, I sought out ways to create opportunity and add value to my community. After earning an accounting degree from North Carolina A&T State University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, I began my career as an auditor with Ernst & Young and later served as a Chief Financial Officer in behavioral health. Those experiences taught me discipline, attention to detail, and the importance of sound financial management. Read more>>
Lilia Becerra Hatcher
The road has definitely not been entirely smooth, but every challenge has shaped my journey. Returning to school and advancing my career later in life came with its own set of obstacles—balancing family, work, and studies, and facing the doubts that often come with pursuing something at my age. Transitioning across multiple specialties from ICU to Med-Surg, Emergency Department, psychiatric nursing, and leadership required constant learning and adaptation. But each experience strengthened my skills, resilience, and commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centered care. Those struggles made the achievement of opening my own psychiatric practice this year even more rewarding. Read more>>
JENNIFER GUNTER
From the time I was a little girl I have been creative and crafting things by hand. My grandmother was my inspiration. She would crochet small animals, hand craft 3 D birthday cards with candy bars. It was very exciting to get one of her creations because you know it was made with love. I am a registered nurse by trade. Read more>>
DRL Toons
All of this started in Middle School. I started drawing pictures for girls that I liked. By the time I got to high school it got the attention of the art teacher. The art teacher and I clashed immediately. I should have shown her a lot more respect but as a cocky teenager I rebelled against her. Read more>>
Eli Powell
I was born and raised in eastern NC, on the inner banks. I have always had a love of being outdoors, which led me to want to capture it. At the age of 12, I saved up some money and bought a small action camera. This is where my passion for videography and filmmaking began. Read more>>
Mandy Foalima
I got to where I am through the grace of God and a beautiful community of friends and loved ones I call my Chosen Family. I have always had an affinity for creating, but truthfully I loved the community surrounding food before I ever loved creating in the kitchen. Read more>>
Carla Tuttle
From the time I was young, my parents instilled in me the importance of helping your neighbor, in whatever ways possible. They also gave me a strong work ethic. I saw them work long hours and make sacrifices so my brother and I had more opportunities than they had growing up. Read more>>
Tyrone Small
Artist Ty Small is from (Murrells Inlet, South Carolina) and he makes drawings, paintings (canvas/murals), book illustrations, book cover art, tattoos/logos designs, customize clothing & etc. His art is inspired by his passion and love for the gift God has given him. He has been drawing all of his young life but only recently in December of 2020 started painting. Read more>>
Shanika Staton
It all started at the young age of 10 when I started to style my own hair, and braid my dolls hair, at the age of 12 I showed one of my younger cousin how to braid to the scalp(cornrow). By the age of 15 I had worn almost every style on my head that I could do on my own. Read more>>
Niosoty M Baptista Paparella
I was born in Venezuela and graduated from the Universidad Central de Venezuela as a Licensed Psychologist. I migrated to the U.S, and after completing other requirements, I obtained a license to practice psychology as a Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA), and I have been providing mental health services for more than 20 years. Read more>>
April McLaurin
Hi! My name is April McLaurin and I’m a professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor based in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina. I’ve always been a multi-passionate artist, ever since I was a little kid drawing cartoons and declaring (at age 7!) that I wanted to be an artist like my grandfather. Read more>>
Jesse Jewell
Our little company consists of two Wilmington natives (Jesse Jewell, and John “corn pone” Krohn) that have been buddies since we met in the 6th grade at DC Virgo middle. Jesse, a third generation carpenter grew up around historic restoration, and apprenticed under his father Patrick at the age of 20. Read more>>
Ashley Robbins
I grew up in public housing projects in a small town about an hour south of Raleigh called Sanford with my mother and my younger sister. At one point, my mother was a nurse and injured her back working with patients. That injury was further exacerbated by a terrible car wreck which prompted her addiction to pain medication. Read more>>
Marco Casusol
I was born in Alabama and raised in North Carolina, and I’ve always been drawn to creative work and the arts. Early in my career, I worked in customer service at an art supply store — a perfect fit since I had a background in fine art and graphic design. Read more>>
Charlie Brady
I’m originally from San Diego, California, and still very much a West Coaster at heart. I saw my first play on a field trip in elementary school around 3rd or 4th grade, and I knew immediately I had to do that! That indescribable, visceral feeling that you have to do something. Read more>>
Arnisha Gaither
My journey into wedding and event planning started from a genuine love for celebrating people and creating experiences that feel personal and unforgettable. I launched my business, originally called Arnisha Gaither Events, a few years after planning my own wedding. Read more>>
Ananta Nepal
My Story – Ananta Nepal I’ve always believed that stories have the power to move people — to connect, inspire, and build communities. My journey began in Nepal, where I spent more about a decade as a radio and television journalist, anchoring news and producing documentaries that highlighted social change and human stories. That experience shaped my belief that good storytelling can spark transformation. Read more>>
Donnell Charlton
A’Leurer LLC was born from a shared vision between Natasha Charlton and her husband, Donnell Charlton—known professionally as soul recording artist Donnell Isaac. While Natasha was the driving force behind the concept, Donnell was initially reluctant. With years of firsthand experience in the demanding food service industry, he understood the challenges all too well. But with time—and Natasha’s unwavering belief in the vision—he came onboard. Read more>>
Shay Allen
I’ve been an entrepreneur since before I can remember. I used to sell jewelry and candy in middle school. I ironed my dollar bills to make sure they were crisp. The life of a hustler. My driving determination for being an entrepreneur comes from my grandmother. She was a caterer in Connecticut. Read more>>
Autumn Cooper
My passion for social work began when I was a teenager. Growing up with undiagnosed neurodiversity and a difficult home life made school challenging, and I likely wouldn’t have graduated without the support of my guidance counselor. Their compassion and understanding showed me the power of having someone who truly listens, someone who sees you when others don’t. Read more>>
Jennifer Best
I grew up in New Jersey and went to college at the University of Delaware. I’ve lived in a few different states since then – Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana – before settling in northeastern Maryland. That’s where I raised my family. Meanwhile, my mom and sister both settled in Raleigh, and I’d visit the area often. Read more>>
Byron Brown
I started photography as a hobby, a shared activity that my ex-wife and I would collaborate on. She was the first person to encourage me to learn the craft and really embrace the business opportunities it could create. When my father passed away in 2021 from COVID, photography really became one of my therapeutic outlets. It also changed how I looked at capturing memories. Read more>>
Robbie Stitt
I started out working hands-on in residential construction, learning everything from framing and finish carpentry to the finer details of project management. Over time, I realized that what really motivated me was taking a project from concept to completion — seeing an idea on paper become a real, livable space. Read more>>
Anna Goodrum
From as far back as I can remember, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I’ve always loved learning and hearing people’s stories. I was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and by third grade I was already telling my parents that teaching was my dream. Read more>>
Brittany Harris
After surviving breast cancer in 2024, I found myself craving a fresh start — something that would bring people joy the way coffee always brought me comfort. That’s how my mobile coffee business, Rise & Sip, was born. What started as a simple dream to serve good coffee turned into a purpose-driven mission to create community, connection, and a little sunshine in every cup. Read more>>
The Hodnett Family Band
We are a family bluegrass and gospel band from central NC. As 3rd and 4th generation musicians, each of us have grown up around music and started playing at early ages. Specifically for our family, we started singing in church with our dad when we were little, and as we learned instruments, we added them to the music. Read more>>
Olivia DeJesus
My journey with creativity started from a young age and has been evolving ever since. I started doing ballet at age 2 and somehow found a way to incorporate some form of creativity in my life from that point on. In elementary school it was dance, handbells and art class at school. Read more>>
Jodi Free
I moved to North Carolina in 1998 and began working with several Human Resources and recruiting companies. During that time, I gained valuable experience but also noticed something missing in the industry—a truly personalized approach. Many firms focused on transactions rather than relationships, and I felt there was a deeper need to genuinely understand clients and candidates on a personal level. Read more>>
Amy Betts
My name is Amy Betts. I am a mother, survivor, and advocate who has spent nearly twenty years fighting a broken family court system—and documenting, through my nonprofit Aidileys—how unchecked judicial and agency power destroys the very families it claims to protect. I grew up in the Ohio Valley with a strong belief in truth, fairness, and that courts were designed to protect children. Read more>>
Pete Ostergren
My mother’s pregnancy with me was quite difficult. She previously had a miscarriage that damaged her cervix. When she became pregnant with me, the doctors consistently told her there was no hope. She spent at least 19 weeks of the pregnancy lying down at an angle to give me the best chance of surviving. Read more>>
Anne-Gaillard Duddy
I’ve been working with clay ever since I was a little kid. I always did different types of art projects in grade school, and I first tried a pottery wheel around 4th grade or so. After that, I must’ve been hooked because my parents enrolled me in lots of after-school classes in the following years, all in response to my asking for more. Read more>>
Dalimar Vega
My Journey: Bread, Resilience, and Puerto Rican Flavor I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where my earliest memories are filled with the sweet aroma of desserts my mother lovingly prepared for us. Many of her recipes came from a cherished book written by the grandmother of our Venezuelan neighbor—a gift that brought cultures together in our kitchen. Read more>>
Citlalin Rios
I was born in Mexico and studied Textile and Fashion Design at the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes. In 2014, I moved to Montreal, Canada, where I worked in the bedding and apparel industry for several years. After almost a decade, my husband and I decided to start a new chapter in North Carolina, where we’re now raising our son. Read more>>
Gabrielle VelMartin
My journey into graphic design began with a lifelong love for art. From a young age, I was drawn to creativity and continued to refine my artistic skills over the years. What truly captivated me about graphic design was the ability to use art to make an impact — helping businesses express their identity and connect with their audiences. Read more>>
Margaret Whichard
From an early age, I felt I didn’t fit in and tried hard to fix myself. Growing up in a family with multiple ministers, I felt rejected, different, and like the Black Sheep. I married young for all the wrong reasons. Misfortune always seemed to follow me. Feeling that others had similar struggles, I quit my banking job to pursue a career in counseling. Read more>>
Svetlana Andrianova Fisher
My husband Jeff and I feel honored to steward this land we call the Honeysuckle Tea House and Farm. The Honeysuckle Tea House began as an apothecary café, and over time we’ve nurtured it into a working regenerative farm where nature and human experience meet in unforgettable ways. Read more>>
Greta Albritton
In 2023 I completed my degree in Alternative Medicine from the Everglades University. While completing my degree I was asked what I wanted to do with it by my then 15 yrs old son. I told him at that time I wanted to teach this community about self-care. Read more>>
Brian Reeve
A little over 13 years ago, I departed from teaching high school social studies to become an insurance agent for individual employees. Shortly after starting with a small insurance firm in Raleigh, NC, I realized this job change was going to be way more challenging than I thought. To make a long story short, I was an introvert now working in a non-introverted sales role. Read more>>
Arden Cartrette
While in my 20s and after being married for three years, my partner and I decided to try and grow our family (thinking that it would be a walk in the park). The year and a half that we were trying to conceive were some of the hardest days, weeks, and months. Read more>>
Glennie Staten-Moore
This year has been a breakthrough year for my writing, as doors that were once closed in the past seem to have miraculously opened. For years, I submitted manuscripts to various contests and publishers only to get one rejection after another. Writing has been an important part of my life since my preteen years. Read more>>
Amanda Crabtree
Making art has always been an important part of my life, but it wasn’t until my senior year of college, when I took a 2D animation class, that I realized I could pursue art as a career. I fell head over heels for the magic that is animated storytelling. So, I found my way to Los Angeles and Marvel Animation Studios. Read more>>
Jasmine Callender
My story begins in Fayetteville, NC where I was born and raised. I was very shy as a child and did not feel comfortable speaking or interacting with many people. I was more comfortable drawing, writing, or creating. I did exceptionally well in school, maintaining the A honor roll from elementary school throughout high school. Read more>>
Mitch Bennett
I’m one of the weird people who knew I wanted to be in advertising since I was a little kid. I wanted to make what was on everyone’s TVs, and I wanted to not waste that chance by doing boring stuff. I went to UNC-Chapel Hill for Journalism, then Creative Circus in Atlanta for advertising copywriting. Read more>>
Shawn Byrd
Back in the day, I’d burn through rolls of film, eager to relive those memories as soon as they were developed. Fast forward to today, and that same passion led me to create NLP Photo Booth Rentals — a business built on making those joyful, candid moments instantly available and unforgettable. Read more>>
Deidra Hudson
Early Life and Education: Deidra Hudson was born in California and raised in North Carolina, where she was deeply influenced by her parents’ commitment to community service, political involvement, and their careers in home building, insurance sales, and real estate. This upbringing instilled in her the importance of helping others and being actively involved in her community. Read more>>
Laura Steed Lorino
We began hosting community events and programs for adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) on a regular basis in the fall of 2021. This initiative marked a significant step in our journey at L’Arche North Carolina, allowing us to foster deeper connections within our community. Read more>>
Nat Parkinson
The Hattricks idea started with a Reddit post on r/shoegaze by Fab (our vocalist)in late 2022, where several of the guys connected after having found out we were all in the Triangle area looking to start a band. Read more>>
Jessica Griffin
I’ve always been interested in entrepreneurship but never felt authentically drawn to any particular business. Then one weekend, in the winter of 2021, I was dropping off freezer meals for a friend with a new baby and bringing soup to friends who were home sick with Covid and the thought hit me, I want to feed people. Read more>>
Beth Hutchens
My Journey with Something to Bark About Dog Training Growing up, my dad was a passionate dog enthusiast who instilled in me a deep love and respect for our four-legged companions. From a young age, I was surrounded by dogs, learning to understand their unique needs and personalities. As I grew older, my passion for dogs only intensified. Read more>>
Steve Cox
October of 2003 I reached out to Riddle Corporation about the small vacant building in the Wilders Grove shopping center. I spoke to Richard Walker, Riddle’s agent, about the vacancy. He said that he didn’t know when someone could come from the home office in Fayetteville to show it to me. I told him that I was standing in the building as we spoke. Read more>>
Sabine Deans
My story really starts in Germany that’s where I was born and raised, and where I eventually became an Army wife. During that time, I was very involved in the community and volunteered whenever I could to support other military families. Those experiences really shaped my love for helping people and staying connected. Read more>>
Michelle Edelen, MBA
I am a proud native of Southeast Raleigh. I grew up playing outside with my friends; attending and serving in church; and doing all the normal things children do. My father was the 2nd black fireman hired in the City of Raleigh and the first to make to retirement. My mother was a long-time Wake County Public Schools educator. Read more>>
Arwen Gibson
Throughout my life I have always wanted to learn everything I could about how things work and why. I am independent and resourceful, and frequently use that to help others achieve their goals. My whole life has been leading up to being a real estate agent. Read more>>
Ashley Urquhart
I told the employer that I thought about what she said. Everything aligned after I made the decision to leap in faith. A guy in my area had opened new spa suites and wanted me to see the space. My heart leapt — and I said yes before I could think twice. We didn’t have much — just faith and two massage tables. My colleague, mentioned someone was selling a bunch of massage equipment and supplies. That night, as we moved into our suite, carrying in boxes and dreams until midnight, I whispered, “God, You are good.” Read more>>
Tene Francis-Phillip
After high school, I thought I was going to be a pediatric dentist of all things. But I quickly discovered that pulling children’s teeth like a deranged tooth fairy was decidedly not my calling, so I started searching for purpose. That search took me into psychology, then statistics, and eventually into consumer insights research. Read more>>
Barry Herndon
My full-time road band signed exclusively with EastCoast Entertainment (ECE) in 1989 and in January of 1997, I opened the Raleigh, N.C. ECE office. After many years working as an agent, I was made a partner at the company in 2015. I’ve been involved with the company for well over ½ of my life! Read more>>
Emily Murphy
My husband and I moved to Raleigh in 2011 and instantly fell in love with the area. My career here began in education, serving in the Wake County Public School System. I earned my master’s degree in School Administration from East Carolina University and worked in several leadership roles, including instructional coach and part of the school and district administrative teams. Read more>>
