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.
Ta’Shandra Bradley
Kocholate Kouture Co. was born from a deeply personal journey. As an adult, I discovered I had developed asthma and allergies—something that completely changed how I looked at everyday products, especially the ones I used in my home. I realized that many common candles and fragrances were filled with ingredients that triggered my symptoms, and I knew I deserved better. So I created it. Read more>>
Breasia Wynn
For years, though, I found reasons to delay getting my license while I focused on building a career in local government. I gained valuable experience in leadership, structure, and operations, but the dream of real estate never left me; it was always there, quietly waiting. In 2023, I made the decision to stop postponing what God had placed on my heart. Read more>>
Donielle Jopko
I started this business eight years ago while working full-time at a health system. During that time, I faced several personal tragedies, divorce, abuse, trauma, and, like many others, the disturbance from COVID was also thrown in the mix. Read more>>
Oz Merchant
I’ve been helping build SaaS startups for the last 20 years. I’m on startup 7. I mentor lots of other startup founders. I run an accelerator program too. The current startup came out of working with yet another startup struggling with 3 year pro forma statements. I got curious about how AI could help solve this. Read more>>
Erica Armstrong
One Christmas, my daughter wanted to make beaded bracelets for her friends at school. We enjoyed the process so much that we ended up creating far more than we needed. That experience led me to open an Etsy shop, where I began researching effective ways to drive traffic to my products and that’s when I discovered Pinterest. Read more>>
Amanda Hufford
I began metalsmithing reluctantly and by accident… I needed to an elective credit while studying Environmental Design in college. The only class that fit my schedule that semester was metal design studio. I stuck with it and ended up working as a studio assistant from various metal design artists and jewelers after graduating. Read more>>
Brandon Medina
My wife Tiffany and I met in Albany, New York, and about twelve years ago we moved to the Carolinas in search of a better pace of life and a stronger sense of community. That journey eventually led us to Grover, North Carolina, a small town we’re proud to call home. We’ve always been collectors. Read more>>
Erica Covey
Blend Cafe was opened in 2020, in Jacksonville, NC. I was immediately hooked on their artisan toasts and list of delicious drinks. Throughout the first couple of years I became a frequent customer and developed a working relationship with the owners through my bookkeeping business. Two years after being a regular customer I had the opportunity to purchase the business. Read more>>
Patrick Harrell
Lil’ Brew Bird is a vintage tap trailer and mobile bar based in Hillsborough, North Carolina. At events, she shows up as a beautifully restored 1968 Shasta trailer outfitted with taps and a full bar setup, serving everything from beer and wine to craft cocktails. Read more>>
Jada Jones
Hi, I’m Jada Jones! I started Flashy Graphicz in 2022, hand-painting totes and creating custom quote designs. Soon, I realized I wanted something bigger. I moved into custom event pieces, and that’s where I truly started to flourish. This past May 2025, I launched my first pop-up with my Build Your Own Trucker Hat stand and it has really taken off! Read more>>
Ryan Johnson
I didn’t grow up knowing exactly what I wanted to do, so I took the long road. For years, I worked exhausting jobs that paid the bills but never fed my passion. I wrote late at night, on weekends, and in every quiet moment I could grab, slowly teaching myself publishing, marketing, design, and everything in between. Read more>>
Ocean Sullivan-Lowy
It’s funny when clients ask me, ‘What made you decide to go into hair?’ No one ever expects me to say that I didn’t decide to enter this field; it was something I was put into. As a teenager, I had no natural ability for my own hair, let alone for someone else’s. However, I fell in love with the complexity of it. Read more>>
Jacob Warner
I started this journey four years with a toy drone from my wife and a love for flying. I filmed around for fun but soon realized that with a lot of prayer and hard work I could start a business with it. Read more>>
Kevin Langston
After spending most off of my working life in the service industry I knew I wanted to own a pizza and beer spot. In 2018 We built our food truck WilmyWoodie Wood Fired Pizza. We worked for the next few years toward our goal of purchasing a property for our bar. Read more>>
Dr. Alli Wolfe
I grew up on a farm in Texas, certain that I would one day become a veterinarian. That path changed in high school when I watched my grandmother battle ovarian cancer, an experience that reshaped my calling and set me on a road to becoming a physician. Read more>>
Justin Tilghman
My story really centers on following threads that kept weaving together in my life over time. I’ve always been interested and drawn to understanding people. I love exploring how we grow, what shapes us, and what’s best for our healing and flourishing. That interest led me through medicine into higher education, and then ministry. Read more>>
Samantha Gilbert
My passion for functional nutrition began with my own health struggles. Doctors offered short-term fixes, but nothing addressed the root causes. It wasn’t until I explored how nutrition affects the brain and body that I began to heal. This personal transformation inspired me to dedicate my life to helping others. Read more>>
Lynn Harvey
Love and Laundry was born/birthed out of obedience, not a plan. One Saturday morning in November 2022, while my husband was on a business trip, I found myself lying in bed bored and casually thinking about going shopping at places like Ross, Burlington, or JCPenney. But instead, I saw a vision of Tide laundry detergent. Read more>>
Alyse DeBellis
My name is Alyse DeBellis, and my life has taught me how to begin again. I was born on October 2, 1983, in Westchester, New York. From a young age, I was drawn to transformation. Not the flashy kind, but the quiet moments where someone remembers who they are beneath the weight they’ve been carrying. Read more>>
Fetihya Ahmed
Trauma to Triumph: Rising Above Abuse and Inspiring Others The Story of Fetihya Ahmed Once silenced by pain, you now carry the power to rise above it all. What you have survived does not define who you are today. There may be days when you don’t feel strong—when doubt creeps in and the weight of the past feels heavy—but the truth remains: you are powerful. Read more>>
Elena Ribble
I began making jewelry in a class I took at Pasadena City college in Los Angeles where I was living at the time. I instantly loved the craft and created some pieces in that first semester that I am still proud of today. I took two more classes after that the last of which taught us how to do our own lost wax castings. Read more>>
Dr. Vernita Council-Howard
From childhood, I was raised to understand the importance of having multiple streams of income. At a young age, my mother taught us how to work and always be able to take care of ourselves, while my parents also modeled what it looked like for a man to be a provider. During my high school years, my focus was college. Read more>>
Areinia Adams
I am Areinia Adams a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and approved clinical supervisor. I am the owner and therapist at Purpose and Peace Therapeutic Care, PLLC in Cary, NC. Read more>>
Abigail Hundley (Olive & Aura Imagery)
I picked up my first camera in high school. Just a 16-year-old wanting updated Instagram pictures and prioritizing an aesthetic VSCO feed. I photographed my first wedding for close family, alongside my younger sibling. The most stunning venue, I still remember the layout to this day. This was 2019. Read more>>
Shanna Spradlin
Shanna Spradlin Photography was started not long after I had my first daughter. I absolutely loved taking photos of her. Quickly, I realized photographing other people and their families also brought me so much joy. Today, I still continue to feel that joy each time I step behind the camera to photograph Babies, First Birthdays, Families, Couples/Engagements, Branding Headshots and many other style sessions. Read more>>
Adrienne Trego
I have been an artist for as long as I can remember and an arts administrator for my entire adult life. My personal artistic practice and my career have always informed each other, but they long felt separate – one is how I live, the other is how I survive. Read more>>
Elsa Judkins
I have always loved photography, I remember picking up my parents digital camera at 8 or 9 years old and playing around with it. When I was 12, I saved up my money and bought my first point and shoot camera. I would get so ‘artsy’ with the shots. In 2018 I started going to college for Graphic Design. Read more>>
Youri Chancy
Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to be a barber. I started cutting hair at 13 years old, and from the very beginning, I fell in love with the craft, the creativity, the discipline, and the connection with people. Read more>>
Tanisha Bankston
You can use this story My name is Tanisha Bankston. I am a mother of 3 children. I am from Grenada Mississippi. I am a survivor of rape, molestation, incest, childhood sexual abuse, bullying, and domestic violence. I was raped at the age of 5 and not believed. Read more>>
Shont’e Mason
Vivrant Things Boutique was born out of my love for fashion, creativity, and community. What started as a passion for styling and expressing confidence through clothing slowly grew into something much bigger than I ever imagined. Read more>>
Stephanie Van Hassel
Big Cheese Theatre is the first children’s theatre of Scotland County, North Carolina. I grew up in South Carolina participating in community theatre throughout my childhood. As a theatre educator and mother, I wanted my daughter to have that same opportunity. Since there was no children’s theatre in our community, I started advertising acting classes in 2022. Read more>>
Dawn Stephens
I consider myself to be a Fruit Pot! Like the main character in my first award-winning picture book, The Little Pot, I am a vessel created by the Potter. While eagerly allowing my Creator to produce the fruit of the Spirit through me, I learned that helping others was what mattered. Read more>>
Olga McDonald
The alteration and tailoring world has always been a huge fascination of mine. When I started my journey as a seamstress I got to work alongside many fabulous people like Michele Clapton – costume designer for the tv show Game of Thrones, along with many other amazing influences who helped shape my experiences. Read more>>
Liz Hudson, MA, LPA, HSP-PA, MHt
I have been in the mental health field for 20+ years. I have a Master’s degree in Clinical-Community Psychology and I am a Licensed Psychological Associate who practices independenty at my own private practice. Read more>>
Travis Hyatt
Background: I was raised in Oregon by my foster parents. I joined the military at age nineteen which moved me to the Nashville area where I worked on rotor wing aircraft as an electrician. Exhausted from six years of routine sacrifice, I discharged from the army and moved to Savannah, Georgia to manufacture new private business jets. Read more>>
Jason Bohde
I have always been a musician. Growing up in Michigan, I started messing around with the piano when I was four years old and joined my school’s band program when I was in the fifth grade. Read more>>
Kashif Chughtai
I grew up in a strict South Asian immigrant household where the expectation was to follow a traditional, “safe” career path. Music and art were not exactly encouraged, but they were always where I felt most at home. Read more>>
Sangini Rane
I have been a Physical Therapist for about 40 years, certified in Postural Restoration since 2008 and integrating this unique approach in my practice now for 26 years. Postural Restoration is a revolutionary and globally recognized approach that looks deeper than symptoms to uncover the connected, underlying patterns driving pain and dysfunction. Read more>>
Angela Marino
Back in 2013, I authored a children’s book to highlight young students’ drawings and to also support the Duke Lemur Center. The following summer, I began teaching in person writing camps and classes to students ages 7-11. My mission was to make writing fun for students, especially those who struggled with writing and even dreaded it. Read more>>
Jawaunna Sharp
My name is Jawaunna Sharp. I am 51 years old. I have had my cosmetology license for 25 years. I have been a Loctician for 17 years even though I am a cosmetologist. I do more Locs and natural Hair. Read more>>
Vera Christyne Nagaishi
When trying to describe my professional trajectory, the term “service industry” best encompasses the variety of jobs and careers that I have had since 1984, when I got my first minimum wage job scooping ice cream at the local Baskin Robbins. In college, I worked part-time in the library, at a software store, and making travel maps for AAA customers. Read more>>
Bridgette Martin
My artful journey began the moment I could hold a paintbrush. Some of my earliest memories are of swooshing watercolors across the sliding glass doors in the kitchen of my childhood home in the Midwest, fascinated by light, color, and the freedom to play. Read more>>
tfal&chi Nwafor
tfal&chi Health & Wellness Coaching and Consulting LLC launched in February 2021—right in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when health, uncertainty, and resilience were at the forefront of global conversations, we felt called to take action and create a platform rooted in hope, prevention, and sustainable wellness. Read more>>
Emily McDuffee
My journey into interior design and contracting started about a decade ago, when I bought my first home and decided to renovate it myself from the ground up. I taught myself how to transform spaces and even built custom furniture to furnish it. Read more>>
Marquisha Eddington Williams
I’m Marquisha Williams, founder of She Healz Wellness. My journey started long before the business had a name. I grew up carrying the weight of domestic violence, sexual abuse as a child, and a deep lack of self-love that followed me into adulthood. For a long time, I survived by pushing through. I did what many of us are taught to do. Stay strong. Read more>>
Ionica Brito
I moved to the U.S. at 18, and like many immigrants, I did what I needed to do to build stability. I put myself through college and earned and bachelors in business Management and a Masters in Public health while working full time. I spent about 20 years in healthcare, working my way up from a call center role into senior project management positions. Read more>>
Elaine Heath
The origin of Spring Forest really goes back to a violent, impoverished childhood, when I found solace and warmth outdoors, especially in the forest and on a neighbor’s farm. At a young age I determined that when I grew up, I would live on a peaceful farm, with livestock and crops. There would be no fighting, no drama, no fear. Read more>>https://voyageraleigh.com/interview/life-work-with-elaine-heath-of-hillsborough
Whitney Woodley
Whew. I started my journey at a point where I felt completely stuck – health struggles, career uncertainties, and mental overwhelm had me questioning literally everything. I was learning, unlearning, and trying to hold myself together, without realizing that this period was really about surrendering and releasing old patterns and beliefs about myself… about life & everything in general too. Read more>>
Alton Mitchell
Life was low during the time, early 2000, moved to Knightdale, NC. Originally from S.E. Washington, DC, inner city urban area, not a place to raise a family but was my home. Applied to 1 job, Bell south, training was 3 months, day after training, they fired me due to my lengthy background record. Now, no job, and not wanting to work, so what’s next? Read more>>
Michelle Holleman
This was a natural path as I was seeing the addicted person, and they were usually partnered. The betrayed partner needed support, and my clients needed more information of how to help heal their relationships. Becoming specialized in gaming and tech was integral because these were ways my clients, especially younger ones, found sexualized material and escalated in addiction. Read more>>
Dina Naganova
I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. I began my creative path as a freelance artist and received formal training through art school and university, where I studied a fine arts–related specialty. Originally from Belarus, art has always been the foundation of everything I do. Over time, my artistic background naturally led me into the beauty and tattoo industry. Read more>>
Kendra Alley
I started out as a Division I gymnast, so movement, discipline, and body awareness have always been part of my DNA. After college, fitness naturally became my entry point, but motherhood is what reshaped my purpose. As my life evolved, so did the way I approached wellness. Read more>>
Lisa Landrum
Running was the glue that held the shitshow together, and runCLTrun brought that to the forefront. The running community showed us how and together we reminded each other of the power of community and of bright spots in the darkest of times.. runCLTrun was built on the absolute, undeniable, simple fact that running brings people together forever and ever, amen. Read more>>
Gina Hill
Pinehill Pavilion is a beautiful private events and wedding venue nestled on 160 acres of wooded land in Youngsville, NC. The venue is just 15 minutes from Raleigh, NC. The story of Pinehill Pavilion begins with Gina Hill and her family, a long-time North Carolina resident and entrepreneur. Read more>>
Lidia Werntz
MMCLT started from a genuine love for bringing people together and creating meaningful experiences. As a crafter myself, I saw there weren’t many markets in the area and those that were exceeded my budget. So, I set out to create something a little more affordable for artist just starting out or simply trying to find out if markets were for them. Read more>>
