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.
Jordyn Saunders
My passion for creativity and storytelling started at a young age. I remember using my mom’s old Canon camera in middle school to capture photos of my family and friends. That love for creating only grew over the years, and by college, I discovered my true passion for social media while studying Communications and Public Relations. Read more>>
Lashanda Millner
16 years old Older gentlemen wanted to sell his business I knew nothing about formalwear but I knew retail and owned a ladies boutique so all I needed was men’s apparel Read more>>
Bryan Crotts
Today, I am a minister and have been for over 22 years. I grew up in a minister’s home – a preacher’s kid – but had no ambition to follow in my father’s profession. I worked summers and weekends in a family furniture business and headed off to college to study business. Read more>>
Anna Simeonides
I can’t believe it’s been ten years since launching my career in the food industry. Looking back, there were so many signs that lead to this path – I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t. I fully attribute the miracle of my businesses to the grace and mercy of God. Read more>>
Julieta Fumberg
I started my company about 25 years ago, as a creative and artist, I knew I wanted to work in with my talents to help others. That’s how I started a branding and art business. It has evolved through out the years, as I evolve, but I love doing what I do. It is very empowering to be able to work for yourself. 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>>
Falani Spivey
My name is Falani Afrika Spivey. I was named after the Fulani, the largest nomadic tribe in the world, who migrated from Ethiopia across the Sahel to West Africa. I was born in Washington, DC and raised between Chocolate City and the countryside of North Carolina. The block I grew up on consisted mainly of Carolinians who went north during the Great Migration. Read more>>
Jason Darden, MSN, PMHNP-BC
My path into mental health care has always been rooted in a simple goal: to help people feel better in a way that’s practical, compassionate, and sustainable. After completing my clinical training and finishing my graduate studies, I earned my Master’s degree and stepped into my role as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner right out of school. Read more>>
Dave Jacobus
I started HLC Site Services by doing the work myself and learning every part of the job from the ground up. I’ve always been hands-on and drawn to work that shows actual results at the end of the day. Read more>>
Kiara McKoy
On a whim, I signed up for my first pole class in 2015—and I was instantly hooked. With a background in cheer and dance, I began teaching a little over a year into my pole journey, quickly realizing how passionate I was about helping others build confidence, strength, and self-expression through movement. Read more>>
John d’Adesky
Born in Miami, Florida and raised in the sun-dappled neighborhoods of Pinecrest, John d’Adesky’s earliest memories are intertwined with the natural beauty of South Florida. His childhood unfolded outdoors, where bike rides, snorkeling, and scuba diving shaped his innate sense of exploration and wonder. Read more>>
Megan Duff
Signing For You was born out of both necessity and purpose. I started my business during a season where I was navigating major life transitions—balancing motherhood, rebuilding stability, and rediscovering who I was outside of survival mode. I knew I needed flexibility, but more than that, I wanted work that felt meaningful and allowed me to truly help people. Read more>>
Jamie Arielle
My path into film and media hasn’t been linear. I began my career in education, teaching across disciplines including English and engineering, while also designing curriculum and building learning management systems. Storytelling, structure, and problem-solving were always central to my work, even before I fully realized how transferable those skills would become. Read more>>
Nikita Komarov
Growing up in Russia, the sauna—or banya, as we lovingly call it—was simply part of everyday life. In most homes outside the biggest cities, and even in many urban ones, a sauna is almost as common as a kitchen. It’s deeply woven into our culture: a place for relaxation, health, family bonding, and honest conversations. My own family has always cherished this tradition. Read more>>
Tania Kelly
It starts in Louisburg where I was born and raised. I’ve always been a creative and artistic person. Hence my journey that has arrived as an award winning stage actor, comedy writer, professional emcee, and teaching artist. However, farming never entered into my universe until around COVID – when I was told that there were 15 acres of family land that I would be inheriting. Read more>>
Sherry Hensley
I married and started a family at a young age. I completed my college education while my three children were completing theirs! I entered the field of medicine immediately because it fit my personality and I found great joy in helping others. It wasn’t long before I was offered managerial positions at several medical facilities, both in the Durham and the Charlotte area. Read more>>
Wendy Gibbs
What started as a joking moment between my husband and me turned into something neither of us could have predicted. We both served in the military. I was in the Navy, specializing in dermatology, and my husband served in the Army as a Green Beret in Special Forces communications. After our time in uniform, we both did contracting work. Read more>>
Latoya Lunsford
I started by doing events friends and family create memorable celebrations, which quickly turned into a passion for event design. Through consistency, learning, and hard work, I grew that passion into a business. Today, Read more>>
graham williams
I was introduced to Iyengar Yoga in 1993 while living in Crested Butte, Colorado. Diagnosed with scoliosis at age 10, I wore a back brace for six years. Although those years were challenging, they ultimately led me to discover my life’s passion: teaching Iyengar Yoga. I was drawn to the Iyengar method for its precision, structure, and therapeutic potential. Read more>>
Jonathon Lewis
Jonathon Lewis is a seasoned chamber professional with more than 17 years of experience supporting business and nonprofit organizations across the region. After spending two decades in home care, he shifted careers following the pandemic and became involved in the chamber industry, eventually securing roles at both the Richmond County and Moore County Chambers of Commerce. Read more>>
Susan Anderson, PA-C
My career in medicine began over 20 years ago, and my mission has stayed the same: to help people live their fullest lives. After 15 years in radiology, I became a Physician Assistant to provide deeper, more direct care for those in need. I have a special heart for our inner-city and homebound neighbors who often feel forgotten by the healthcare system. Read more>>
Casey Parker
Casey Lee Parker is not just an actor; he’s a captivating storyteller whose passion resonates in every role he plays. Hailing from the sun-drenched streets of Phoenix, Arizona, and raised in the vibrant arts scene of California, Casey’s journey into the world of acting began early. Read more>>
Sarah Maddison
I’ve been part of MidCarolina ObGyn since 2002, caring for women through every stage of life—from pap smears and pregnancies to menopause and mammograms. Over the past 23 years, I’ve often walked alongside the same patients through many of the same transitions, which has shaped my approach to care and reinforced the importance of treating the whole person, not just individual symptoms. Read more>>
Evangela Henry
Well I suffered a devastating loss during the troubling time of the covid 19 outbreak. I lost a brother who I was very close to. I when into a state of oppression and lost my drive and purpose for living. Read more>>
Patricia Bailey
Bailey Behavior Consulting grew out of both my professional journey and my personal values. I started my education in the psychology space and shortly after graduating I was introduced to Applied Behavior Analysis while working directly with children with autism. What initially drew me in was the science was ABA’s ability to create meaningful, measurable change. Read more>>
Rebecca Huddleston
I was first drawn to photography when I was in high school. My parents bought me my fist camera as a graduation gift when I was a senior. I started taking pictures of my friends who are graduating or my friends going to prom and things like that. Read more>>
Charles Younger
Charles has always carried a love for art through out his life. In 1976, Charles and Carolyn Younger created Frameworks Gallery in Raleigh NC, catering to the art needs of the Research Triangle. From his time working in the airforce in 1968 Vietnam, painting Snoopy on B52 planes, to 2026 launching a custom frame line; Charles’s passion for creation continues. Read more>>
Chris Pappas
63 years ago in my morning kindergarten class we were drawing apple trees, and my teacher saw something in the drawing that lead her to walk me down to the principal’s office, set me on her lap and they all encouraged me. Read more>>
Tom Fleming
I started DJing when I was in High School (99-03) and sold my stuff when I joined the Navy after Graduation. 20 years later, I started my business back up as an adult with 5 kids. I’ve always had a passion for music and love entertaining people. Read more>>
Morgan Forsyth
I’m an NC native with 16 years behind the chair and a lifelong obsession with hair. My career has been a journey of finding the right ‘fit,’ and I’ve finally found it at Beau Monde Salon Suites. In the private studio I share with a dear friend, I’ve traded the traditional salon noise for a vibe that is honest, fun, and totally laid back. Read more>>
Cliff Chafin
I was in physics grad school in 2012 when I met my future wife in Carrboro and was doing and early job search. Most of my peers were getting stuck in software jobs or as terribly paid adjuncts. I always loved working with kids and, actually, tutored my first high school boy in math and Chemistry in Chapel hill in 1996. Read more>>
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>>
