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.
Adam Lee Decker
Early Life and Background Adam Lee Decker is a gifted musician and performer known for his powerful vocals, captivating stage presence, and ability to seamlessly move across genres. Born and raised in Cortland, NY, Adam’s love for music was sparked early on by his family, where music played an integral role in daily life. Read More>>
Callie Cullum
After a few years in the corporate world, I knew that it wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel good in my body and could tell my mental health was suffering from long hours and long commutes. Read More>>
Rhonda Cozart
Rhonda Cozart, Founder and Executive Director of Jewels Outreach & Networking, Inc., recently reflected on the organization’s remarkable 10-year journey of serving the Durham community. Guided by the motto S.L.A.E. — Serve, Love, Advocate, Educate, Jewels Outreach has become a trusted resource for individuals and families facing food insecurity, housing challenges, and other barriers to stability. Read More>>
Ryanna Battiste
My path to this work was never a straight line. I have always been interested in personal development and healing, and it took shape as a career 15 years ago when I became a health coach focused on nutrition. But our work is always personal. Read More>>
Robin Bennett and Kelsey Williams N/A
Kelsey: Back in early 2022, I had always loved wearing polymer clay earrings because they are lightweight and come in so many different designs and colors. I’ve always been crafty, so one day I thought, ‘Why not try making these myself?’ I was instantly hooked. Robin: I saw what Kelsey was creating and thought it looked so interesting. Read More>>
Naomi and Natalie Gingerich
We are a mother-and-daughter baking company based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, using seasonally-inspired heirloom recipes to create decadent desserts. We specialize in our signature Amish Cinnamon Rolls made from a heritage recipe, hand-rolled in small batches and covered in a boiled brown sugar frosting. We also feature cakes and pies reminiscent of our grandmother’s table, with modernized twists influenced by European food trends. Read More>>
Laura Malinchock
Fifteen years ago, I moved to the neighborhood where PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro began. Shortly after I moved in, one of the founders, Susan Romaine, invited me to help sort food donations in her garage — and I was hooked. Read More>>
Cristian Quiceno
I came to the United States from Colombia in 2018 with a goal of building a better future for my family through hard work and dedication. I started working in the flooring and tile industry, learning every aspect of the trade while developing my skills and reputation for quality workmanship. Read More>>
Ayana Lewis
My journey began from a place of both profound loss and deep faith. In 2009, my husband and I experienced the unimaginable loss of two of our children, Abria and Chase, in a house fire. While that tragedy changed our lives forever, it also inspired us to create something meaningful from our pain. Read More>>
Michelle Duke
I’ve always been someone who says ‘yes’ to opportunities and figures out the details later. I started my career with a degree in Science, majoring in Chemistry, I love science, and I love doing the experiments, but I loved talking and writing about them more. I realised I didn’t want to be stuck in a lab. Read More>>
Jason Preston
Always had a passion for recording videos and documenting whatever I could point a camera at. Was highly influenced by early skate video magazines 411 and other professional videos by skate companies. Developed a passion for documenting myself and others skateboarding. For fun just to reflect back on. Read More>>
Kristin Vasko
Long before I had a title for it, I was already there. At 22, I was the one sitting beside friends as they moved through one of the most transformative moments of their lives. I didn’t have a certification yet. I just had a pull I couldn’t explain and couldn’t ignore. Read More>>
Kat Fletcher
Hi! My name is Kat Fletcher, and I’m an actor, singer, model, and aerialist currently based in the Southeast US (Charlotte, NC). I was a shy kid who stumbled into theatre and never stopped falling in love with the arts! I pride myself on preparation, professionalism, and collaboration to build performances that best serve the material and audience. Read More>>
Shavannah Moore
For much of my life, I was the person with big dreams but limited resources. I grew up facing poverty, insecurity, rejection, and challenges that often made me question my worth and whether my voice truly mattered. Like many people, I spent years allowing my circumstances to define me rather than seeing them as preparation for my purpose. Read More>>
Bethany Blanton
I have been a photographer for more than 20 years. I have photographed all sorts of milestones and events for my clients. My life has been forever enriched by my experiences since the beginning of this journey! Read More>>
Bethany Melton
I’ve been a plus-sized woman my entire life, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with confidence and self-image. Like many women, I’ve spent years trying to lose weight, improve my health, and feel more comfortable in my own skin. Read More>>
Katie Blvd
Growing up, music and art were the two things that I needed to escape. At any given Tuesday afternoon, you might find me hunched over a piano, or staring deeply into the detail of a painting, even if that meant I might have failed Geometry. Read More>>
Anne McAuley Lopez
My entrepreneurial journey started the way a lot of people’s do: not by design, but by disruption. In 2010, I was laid off from my corporate job, and instead of looking for another position that would put me right back in the same situation, I decided to bet on myself. Read More>>
Jason Damico
My journey into the entertainment industry started at a very young age. I began as a baby model, which eventually led to opportunities in commercials, television, and film. Looking back on it now, those early experiences introduced me to the world of performance and storytelling long before I fully understood where the road would lead. Read More>>
Ricardo Noriega
Shamans or curanderos, have been a part of my family lineage for many generations so I have always been drawn to energy and natural healing since childhood. After many years of going to and studying energy healing I finally took a course in Shamanism and became a Shamanic Practitioner. Read More>>
Adriane Clark
I’ve always been passionate about storytelling and connecting people with information that can make a difference in their lives. That passion led me to earn a degree in Mass Communication from North Carolina Central University and build a career in marketing and communications. Read More>>
Daniel Anderson
I started traditional woodworking as a hobby, and enjoyed it so much I started my own business two years later. In 2022 I purchased a couple of acres in Pisgah Forest, NC, and built a shop where I both work and live. Read More>>
Kristen Ross
My journey into real estate has been shaped by a passion for helping people and building meaningful relationships. Originally from Orlando, Florida, I relocated to North Carolina more than a decade ago due to military commitments, and it quickly became the place I proudly call home. Read More>>
Kandace Tiara
My journey hasn’t been a straight line, but every chapter has helped shape who I am today. For the last several years, I’ve balanced multiple roles including raising my son as a single mother, working in corporate healthcare, building businesses, and pursuing my passion for the beauty industry. Read More>>
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Ironically, I never wanted to be an author. I wrote some as a teen and young adult and then forgot about it. When I found an old manuscript in a drawer, I decided to completely rewrite the story and submit it. That became my first published book, CassaStar, which was followed by several more. Read More>>
Twanna Joyner Jones
Founder and CEO Twanna Jones established The Help Center NC in 2016 to combat poverty and hunger in the Kerr-Tar and Triangle regions. After over 25 years of nonprofit work, she launched the organization to provide essential resources like emergency food, mobile pantries, housing referrals, and youth enrichment to underserved families. Read More>>
Cameron Smith
I started out podcasting after covid in the year of 2021 started through sports and worked my way up through the music scene conducting all the local hiphop artist in our area after about 4 years I decided to go back to school where I earned my barber degree at wake tech completing all the hours required which was 1528 I’m now operating in our local barbershop here on new bern ave at razors and clippers and doing events and interviews now in the year 2026 Read More>>
Zaria Bradford
I got started by having to learn how to do my own hair. I grew up getting relaxers and then one day i stopped. This was during the time where not a lot of girls my age were going natural. I had to learn a lot through trial and error for a while and then youtube saved me. Read More>>
Matt Golamco
I got started back during Covid where I picked up a camera to become a Twitch streamer. As I improved my content production skills, I was eventually asked to start shooting athletics for my friends. As I grew my skills and my network, bigger and better opportunities presented themselves. Read More>>
Shenika Blanding
Shenika Blanding born and raised in a small town called Scotland Neck. Shenika knew since high school she would be an educator she just had no idea it would be nails. Shenika has been employed since the age of 14 her best qualities with every job has always been customer service and being able to educate people. Read More>>
Ashleigh Parker
I wear a lot of hats—District Court Judge, professor, speaker, mother of two incredible boys, and now author—but at the center of all of those roles is a woman who has learned what it means to rebuild. Professionally, I’ve spent nearly fourteen years helping people navigate some of the hardest moments of their lives. Read More>>
Anthony Scalabrino
I am not exactly sure why I started the business. It started when Miranda (my wife) and I visited Raleigh Rum Company in the fall of 2017 for a tour. It was the first rum I could pallet and enjoy. I asked Miranda if I could approach them to make the amaretto. Read More>>
Helene Beck
Helene Beck is a motivational speaker, educator, and founder of the Coming From The Heart Podcast, launched in June 2020. With a Master’s in Teaching and her own journey through mental health challenges and vertigo, Helene created a platform for raw conversations about resilience, addiction, trauma, and wellness. Read More>>
Taryn Corrado
My journey to entrepreneurship was definitely not a traditional one; looking back, it’s purely a story of God’s good grace and beautiful, serendipitous timing. If you had asked me before 2017 if I ever planned on owning a wedding venue, I would have told you absolutely not. Read More>>
Bobby Newell
I was born to teenage parents in a Catholic family. Both of these things helped me to develop a sense of emotional intelligence and the belief that it is my responsibility to give back to my community. I knew since I was a kid that I wanted to be a therapist. It was just part of my nature. Read More>>
Jonny Mocha
Unhinged Coffee & Co was born from a simple truth: life is messy, people are complicated, and sometimes the best thing you can do is show up, grab a cup of coffee, and be honest about where you’re at. My partner Cody Vaughn and I started it as a mobile coffee cart in Knightdale, and somewhere along the way it became something bigger than coffee. Read more>>
Gary Williams Siggers
Kulture Entertainment started with a vision to create more than just events. It was built from a passion for culture, community, music, and bringing people together in spaces where they feel seen, celebrated, and connected. As a Black-owned entertainment company, our goal has always been to highlight creativity, elevate experiences, and create platforms that represent the richness of our culture. Read more>>
