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.
Antonio Brown
I was raised in a small Southern town in North Carolina called Goldsboro — shoutout to the BORO, lol! I was predominantly raised by my grandparents, and honestly, my love for fashion and style started much earlier than I probably realized. From as far back as I can remember, my grandmother always made sure I was dressed nice. Read more>>
Cassetta Scott
A walk is one way to describe life, but I have always viewed my experiences as a journey. You may wonder why I have such a strong preference for one word over the other. For me, the difference lies in how I understand life itself. I see life as a continuous state of becoming. Read more>>
Ms. Lèa (Pronounced Lee)
I come from a large family, so planning vacations, holidays, and family gatherings was always an experience in itself! There were different budgets, different interests, different ages, and, of course, different opinions to consider. Somehow, I always found myself taking on the role of making sure everything came together and everyone had a good time. Read more>>
Derek Carter
My passion for social work began during my high school years, long before I fully understood that the work I was doing had a name. Other students would often come to me for advice, guidance, and recommendations when they were struggling with personal situations or trying to navigate challenges in their lives. Read more>>
Taymarion Harris
I started singing at age 7 in the Church choir. And started writing my own songs at age 13 . Released my first project at 25 with my single and visual ‘like I can’ . In 2019 I wrote Beautiful Lies which was nominated for a Carolina Music Award. Read more>>
Tamar Beridze
My love of real estate actually started long before I became a Realtor. In 2008, while I was still a college student, I bought my first house through a tax sale in Pennsylvania. Read more>>
Deojunique Flippin
I was playing professional basketball for a while, it was great. I was living my dream that i had worked so hard for. Basketball opened doors for me i could have never imagined, i traveled to 13 different countries, played and lived in 4, met some great people and experienced things that were unbelievable to me at the time. Read more>>
Tamara Baranova
My journey has been shaped by starting over, perseverance, and the belief that art can help people heal. I moved to the United States in 2019 and had to build both my personal life and professional career again from the ground up. Read more>>
Shanti
II have been a professional psychic for 18 years, but my connection to metaphysics began long before that. My mother was very psychic, and from a young age she shared her experiences with me. I grew up knowing that there was more to life than what we could see. After my son was born, circumstances left me a single mother. Read more>>
Rajendra Nath Dasari
My journey with CSF-EEG FusionNet began in the summer of 2025, but my interest in medicine, neuroscience, and diagnostics has been personal for much longer. From an early age, I experienced recurring health issues involving my gastrointestinal system, immune system, and sometimes my respiratory health. Read more>>
Kate Steadman
My journey in real estate officially began in 2016, less than a year after selling my previously owned clothing company, Frill. The company was founded in college with a close friend and grew quickly, landing us on the hit TV show, Shark Tank, where we sealed the deal with two sharks, Barbara Corcoran and Kevin O’Leary. Read more>>
Candice Sykes-Mckinnon
I started my business from home during COVID. I’ve always had a passion for beauty, especially nails, so I decided to learn how to make press on nails myself. What started as a personal passion quickly grew into a small home-based business through word of mouth and customer support. Read more>>
Menan Al Ramah
I did not set out to become an artist. In some ways, I think clay found its way back to me. I was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq. Some of my earliest memories are tied to architecture, history, and the ancient world around me. My father was an architect, and as a child I would organize his studio for extra allowance. Read more>>
Calen Otto
My story starts back 12 years ago when I was a senior high school student who had a vast hole of a future in front of me. While other kids were ready to go to college or learn the ropes of a family business, I had no idea what to do. Read more>>
Lauren Romer
I went to NC State after being raised in Raleigh, NC. NC State has long been a part of my life, with my mom working in one of the first office buildings on NC State Centennial Campus. I remember going to her office after school. Read more>>
Wanyae Hatfield
I moved from Austin Texas after leaving my corporate job. To work in logistics with my father after an emergency in my life cause me to suddenly move. One day during my delivery route I ran into DJ Paradime who offered me a job because I did him a favor while working and he admired the gesture. Read more>>
Jesslyn Irvin
I contemplated working toward a career in nursing or mental health, or both, but when it came down to it, I was the happiest working retail. The schedule was flexible, I got to meet new people every day, and there was enough responsibility to keep me interested. My ability to problem solve quickly earned me management opportunities. Read more>>
Amy Nelson
I started A Touch Of Sandhills after going through IVF to have a baby. With three other children at home, the long hours I was working as a bartender were no longer feasible for our family. I needed a new direction that would allow me to work while being more present for my children. Read more>>
Carol Hunter
My path to becoming an artist wasn’t exactly a straight one. I’ve spent more than 20 years in the creative and design world, from owning an interior décor store to co-creating Saltwash®, a textured paint additive my husband and I developed in our garage that eventually grew into a globally distributed product. Read more>>
Megan & Blake Gotliffe
Our story really began with our first business, Under the Oak Catering. My husband is a chef and I’m a pastry chef, so hospitality and creating memorable experiences have always been a huge part of our lives and our own personal story. Read more>>
Gay Davis
As a native North Carolinian born in Person County, my professional career was rooted in telecommunications and technology. However, I have always found deep fulfillment in the creative process, spanning everything from sewing and crafting to gardening and, ultimately, jewelry making. There is a unique joy in handcrafting an item and sharing it with others. Read more>>
Brittany Hazel
Before becoming a massage therapist, I worked as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. I had a good-paying job, steady income, and benefits, but even with all of those things, I still didn’t feel fulfilled. I couldn’t fathom the thought of staying in that career for the rest of my life. Something felt like it was missing. Read more>>
NiSi
Creativity has always been part of my life. I grew up in a family where people sang, sketched, created and found different ways to express themselves, so being creative never felt foreign to me. What took me a little longer to figure out was what my own creative voice looked like. My path definitely hasn’t been a straight one. Read more>>
Tauheed Wood
My story is really centered around service, transition, family, and recognizing an opportunity to solve a problem in my community. Before becoming an entrepreneur, I spent 14 years serving in the United States Army. I joined the Army in 2009 at 19 years old and began my career as a Signal Operations Support Specialist. Read more>>
Daniel Gingras
The most important detail as to how I became a Massage Therapist in Asheville is that I received a massage. Not just a massage, but a really, really good massage that proved to me just how powerful it can be. At the time I was a highly cerebral person, and that massage instantly landed me not only into my body, but also into my life. Read more>>
Adriyana Joyce
What started as a little college side gig has turned into something I genuinely love doing. I remember seeing an ad for a button maker and being really interested in it. After thinking about it for a while, I finally decided to take the chance and buy one. From there, I started making buttons for myself, friends, and eventually other people. Read more>>
Ti-Ana Gorham
CLUB Spin really started because I hate cardio. I know that probably sounds funny coming from someone who now owns a spin studio, but it’s true. Spin was one of the few forms of cardio I actually enjoyed because the music and energy made working out feel fun. The problem was, I wanted better music. Read more>>
Chandler Woods
I’m a native North Carolinian, but my perspective has always reached well beyond home. I like to think of myself as a mix of my mother’s altruism and my father’s pragmatism—a hopeful yet ambitious spirit grounded in the belief that good intentions need structure, discipline, and follow-through. Read more>>
Dominik Forbes
So honestly, it really just started with me having an idea and wanting to see where I could take it. I’ve always been into clothes, design, imagery — really just how things look and feel in general. But I didn’t come from fashion. Read more>>
Anslei Foster
My photography journey started in 2017, almost by accident. I picked up my Canon Rebel T3 and started photographing anything and anyone I could. In the beginning, I was simply eager to learn, so I said yes to opportunities that allowed me to practice, experiment, and better understand how to tell a story through an image. Read more>>
Anu Patel
I’ve always loved cooking and baking—it feels like an inheritance passed down through generations. During the pandemic, I was cooking new dinner recipes everyday! However, baking became my favorite creative outlet. Suddenly I was doing it all the time while we were all stuck at home! Read more>>
Ambur Burse-Gregory
I was 16 years old when I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I hated hair, One, because I got picked on in 3rd grade for my legs being to hairy. Two, because hygiene was a big factor in my life and hair holds odor. Read more>>
Dr. Chelece-Atavia Brown
My story began with a desire to help people feel seen, heard, and understood especially in communities where mental health is often something we’re taught not to talk about. I’m a first-generation Jamaican American, licensed clinical social worker, therapist, educator, and founder of Restored Hope Counseling Center, and Restored Hope: Caribbean Mental Health Summit. Read more>>
Banner Johnson
I’ve always been around music. My dad was a musician and I grew up listening to everything from country and southern rock to whatever else happened to catch my ear. I was writing songs when I was young but I never really looked at music as something I would seriously pursue. It was just something I did. Read more>>
Vanessa Wright
My photography journey started after my daughter had her newborn session. I fell in love with the entire experience, the beautiful setups, the little details, and the way photography could preserve such a special moment. Seeing the photographer working from a studio she had created at home also inspired me and made me realize this was something I could build for myself. Read more>>
Yomaira Garcia
The path to creating ComoTu 🦒🦕 wasn’t a straight line—it was an intense journey of trial, error, and unwavering determination. In the beginning, I was searching for direction while constantly moving from city to city. I launched different products, faced roadblocks, and spent endless nights asking myself how I could build something truly unique. Read more>>
Kari Crispo
Crisp Events & Design really grew out of my love for bringing all the little details of an event together. I’ve always been drawn to the creative side of weddings—the design, the atmosphere, and those thoughtful touches that make a celebration feel personal—but I also genuinely love the organization and behind-the-scenes work it takes to make everything come together seamlessly. Read more>>
ChyAnn Ketchum
Having worked at Disney for a couple of years and being the go-to Disney adult for friends and family, I wanted to learn more about how I could do more with Disney and other travel destinations. I talked to my own travel advisor and found out that her agency was adding new advisors. Read more>>
