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.
Lone Svn
I’ve came across a lot of different obstacles in my journey. Life will always throw curve balls at you when you’re trying to complete a mission. It’s all about how you respond to adversity. Rather it was financial hurdles, family issues, lack of resources, etc. I’ve been through it all! It’s all about managing your barricades, & staying focused! Understand struggles in your journey is inevitable, but as long as you know your big picture, don’t lose sight of that, & you’ll always bounce back, stronger. Read more>>
Kim McGinnis
I had no interest at first, but I finally gave in and ended up being really good at it. That little push led me to launch a full women’s boutique called Chewy and Coco Couture, selling clothing (including plus sizes), jewelry, home décor, and gifts. We sold online through Facebook Live for six years and eventually opened locations in the Painted Tree Boutiques in Cincinnati and Crestview Hills. Read more>>
Jeremy Marco
As an 18-year-old creative director and stylist, I channel a lifelong passion for creativity—drawing, colors, and clothing—into my burgeoning brand. Raised in Montreal by a single teen mom , my modest upbringing fueled an early fascination with fashion, sparked by a friend around age 14. This led me to sewing and designing, culminating in the launch of “fashionablebast8rds” a few months ago, with the first collection dropping by the end of summer. Read more>>
Jeff Salisbury
This was a very exciting time not only in learning what works as a business, but as increasing my knowledge of photography. During these years I really put together the concept that yes the camera was important, lighting was even more of an important part of an image. Dean Collins workshops on lighting and Robin Perry workshops where both very helpful in just understanding lighting. Both natural and artificial. Or as I would say later on in my career, when teaching, “Gods” light is the best light. Many think you had to have the biggest and best in cameras and lighting equipment to take great images, but finally I understood that is not the case. Read more>>
Carmen Melissa Hall
Founding And Her Name Was Grace LLC was a natural extension of my heart’s work. This part of my contribution to the world was birthed at the onset of Covid. It became a sacred space where healing, faith, and emotional/mental wellness could coexist. Today, I support individuals, couples, small groups and families— those impacted by personal growth needs, grief, professional challenges, relationship building, parenting, gun violence, life transitions and so much more—through coaching, community support, and faith-based healing initiatives. Read more>>
Allie Mattis
Unfortunately, Emma decided to step out of the brick-and-mortar world of selling records and left the space to me and Sarah in early 2024. We decided to completely rebrand and call our dual collective Celluloid Vintage and Tintype, with the latter bringing a new edge and appeal to the space. We’re a year into making both of our dreams a reality, with a lot more exciting ideas, plans, and potential. We hope to host and coordinate more events with our neighbors, friends, and community while exercising our passion for vintage, art, music, film, and things alike. Read more>>
Caroline Stiers
A few years into building my business, I also became a mom. Balancing motherhood with a very full-time job—one that includes travel, late nights, editing marathons, and emotionally investing in every couple I work with—has been one of the biggest challenges of my life. There were seasons where I felt like I was barely keeping up, trying to be everything to everyone, running on caffeine and adrenaline. But it’s also given me such a deep appreciation for time, for connection, and for the fleeting beauty of the in-between moments. Read more>>
Taylor Bodis
Empowering women through photography is what lights me up most. It all started with a little Kodak camera when I was 12 or 13, taking photos of my mom in her grandma’s vintage dress. That joy never really left—I just pressed pause for a bit while I went to nursing school. But soon enough, the camera found its way back into my hands, and Boudoir quickly became my calling. Read more>>
Kerri
The idea really started to take shape when I connected with Tyler Storer and Jackson Trester, the dynamic duo behind OxVegas Chicken. They had launched their restaurant just a year earlier and had a deep pulse on what the Oxford community needed next. We agreed—Oxford was missing a high-quality fitness experience, and people were regularly driving 30 minutes or more just to access boutique classes like Reformer Pilates and hot yoga. Tyler and Jackson found the perfect location, and together, we started dreaming up what would become Fitness on High. Read more>>
Kimberly Jamison & Elizabeth Walker
I mentioned it to Kim one day and she was extremely interested in the idea! That’s where our journey began! We were going to open a brand new location, but we asked the person who was the current owner of our location if she would be willing to sell to us since this location has always been our home. When the previous owner agreed to sell to us, we were so excited and we moved forward from there and never looked back! Read more>>
Sydney Gregory
Beyond that, social anxiety has been a real thing for me. I’ve only really started to understand it myself in the past year, so navigating how to put myself out there creatively while networking has been a huge journey. My advice is to find people who share your vision. Even if neither of you knows how you’re going to get there, you both see that light at the end of the tunnel. For me, that’s been people like Deej Ragusa and Zayne Isom (who both have been featured on VoyageOhio before!) and Nolan Monigold of Monigold Studios, who does so much to build up the Cincinnati music community. Read more>>
Doychin Karshovski
It’s only partly a joke, but always a great conversation starter. It gives me a chance to share a truth I deeply believe in: we grow not by avoiding discomfort, but by designing and mastering it. That’s my specialty—helping people and teams engineer the right level of productive discomfort to fuel evolution, performance, and purpose. Read more>>
Lydia Abraham
Hello! We are the Case Western Reserve University School of Law Black Law Students Association (“BLSA”)! Our chapter was founded in 1971 and has been going strong since. Our organization is dedicated to furthering the needs and goals of Black law students. For the 2024-2025 academic year, our leadership was comprised of: President Lydia Abraham, Vice President Mohammed Yakoub, Secretary Raheal Neequaye, and Treasurer Mykilah Foster. Read more>>
Desiree Colasent
A few years before I started Queen Moves, I noticed a lot of families are using social media as a way of finding free or cheap clothing. These were either single moms or stay at home moms. They didn’t have a central place to go for gently used clothes. So I thought, if there was a catch all place for gently used clothing, these families wouldn’t need to spend time driving all over their cities to collect used clothes from multiple places. So in February 2024, I rented a classroom in an old school that had been closed and sold to a private owner. Within a month, I needed a second room. We are now looking for second and third locations 18 months later. Read more>>
Kourtney Pickens
In August 2022, I purchased the property, motivated by my own experiences navigating weddings and events as an only child without family nearby. I thought, “What if I could create a space that offers genuine guidance, community, and compassion?” . James and I then dedicated months to hands‑on restoration—cleaning, painting, installing modern amenities, but always preserving the charm we fell in love with. Read more>>
Hannah Bowers
As with any entrepreneurial journey, things have not always gone as planned! Our initial opening timeline for Dublin (the original location) was scheduled for October 2023. While delays are not uncommon with opening a new business, our timeline quickly became complex with the impending arrival of our daughter. On November 9, we welcomed our daughter, and two weeks later, we were in the sandbox leveling sand. At our launch party, our sweet girl was just 6 weeks old. In many ways, we’ve always joked that we had two babies that year. Read more>>
Emily Sousa
It definitely was not. Traveling only a few times a month on long weekends, or holidays, not going to school until night, and working around my family’s normal routine outside of mine made it very lonely. Not to mention having to make long trips by myself after school getting out or coming home to just make it in time for school. Missing my daughter’s big moments, my animals, and time with my husband. It was very hard. But there are always challenges in everyone’s life and they unfortunately never stop, it’s about how you adapt and move forward. Even after moving my family here the hardships didn’t stop as I finished my schooling, my car was stolen and insurance won’t cover it. At least it was after I had finished school funnily. / Read more>>
Asiaonna Eley
That realization birthed Fearless Faces Therapeutics. I took everything I knew about therapy, wellness, and self-worth and blended it with the empowerment I saw in makeup. I started creating safe spaces where we could talk about healing and identity while doing something as simple as applying foundation. From programs like “What’s in Your Makeup Bag” to group sessions using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, this work became about more than faces. It became about freedom. Read more>>
Leah
I texted at least 10 different people asking if it would be a good idea then spent a long time trying to come up with the name of it. Finally, I settled on the name “Feral Gremlins,” which is actually a nickname I call my cat! I asked all of my friends to join and made an Instagram page and within a week I had over 100 followers. We are currently at over 300 followers and growing. Lots of independent authors have followed and message the club page and some aspiring authors have asked for us to read their book in future meetings. The goal is to have a safe space for everyone to be apart of. Read more>>
Jesse Cabungcal
In 1996, a new opportunity came calling: I became Corporate Photography Manager at Nationwide Insurance, a Fortune 100 company. My department supported internal and external communications, producing visuals for high-stakes marketing campaigns. My work appeared in publications like The New York Times, USA Today, Money Magazine, On Wall Street, and Kiplinger. Nationwide’s sponsorships also gave me access to world-class events — from the PGA to the NFL — and I had the pleasure of photographing the NAACP Image Awards in Hollywood, capturing moments with celebrities like Halle Berry, The Rock, Chris Tucker, Steve Harvey, and Jay Leno. Read more>>
Julie Carneal
Over the last 50 plus years, OPEN M has grown into a vital community hub serving more than 67,000 individuals annually. We still call Princeton Street home but now operate from a much larger multipurpose campus. With the help of thousands of volunteers, partner churches and community supporters, we offer wraparound services through three core areas: Food Services, Health Services and Employment Services. Read more>>
Morgan Johnson
Diabetes Youth Services has always been an integral part of my life. My journey with DYS began before I was born — my mother, Patty McCullough, is a Certified Diabetes Educator and one of the founding nurses who created the very first overnight camp for the organization. She has never missed a year of camp in 35 years. In fact, she was pregnant with me at camp, and in a special full‑circle moment, I was pregnant with my son at camp in 2022. Read more>>
Tara Moore
As I gained more experience, especially in functional medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine, I completely transformed the way I approached patient care. I began to see how deeply interconnected the body is — how gut health, hormones, nutrition, and lifestyle factors impact physical recovery and long-term wellness. It became clear that true healing for women had to go beyond just physical therapy exercises with short appointments. I wanted to offer care that honored the whole person: body, mind, hormones, nutrition, and life experience. Read more>>
Maela
In my early years, I never saw myself as a dancer to be honest I was kind of awkward. I took a few ballet and jazz classes as a child, but didn’t truly begin my dance journey until I was about 21. It all started when my sister and I signed up for an 8-week belly dance class at a local studio, just for fun. I had gone through a tough breakup and used dance as a way to cope and heal. What began as a fun class quickly turned into an intense passion. I filled my time with classes and became incredibly interested about the history and cultural roots of the dance. Read more>>
Leon Chaffee
The immutable human experience encapsulated in this art from thousands of years ago deeply affected me. These people were screaming into the void just like me; hear me, know me, understand what I’m going through. I wanted that. I began chasing that ability to communicate something so integral to existing as a person on this earth. I funneled my own life and emotions into my work hoping to leave a mark, prove I was here, and connect with the deeper ties that bind us all together. Read more>>
Jimmy Moley
Having received an undergraduate degree in science preprofessional studies and poverty studies at the University of Notre Dame, I entered medical school at The Ohio State University with a goal to pursue sports medicine. It was there that I first witnessed the powerful scope and potential of psychiatry, a field that uniquely combines scientific research and discovery with the creativity and unpredictability of individual personality. I decided to combine my interests and stayed at Ohio State for adult psychiatry residency and obtained a certification in sports psychiatry. Read more>>
Carla Roesch
My first experience in the floral industry was at a local floral store where I made corsages and boutonnieres during prom season. They must’ve liked my work because soon after, they asked me to join the team as a flower processor. I did whatever was needed—greening up vases, ordering product, cleaning the cooler, making artificial door pieces, memorial pieces, and more. It was a bit of everything, but it gave me the foundation I needed. Read more>>
Fidel Gutierrez Sanchez
In the early years, we worked primarily as subcontractors for a larger company that needed roofing work. It was a grind, but it gave us valuable hands-on experience. Then, during the COVID slowdown, I decided to pivot a bit. I took a position as a sales rep for a roofing company to learn more about the process of working with insurance companies and to build my skills in sales and customer service. That experience gave me a deeper understanding of how to help homeowners navigate insurance claims and get full roof replacements. Read more>>
Tasha Thomas
I’m most proud how much I have achieved in the short period of time I have been in business. From appearing on a local news segment, to having the opportunity to be part of a year long indie dyer program. And so many other experiences have made this a dream come true. Read more>>
James Blum
I dropped out of NKU (Northern Kentucky University), at nineteen, in 2018 to pursue a tattoo apprenticeship at a shop up in Colerain called Red Dragon Tattoo & Piercing. I had been an art hobbyist for my entire conscious life, my parents prioritized my art, I had lessons, took AP classes, entered contests, and DeviantArt was the first social media website I ever used, and I mainly posted drawings of like wolves and dragons. I struggled a lot with College, and I really wanted a way out while not totally making a mess of my life. Read more>>
Tyra Carswell
It has not always been a smooth rode because 1 I opened up right before covid, right before everything shut down so that was devesating not really knowing that outcome of it and still having bills to pay. Also there are down times throughout the year where things are slow and than too I’ve made mistakes again I was learning how to run a business as I go never really was a very social person and now I’m in a industry in which that is needed to thrive so a lot of growing needed to be done and still needed actually. Read more>>
DJ One Tyme
The biggest overall challenge is knowing when to let yourself evolve. Usually every 5 to 7 years my business takes a turn, and I feel a need to level up in some way. It started with college radio, then selling mixtapes in stores, then commercial radio. From there I did video interviews for YouTube. Streamed on Yahoo LIVE when streaming first started gaining popularity. Eventually quit commercial radio to work independently. Went to Wedding MBA in Las Vegas to level up my wedding hosting and dj skills. Added on photo booth, uplighting, karaoke and more after I mastered the wedding craft. These are all examples of having to change and evolve with the times so I wouldn’t be stale in the marketplace! Read more>>
Emily Rodriguez
After 10 weeks, I made the decision to upgrade to a better camera, start an IG business page, build a website and dive in head first! I asked friends, family and neighbors to volunteer so I could use them for practice and the rest is history! I’ve now gained a following of repeat customers and am loving all of the wonderful families I get to meet through this “job”. It’s such a great way to stay connected to others while documenting their precious moments. Photography has given me so much joy while also allowing me to stay at home to raise my four babies (all under 5 so please pray for me!). Read more>>
Brittany Washington
When it comes to perfecting a craft like portrait drawing in different mediums, there are so many fundamentals you have to grasp, and all of it takes time. Patience was key throughout my journey, which, coincidentally, isn’t my strongest trait. But from those early lessons to starting a business just a few years later, patience has turned out to be one of the best things I’ve gained along the way. Read more>>
Quincy Big Heff Taylor
One of the biggest things that I had to overcome was being accountable. That made me focus and lock in as I was doing the Ohio Hip Hop Awards. I wanted to focus on building our artists up and make sure to resurrect the Ohio Music Scene. There were not very many opportunities for A&R’s, Artist Development, in my city. One of the biggest lesson I learned was the structure and day to day regiment it to make a project successful working at 300Ent where we created some household names with Megan Thee Stallion and Tee Grizzley. Read more>>
Kameron Korom
Marcus: “The band was initially a hobby more or less, I had just gotten enough gear and software to be able to write and mix music in my bedroom at the time. A lot of friends gave me good feedback on the initial record, and one offered me a show. Harley, Kameron and Rogan were the first three people I asked to play the show, and we’ve been a band since. Even though it was just a project for myself at the start, the band we are today wouldn’t be what it is without all of us pushing for the band to be more collaborative.” Read more>>
Omar Melendez
I began researching photography techniques and studying the craft in depth. I offered free photo sessions to family and friends to test and improve my skills. I also attended local workshops to learn from other photographers and continue growing. Once I had mastered my starter camera, I upgraded my gear and pushed myself to take my work to the next level. Read more>>
Donna Musilli
Coaching is the most challenging and rewarding skill I’ve ever developed. It demands constant curiosity, deep listening, and a willingness to grow. Over the past eight years, I’ve pursued additional education and certifications in StrengthsFinder, Conscious Leadership, Somatics, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). And, I always have a coach myself. I believe great coaches never stop learning. (TIP: if you are in the process of hiring a coach, ask them who their coach is, and if they don’t have one, I would consider that a red flag!) Read more>>
Sarah Underhill
My journey with Wellbeing Connection really began long before I knew it would become a nonprofit. I’ve struggled with my mental and emotional health most of my life, though I didn’t understand why for decades. Growing up with a sister who had severe special needs—she was nonverbal with a seizure disorder and frequent grand mal seizures—created trauma that I carried without even realizing it. For years, I kept asking myself “what is wrong with me?” and seeking answers through counseling and psychiatry since I was 14. Read more>>
Tabi Berkey
they’re not sure where things are, there isn’t space for items where they’re supposed to go, many items have repurchased when they couldn’t be found in the home…and after we start working on decluttering together, we’re able to reveal how much space actually exists, and what makes sense to keep in the space. Through decluttering, many clients are able to regain bins and baskets and shelves – and many clients don’t invest in additional products. Emphasizing sustainable systems also allows me to recommend products specific to families and their homes, instead of seeing what limited options I could have on hand. Read more>>
Jowan Smith
In 2017, I pitched my first initiative, Getting Our Babies to College 101, at the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Accelerate competition. It was born out of frustration with how confusing the college process could be for families and the lack of support I saw in the system. That pitch ignited a movement one focused on demystifying college access for families and empowering parents as partners in their children’s education. Read more>>
Danielle Bruner
That realization sparked my passion to become a postpartum doula and create A Bridge to Motherhood, a business dedicated to empowering first-time moms through a holistic, step-by-step approach. I combined my own postpartum journey with evidence-based strategies to develop resources that address not just the physical recovery but also the emotional, mental, and spiritual challenges new mothers experience. Read more>>
Angela Peters
She has done several bachelorette parties, girls’ nights out, birthday and retirement parties. Angela has two daughters who also love to dance, and owning the studio was a way to get to spend even more time with them. Her oldest, Madi is now in college and not taking classes anymore, but she still helps at the shows. Her youngest, Emma helps with choreography for the Hip Hop classes and is heavily involved at the studio. Her husband, Matt, has been extremely supportive and is the reason she was able to open the studio. Read more>>
Eulogio
My story is about life survival,emerging from poverty, it all started as a dream then the universe just listen i was the first college graduate in the family then i help to send my siblings so they can finish college..then i leave Philippines to work in the US is another struggle..but i manage to succeed it all and still is pursuing upto this day Read more>>
Layla Sackett
I have been tattooing nearly 6 years now. The shop I’m currently at is Higher Love Tattoo. I’m incredibly thankful to everyone that helped me along the journey of my career and am looking forward to many years of tattooing to come! When I’m not working, I’m a mom to my beautiful daughter, who is currently 2 years old. In my spare time, I am a dancer and burlesque performer. I also have began diving back into music and am currently working on an ep album. I have many plans for my future with art and music in every aspect of my life! Read more>>
Paulette Simonetta
We are licensed massage therapists, offering a variety of massage, bodywork and energy work services and have training in trauma-informed care. We pride ourselves on being very good at what we do, although we are all very different in our styles. We also pride ourselves on being open to ALL n the community, As our mission statement says, we value inclusivity! Read more>>
Dwayne Williams
Wearethewave216 is a booking and promotions agency that I started in 2017. I saw a huge void in the local music industry here Cleveland that needed to be filled, and that’s what u sought to fill with Wearethewave216. There are so many underdog artists here that need the proper platform to take their career to the next level, and with Wearethewave216, I’m able to book them and market their promotional materials to provide them with the same opportunities that bigger artists from the city get. Read more>>
Isaiha Fields
Over the last decade, I’ve been on a relentless journey of entrepreneurship; through Entertainment & Media, Talent Representation, Business Management and Operational Advisory and more. It’s far from glamorous, I can say the least. It’s been trial and error, discipline, late nights, and a lot of moments where the only thing I had to lean on was belief. I’ve launched brands, built businesses that didn’t make it, and had to learn firsthand the cost of doing things out of order. But every misstep taught me something about structure, strategy, and the importance of foundation, and that’s what ultimately led me to create my second business Internal Foundations Consulting. Read more>>
Zaria McBride
During lockdown, staying healthy became a priority. We researched ways we could improve our health and learned about other cultures throughout the African Diaspora and applied their farm to table concept to her recipes. This change had an immediate positive impact on our family. It inspired us to create our line of scratch-made, artisan sauces as a way to encourage other families to start cooking at home. We launched our products in 2022 and have been overjoyed with the overwhelming support we’ve received. Read more>>
Liz Weingart
During those years, I witnessed firsthand how a simple cup of coffee could become a vessel for connection, healing, and hope. That experience planted a vision in my heart—a dream to one day open my own space where faith, creativity, and community could thrive under one roof. Fast forward a couple years and another individual called on me to open 26:Three. After months of managing this little shop, I was given the opportunity to become its owner. Read more>>
Alisa Gafeney
I became certified in yoga, Pilates, assisted stretching and mindfulness, and began integrating those practices not just into my personal life, but into how I support others. Eventually, I stepped into entrepreneurship, creating a space where women—especially black women and those navigating big transitions like burnout, motherhood, or menopause—could feel seen, supported and empowered to take their wellness into their own hands. Read more>>
Joel Alleguez Brito
With more than five albums released, numerous singles, and music videos, Alléguez has appeared on the most important national television programs and has been a regular guest at official events, including presidential ceremonies. He has shared the stage with legends such as Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Gilberto Santa Rosa, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Sonora Ponceña, and Tony Vega, among others. Read more>>
Whitney Pelfrey
For the most part, it’s been a smooth road—though the hardest part was simply figuring out where to start. When I first saw the event space, it was just an empty warehouse: no decor, echoing sound, and a strong industrial, masculine feel that I knew I’d need to soften. I had a lot of ideas that pulled me in different directions at first, but once I landed on a brand and design that truly spoke to me, everything clicked—and I ran with it. Read more>>
Zach Panzeca
Fast forward to April 2018, when I was given an incredible opportunity to work as a photographer for a video production company. I thought I had hit the jackpot! But, as it turns out, the job didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The pay was low, I was on-call 24/7, and the working environment wasn’t great. Despite this, I learned so much about myself, the industry, and—most importantly—how to shoot in manual mode. Read more>>
