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.
Josh Bartell
My wife was part of a group that helped her make friends with women. I thought how it was awesome and I looked for something like it for men. Problem was it didn’t exist. So I thought to myself I couldn’t be the only one who felt this way and started Dudes of Cleveland in October of 2024. The whole idea is hosting events where it takes away the awkwardness and pressure of making friends as an adult because everyone is going to these events for the same reasons. To have fun, maybe check out a place they haven’t been too and find like minded guys to make friends. We host 2-3 events a month all over the Cleveland area now and it has been absolutely life changing for me. Read more>>
Gabrielle Pobega
Hello , I’m Gabrielle, I’m 32, I’m a Mom of 2 kids, I live in Cleveland Ohio, and I’m a stay at home Nail Tech. I have been doing nails for the last 6 years. I’m self taught! Everything I have learned about nails and the nail industry I’ve learned about online. Using sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok to learn any and everything I can about this occupation. But I didn’t start out wanting to do nails. I grew up in Garfield Heights, Ohio. I went to Garfield Schools all my life, I graduated from Garfield Heights High School in 2011. Read more>>
Brittany Carpenter
Desert Roots started in 2020 as a hobby during the covid shut downs. I started experimenting with polymer clay jewelry and posting photos of my art to instagram and quickly received a ton of interest in what I was creating. It kind of just took off from there, my husband built me a website and I decided to just see how far this could go. When businesses started opening back up, I decided to not go back to my previous job and put my sole focus into Desert Roots. Read more>>
Lynn Lamance
I have previous work experience in housing. I have worked for an insurance company handling homeowners policies. I have worked at a homeless woman shelter. I have worked at section 8, which is the subsidize housing program for the area. And then, lastly, I have worked for a mortgage company handling conditions of foreclosed properties. Read more>>
Jeffrey Rucker
Hola Hola,, I’m Jeffrey Rucker / “Chaos1.0”, a creative from Dayton, OH. One of my favorite aspects of existence is the ability to bring our thoughts and expressions to life through art. I’ll always do my best to never take that for granted. Over the years, I realized how much life responsibilities, societal expectations, and our own doubts can hinder us from finding that childlike exploration that is creativity, especially if we’re not seeing financial gain from it at the moment. It feels good to paint a picture, make a song, finish a project, etc. It’s cathartic. Read more>>
Aryance Parker
I am a streamer, cosplayer, and content creator who just likes to spread smiles. I’m known for my creative cosplays and hilarious content videos about anime, cosplaying and just living in America. I’ve been recognized by my peers as the The Funniest Content Creator in 2023 and I’ve been recognized by a handful of conventions as a content creator/influencer. I am most proud of my community/family of supportive friends I can call home. Read more>>
Hydra
Some of our most valuable lessons have come from our communication as a unit and some from our engineer, Dirk! He has always been a source of support and education, and with the combined efforts – magic is really created. The key takeaway has been to enjoy the music-making process, producing songs on our own and focus on what truly makes us happy and not allowing opinions to dictate the type of music that we will create. HYDRA loves to tell a story and the upcoming story is a bit “Wonky” so stay tuned Read more>>
Erica Almquist
After graduating from Northern Kentucky University with a degree in International Studies, I used to think I was going to be a diplomat one day, I started at Pomme Communications where I fell in love with the Public Relations/Marketing world, all while shooting lifestyle photography (couples, portraits, families, engagements). It was during this time I discovered my love for shooting and working with products and started shooting what I have coined lifestyle brand photography. Read more>>
Gabe Wasylko
Upon graduating from Wooster in 2019 with a degree in Mathematics and Political Science, I moved into a full-time role with the RubberDucks leading their Creative Services Department and managing everything from video production, marketing, social media, and the game-day presentation. I found that I not only enjoyed creating final videos, headshots, and social campaigns, but I enjoyed the process of building these projects from start to finish. I enjoyed the story. Read more>>
Donna Longfellow
Unfortunately, due to our giving back, and being a new troupe, we sustained financial losses and had to pull away from the children’s program. Our third show of the season is now referred to as “Director’s Showcase” as in “anything goes”. Whatever the director is looking to bring to the public, we try to accommodate. This could be comedy, drama, or a little of both, such as “Love Loss and What I Wore” and “The Dixie Swim Club”. Read more>>
Julie Mulholland
I moved to Cincinnati two years ago, but my passion for Cincinnati sports has always been strong, along with my support for my Cleveland NBA team, the Cavs. I began creating content for fun on TikTok in 2019 and quickly built a decent following. As I grew more passionate and improved my skills, I shifted my focus to building a presence on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). My content primarily revolves around Cincinnati sports, with occasional posts about the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Fever. X is now my largest platform, with 35,000 followers. I often live-tweet games and share my outfits for each game on both X and Instagram. Read more>>
Cidney M
I’ve always had the desire to serve and cater to people. I didn’t know it would through skin care. Since I was young my mother taught me how to take care of my body as a woman, she taught me how important self-care was! So that was installed in me since I was a young girl. Fast forward to today after hours of research, months of product testing and teaching myself how to become a plant powered brand that caters to brown women that struggle with problematic skin and hyper pigmentation. I listen to my customers and provided effective skincare that was gentle enough for everyday use! Read more>>
Jason Boykins Jr
Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has been part of this journey. From those who joined the workouts to the gym owners who welcomed us, and the people who supported us along the way—your influence has helped shape me into the best version of myself. The gym tour wasn’t just about visiting new places; it was about growth, discipline, and building a community that thrives on lifting each other up—inside and outside the gym. Read more>>
Emily Sinden
At first, I had no idea what I would blog about. I’m a writer, a reader, a mom, a blue-collar wife, and a type-A personality with a type-B inner monologue—how could I fit all of that into a single blog? But I decided to start anyway. I realized there weren’t many women documenting life as the wife of a blue-collar worker, especially when their significant other was away. Most of what I found came from long-haul trucker families. So I thought, Why not share my own experience as a blue-collar wife, working mom, and writer? Read more>>
Jennifer Moyer
I started learning the how to’s of soapmaking and exploring my ingredient options. There are a handful of different ways to make soap, and I wanted it to be a quality my family could enjoy. Natural ingredients, no fake colors, and essential oils for wonderful scents. I’m so grateful for the people who shared their knowledge, helping me to get started too. Springfield Small business district commission is also an amazing resource for any small business. There are so many important steps in getting a business up and running. All of their help and our family’s hard work led to the start of our business, Made in the Meadows! Read more>>
Nicole Hennicke
We have always believed in sustainability and thrifting for the majority of home decor that we have. Our clothing reworks are the same, thrifted goods made into new one of a kind pieces. Read more>>
Chris Bianchi
Traveling from my galaxy to your world is no small feat—an endless journey through the stars that humbles even the most seasoned traveler. And yet, upon arriving here, I’ve discovered that life on Earth mirrors the cosmos: a mix of radiant moments and shadowed trials. I have learned not to let the darkness triumph but instead to embrace it as a teacher, growing stronger with each challenge. For every star that fades, another begins to shine, and so I continue my journey, ever evolving.” Read more>>
Gina Oberfoell
Ducks in Row Organizing is a Home and Business Decluttering and Organizing business. I emphasize the decluttering first because it is the most important step in the organizational process. I always offer a free consultation with my clients to discuss the space they want organized. I discuss how they want to use the space. We talk about how they function in their space on daily basis. This helps me understand how to help them get organized and maintain it. I try to help my clients understand how being organized is beneficial to their mental health – less stress, their wallets- buying less, their time- less time spent looking for items. Helping my clients achieve an organized home is so rewarding because it truly is healthy for everyone. Read more>>
Gerri Pizzini
Now 40 years later I’m still in business for myself, but the journey has been filled with pain, joy, hard work, second guessing, failures and success! After many “jobs” from cartooning at the LA Times, to closing time share deals, T-shirt biz, painting designing at renaissance festivals, to creating beautiful jewelry and wearable art art, etc I’m now nearing retirement age but I know I’ll always be an artist artist… a dreamer… a creator of happy things! Read more>>
A.m.
Today, you have to be a lot of things as an Indie Artist. I literally started a media company (AMQ Media) so that I could use those skills on myself. A lot of artist have to pay for things I already own/have the skills and equipment to do. I also think being a church girl sets me apart as well. I have to be in front of a crowd every Sunday. I don’t have to practice having a stage presence, or interacting with the crowd because its something that overtime has just come natural to me. Lastly, self-producing has made it easier to make music. If I hear something in my heart, I can produce it and/or sing it and create. I’ve done my best to remove the barriers that present themselves to a lot of indie artist. Read more>>
Uni
I started as a child, healing from an eye injury; adapting to a new life. I had a lot of time alone as I wasn’t often around my mother. Growing up and growing into the person I was starting to like, I ventured out to meditate near waterfalls, often times at night time during the summer. Reaching my adult ages, I accepted my life for what it was and what it won’t be no matter how hard I try to fix, build or guide, so when I finally let go, I blossomed into this new version of me and this new chapter has been nothing but exciting, free and unpredictable. Read more>>
Aireonna McCall-Dubé
Today, we’re proud to have a studio space inside 78th Street Studios in the Gordon Square Arts District. Beyond being a creative workspace, we use this location to support other artists, offering both short-term and long-term residencies where they can showcase their work while also receiving business guidance. We believe in fostering a sense of community among creatives, helping them turn their passion into a sustainable career. Read more>>
Jax Amadio
While our leadership has thousands of hours of industry experience, none of us had any business experience. Learning how to run a business, from the pains of navigating all the different kinds of insurance we needed to setting up a robust payroll infrastructure to the most basic bookkeeping – if it wasn’t related directly to event staffing & production, it’s been a struggle! We’re finally feeling like we’ve learned enough to start to grow without being completely gripped by fear. Read more>>
Tyler Baker
Months before I got into this business, a close friend of mine—originally from Cuba—had a tragic accident that changed everything. It was a hot summer day, and he was just enjoying the moment. He dove into his pool, got out, had a beer, and then went back in. But this time, something went horribly wrong. He misjudged the depth, hit the bottom, and cracked his spinal cord. In an instant, his entire life changed. Read more>>
Adub Nati
Something was off however as I desired what I’ll call a more potent sound. Then at the age of around 21 I got baptized. From that point I vowed that all the music I made from then on would be Christ centered. Hasn’t always been easy as I found difficulties in things like finding a skillful team to show me the ropes per say with the type of music I desired to make, as well as desiring to walk my musical audience through my transition musically. But through trail and error I am where I am today. Read more>>
Cole Clark
A huge part of that comes from my brother, Dustin. He passed away when I was 12, but he’s never been far from me. His presence is in the little things—a cardinal outside my window, a rabbit tucked into the corner of a drawing, the way I still reach for art as a way to feel connected. Losing him changed me, but it also shaped me. It made me even more aware of the importance of capturing fleeting moments, of creating something that lingers long after we’re gone. Read more>>
Tabitha O’Connor
As digital photography entered the sphere, I was able to adapt and expand my services to help my clients keep their digital memories under control, but also continue to enjoy them by having albums to hold in their hands. All the while, there has been a need to tend to our old memory media that has been passed down to us – from slides, 8mm reels, then VHS tapes and more. And that’s where the digitization component of my business came in. Now, For Always is a full-service memory-management company – from the old, outdated memory media, to those exploding camera rolls on phones. Read more>>
Noha Youssef
Then, just as I was thinking about my next step, COVID hit. Everything changed—people weren’t working unless it was remote, and I found myself with time to explore something new. That’s when I picked up a camera. I started with walks alone, capturing birds, trees, and flowers, teaching myself the camera settings and learning how to edit using Lightroom and Photoshop. It became my creative outlet, and before I knew it, that passion evolved into something bigger. Read more>>
Mackenzie Fulcher
I have guilt some days that I’m working or doing things away from the kids and my husband. Unfortunately for wedding photographers, most of our “work days” are weekends, when everyone else is off. My kids think I’m gone a lot, when really I’m only gone on the weekends and home all weeks while they’re in school. So I’m constantly trying to find ways to make sure they feel important, seen, and trying to make it to everything I can- even if its just a practice or the last 5 minutes of a game. I want them to see that it was important to me to be there for them because they’re the real important one, not just my photography work. Read more>>
Maia Arabuli
Leveraging social media is crucial for promoting my business. As I navigate my new surroundings, I must become accustomed to new people, cultural norms, and routines. My daughter she turn three in November, and once she begins attending daycare, it will be much easier for my husband and me to manage our daily responsibilities. Having obtained my driver’s license two months ago, I am hopeful that acquiring another vehicle will enable my business to operate more efficiently. Read more>>
Amir Boles
Through out the years it has definitely been challenging on being comfortable with being an artist in my own right, but i want to say around my senior of high school was when i truly fell in love with creating officially and realizing i also have stories to tell from my own perspective Read more>>
Lorie Kleiner Eckert
After writing 125 such blogs, I compiled the most “evergreen” of my stories and submitted them to publishers as a gift book. You know the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words? Well, with this book each 1000-ish word story had a one line takeaway and each one-liner was illustrated. Thus a book with thirty-six stories, likewise has thirty-six full color images. Read more>>
Rebecca Maxwell
I’ve always loved hosting and I have annual parties every year to get all of my friends together and quite honestly, I wanted all of my friends, to be friends. It worked. The parties kept growing but my apartment stayed the same size. Two years ago, I decided we had to have two Galentines parties because I wanted to invite every girl I’ve ever met. We had one party in my apartment and another at Wyne Tasting Bar. The place was packed and the vibes were amazing, in that moment, I knew I was on the brink of something really special. Read more>>
Esai Ramos
I am also a producer and engineer at “Broadwaves Studios Lorain” where I get to work with many great artists young and old and help develop their sound and their vision for their craft. Additionally we have started a movement of creatives, entrepreneurs, city leaders and event coordinators to shine a spotlight on our city, the talent and services we have to offer to the world. We are making a positive impact on our city in hopes to inspire the next generation to be Great in their own way! We are working on opening up opportunities for events, festivals, resources, and helping our city grow together. We want to make sure creators are being heard and seen in our own city and beyond. Together we will achieve Greatness! Read more>>
Alicia Eads
Plus, several friends had babies around the same time so I would photography them, too! When my twins turned two years old, I turned my love of photography into one of the best decisions I’ve ever made – Alicia Eads Photography, LLC. Before I knew it, friends of friends were asking me to take their family pictures. Eventually, people I had never met were reaching out! I was so excited (and scared), but stayed focused on growing my business. After the birth of my third baby in 2014, my business was really booming! And the best part, with the help of grandparents, I was still able to stay home with all three kids and manage a business. Read more>>
Brittany, Tara, And Kelsey Finn
The idea for Blushstone Events came to life after Kelsey got engaged on New Year’s Eve in 2020. As Brittany and Tara began planning her bridal shower, they realized there wasn’t a local event space that fit their vision. That’s when inspiration struck—rather than settle, they decided to create the perfect venue themselves! Read more>>
Manav Singh
In 2011, we opened the Holiday Inn Express and Suites OSU, followed by the upscale Staybridge Suites-OSU in 2017. These developments laid the foundation for further growth, and we have since expanded our real estate portfolio across key areas in Columbus, including the Polaris Fashion District and Lewis Center, hosting a mix of national and local tenants. Currently, I am working on the development of a third hotel at OSU under the Hyatt brand. This project is poised to contribute to the continued growth of the North High Street area, further elevating the city of Columbus. Read more>>
Savannah Garrett
When I began job hunting, I came across an opening at Schmidt Auto Care for an Operational Assistant. The position was a mix of office management and social media marketing, which sounded like the perfect way to gain experience in both business operations and the digital space. The added bonus? A four-day work week, which was ideal since I was taking online classes at the time. It felt like the perfect opportunity to get my foot in the door, so I went for it. Read more>>
Dino Tripodis
Being creative isn’t a struggle. Being successful at it can be at times. You don’t stay in morning radio for 24 years at one station by accident. You don’t go from being an opening act to a headliner in a comedy club without discipline and a desire to constantly create. And you don’t write and produce fillms without the sane disciplines in place. A smooth road? No. A good road? Yes. I’m blessed to able to do what I love despite the creative obstacles that come with the process. Read more>>
Lance Batton
These experiences, paired with my continually developing taste in music, would later prepare me for my time as a live musician. My skills with instruments would come to fruition as I began practicing and learning the bass guitar and drums in high school. I started a band that went on through most of my time in high school. We played about a dozen shows and even gained some experience recording in the studio with this band, though we never got the final product that we desired. Read more>>
Caitlin Trainer
Fast forward to today: I’m a mother to three boys, happily married, and living a slow-paced life in the country. Since becoming a mother, my photography has naturally found its focus—motherhood, milestones, and families. Preserving these fleeting seasons of life is more than just my passion; it’s a privilege. Every session is a chance to document love, connection, and the beauty in everyday moments, and I’m honored to do it. Read more>>
Anna Hehman
I have been at the Observatory for 10 years and have been proud to help lead the organization to grow and thrive as a vibrant community institution. Our budget has doubled and we have grown from 3 employees to 11 full time and 2 part time employees in my time at the Observatory. I’m very passionate not only about historic preservation but in education equity, which we provide by having STEM programs that are free of charge for underserved student groups. Read more>>
Courage
Me and Ahdeo also started GVO (GOOD VIBEZ ONLY) together and over the years expanded the group. Fast forward to now we’re a pretty respected group around the city. People know us as the group that always perform with high energy and know how to bring people along for the ride to vibe out with us. We very versatile as there’ isn’t just one type of music we make. We still got a lot more to accomplish but with the team we got now (Trey Clue, Ahdeo, Chase B, Quan, Dyami, and myself) were bound to continue to reach even greater heights. Read more>>
Brittney Elam
Eventually , i left great clips for good, but over time the salons environment became draining. I found myself overwhelmed, juggling a full client book while managing salon operations and training others. In December 2023, i made the scary decision to go independent and start my own business. Britterlee Lash was born in January 2024 and i just celebrated one year in business this January 2025 and moved my business to Batavia Ohio to be in a suite to elevate my clients experience. Taking that leap was the best decision i ever made Read more>>
Lauralee Schmidt
Covid created a terrible lack, the mass influx, of clients at our business. Since we work on cars, we were essential and stayed open. That cost us enormous money we weren’t making, but we had a team to protect. Luckily, PPP and EIDL loans came thru to assist in the worst time of our professional lives. So we stayed focused, stayed talking honestly on how we felt mentally through it all, and balanced the best we could. Read more>>
Annamaria Pagani
Eventually, I landed a job on a psychiatric unit as a nurse, which was the beginning of my journey toward becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I graduated and passed my boards in February of 2022, and my journey began. I first started in private practice as a nurse practitioner, gaining invaluable experience working with patients from all walks of life. I knew that I wanted to grow and spread my wings, but I wasn’t sure when. One day, a colleague of mine, Amy Everhart of Well Balanced Women, encouraged me to take the leap and start my own business. At first, I was scared and uncertain about what that might entail. But as time went on, my excitement grew, and that’s how Mind and Body Psychiatry came to life. Read more>>
CoyyTheBoyy
It has not been a smooth road at all. I think we all know that (lol) And what makes me so relatable to people is that we all go thru things. We don’t know what the road has ahead of us but as long as we know and trust the most high, you should not fear! Some of the struggles of this journey is finding genuine like minded people! Most just wanna use you to get above you and some just don’t like you because you bring more to the table. But don’t let that affect you. Let it embrace you to always strive to do better and achieve in more life! Read more>>
Eli Snyder
I have spent over a decade exploring different career paths but I think I am most proud of my work with people. Everyday we are given a chance a change, I feel that it is important to support that idea. Read more>>
Britney Williams
When asked how I got started, my journey into bartending and mixology feels like a story of natural evolution—one rooted in passion and self-belief. For years, I was fascinated by the art of bartending. The creativity of mixing flavors, the energy of the atmosphere, and the connection built through a simple cocktail always intrigued me. Eventually, I took the leap and became a bartender, which allowed me to refine my craft and explore mixology on a deeper level. Creating drinks became more than just a job; it became a passion and a hobby that brought me joy. Read more>>
Sam Collier
I started out making music in 2016 doing features with artists around my area and I was eventually involved with a group but I ended up going my own way and doing things on my own and now I’ve just been pushing myself as an indie artist and working on launching my new clothing brand. Read more>>
Desireè Parks
Desired Plates started out as a labor of love for my friends and family and eventually progressed into a small Black owned LGBT catering company. Traditional southern foods became my charm and it just stuck though I have a wide variety of culinary skills. My mother being raised in the south and Having deep family roots in Virginia and Alabama My bloodline is true to southern culture and all the south embodies. I think it’s in my bones to cook with love, soul and overall joy. Read More>>
Kamilah Brown
Since then, I’ve poured my creativity into hosting unique events, with highlights including Bridgerton-inspired gatherings like the High Society Soiree: Bridgerton Brunch and other elegant Regency-themed occasions. These events were all about bringing people together in beautiful settings filled with thoughtful details and unforgettable moments. Read More>>
