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.
Aaron James
At first, I was just singing live at local venues, trying to build a name for myself.. but one pivotal moment would change the way I viewed performances. I was selling tickets to a show at Peabody’s and the promoter told us “Whoever sells the most tickets, gets the prime slot right before the headliner”. Which at this time was Kid Cudi! After selling 20 tickets at $20 person, I walked in to the venue with $400 cash just knowing I got the prime slot! However, there were 20 other artist on the bill with the same idea.. the guy behind me sold 25 tickets ($500), the girl behind him sold 30 tickets ($600), and so on and so on.. It was in that moment that I realized, I couldn’t care less about the prime spot.. I wanted to be in the position of the promoter who collected all the money! Read more>>
Brandon Jester
Ever since a very young age I wanted to be a filmmaker. In grade school I would invite friends over to my house and use my parents camcorder to film silly little shorts. As I grew older my passion and drive grew as well. I was blessed with many opportunities that helped me grow as an artist and as a person. Through out many obstacles in my life including struggles with my mental health, I never lost that passion and always went towards my goal to be a filmmaker. As soon as I graduated high school I began being a part of many Cleveland Independent Film projects, and now over 10 years later I have my self owned video production company and do cinematograpy, editing, writing, and directing full time. Read more>>
Betty Craft
Well, I’ve always done hair. As a child growing up, I saw my mom do my sister’s hair, and I just followed. I enjoyed it—it was fun being creative and testing my abilities. I remember the first person whose hair I ever did was my father, and when I tell you it looked horrible, I can laugh now. But at the time, I was so embarrassed that I hid in my bed. Still, he paid me, and I felt bad because it looked so terrible—it wasn’t like my mannequin head it was on a real person! Read more>>
Maxine
Surviving the pandemic was one of the most difficult and transformational experiences. We were closed for eight weeks, and that period tested everything. I’m thankful that I had been conservative with my finances. To stay afloat, I sold take-home root touch-up packages. The kindness and generosity of our guests during that time is something I will never forget or take for granted. Read more>>
Heidi Thompson
I created Flawless Aesthetics because I wanted to create a boutique personal experience where anyone that visits will feel beautiful and confident during each stage of the process. Beauty is not what others think about how you look. Beauty is what YOU think about yourself. In January 2022 was the “official” opening and has grown to what is today. I am dedicated to promoting health education and empowering patients to look and feel their best. When I am not seeing patients, I enjoy volunteering in community health initiatives and spending time with my family. Read more>>
Shannon Wright
Growing up, I thought I wanted to be an interior designer and then eventually an architect. When I began my college education in these chosen fields, through various reasons, I realized that it really wasn’t what I thought it was going to be after all. So, after going to school for three years, I decided to take a year off. Well, one year turned into two, then three. And, before I knew it, ten years had gone by. Read more>>
Sam Hills
What began as a one-person wave of influence quickly became a cultural ripple effect. High Five wasn’t trying to be the biggest salon in town—it was trying to be the most meaningful. Its tone was clear from the start: confident but kind, bold but rooted in grace. Think underdog energy with championship swagger. David to NYC’s Goliath. The little engine that smoked the freight train. Read more>>
Keziah Gray
As time went on, my technique improved dramatically, and the vibrant eyeshadow looks I posted on Instagram began to gain recognition from both my peers and a growing online community. By 2017, I realized I had discovered one of my God-given gifts—something I knew I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life. Makeup became more than just a form of artistic expression; it became a way to connect with and empower other women, forming lifelong bonds in the process. Read more>>
Alaxys Markley
I’ve been in the beauty industry for 17 years, beginning my journey by doing makeup for friends and family while in college. My true passion for aesthetics ignited during my time working at Sephora, where I discovered how transformative it could be to help others feel beautiful in their own skin. From there, I pursued a career in aesthetics, gaining experience in a variety of settings—including medical spas, full-service salons, boutique spas, and even as an aesthetics instructor. Read more>>
Mona Hirst
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It’s never a 9 to 5 boring. Mentality. Or a routine If you like routine, you’ll hate being a business owner. That’s my 2 cents advice. Read more>>
Elizabeth Lucak
Having to figure out how to run a new business is a learning curve all on its own. From ordering product, to all of the paperwork, keeping receipts and figuring out how to do taxes, and let’s not mention having to remember passwords and fill out all of the necessary forms online. It’s a good thing my fiance is very tech savy and can figure out little maintenance things around the salon. We make a great team. Read more>>
Adriana Leone
Today, Adriana specializes in Vinyasa, Slow Flow, Restorative, and Yin yoga, incorporating breathwork and mindfulness to help others soothe their nervous systems and reconnect with themselves. She is deeply committed to creating inclusive, welcoming spaces for all body types, shapes, and genders, supporting others on their journey toward balance, healing, and authentic living. Read more>>
Aria Scully
After earning my cosmetology license in California, I worked as a color assistant at Jose Eber in Beverly Hills, while freelancing for films and photo shoots. I also continued my education through advanced classes at Vidal Sassoon. Eventually, I returned to Ohio, working in Cincinnati before settling in Lebanon, where I found a true love for bridal work and hair coloring. I taught my first makeup class, styled wigs for a popular YouTube series, and finally opened my own private salon space. Overall, it’s been an exciting journey rooted in education, creativity, and a love for helping people feel confident and beautiful! Read more>>
Ron Shuller
Back in those days, whenever a major recording artist came to town, there was always a press conference. DJs would take photos with the artists, and the artists would record teaser lines for the station. I just missed the Beatles, but I was there for the next huge teen sensation — the Monkees. I shot both of their Cincinnati concerts and their press events. The DJs even let me sell my Monkees photos on-air to fans calling in. That income helped me buy all the camera gear I had dreamed of. Read more>>
Avery Rethage
I am just starting off trying to figure out how to accomplish my goals. I have always been an artist, creating art as a side hobby along with cooking. With my culinary experience, I have been more passionate about the pastry/caking side of culinary because I feel like it allows me to combine both of my interests: art and cooking. What sets me apart from others I feel like is my positive attitude, if something is bothering me I will never let it be known in the this business and I feel like that is very important to have for such a hard industry like culinary arts or the restaurant field. Read more>>
Mike Hurley
I slowly moved away from weddings and focused solely on supporting businesses with my expertise in creating photo and video content that they could use on their website and across social media platforms. Today, my focus is on guiding small to medium sized businesses on understanding the importance of video to stay visible and relevant as well as implementing videos that can help them save time, educate customers and promote their product or service. Read more>>
Niki Farahmand
So after my most recent move – the one to Cleveland – I created Lay of the Land to answer all the questions for people just like me who are eager to get out and explore, but would feel more comfortable having the information beforehand. On Lay of the Land, viewers will find all the small but important details unique to an establishment like parking, entrances, accessibility how to order, etc. They may all sound like minor details to some, but to those with anxiety, they can mean the world. Read more>>
Taya Szabados
Cups and pups was started to help raise awareness for the Lorain County dog kennel they run solely on donations and just became a nonprofit. It was also created to help keep my grandfather‘s memory alive. When he passed away I felt very lost without him. Him and I shared a love for dogs he was a K-9 handler and Lieutenant at the same department I now work for so I thought it was a great way to honor him Read more>>
Sammi Butler
I have a major regret about that now. I also spent many years recording my first original album with a friend of mine only to have him up and vanish and take all of those songs with him. I had taken about 3 to 4 years to record all of those songs and so this set me way back and I truly debated stopping all together until I met someone who believed enough in me to invest in helping me re-record those songs and debut my first album “For You” back in 2018. Read more>>
Quena Mor
I come from a unique and proud line of musicians, so in many ways, music was never just a choice — it was a calling. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, surrounded by rhythms, melodies, and a deep cultural respect for sound. My earliest memories are filled with family gatherings where everyone played something — congas, brass, strings, voices — it was like growing up in a living, breathing band. Read more>>
Wambui Watene
I was always told at a young age that I should model and I justt thought it was due to being a tall skinny kid. Although I am sure that played a part in it, even from a young age my mom would tell me “we are going to [insert some random place] not a fashion show”. Personally, I believe every day is an opportunity to treat life like your runway and I must’ve intuitively known this at a young age. Believe it or not, I didn’t want to be a model because I thought they weren’t respected enough and I perceived them as shallow. Which is crazy to reflect on as I know for a fact I was being a hater and deep down wanted to model; I just didn’t have the confidence. Read more>>
