Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

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.

William ‘Cody’ Currie

The road that led me to therapy had a lot of twists and turns. I was unsure of what exactly I wanted to do throughout college until I took an entry level psychology class. It was the only thing that truly felt interesting to me. I switched my major after some deliberation and soul searching. Read more>>

Trevor Howard

I started Gymnastics when I was 3 doing mommy and me classes and continued that until I was 28 years old. I was able to compete on a world stage for Team USA in 2019 and then covid happened on my journey to Tokyo having me miss the Olympic stage by 1 year. Read more>>

Brady Marks

I grew up with some of my best memories being next to the radio. When I went to Oberlin College I jumped at the opportunity to be involved in the student run station 91.5 WOBC. I had a 1 hour show on Thursdays at 3am with my friend, Natalie. We played all-female rock/indie artists for our whole hour. Read more>>

DonJae Harrison

Skincare has always been a passion of mine. I’ve always experimented with different products and ingredients, damaging my skin trying to find the right methods. all the very good and the very bad experiences helped me to perfect my craft and help others with skin issues. Read more>>

Cheyenne Vuchkovich
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I started playing with cameras when I was two years old. My great aunt and uncle used to run a studio, and they would let me use their cameras. As I continued to grow, they continued to guide me. They started taking photos for Christmas in the Park (Tuscora Park), of Santa and all the kids. Read more>>

Adaim Ochoa

It all started with my son. He’s autistic, and as I navigated the world of disability services, I quickly realized that what he needed simply wasn’t accessible. So, I set out to become what he needed. I left my decade-long career as a professional makeup artist and went back to school. In 2021, I earned my B.A. Read more>>

Angeline Rico

I’ve always felt comfortable in front of the camera. My parents were always taking pictures and making home videos of me when I was little, and everyone around me would say I should model one day. Still, growing up, modeling didn’t feel realistic especially in a world that focused on stability and working hard to provide. Read more>>

Alexandros Kyriakopoulos

I grew up on a small island in Greece, surrounded by the sea and an atmosphere of calm. From a young age, I dreamed of discovering a world beyond those horizons, a world filled with sound, imagination, and meaning. I first touched a piano when I was five, almost by accident. Read more>>

Stephanie Lodwick

I didn’t realize I have been on this path my whole life until I took a step back to reflect on it. Like many 20 year olds, I graduated college in 2010 and fell into retail management. I managed high volume Starbucks stores for almost 8 years before I took action on utilizing my degree and finding a career. Read more>>

Megan Coleman

I went to BGSU and Lakeland for a year each for interior design/ art education and business and I just couldn’t see myself doing any of those things the rest of my life. My mom encouraged me to look into hair school since I have always loved getting my sister and her friends ready for dances. Read more>>

Mikaela Prescott

I am the Director here at The Johnny Appleseed Educational Center and Museum, or Johnny Appleseed Museum for short, which has a long, winding history. To truly understand our roots, you have to go back to a woman named Florence Murdoch. Read more>>

Jamiee Imbrogno

Oh boy, the journey has been an interesting one to say the least. I grew up in Ashtabula, Ohio, surrounded by strong, loving women who taught me what true resilience looks like. My mom played both mom and dad, and my grandmother stepped in as a second mother figure. Read more>>

Nora Coyle

I was a first year teacher in Colorado in 2005 and met a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) who was providing therapy at home after school. She taught me how to support him better in the classroom using ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapy. After that, I was hooked. I set my sights on becoming a BCBA that year. Read more>>

Chance Sowers

I’m a fourth-generation legacy at Metzger Insurance, a family agency that’s been rooted in community trust and personalized service for nearly a century. But while our foundation is traditional, our future is anything but. Read more>>

Dominique Poe

My name is Dominique Poe, I’m 21 years old born & raised in Columbus, OH! I grew up in a Christian household where my grandmother would wake me up singing “This is the Day” every morning! She planted the seed that made me exactly who I am today, followed by nights of prayers that she still prays to this day. Read more>>

Amir Whigham

At just 22 years old, Amir Whigham has quickly become one of the most influential creative forces shaping Cincinnati’s fast-growing streetwear scene. As a full-time graphic designer, Amir is the name behind many of the city’s rising clothing brands, helping transform local vision into wearable culture. Read more>>

Regina Im

I immigrated to New York City from South Korea when I was fifteen. Like many new immigrants, I came from a humble background — poor but determined. By sixteen, I was already working full-time while attending school. I later majored in Finance and Investment and minored in Political Science, chasing stability and success in the fast-paced world of business. Read more>>

Maranda Neuendorf

My story of Many Moons Healing began when I was freshly out of college from Cleveland State University. I really had no clue who or what I offered to this world. I knew I really enjoyed holistic health and living. It was a passion of mine from a young age at 14, that is when I discovered Yoga. Read more>>

David Lewis

I have been in music retail for 43 years in various capacities, including a dozen years in independent record stores in Austin Tx. In addition to my daily grind I was a semi-professional musician, a music journalist and co-host of a cable access TV show! Moved to Pennsylvania and worked for Borders Books and music for 15 years. In 2008 the job ended. Read more>>

Hannah Brunk

I was newly divorced, and a single mom of 2. I had a career in human resources and my MBA. The job was not quite paying the bills, and was very stressful. I started taking night classes for massage therapy, and was very intrigued by the work. Read more>>

George Tsaftarides

I was born in Greece in 1941 during a time of wars. At the age of 14, I because an apprentice for tailoring. Later, at the age of 19, I moved to the USA in pursuit of new opportunities and a better life. Read more>>

Emily Winter

For many years, my family and I were regular visitors at Artist for a Day—sometimes with as many as four generations painting together around the table! We always loved the creative, welcoming atmosphere where we could unwind, talk, laugh, and make art side by side. It was such a special place for us, and over time, it really started to feel like home. Read more>>

Clancy Canales

The BHR Agency LLC began in 2023 with just a few small clients while I was working from home. Over time, I started to see steady growth as more people reached out for professional, reliable services. Read more>>

Erica Paulson

I’ve always been drawn to the quiet strength of women, especially during pregnancy and birth. What began nearly twenty years ago as a calling to support families as a doula has evolved into a lifelong mission to reimagine how we care for mothers. Through thousands of births, I’ve learned that wellness in childbirth requires more than clinical safety. It requires presence, compassion, and advocacy. Read more>>

Patrick Wallace

I spent 17 years managing at PetSmart, gaining a lot of experience in leadership and customer service. When my neighbor decided to sell her Painting with a Twist franchise to retire, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to combine my love of art with the chance to own my own business. Read more>>

Mark Massie

I took Commercial Art at the local trade school here in Springfield, OH, after graduating I got a job working for a Chevrolet Dealer downtown Springfield, where I preped new cars for delivery, knowing my schooling the dealer had me letter sale prices on the windshields of cars, a local sign shop saw my work and hired me to work for them , I worked there for about 6 years and then started my own sign shop where I have designed, built and installed signs for local businesses Read more>>

D. Keith Stiver

I started teaching 45 years ago. At first I went to my students’ homes, but later transitioned to studio space. Since I did that, the Stiver Voice Studio has been in operation, in one form or other, for 40 years, first in Youngstown, the in the greater Cleveland area. Read more>>

Cheyanna McCourt

Growing up I always knew I wanted to be able to help others feel better. I didn’t know where that may take me in my life until I graduated high school. I decided to go to college for massage therapy. I soon realized that I had a gift for helping people feel better through massage therapy. It was where I was meant to be. Read more>>

Kimberly Martin

I have always loved to cook. I take care of all of the holiday meals, birthdays, anniversaries and even reunions for my friends and family. I worked in the mortgage industry for almost 30 years. I lost my job in August 2024 and was unsuccessful in finding anything else in the industry that fit my needs. Read more>>

Emily Bender

I started my mat & reformer pilates LLC in my home while still working as a Physical Therapist Assistant at an outpatient sports medicine clinic. The LLC grew enough for me to part ways with hospital based therapy and continue to grow. We grew into a 2,000 sq ft space Oct 2023 and are still thriving. Read more>>

JIM MASKER

The Central Ohio Independent League (C.O.I.L.) was established in 2018 by Kurt Hildebrand, Thomas ‘Sam’ Wolf, Josh Boggs, and RJ Reitmire. They founded the league to provide a vital alternative to existing options, driven by a vision for fair, affordable, accessible, and competitive martial arts tournaments in the Central Ohio region. From the start, C.O.I.L. Read more>>

Casey White

Over 18 years ago I started my new adventure in the nail industry in downtown Worthington. There I gained great friends and thorough training of the industry. I moved to Delaware with my family in 2012 and started dreaming of owning my own business in the area. Read more>>

Shelly Valinttine

I grew up the only girl of five children in patriarchal Catholic family. High expectations were laid on me very young, and this set the stage for my propensity to serve. I felt very close to God and took my faith very seriously. Read more>>

Carlton R. Collins

Carlton Robert Collins is an activist, author, entrepreneur, historian, organizer, speaker, and strategist with over a decade of experience building and innovating educational and nonprofit initiatives nationwide. CRC is an educator by trade and an entrepreneur by passion, focusing on inspiring sustainable and transformational change for communities of color and aspiring youth, particularly Black and Brown males. Read more>>

Cherie Ganger

I was actually looking to get treatments. I researched and followed a couple spas. One spa said they we looking to certify someone. I applied and got certified and worked there for a year. I wanted to work closer to home. My husband bought me a different type of machine and then I got certified on it and found a space and opened my studio. Read more>>

Daniel Doty

The First Congregational Church of Tallmadge, United Church of Christ was established in 1809. On July 12, 1806, the Reverend David Bacon contracted to purchase 12,000 acres of land in the Western Reserve section of the state of Connecticut. This land was in what would become Summit County in Ohio when it was established in 1840. Read more>>

Craig Walder

Hello, I was born in Dayton Ohio, graduated from Dayton Christian High School. I went away for college basketball but my passion was always serving people, especially young people. I served as a Juvenile Probation officer for 13 years then I transitioned to education for 7 years serving as teacher then Principal. Read more>>

Dr. Ashley

I started working with sexual stories in 2003 as a Sexual Assault Advocate while working on my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. I went on to get a Master’s Degree in Counseling and later, a Ph.D. in Marriage & Family Therapy. I pursued post-graduate and additional training in Sexual Health and started working with sexual issues in community and private practice settings in 2008. Read more>>

Heather Clark

I’ve been doing hair for over 15 years and have always loved helping people feel confident when they look in the mirror. After taking a break to stay home with my kids, life threw me a major curveball—I was diagnosed with cancer and found myself completely bald. Read more>>

Monique Faith Worship

I’ve always been a person after God’s heart. Words spoken about me from my mother. Read more>>

Katherine Palms

My path began with a deep curiosity about what it truly means to feel well — not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. After earning my degree in Communication and spending years immersed in health, yoga, and wellness, I realized how many of us are moving through life feeling overstimulated, under-nourished, and disconnected from ourselves. Read more>>

Marnita Kosinski

How I got started in Life Force Energy Work (Reiki)… In 2013 a friend of mine took a class on reiki and she asked me to come over so she could practice on me. When she put her hands above my head, I jumped up in amazement and said I need to learn that. Read more>>

To’Nia Ruby Caldwell

To’Nia Ruby Caldwell had a successful career as a professional musical theater performer with a degree in Vocal Performance, traveling the country and commanding stages. But when life demanded a pivot, she didn’t just change jobs—she launched a successful business built on a revolutionary concept. The catalyst came in 2011 after her oldest son’s autism diagnosis. Read more>>

PRODIGY TWAN

I didn’t take the traditional route most people expect after high school. College was always the plan, but reality hit hard. I simply couldn’t afford it. Watching everyone else move forward while I stayed back was rough. I had to grow up fast and start working a 9–5 just to help with bills and keep things steady at home. Read more>>

Chad Little

I’m from Columbus, Ohio — grew up on the east side and went to Catholic schools there, starting at Christ the King (now All Saints) and then Bishop Hartley High School. I played basketball and ran track, but once I realized I wasn’t going to play sports at a major level in college, I made a different choice. Read more>>