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.

Kristina Plekhanova

Our journey began over 14 years ago, when yoga first became a part of my life. Back then, I had no idea how profoundly it would shape me, guiding me through life’s challenges and helping me grow into the person I am today. Yoga wasn’t just about movement – it was about healing, discovery, and empowerment. Read more>>

Chris Murphy

In 2017 my husband came up with the idea to open a creperie and design it like it was owned by a little old lady. At first I wrote it off as a crazy daydream but eventually came around to the idea and Brewella was born! So we found a storefront in Lakewood, the town we live in, and began to build it all out. Read more>>

Cassandra Lanter

Though I graduated from cosmetology school back in high school, I didn’t truly dive into the beauty industry until 2021. Coming out of the pandemic, I had been working a stable 9–5 office job for years. It was steady, but stressful, and it never lit a fire in me. Read more>>

Mike Prasse

It began on a napkin in a Mexican restaurant. I volunteered at a local dog park, and noticed that people would ask if a certain dog was already in the park. If it was, they would leave until that other dog was gone. But what if a dog park was only for 1 dog at a time? And had attractions for dogs? Read more>>

Martha Witkowski

Root Counseling began as both a personal and professional dream—to make therapy more accessible for everyone, myself included. After having my first child in 2019, I found myself on maternity leave, realizing that returning to a traditional therapy setting just wasn’t compatible with the kind of parent I wanted to be. That’s when the idea for an online therapy practice was born. Read more>>

Pamela Popper

My interest in health developed decades ago after reading a magazine article about diet and health, A friend subsequently loaned me a copy of the original McDougall Plan. I read the entire book in one day. I had lost the same 20 pounds 10 times and was ready for change, so I adopted the McDougall plant-based diet, and started exercising. Read more>>

Steven Swartz

I’m a Cincinnati native. Having attended Lakota East High School and then attended College at Colorado State University. While pursuing degrees in Graphic Design and Business, I was a track athlete and team captain. It taught me dedication, perseverance and leadership skills. Post graduation i travelled, moved to a couple cities for a year or less at a time and gained so much life experience. Read more>>

Mecca Abdul-Aziz

My mom has been a outstanding caregiver for over 20 years. I mentioned her having her own business in home care and she brushed me off. At the time, I did not think about doing it myself. I originally was coming from education and always knew I wanted to have my own business. I had just started an education tech position and got laid off. Read more>>

Brittney Deschler

Oh gosh, my story… I don’t even know where to begin. There have been so many little things that formed my path, it’s hard to really give a Cliff Notes version… Thanks to my grandparents, I practically grew up in front of the camera and understood the sentimental value of capturing life’s little moments at a young age. Read more>>

Oleksandr Murza

My story doesn’t start in a restaurant — it begins in a small kitchen filled with the smell of bread, garlic, and laughter. I grew up believing that food could connect people in ways words never could. Watching someone smile after the first bite — that was my spark. Read more>>

Jeanne Phillips

Music has always been a part of my life. My parents and older siblings were all appreciators of all styles of music. Most took formal lessons. My formal training started at the age of 5 with piano lessons. I was soon performing in recitals, church services, and school events – whether on the piano, vocals, or both. Read more>>

Brad Eickhoff

With over 47 years in the entertainment industry, I’ve seen my fair share of show-stopping moments. One day, a friend who had crafted props for my magic shows mentioned someone he knew who built Foam Cannons. Read more>>

Robin Coolidge

Before I was a Wine Maker and Winery Owner I was an IT professional. About 30 years ago I was in San Francisco on business. It was close to my wedding anniversary, so I decided to extend my visit and brought my wife to be with me as a quick celebration. She wanted to visit the Napa Valley to taste wine. Read more>>

Thomas Runyan

Starting working in the videogame industry around 2001 working for EB Games as an assistant Manager. I’ve always had an affinity for videogames and the stories they told. They let me be someone or something I was not in the real world. Fantasy or science fiction it didn’t matter it was an escape to another world or dimension. Read more>>

Tumnus Rex

In high school, my favorite subjects were art and physics. When it was time to go off to college, I decided to pursue a degree in astrophysics. While I was introduced to many things that expanded my horizons during a year at a liberal arts college, I realized that doing calculus every day was not what had originally captured me about astronomy. Read more>>

Brittany Humble

So fashion came pretty easy to me. Read more>>

Tori King

I’m a traditionally trained Physician Assistant and spent the first five years of my career in the emergency department, followed by several years in an OBGYN practice. It was during my time in women’s health that I began to notice significant gaps in care, especially when it came to understanding hormones and root-cause healing. Read more>>

Dr.Dipanwita Sengupta

The Journey of Dr. Dipanwita Sengupta Roy — Dance Artist, Dance Mentor, Former Cancer Researcher. Dance has always been the rhythm of my soul. Although my academic path led me into the intricate world of science—culminating in a doctorate and years of post-doctoral cancer research—my spirit constantly gravitated toward movement, storytelling and creation. Read more>>

Olena Miller

Be Free Counseling started somewhat unexpectedly. I was working for an agency that encouraged me to create my own LLC, and at first, it was simply a formality. I wasn’t seeing clients initially, but instead, I used that space to start a podcast where licensed therapists talked about all things mental health. Read more>>

Erik Lopez

When my brother Saul moved back from France in 2018, we knew we wanted to start a business together. We just had no idea it would start with foster puppies. At the time I was living in Houston with my three dogs, Millie, Luna, and Nova, and constantly surrounded by fosters – dogs, cats, whoever needed a home. Read more>>

James Heaton

As a teenager leaving high school, I thought I would like to be a doctor someday, but had no idea how I was going to get there. I began my undergrad at The Ohio State University, and when the money ran out, I went back to work as a computer operator. Read more>>

Wilma Troyer

We are a privately owned, family-run business—husband and wife, not a franchise—and we’re not affiliated with any other EE System location. We take great pride in offering a beautiful, peaceful space where people can relax and unwind within the EE System, surrounded by soothing music and the uplifting, high-frequency scents of Young Living essential oils. Read more>>

Craig Walder

I was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. Coming from a home grounded in faith, I accepted Christ at the age of 12 at Faith Deliverance Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Pastor Norman McDuffie. Like many young people, I strayed for a season, but at age 24, after many bumps and bruises, I realized that life without Christ is empty. Read more>>

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>>