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.

Jaime Westhause

I hit a point where I wanted something of my own. In August of 2024, I really had to look at my options because I have a busy full-time job managing five distribution centers across the U.S., and I don’t have a lot of extra time. However, I decided to start anyway. Read more>>

Amanda Strand

Gamers Haven was established in 1998 by original store owner, Wally, with an outstanding selection and free playing environment for all table top miniature and hobby needs. Community was at the heart of Gamers Haven when it began, and continues to be the cornerstone of our mission today. Read more>>

Russell Jones

Jones Drones Cleveland was built out of a long career in production—not drones. I’ve spent over 25 years working in live events and entertainment, doing everything from stage work to large-scale productions. That experience shaped how I see visuals: not just as standalone shots, but as part of a bigger story. Read more>>

David Petersen

My story really started with logo design. I was helping businesses create a visual identity, and over time, those same clients started asking if I could help with websites. That opened the door to a much bigger understanding of what business owners actually need. They do not just need a logo or a website. Read more>>

Shannon Zemba

I grew up in the restaurant industry alongside my mother and stepfather in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, where I developed an early appreciation for hospitality, hard work, and the sense of community that food can create. Those formative years shaped not only my work ethic but also my passion for building meaningful dining experiences. Read more>>

Deborah Bryan

I am a medium and healer who works across all dimensions. I was born with these gifts, and in many ways, I was blessed not to realize how unusual they were at first. As a child, I believed I was simply dreaming, until those “dreams” began to unfold in real life. Read more>>

Marianne Minogue

Denim & Design was created from a lifelong passion for beautiful living—where style isn’t just worn, it’s felt in every corner of your life. Founded by Marianne Minogue, Denim & Design brings together years of experience in luxury home furnishings, fashion, and retail leadership. Read more>>

Amanda Uncapher

I’ve always had a passion for fashion, which led me to attend The Ohio State University for fashion merchandising. After graduating, I gained hands-on experience working in several corporate fashion offices, where I learned the ins and outs of the industry—from operations to buying to brand development. Those experiences gave me the confidence and foundation to pursue something of my own. Read more>>

Lucy Kulbago

Sew4Service was founded by Lucy Kulbago in August 2021. Lucy has supported many charitable organizations in her community, and has volunteered her time as a Girl Scout leader and service unit director, Science Olympiad coach and event supervisor, PTO member and president, and more. She also found a creative outlet through quilting and crocheting and is a member of the Cotton Candy Quilt Guild. Read more>>

Courtney Rietman

It all began with a simple idea fueled by a deep passion for a change. The goal? To create a fun, family friendly, community focused event while also supporting local small businesses. To offer a space where people can gather, enjoy good food and spend time together. Read more>>

Amanda Dixon

Amanda Dixon is the CEO of Dixon Enterprise Services LLC and the founder of Gahanna-based ATX Auctions – Columbus. A resilient entrepreneur, Amanda launched her first business on her back porch in the spring of 2020—just weeks before the world shut down. While many would have paused, she pressed forward, building a thriving company during one of the most uncertain economic periods in modern history. Read more>>

Stephenie Boys

What started as a creative hobby quickly became a passion-driven career. I’m completely self-taught and first picked up a camera while photographing jewelry I made and sold myself. Learning product photography sparked something bigger, and over the last 14 years I’ve been dedicated to creating memories for families by capturing meaningful images. Read more>>

Christine Haylett

I’ve always loved Halloween and horror movies. I was out shopping for Halloween decor with a friend about 8 years ago and we picked up some random decoration and said we could probably make that. She went on to make wreaths and decorate skeletons and I started sculpting on Dollar Store skulls. I surprised myself; I had absolutely no idea I could sculpt. Read more>>

Angela Barzizza-Young

I’m a Northeast Ohio transplant. I was born and raised in Memphis, TN, I attended Indiana University where I earned a BA in Theatre & Drama with a minor in English. I also hold a M.S.in Middle Childhood Education with a concentration in Mathematics from CUNY Brooklyn College. Read more>>

Imani Dillard

I am Imani Dillard. I am from Lima, Ohio, I am the founder of The Imani Dillard Show since 2022. Make sure you click subscribe, click like, click share and make comments. In 2024-2025, I have interviewed Stevie D. Read more>>

Malikah Williams

I started A Queen’s Touch LLC with a simple but powerful intention—to create a space where people could truly feel cared for, not rushed through a service. As a Licensed Massage Therapist with over 11 years of experience, I quickly realized that many clients were not receiving the level of personalized, intentional care their bodies actually needed. Read more>>

HEIDI GEIB

Growing up, I knew I wanted to work in Healthcare, but I am not good at blood and needles at all. I decided to pursue pharmacy instead to avoid all that. I have been a pharmacist for over 30 years in this community. Read more>>

Kyle Armstrong

Hello, I am Kyle Armstrong, Skin Vandal Tattoo’s owner and artist. Born in June of 1995, my artistic journey began at a very young age, long before I can even remember. Most recently, I began the art of tattooing in late 2016. Read more>>

Brenda Johnston

I was born to Christian parents and grew up with my two sisters. At different points in our lives, our family struggled with food insecurity and housing, which gave me a firsthand understanding of what it means to live in need. Read more>>

Niyia Whitsett

Self-Approved Wellness Systems was built from paying attention. Paying attention to how stress shows up in the body. How grief changes behavior. How unresolved emotions quietly shape the way people function every day. Over time, one thing became clear: people don’t lack effort — they lack understanding. Many people are moving through life disconnected from what their bodies, emotions, and environments are communicating. Read more>>

Megan Aksterowicz

Mediumship is something that I honestly just fell into from a professional standpoint. It was never my goal, but it’s where life took me. There is an innate quality to mediumship, and I certainly had many experiences as a child and they continued into adulthood. Read more>>

Telu’an Veyar

I grew up in rural Darke County, Ohio, in the early 1980s, in the middle of a cornfield. And before I say anything else I want to say something about what that actually means, because it is the foundation of everything that followed. Read more>>

Anna Barnes

First off, thank you so much for including me in your Inspiring Stories series! I grew up in Medina, Ohio where I was immersed in and allowed to freely explore and develop a deep appreciation for the sciences, reading and writing, and nature through my exposure to all academic subject areas, all types of arts, and the great outdoors both in school and at home. Read more>>

Lilly Price

My name is Lilly Price. In 2007 I landed my first job as a case manager for a mental health agency here in Stark County. I was a single mom of two working and going to school to finish my bachelors and eventually my Master’s in 2017. Read more>>

Michael Bernot

My path to where I am today was anything but linear. From a young age, I was raised to value service to others. I attended schools that emphasized service, volunteered regularly, and participated in extracurricular activities with service components woven throughout them. Read more>>

Joshua Cerreta

I’ve always balanced a standard W2 job and real estate. I bought my first duplex in 2015 because I couldn’t afford a whole house for myself. I slowly built from there organically until finally acquiring The Rosebrook building in 2020. It took a while before I was in a position to perform much needed renovations and updates to the building (HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, etc.). Read more>>

Matthew Wisniewski

I was working for a private practice that I thought was going to be my job until I retired. Unfortunately, toxicity took over the work place and the owner decided to abruptly close the business. Read more>>

Andrea Sherman

I’m a working mom of three with a full-time career, and much of my life revolves around supporting my kids—whether that’s coaching their sports teams or keeping up with their many activities. Read more>>

Erika Piland

Like many college students, I changed majors a few times. However, once I took an undergraduate law course, I knew I was hooked. I asked my professor to recommend books on legal practice so I could explore the possibility further. After reading those, I knew I was heading to law school. Read more>>