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.
Mallory Munnerlyn
I’m a mother to two amazing boys Zyier 14 and Karter 8. They are my everything, my motivation besides God. November 22, 2023 my oldest son passed away at the age of 13. I would later learn not only the cause but that his symptoms had been altered to accommodate the diagnosis they provided at his final visit. After taking him multiple times to his primary care physician , I decided to take him to an ER at another facility after he started complaining of a headache that he said felt like someone was kicking him in his head. Read more>>
TJ Mack
As TJ & Savannah learned more about the river’s history they realized that it still had a negative connotation because of the fire 50 years prior. Much of the surrounding community still saw the river as dirty, so Savannah facilitated scientific experiments on the water quality of the Cuyahoga River as well as other local waterways that are used recreationally. The results showed that the Cuyahoga was just as clean as, and often cleaner than, these other waterways. (Which can be attributed to all of the hard work that the community and stewards have put into this now beautiful waterway!) Read more>>
Allison Kennedy
A second-chance, small town, spicy adult romantic suspense novel. With complex characters and immersive story telling, my story weaves together themes of love, loss, grief, trauma, and the importance of self-love and a strong community of support. My five-star rated book is now available online on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart, as well as select local independent bookstores in the greater Cleveland area. My 2025 schedule is packed with book signings, book fairs and other events. I feel honored and grateful to have reached this height and look forward to every chance to reach and engage with new readers. I hope that my story can inspire others to reach for their dreams, despite the barriers and difficulties that often stand in the way. Read more>>
Alivia Speicher
I would say Im an artist, and I specialize in photography. To me they go hand in hand, I’ve always had the urge to create which has changed over the years through many different forms of art. I love the beauty and love surrounding wedding days, all your loved ones so close celebrating and enjoying each other, I also love in home photos and maternity photos because they are so intimate and truly capture life in general and are truly so beautiful. Read more>>
Conor Sessions
It hasn’t been smooth at all. As far as success goes, we have a relatively small but loyal group of people that follow us. We were never the “cool” band in our scene, and we have never won a single award or battle of the bands. Honestly, that’s probably why we’re still around. We focus on our friendship and making art. Read more>>
Edward Macak
Ultimately, I did not always know I would be pursueing photography and videography until I hit high school. In my freshman year, I took an photography class as a blow-off class. Little did I know, it was actually an analog course – developing photo negatives in a dark room, making pinhole cameras from scratch, and learning about photography overall in the more “classic” way. I fell in love with the process, and knew that was what I wanted to do. That year, I made it into my very first art show. Unfortunately, that was also the year COVID hit — I never got my piece back, and I don’t really even know if the art show ever happened. I was also moving at the time, so it wasn’t my focus to keep track of the happenings of that. I was still overall new to photography. Read more>>
Matthew Hunter
We create Cricket Boy and I find out my Sophomore Year of High School, our school is one of the schools that get to go to CVCC for my Junior and Senior year of high school. I hated real school, my senior year, I had maybe 2 classes then hung out with my one English teacher, Matthew Chamberlin as a teacher assistant for 2 periods, but even cooler, he did 90% of the music for my first feature film. But luckily I was a few selected since they only picked 1-3 maybe of each school and I was a lucky one, thank goodness since without CVCC, I would never of made movies fully. Read more>>
The 180 Westside Harvest Center
Recently, as a group of us reunited we felt the pull from God to do it again. We have seen a shift in the community and want to see a generation experience the love of Christ through pouring out the gifts and talents God has given to each of us. We have a passion to see teens know and understand that they are created with purpose and are fully made to be loved, no matter the circumstances they have faced. Read more>>
Rhianna (Rhi) Gonzales
The struggles I’ve experienced have been mostly internal. I think sharing art is such a vulnerable thing to do. These creations I make from scrap paper tell a story and letting myself be seen and heard in this way has been a challenge. I had to really learn to open up and not fear that. But I think there are people that can see a piece of my art and relate to it in their own way and that has helped me share more and to connect deeper to my art. Read more>>
David Driskill
Now that I think about it, everything I’ve done up to this point involved a camera whether it was taking a photo or video but it wasn’t until I moved back to Cincinnati that I wanted to pick up a camera professionally and learn as much as I could. Initially, it was just a hobby but the more I learned, the more I wanted to turn it into a business. So I started doing photography first and took a lot of classes at YU (Youtube University), then I fell in love with the art of storytelling through video and editing which is how I built my business DRSKL Productions LLC. We do photography, videography, editing, launched a clothing line, and now (you heard it hear first) script writing. I’ve been blessed to gain a handful of clients from across several industries (real estate, podcasting, content creators, etc…) and still growing day by day. Read more>>
Shannon Kane
I specialize in lived-in color.! My clients love having a beautiful color while still being able to go a few months between appointments. Creating color that enhances the natural beauty is something I crave. I love making people feel amazing, confident and beautiful. I love working with both blondes and brunettes! My red hair ladies have a special place in my heart. Anything color related – I’m obsessed with! Read more>>
Allison Schroeder
We are women-owned and women-led and incorporate our core values in all we do: Bold, Creative & Enthusiastic, and we bring that to life through the campaigns we develop and the relationships we maintain with the media and influencer community. Through our work, we aim to bring people together in fun and engaging ways. Read more>>
Bear Barnhart
Two of my biggest hurdles were: I got my license in massage therapy the year before COVID hit, so I was beginning a brand new career and was really worried that the industry was not going to survive the pandemic. But we learned to massage while masking, and doing new, more rigorous cleanings to keep everyone safe, and the world spun on. The second hurdle was I moved from Cincinnati to Columbus, and had to build a brand new clientele. Massage therapy is largely a word-of-mouth business, so when you’re starting up in a new city you have to spend a lot of time and energy advertising and letting people know you exist! Read more>>
Jessica Dunlevy
Flash forward a bit; we were eating at an outdoor restaurant, it was 95 degrees outside, and my daughter was hungry. At this point, I had felt a bit more comfortable breastfeeding in public but I was still using a cover when nursing her. We were sitting there in the middle of the patio, dripping sweat from the heat, the cover was completely getting in the way, and I was over it. I decided that day to throw my nursing cover away! Read more>>
Paid Leave
In may of 2023, A few of us decided to get some like-minded people together and make music. We started out in a garage just playing rock & roll covers, trying to get whatever gigs we could. Tired of waiting around, we financed a PA system and booked our first show at a memorial day party. From there, we continued to practice hard and eventually got our foot in the door at a few local venues. Since our days of garage-rocking, we’ve written original music and played anywhere from Prebble County to Cleveland. We are currently gearing up to record our first EP. Read more>>
Laurie Applegarth
We have 8 taps so you can choose different beers, ciders and sangria on tap. We have a wine cooler for the wine lovers. We set up custom made wooden high top bars that really just make our set up even more beautiful. Our truck is one of a kind and is decorated with reclaimed wood, and an amazing barn beam as our tap tower. We show up and take care of every little detail so you don’t have to do anything. We are a family owned business and we love what we do. We have met so many amazing people in just the 1st year of business. Read more>>
Theodore Skipper
I started Elevate Advisory Group off of wanting to help those around me. In the three years I have been in business I have helped open a dog grooming salon, several coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, food trucks, clothing boutiques, and done over 300 business plans. I sit on a board that helps inspiring entrepreneurs get ready for that life. I mainly help them with business plans as I believe that is the foundation of your business. Once you have that the next steps with your idea fully realized set you up for success! Read more>>
Gina Arens
The Mason Historical Society was formed in 1979 by a group of residents interested in promoting and preserving the town’s history. In 1989 Alverta Green left her house to the historical society to use as a museum. I previously sent you our September newsletter which tells the full story and includes photos of Alverta Green and the museum. If you are unable to use these photos, please let me know and I will provide other photos. Read more>>
Brandy Jackson
I am a full service wedding and event coordinator and I specialize in luxury balloon design. I am known for my event coordination skills , connecting my clients with the right team to meet their needs and I am very good at being flexible and going with the best option to get the job done in a timely, professional and creative manner. Read more>>
Elle Anderson
However, life quickly changed for me, and I realized that while my dream was always vet school, I had many other passions I wanted to explore before committing to becoming a doctor. After many trials and errors with different jobs, I began creating content again, reviving a hobby that once provided me with side income. This is when I realized that content creation not only gave me a creative outlet but also the freedom I had been searching for in a job. Read more>>
Lex Bishop
Like any journey, building Collared Conduct hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been breaking through common misconceptions about dog training. Many people expect quick fixes, but true behavior change takes time, patience, and consistency. Educating owners on the importance of communication, trust, and enrichment has been an ongoing effort, but it’s one I’m passionate about. Read more>>
Yvonne Ballard
Since starting our family so young I set out to discover who I was and how I would really make a difference and be a role model to our children. I really had a complex about the challenges I faced as a young black woman and mother so I want to shift the paradigm to be successful in everything I did. Read more>>
Katelyn Stoffel Brittany Knapp
After many ideas and lots of brainstorming, we were inspired to open a Mobile Bartending Company., and decided to take that leap of faith side by side. We are just two sisters working together, doing what we love to do, and providing a special experience that our guests will always remember. We started from the ground up, worked hard on our business, while also working full time jobs, to get to where we are at now. We are now working our business full time and excited to say our business is growing rapidly. We are very thankful for all the amazing people we have connected with and especially for our first time clients that put their trust in us to make their events even more special. Read more>>
Carolyn Reveal
I still have a note from my nursing school instructor about a patient I cared for. She stated my assessment of the emotional needs of my patient was excellent and I had connected on a level that others had not. He was a terminal patient who was alone and I talked to him frankly and with acceptance of his death. That was the first seed planted and as I cared for my aunts and uncles when they were dying, and later my mother and father, I realized I had a gift. This early experience helped me become aware of how important it is to meet my patients where they are and not have preconceived ideas or judgments. I was kind, truthful, realistic, and caring during times of crisis, the unknown, and when people are most vulnerable. Read more>>
Ryan Mccloe
I have a degree in Merchandising in Fashion, and a Certificate as a Community health worker, so I definitely was not excited to have to go back to school to study and test again. With my amazing support system that helped and encouraged me along the way, I passed with flying colors and aced my state board exams. Read more>>
Alicia Sell
I was taken aback by the request, as I was a recently divorced woman, and this was not something I thought was even possible for me to do. It was always a pipe dream that some day way down the line I’d open a gift shop, but it honestly wasn’t something I thought would actually happen. But with support from my Mom, I was able to purchase Busy Bee Boutique in June of 2024. I’ll always appreciate the former owner, Leshia, believing in me and giving me this opportunity. Read more>>
Roo Metasequoia
After my time there I returned to Ithaca to rebuild the band anew. Over a short time we slid right back into the local music scene. We toured, recorded, joined a record label, played festivals, casinos, built residencies and immersed ourself in the musical community. 2020 hit and halted everything I’ve spent my entire life building. But our band didn’t allow this to kill our dreams. We self recorded an album during lockdown, and worked with our community to feature artists on it. We wanted to continue doing what we loved, and include those who were feeling the same struggles we did. Read more>>
Jimmie Lee
Nothing worth having is ever easy. Although there are many smooth lengths of roads on your journey, you do run into rough patches to navigate through. As a wrestler, some of the struggles you may encounter is dealing with bad apple promoters that don’t want to pay agreed booking fees, wrestling others who may not have been trained professionally and risking injury from their sub bar skills or having to sit on the sidelines from injuries and not being able to make a living. Read more>>
De’vile Mortis
Eventually I began to feel disconnected from cosplaying, I wasn’t as euphoric and felt like something was missing. I had lived around the country at this point and finally moved back to Ohio in 2018 when my drive for cosplaying was really dying out. I was in a queer show choir for a few years which helped build some confidence, but it wasn’t enough. And then I went to my first drag show in this state and saw the alternative drag scene for the first time. I saw drag kings and nonbinary performers so in tune with who they were and I just knew in that moment that that’s what was calling me. Read more>>
Meghan Brewster
During my dance studies, I was exposed to dance therapy, which I loved the idea of, so I picked up a psychology major. Still not sure, I then took a semester to work for Walt Disney World in their college program. Well, that didn’t last long since that was the beginning of 2020. I was sent home and spent a summer working at Freddy’s Steakburger and Custard and catching up taking online classes. Back on campus in the fall, I started dating the boy I had put in the “friend zone” the year before, Ben. Sadly, he did graduate/transfer that semester (long story) to The Ohio State University to finish his finance degree. But we were crazy and up for long-distance love. Read more>>
DJ Sanderfer
I initially started designing clothes for myself. I would thrift garments that didn’t have any designs or character to them, and would create something out of them. People would ask me about the garment and in turn, request if I could make something for them. It started out just as a hobby and didn’t ask to be compensated, but people would still gift me in exchange for my time and creativity. I soon realized I could make something bigger out of my passion to give people confidence thought my form of art, so I began to design pieces from scratch and thus, my brand was created. I am now designing and mass producing garments with the intent to share my creations with people all over the world. Read more>>
Landon Shelpman
I started off my journey Freshman year of High School by going down to a local outlet of candy, buying chocolates, sour worms, and all the other sweets I could get my hands on then returning to school on monday with a bookbag, lunchbox, and drawstring bag full to the brim. It got to a scale where our classes were being interrupted by almost a revolving door of students grabbing their daily orders of my newfound candy enterprise. Months after, COVID-19 struck and shut our school down and the candy operation followed suit. That’s a story I’ll cherish forever because I believe it’s what set me into who I am today. Read more>>
Jess Nardelli
People look to content creators for honest opinions – there’s no sense in sending them just anywhere. Food is an art, and good food is something so special. When you can taste the love and effort that went into one single dish – it’s mind blowing. I’ve traveled all over the world finding the best eats including places such as Thailand, France, and Italy. And to be honest – the street food is some of the best! Life’s too short to eat bad food & I just hope to guide you all to some amazing spots! Read more>>
Tyson Davis
Now, I’m focused on working with models, building a strong fashion portfolio, and making the right industry connections. I’m open to traveling for work and, more than anything, I want to establish myself in the fashion scene in South Korea. The industry there is thriving, and I know it’s the perfect place to push my creative vision even further. Right now, I’m working on expanding my network, shooting more fashion-forward work, and positioning myself for bigger opportunities. Read more>>
Kyra Gates
This season we ran into that. We have 9 teams and also added a boys team. Next season we will be combining some teams and not bringing any one new inside unfortunately it was over kill this season. From the volleyball program and having only – senior team each year we have also been extremely successful in assisting young ladies in getting scholarships to play in college. More than 75 student athletes have benefited from this. This year we added a boys team and how to do the same for them. We did all this without sponshopship and only a few donations here and there. Read more>>
Marcus Waine
After high school, I went to college at Kent State and then continued at Berklee College of Music for music production. Since 2019 I’ve released 3 studio albums, and multiple ep’s and singles under the label .SINGLETON, which also doubles as my brand as well! Currently I’m working on a new album/character called .WINSTON. Since late 2024/early 2025, I’ve released 3 singles from the album which are quickly gaining traction on the independent scene since the start of this rollout. The album is also set for release later this year with the date still TBA, but we’re shooting for the summer. Read more>>
Wasfi Samaan
My family was always buying destressed businesses and real estate and turning them around. We operated 6 gas stations at one point, a car lot, mechanic shop and banquet hall. In 1998 we purchased a distressed bowling alley in Nicholasville Kentucky and renovated. We added a full restaurant and a vibrant entertainment complex that we called JD Legends. In 2002 we did the same thing in Franklin Ohio. We started do small scale music in 2004 and eventually booked our first National Act Digital Underground. The rest is history. Each year we did more and more national concerts. Read more>>
Tiffany Ferrari
Relocating 1,000 miles, raising three active kids, and establishing myself in a new market has been no easy feat. My oldest now plays college softball at Denison University, my middle child is headed to Carnegie Mellon in Fall 2025, and my youngest is deeply involved in sports. Balancing family and business is demanding, especially for mothers, but I’ve navigated it all—school events, sports, college visits, and everyday life—while keeping my business thriving. Read more>>
Stella Compiseno
Stella’s journey began in the corporate world of New York City, where she thrived in Institutional Equity Sales & Trading. A place known for its stern suits, high-pressure deals, and relentless pace, the environment was far from the creative space Stella had secretly longed for. Beneath the suits and ties, she had a passion for fashion—something that often felt stifled in a world that valued numbers over nuance. Read more>>
