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.
Darlene Parks
LeneNicole began with a passion for creating beautiful, meaningful fragrances that bring comfort, warmth, and intention into everyday life. What started as a creative vision has grown into a brand built around thoughtfully crafted scents and the rituals they inspire. Today, LeneNicole continues to evolve through the support of customers who choose our fragrances to be part of their homes, routines, and special moments. Read more>>
Derrick Offei- Awuku
Music has always been part of my life but i released my first official single in 2017 titled ‘Let it go’. Over the years i have had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest act on the continent such as Patoranking, Kwesi, Arthur, Kelyvn Boy and Ayo Beatz. Read more>>
Phil Risher
I started my career at Enterprise Rent-A-Car in their management trainee program, where I ran a branch with about 300 cars and a $2–3 million budget, leading a team of about 20 people. I was one of the top branch managers there. From there I moved into corporate, selling fleet management services. Read more>>
Jennifer Vermillion
Before I ever picked up a spatula, my dream was to make people feel beautiful. I started my career in the beauty industry as a shampoo technician in a salon. I was eventually offered an apprenticeship, and after a couple of years of studying, learning and working incredibly hard, I earned my cosmetology license and began working behind the chair. Read more>>
Byron Jordan
I have spent more than 20 years in education, and much of what I am building today grew from lessons learned in classrooms long before there was a platform, a dashboard, or even a name for some of these ideas. My journey has included teaching and educational leadership in the United States as well as experiences abroad, including Egypt and the Mediterranean region. Read more>>
Deena Kilmon
The Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland, was founded in November 1971 by a group of local sportsmen and conservationists to celebrate the Eastern Shore’s wildlife heritage and raise funds for habitat protection Local enthusiasts planned the event around 1970 to coincide with the opening of the local goose hunting season. Read more>>
Tarah Steinbach
The Journey to Steinbach Physical Therapy, PLLC My path to founding Steinbach Physical Therapy, PLLC grew out of a clear, uncompromising vision for patient care: healthcare should be personal, focused, and centered entirely on the individual. Located steps from the Friendship Heights Metro station, the clinic serves active community members, athletes, performers, and patients recovering from post-surgical procedures across Washington, D.C., and surrounding neighborhoods. Read more>>
Lindsey Turnbull
Pre-pandemic, I randomly applied for, and was chosen for, a once-in-a-lifetime, all-woman, citizen science sailing mission. On that trip, which took place months before the world locked down, I worked with 11 amazing women to collect ocean water samples to be sent for microplastics testing and counting. Read more>>
Luis Dave Cerda Meregildo
Early Steps & Television Pre-2025 Before stepping into the director’s chair, I performed as an individual dancer on Dominican Got Talent. I built my foundational filmmaking experience by working as a location producer, casting director, and co-producer for university film projects at INTEC and CHAVÓN. Read more>>
Chris Robertson
Our story started with a love for food and a desire to build something of our own. I started in the food business with the goal of creating great food and bringing people together. After college, I bought a used step van and built my first food truck, eventually opening in 2014. It hasn’t always been easy. Read more>>
Serina Biaggio and Parwani Caroleo
The Frederick Feed started with a simple idea: we wanted to get out into the community, meet interesting people, and experience Frederick in a more authentic way. Read more>>
John Akindele
My artistic journey began at a very tender age in which I was inspired by my father’s sketch pad, a drawing of a lioness and her cup, I got connected with that particular sketch and I began to find a means to always replicate that picture, so at a particular stage of my life I decided to pursue a formal education considering enrolling in an art school to receive formal training and mentorship. Read more>>
Sinenkosi Msomi
I started conceptual photography in 2019 while I was a self sponsored student at the University of Eswatini after participating in a group exhibition by Yebo Art Gallery titled Eswatini Now, where I sold 2 artworks and realised that I could make an extra income from my talent since I have no formal training in photography. Read more>>
Dereje Demissie Weldegeorgis
My journey as an artist began in Ethiopia, where I was deeply inspired by the landscapes, culture, and visual traditions around me. I was drawn to painting from an early age, and that passion eventually led me to study Fine Art and earn my BFA in Painting from Addis Ababa University’s School of Fine Art and Design in 2012. Read more>>
Phillip Herring
I picked up a camera in 2012, and what started as curiosity turned into a way of seeing the world. I’m rooted in Palmer Park, in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and that sense of place, of paying attention to the people and rhythms around me has shaped everything about how I shoot. Read more>>
Paul Conners
I started first in landscaping; In New York I mowed neighbors’ lawns got bigger and bigger and eventually started my own landscaping business. Sold my landscaping business and got into the Home Improvement Business in New York wound up moving to Maryland because my wife’s family lives in Maryland then started My home improvement business here in Maryland and have been in business ever since. Read more>>
Nelson Moses
My journey with SoHy Station really began with a simple idea: I wanted to create a space where people could come together, celebrate, connect, and feel genuinely welcomed. I have always had a passion for hospitality, bringing people together, and creating memorable experiences. Read more>>
Faitth Brooks
My journey started when I was young. I had a bold personality. I was a leader, and I spoke up when others shied away from it. When I was eight, I sold my handwritten ‘newspapers’ in front of the Kroger in Grand Prairie, TX. Read more>>
Pedro Luz
Our story started with our own search for a better relationship with alcohol. We had experienced some of its negative effects in the past and became frustrated with the nonalcoholic options available. Most were either too weak, too expensive, or simply did not provide the relaxing social experience we were looking for. Read more>>
Chrsitian Scott
I grew up doing pageants and model work so I’ve always been around cameras, photography/videography, and that industry which correlates a lot with the reason, I do photography and videography now. When I was in my teens, I would photograph my friends, family, and even places I would go since my family and I travel a lot. Read more>>
Lesli Corbin
For much of my life, I knew how to be successful. I spent nearly 30 years in the corporate world, building a career in the employee benefits industry. I worked hard, often 75 hours a week, and became very good at doing what was expected of me. I knew how to solve problems, take responsibility, lead initiatives, keep moving, and be strong. Read more>>
Lataira Wilson
I actually got started in interior design in August of 2020, when I reached out to Haute & Polished Designs. At the time, I was in college pursuing my degree in photography, but I had also always been interested in interiors. Read more>>
Claudia Jimenez
My journey into tattooing really started with my love for art. I’ve always loved creating things, and I’ve always been the kind of person with a long list of creative hobbies. Over time, that creativity led me to tattooing, where I discovered my passion for fine-line and delicate tattoos, and eventually, Clauss Tattoo was born. Read more>>
Mimi Ge
My journey started in 2014 when I was working at a dance studio in Atlanta. I loved what I was doing, but at the same time was experiencing chronic back pain. This pain forced me to try many different remedies, but what I found most helpful was acupressure massage. This painful experience made me take a career detour away from dance. Read more>>
Precious Champegnie
My story has never followed a traditional path. I was born with hydrocephalus and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. From an early age, I learned the importance of resilience, imagination, and creating possibilities for myself—even when life did not unfold as expected. Writing became one of the ways I processed my experiences and expressed the stories I felt were missing. Read more>>
Sierra Johnson
My name is Sierra Johnson, and I am a Chicago-based fashion model whose journey began with a desire to express my personal style and create a life in fashion. In 2024, I initially set out to become a fashion influencer on Instagram. I began collaborating with local Chicago photographers, styling outfits, and creating content that reflected my personality and love for fashion. Read more>>
Blessing Francis Ekperikpe
I think my story with business started before I even knew what entrepreneurship really meant. I was 14 and still in secondary school when I made my first sale. My dad thought I was too young to run a business, and technically, I probably was. But that didn’t stop me. I started selling jewellery secretly in school. Read more>>
Fatmata John
My journey started with a genuine love for creativity, bringing ideas to life, and creating memorable experiences for others. What began as something I enjoyed doing naturally eventually grew into SASSY EVENTS, LLC. I officially started my business in 2020, and since then, I’ve continued to grow as an event decorator, balloon artist, and business owner. Read more>>
Kisha Washington
My story is not the norm, but I think all the twist and turns is what makes me who I am today. Ever since I was young, I loved cooking and food. My family would make weekend meals for the family, Thanksgiving was always huge, so cooking has always been there. Read more>>
Valerie Hou
I’ve always been a creative person. I started with more traditional fine art background of oil painting, drawing, and taking art classes which eventually led to my interest in pursing a BFA in Graphic Design. After graduating in 2021, I moved to the DC area and started my career as a graphic designer. Read more>>
Jackie Struble
I didn’t set out to build an operations company. I started out watching my husband build his construction business. Jacob owns Struble Construction, and for years I was in the background of that business, handling the parts nobody sees. Scheduling, client communication, the invisible thread that has to hold a project together so the person doing the actual work can focus on doing it well. Read more>>
Kadain Wallace
My passion for events and décor started long before I ever imagined it becoming a business. I was about 10 years old when I coordinated and hosted my very first event, a surprise birthday celebration for my favorite science teacher while I was in the fifth grade. Even at that age, I naturally stepped into the role of a planner. Read more>>
Kessiah Thomas
In high school, my life revolved around sports and marching band but due to circumstances beyond my control, that chapter closed far sooner than I ever expected. When I graduated high school in 2018 those activities that had defined me were simply a thing of the past and I was left facing a future that felt unfamiliar. Read more>>
Rita Ting-Hopper
My path to opening O Street Collection was not a traditional one. I spent much of my professional career as an attorney and entrepreneur, but I am also an artist. My own artwork has been represented by galleries on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and that gave me credibility and an opportunity to be discovered. Read more>>
Bettynah Dely
I’ve always loved nature, although I didn’t fully understand that love at the time. I loved wandering, going on adventures, and allowing my eyes to notice the beauty around me—the peacefulness of a butterfly, the beauty of flowers blooming, and the greenery that so many of us pass by without ever really noticing. I’ll never forget that trip to North Carolina. Read more>>
Alyssa Unowitz
Started with random social media videos, started worked as a health and wellness distributor and was did content creation for them. over the past 3 years I have been posting and trying to build a community on TikTok. Read more>>
Marti Sherell
Before I was three years old, someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. And without hesitation, I said: “A piano bar singer.” At that age, I wasn’t thinking about technique or career paths. Read more>>
Emma Scott
I’ve taught in the fitness industry since 2018, working across three or more studios at once while also running a social media management business on the side. Working at that many studios across multiple cities and modalities gave me a front row seat to how fitness studios and gyms actually operate, and it also showed me a gap that kept showing up everywhere I went. Read more>>
Jeane Alexander
When you have kids everything changes you know. Suddenly every moment mattered and every celebration was massive. So of course I went all out of my son’s first birthday. I DIYed a simple backdrop and to earn a little extra money I rented it out when I wasn’t busy. One day someone asked if I could add balloons. Read more>>
Mariama Coker-Kallon
My creative journey started long before Room 109 Studio. I started doing hair in high school, which eventually became Braids by Yama, my first real experience building something of my own. At the time, I probably didn’t realize how much I was learning about entrepreneurship. Read more>>
Sarah Bauman
It really started when I was about five months postpartum with my son. It was December, and I was sitting on the couch binge-watching a sugar cookie competition on Food Network to get myself into the Christmas spirit. I remember watching these people decorate these incredible cookies and thinking, “That looks like a fun challenge. Read more>>
Mitchell, Tony, Zach Linton, Ajayi, Spence
3708 Spirits started with a moment of celebration. While celebrating Mitchell earning his Doctorate of Pharmacy, three friends began talking about the milestones and accomplishments that bring people together. That moment sparked an idea: what if we created a brand centered around celebration? That idea became 3708 Spirits, founded by Dr. Mitchell Linton, Tony Ajayi, MBA, and Zachary Spence Jr. M.S. Read more>>
Melissa Horne
A Delaware native now residing in Elkton, Maryland, I had always had a creative side. By day, I work full-time in special education, a role that reflects the same patience, care, and heart I bring to my other passion—baking. My love for baking began at an early age. Read more>>
Sweta Shah
I grew up in Mumbai, India, and I have been painting for as long as I can remember. I began painting when I was three years old, so art was never something I suddenly discovered later in life. It was always there, a natural way for me to observe, process, and respond to the world around me. Read more>>
Terrace Blake
My journey into mental health wasn’t only a career choice; it was where a deep desire and fascination for people and their worldview developed, and where I felt I could best assist in helping others to understand their internal and external worlds. Read more>>
Merengeese Ambapardiwala
My dream of becoming a designer began during my college years. However, due to circumstances at the time, I wasn’t able to pursue design professionally and instead completed my master’s degree in computer science. Before stepping into the creative industry, I worked as a computer teacher at a school for several years. Read more>>
Jade Crist
If you had told me a year ago that I’d be running a pet-sitting business, I probably would’ve laughed. Jade & Paws wasn’t something I had planned for years or had some huge business plan for. I started it because I was trying to figure out what I could actually do for myself. Read more>>
Yakini Branch
My story with bead weaving began when I was about sixteen or seventeen years old. At the time, I was living in a women’s shelter, and someone there taught me the basic foundation of the craft. I could not have known then how important that introduction would become or how deeply beads would remain woven into my life. Read more>>
Anya Remy
I’ve always loved discovering places and sharing experiences with other people. My content journey really started with travel. I was very active in travel communities on Facebook, where I would share photos, recommendations and stories from my trips. People began responding to my content and asking questions about the places I visited, and I realized how much I enjoyed helping others discover somewhere new. Read more>>
Tanika (Niik) Lennon
I have always had a strong love and appreciation for locs and natural hair. My journey began with staring my own locs and creating my own hair products, including loc gels and various hair oils. As my business grew, I had the opportunity to participate in pop-up shops, allowing me to connect with even more people and share my products. Read more>>
Siobhan O’Brien
My longtime friend, Loveta Wilen had a dream of creating a unique setting for small weddings and therefore opened the Annapolis Wedding Chapel in September of 2010. Loveta had been the General Manager at Paul’s on the South River in Riva, Maryland (a popular wedding venue and fine dining restaurant) for 25 years. I was a photographer on Loveta’s vendor list. Read more>>
Benjamin Atanga
I was born in Cameroon, West Africa, and my journey has been driven by a passion for helping people improve their lives. After moving to the United States, I explored different career paths before discovering my calling in the wellness industry. Read more>>
