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.
Melanie Ulbricht 
I started All Star Cheerleading at age 14. After trying many different sports and activities as a child, nothing really clicked as truly my “thing” I liked a little bit of everything until I began Competitive Cheer. I was instantly hooked. Read more>>
Casie Shires 
I started my career in cosmetology school through the Center of Applied Technologies. After graduating, I earned my cosmetology license and began working in several salons in the area, including Robert Andrew’s Salon & Spa in Gambrills. Eventually, I decided to switch paths and enter the medical field. Read more>>
Kerri Brown 
I’m Kerri, the creator, designer, and maker behind Skullywagg. The brand originates from my quirky love of Jolly Roger flags and pirates combined with my passion for dogs, hence the wordplay on ‘scallywag’. My creative journey began at a young age with a love of drawing and block printing. Read more>>
LaJune Singleton 
My mother, instilled in me a love for sports, fitness, and wellness that propelled me into becoming an AFPA Certified Personal Trainer in 2010. However, life, ever so unpredictable, threw a wrench in my plans with a severe knee injury that changed my world in more ways than one. Read more>>
Melanie Stagnaro 
I’ve been working professionally as a photographer since 2014, which is wild to be able to say out loud because I’m not sure when I became old enough to have a 12-year career! Photography has actually been part of my life for much longer than that, though. I’ve always loved taking photos. Read more>>
Rachelle Johnson 
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, by a strong single mother who instilled in me the values of faith, perseverance, education, and hard work. Those early lessons became the foundation for a journey that has taken me through science, corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, service, survivorship, and now modeling with purpose. Education was one of my first pathways to opportunity. Read more>>
Yazmín Sostre 
My story began in Puerto Rico. When I was eight years old, my father moved our family to Maryland. I had to learn English quickly while also trying to catch up in school. Today, I proudly consider myself a Marylander and a Boricua. Growing up in Maryland in a Puerto Rican household—and being mixed-race—shaped my identity and taught me to appreciate different perspectives. Read more>>
Setareh Kamali 
For more than a decade, I worked as a federal employee in public affairs and communications, most recently at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health. At NIMH, I focused on communicating trusted, evidence-based mental health information in ways people could understand and use. Read more>>
Kimberlyn Cahill 
Finding yoga after a traumatic bicycle accident, I was lucky to find a local studio and community to guide my search for healing, rest, and recuperation. Reconnecting with my body, mind and spirit through the practice and teachings of yoga, I was able to re-engage and redesign my life. Read more>>
Byron Smith 
I was born and raised in West Baltimore, Maryland, in the historic Pennsylvania Avenue community. Growing up, I learned early the importance of perseverance, education, and giving back. As a proud graduate of Frederick Douglass High School, I continued my journey at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a concentration in Business. Read more>>
Nathalie Grolleman-Meussen 
Originally from the Netherlands, our Dutch family moved to the USA in 2016 after living in the Republic of Georgia and Tanzania. My background as a former intensive care nurse fueled my passion for maternal care and led me to train and become certified as a birth and postpartum doula. What started as a solo passion grew rapidly through client referrals. Read more>>
Natalee DeHart 
GoodCleanFunLife began in 2009 as a way to share our personal passions, community life, and storytelling through multimedia platforms. Read more>>
Austin McGarrity 
I’m the owner of Electric Daisy Florist in Bel Air, Maryland. I have 6 years in the floral industry. Growing up, I’ve always had a true passion for art and being creative. Not only am I a florist but I am an artist as well. I enjoy drawing, painting, jewelry making, wreath making, preserving flowers, digital art, doing special fx / beauty make-up and sculpting. Read more>>
Ransome Ndikum 
I began my photography journey in 2018 as a hobby, driven purely by my love for capturing meaningful moments. I purchased my first professional gear and would often take it with me to events, photographing guests and celebrants simply because I enjoyed shooting. Afterward, I would share the photos with them at no cost. Read more>>
Johnny Mason 
Johnny ‘JD The Junior (c) / Ace Angel’ Mason – Artist/Referee/Wrestler/Business Owner Birthday: February 12th, 1994 | Age: 32 My Name Is Johnny Dion Mason And I’m Mainly Recognized As The Artist ‘JD The Junior’. I’m A Maryland Based Independent Rap Artist, Event Planner And Business Owner Of My Own Multi-Media Entertainment Company Jet Major Entertainment LLC. Read more>>
Derrick Morrison 
My journey began during my senior year of high school. While working at a local car wash on Kent Island, I saved enough money to put a down payment on a dump trailer and started offering junk removal services throughout the area. I began posting in local Facebook groups and introducing my services to residents and businesses throughout the community. Read more>>
Mélanie Dumais 
My story has never been a straight line and I think that’s what makes it mine. I’m a French-Canadian entrepreneur from Quebec, actress, content creator and independent Travel Ambassador based near Montreal. For many years, entrepreneurship has been part of my life. Read more>>
Shamal Tashkilot 
My story is probably a little different from most music producers. Before music became such a big part of my life, sport was my world. I was a wrestler on the Danish national team, became a four-time Danish champion, and later competed professionally in MMA. For many years, everything revolved around training, competition and pushing myself to improve. Read more>>
Lyssa Paculba 
My journey into social media started long before I ever imagined I’d build a business around it. I began my career working in media & advertising company based in Seattle, where I spent several years learning and managing social media and eventually took on quality assurance responsibilities. Read more>>
Letiyo Mawadri 
Though I’m Ugandan, I grew up across the African continent and the Middle East before coming to the US by way of South Dakota, on a scholarship to study accounting and finance. I was homeschooled from about age 10 through high school, an unconventional setup that meant a lot of isolation and very controlled exposure to the world outside my immediate family. Read more>>
Emani Greene 
My story has really been a journey of becoming. I’ve always been a dreamer, a creative, and someone who naturally loves encouraging and pouring into others. I’ve always had a love for beauty and fashion for as long as I can remember, but I don’t think I always realized how all of those pieces would eventually come together and become part of my purpose. Read more>>
Maria Richardson 
Thank you for inviting Envisage Candle & Bath Company to be part of the Hidden Gems series. I am truly grateful that you give small businesses like mine a platform to be seen and to share the beautiful products we create. Read more>>
Edward Sparks 
I was eight years old when the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. I remember vividly being captured by that image and sound. I wanted to be a musician and learn guitar. Read more>>
Tracey Tucker 
My business began with a dream, but it wasn’t my own—it was my niece’s. She asked, ‘Remember how you used to sell pound cakes after church?’ That was a long time ago. I’ve always been a good cook, but baking wasn’t really my specialty. She suggested we focus on bread instead of cake. Read more>>
Brent Birckhead 
Music was always around me growing up. My dad played Earth Wind & Fire, James Brown, Parliament Funkadelic in the car. My ears always went to the horns. The first jazz album I remember was Kind of Blue. Cannonball and Coltrane on the same record. That one stuck. My brother played trumpet so having music in the house was normal. Read more>>
Gloria Mills 
If you looked at my career on paper, it might seem like I’ve changed direction several times. I see it differently now. Each chapter taught me another way to understand people, solve problems, and create something that makes their experience better. To really tell the story, I have to rewind to around 2008. Read more>>
Mick McAndrews 
I am primarily a self taught watercolor artist having learned by attending workshops with master artists and then devoting many years of hard work and practice to develop the skills that I now refer to as sophisticated simplicity. I teach classes throughout the year at the Wayne Art Center and workshops across the U.S. Read more>>
Miya Walker 
My name is Miya Walker, I am a senior at UMD majoring in Government and Politics. I have always had a passion for baking chocolate chip cookies and decided to try out new flavors last summer. After bringing batches to family events and my dance studio, multiple people encouraged me to make a business out of my passion. Read more>>
Songxuan (Song) Zhou-Niemtzow 
My journey in medicine began in China, where I trained as a physician in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture at Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. After graduating, I continued advanced clinical study and training in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, and in Beijing. Read more>>
Eden Makayla 
My name is Eden, but I also go by my artist name, Yani. Im 23. As far my life story, I am an Oklahoma native and have lived there most of my current life. I grew up as, and am, a current actress, singer, dancer, and business owner. Read more>>
Marie Gallagher 
I graduated from both The Baltimore school of Massage and the University of Maryland in 1998. My Bachelor’s degree is in Family Studies as I had the intention of getting my masters in social work. I viewed my massage certification as something that would be supplemental income. I lived in Annapolis and had a small massage practice on West Street. Read more>>
Kaya Eubanks 
I’ve always been active. As a kid, I was a dancer and cheerleader, and by the time I got to college (shoutout to Towson University), I found yoga. After the workshop, it left me feeling so much lighter, so I decided this was something that I needed in my life. Read more>>
Marisa Powell 
Molecular Melts Creative Scent Lab Co. started in December 2022 from a simple idea: I wanted to combine two parts of myself that I loved—science and creativity. My background is in marine science, and I have always had a genuine love for science, but I have also always been a creative person. Read more>>
Tahje Gaskin 
My journey starts back as far as 2012 in GA at Chattahoochee Technical College. I was an up-and-coming dancer in the area, which was way left from what I was in college for, computer engineering. I never would have called myself an artist growing up. I was into sports. Basketball briefly in elementary school then I played football from middle school to 10th grade. Read more>>
Chipelo 
I’m a Salvadoran-American artist from Maryland performing under the name Chipelo. Music started as something I loved doing, but over time it became something I realized I wanted to to take seriously. Read more>>
TieSha Carter 
I began making Jewelry shortly after I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and was home on short term disability. I needed something to occupy my time and help me cope in a healthy way. Something that could occupy my mind and distract me from my anxious thoughts. Read more>>
Tierre Tates 
My story has really been a journey of growing, surviving, serving, and continuing to become the woman I believe God has called me to be. I became a mother at the age of 23, and motherhood changed the way I looked at life. Raising my daughter has been one of my greatest responsibilities and greatest blessings. Read more>>
