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.

Sheyla Paz

My career in media flourished as I became deeply involved in journalism and broadcasting. I had the incredible opportunity to travel with President Barack Obama to Cuba in 2016 as part of the White House Press Corps, a historic moment that reinforced my commitment to storytelling and bridging cultures. I also worked on various media projects, including film production, earning recognition as a leading media personality in the Latino community in Tennessee. My dedication to sharing untold stories led to my recognition as a ‘Beacon of Light’ award recipient in 2019. Read more>>

Aaron Stearns

Through the years I grew in my career. I worked as a freelancer for a while, was an art director at a fast growing e-commerce platform, and eventually went on staff at my church as a designer/art director. Each opportunity allowed me to wear several hats and look at projects as wholistic campaigns. Read more>>

Edwin Portillo

My story has been centered around music. Writing, playing, producing…music is at the center of who I am and what I love to do. This passion has led to me to be the creator and owner of Bunker Five Music, a bilingual music studio in Nashville, TN. It has been a long, and at many times, hard journey but I look back and see the incredible blessings and miracles God has worked in my life to get to where I am today. Read more>>

Lauren Arens

I’ve always had that artist’s spark inside me, but I wasn’t exactly sure how to turn it into something real. After all, I spent a decade as an elementary special education teacher before finally diving headfirst into the world of art! It wasn’t an easy leap—I had to build up the confidence to take the plunge. But once I did, and finally had the time to focus on growing my creative business, things really started to bloom! I had no idea I could actually make a living as an artist, or turn my dreams into a reality, but here I am—living proof that you totally can! Following your dreams, using every piece of who you are to create something beautiful—it’s all possible. Read more>>

Haley Roksandich

This was the moment I had been waiting for to go full-time into weddings like I had been wanting to for so long. I had nothing else to lose at this point. I had already gotten my business license to work in Tennessee and set up an LLC at the end of 2022 so I started putting my time and energy into building something for myself that I enjoyed instead of a dead end job that wasn’t fulfilling me. Going full-time into my own business was the best thing I could have done for my family as well as my own mental health. It because more successful than I imagined it would that first year. By the second year, I more than doubled my income and I haven’t had to looked back since. Read more>>

Jenna Marotta

Gypsy was produced by Grammy Award winner Dave Clauss, and features Jerry Marotta on drums, Alan Schwartz on guitar, Dan Weiss on keys, and Tony Tino on bass. Two of the tracks also feature a horn section to die for! Featuring Richie Cannata (the original Billy Joel sax player), TJ Robinson, Shareef Clayton, and our friend in Heaven now Frosty Lawson. Read more>>

Sarah Alliston

When we relocated to Tennessee in 2021, I embraced a new chapter and opened my own Farmers Insurance agency in Brentwood. I absolutely love what I do. It’s not a job; it really is a passion. Every day, I get to meet someone new, hear their needs, and help them. I call myself an insurance geek because I love it so much. Read more>>

Matthew

I grew up in a musical family so from very young age I’ve been surrounded by all kinds of music. There’s never really been anything else I ever wanted to do other than make music and art. I’m originally from Pennsylvania but moved to Nashville in 2017 to pursue music as a career. Since moving here I believe I have grown as an artist dramatically! I moved here with just a handful of songs that I had written. Now I write every day. Even if it’s just a start or an idea of a song. I released my first full length album in November of 2022 and since then have released multiple singles and a EP.. I’ve written songs for other artists as well as played on other artist’s recordings. Plus co-wrote and released an EP titled Leggy Noss self titled EP. Read more>>

Joe Jarvis

Despite God’s unwavering provision and clear indication that I’m on the right path, doubts still creep in at times even to this day. However, I suppose that’s simply a part of being human, nothing new under the sun. Even the Israelites, after just being delivered from Egypt, couldn’t help but complain and doubt God’s love for them and that He had it under control. I believe that love is a choice, like my last album stated, “Love is a Verb” Read more>>

Joe Doctora

Residency was obviously challenging. There were nights when I was in the emergency room working up mandible fractures, and repairing facial lacerations back to back to back. And, on no sleep, I would go to the clinic and work a full day usually until six or 7 PM. During the years of dental school, internship and residency your personal life, at least for me, was paused. My social life was pretty nonexistent, OMFS was my life. The process of surgical training has gotten a little less grueling since I went through, however I’m glad I went through it. Read more>>

Alexandra Thompson- Norman

I founded ReAlign Counseling and Consulting Services with a clear vision: to create a space where individuals, couples, and families could reconnect with their authentic selves and build meaningful, lasting change. My focus is on mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, grief, relationship struggles, and addiction recovery, but at the heart of my work is a deep belief that healing happens in relationship—through connection, understanding, and support. Read more>>

Caitlin Podgornik

The night before I left, my sister had given me a camera to document all my Grecian adventures. Over my 17 day adventure I found myself capturing the stray cats sun bathing in the streets, fellow travelers dancing and drinking sangria at sunset, the quietness of a little cafe in the early mornings. I found myself directing photoshoots on the beach, in the streets, any and everywhere with my new friends I had made on my trip. Having my camera with me at all times and not wanting to miss a single moment. Read more>>

Lisa

Then life threw me a curveball—I faced my own serious health crisis. Coming out on the other side of it, I realized that while everyone was just happy I had survived, I still didn’t have my health. I had to rebuild it. That experience solidified everything for me. I dove deep into functional medicine training and knew this was my calling. Now, my passion is helping patients uncover the root causes of their health issues and personalize their care in a way that allows them to truly thrive. Read more>>

Tristen Gaspadarek

Fond Object had a cute little room where they sold second hand clothes. When this record store closed, and I found myself wanting to have a family and take a break from touring and I dreamed up a shop that brought together 7 different people selling and everyone working one day a week. I knew to continue to be an artist and mom that my time would be the most valuable thing. Read more>>

Scott & Kim Crosbie

We have owned a number of small businesses over the years, and about three years ago, we decided to step away and embrace early retirement. Our plan was to live at the beach, travel, and spend a lot of time boating. We even moved onto our boat and traveled the East Coast, with the goal of completing the Great Loop—a 6,000-mile waterway journey through the East Coast, Great Lakes, and down the Mississippi River, a trip that typically takes over a year to complete. While we still plan to complete it at some point, we realized how much we missed the interaction with our clients and our employees and as much as we loved the adventure, we weren’t quite ready to slow down completely. Read more>>

Sheila Clark Fox

massive heart attack at 53 years old , it was hard and devastating for me and my family , but I had to go on after a short pause cause that’s what he would have wanted me to do. Read more>>

Becca White

Today, I still focus on what brings me joy: sharing my everyday life authentically. My approach to content has evolved—I now focus more on engagement and creating content that resonates rather than chasing numbers. I’ve also leaned into my spiritual journey, incorporating aspects of my pagan practices into my life. At the end of the day, I create because I love it, and I’m grateful for the connections and opportunities that have come from simply sharing my world. Read more>>

Ari Lyon

After the tour I ended up in New York where everything is a photograph. I crashed on couches for a while and then headed up to Toronto and got a job at a Media company. I was basically paid with access to not only my own small studio space (where I also slept -perhaps unbeknownst to the boss, perhaps he knew and didn’t care) but also a few cameras and some lights. I spent months as a hermit there reading photography books and fashion books and begging everyone I knew to let me practice lighting techniques on them. Read more>>

Lizzy Love

I moved to Nashville when I was 24 and worked nannying jobs until I could piece together a living making art. I was able to go full time in 2016 and have been doing it ever since! My work shifted completely after having my first child in 2020, and that’s when things really took off. I now have 2 children (5 year old boy and 2 year old girl) and work out of my home studio! Read more>>

Adrienne Kelley

Several years later, I began a daily meditation practice. I already had a spiritual practice of prayer in the morning but during my 20s, I really needed to hear God speak to ME. I needed to LISTEN. What started off as a 5 minute practice has grown to 2+ hours daily. Meditation kicked in my intuition. I started to get clarity through direct knowing, visions, songs, etc. I have healed trauma, had a kundalini awakening, learned to listen to my heart and completely changed my life from what I’ve learned through sitting in stillness. Meditation truly is my biggest passion! Read more>>

Kiely Connell

Absolutely not. I never really had any guidance professionally until relatively recently and now I’ll be navigating my career alone again. It’s hard to know where to start and how to help yourself. Everyone can put out music these days which creates an incredibly oversaturated market making it practically impossible to be heard. It’s an uphill battle that some days I’m not even sure I’m strong enough to keep climbing. The thing I try to remember is the amount of people who have come up to me after a set with tears in their eyes because something I said resonated. It’s those people and those moments that remind me to keep going. Read more>>

Emma Sheppard

Since I first knew what a Podcast was I knew that I wanted to start one. While on the surface I come off as an introvert, when I’m in my element I can talk for hours. Speaking to people and reaching others is my element. I constantly want to work and grow myself so that I can inspire other people. I started my podcast just over a month ago and I am so grateful that it is already impacting others. Hearing people say that they listened to my podcast means the world to me. Read more>>

Heads Or Tails Experience

One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced has been finding the right people to grow the band with. It’s not just about talent — it’s about finding someone who fits the energy, shares the same level of passion, and is genuinely committed to the process. We’ve had moments where things clicked musically but not personally, or where the dedication just wasn’t aligned. It’s tough, because chemistry isn’t something you can force — it either works or it doesn’t. Read more>>

McKenna Driver

Absolutely not! We started our business in a pandemic. We have faced a number of challenges one of which being my health. I was on a walker for many months and had to teach sitting down while my advanced students demonstrated the movements. We lost our studio space (more than once!) with short notice and had to scramble to find a new place. But I will say, I am so grateful to our students and troupe members for rolling with the punches, having faith in us, and continuing to dance with us. Read more>>

Elizabeth Evans

I went back to school in August of 2020 and it was all wrong. It wasn’t about the distancing or the masks, it was wrong in my soul. Walking in the building every morning felt like I was going to jump out of my skin but I loved the students so much and was determined to work through it. Over the course of the year it plagued me so much that it finally came to a head. I quite literally went back out to my deck, looked to the sky, and yelled “If not teaching then what?!” Read more>>

Tiffanie Garrison-Jeter

Throughout my career, I’ve worked in nearly every facet of dentistry — corporate dentistry, community health, correctional, and now private practice ownership. Each area taught me something different, but it wasn’t until I launched Definition Dental and Wellness Spa that I truly stepped into my calling. In my own practice, I get to partner with my patients — not just treat them. We work together to prioritize their oral health, boost their confidence, and focus on total wellness — on my terms and in an environment built for comfort, transparency, and excellence. Read more>>

Krystal Polychronis

I started gymnastics in a “mommy & me” class and singing followed at age four. I grew up in both the church and the gym attending church every Sunday and gymnastics practice 5 days a week up through high school until I became a top ranked Junior Olympic national gymnast in the USA. I had time for little else at that point so I was unable to pursue music. I started coaching high level elite gymnastics after my own career was done and found myself missing music so I dove into songwriting, became a worship leader and started recording in Boston. I write songs for organizations, non-profits and international pop artists from Italy and Poland. Read more>>

Alexa Aronson

At 22, Alexa made the life-changing decision to move to Nashville, where she could pursue her dreams full-time. Now at 24, Alexa has established herself as a recording artist with a soulful sound that resonates with many. Her primary genre is soul, where she brings emotion, passion, and authenticity to every note. Her hard work has paid off, as she’s been blessed to achieve significant milestones, including a spot on the Billboard Dance Charts with none other than Snoop Dogg. Alexa’s musical path continues to evolve, as she remains dedicated to sharing her voice and her heart with the world. Read more>>

Jake Mach

So I booked a few shows for when I left the Navy to see how it went. Will I get a good reception? Will I enjoy doing it? Do I have any hidden stage fright I don’t know about? All of that got put to rest in those first couple of shows. It felt natural, not much different than playing for my friends in the Navy. And I knew after those first shows that this was something I couldn’t see myself not doing. Now I get to make a living doing something I’ve been doing for fun my whole life. Read more>>

Jennifer Knolton

I still feel terrible for my first clients. Almost everything that could go wrong did go wrong during their transaction. We limped through the process—with me grinning the whole way, thinking I was doing a decent job. It wasn’t until about five months later, after several more transactions under my belt, that I realized just how poorly I had handled it. There were so many things I could have done better to make the experience smoother for them. Read more>>

Rylee Barry

I’ve loved singing my whole life. I began lessons with my phenomenal instructor Daphne Anderson when I was 7. What started as yearly recitals has turned into singing at private dinner shows weekly and National Anthem performances at the Nashville racetrack, local college games including Belmont and Vanderbilt and a Sounds game this May. Read more>>

Matt TV

Growing up in a homeschool household, my world was filled with reruns of classic TV shows and, secretly, early SNL. But, It was through my mom’s old Beatles LPs, especially “Magical Mystery Tour,” that my musical imagination took flight. She noticed this and, thankfully, recognized a potential talent. At ten, sitting behind a drum kit for the first time felt instantly right, sparking an obsession that led to my first drum set and electric guitar the following year. I spent countless hours learning Green Day and Weezer songs, and by twelve, I was writing my own music and drumming in a couple of bands.  Read more>>

Josh Sahunta

The 2020 pandemic forced me into a situation where I was laid off from my restaurant job and had no choice but to put my full time and energy into music. I began producing music for other artists during this time, as the closure of all the major studios in town created a surge of artists who were looking for a place to have their songs recorded. Because I had a home studio, I was able to remain open and benefit from the closure of all of these other studios. Read more>>

Patrick Wallen

The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many patrons appreciating the simplicity and value of the passport. It’s more than just a ticket to cheaper drinks; it’s a way to connect with the community and create lasting memories. As we look to the future, we continue to expand our partnerships and enhance our offerings, ensuring that every passport holder gets the most out of their experience in Music City. Read more>>

Will Elliott

We started the band with close friends and talented musicians I had met over the years on the road. What began as a small group of passionate performers has grown into a thriving organization. Today, The Music City Sound performs around 100 events per year. We now operate with three regularly booked bands, allowing us to bring our sound and energy to weddings, corporate events, and special occasions all over the country. Read more>>

Stacy Buscemi

Meet Stacy Buscemi, Founder of SRB Consultant Group. With 27+ years of business operations and marketing experience behind her belt, Stacy was able to gain a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience that she utilized to excel in her career. Combined with a college background in Business Administration, extensive training, and additional courses in practice management, business operations, customer service, communication skills, and marketing strategies,all have been vital tools in her journey. Stacy has started and managed one-million to seven-million-dollar businesses. Read more>>

Tiara Dorsett

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with celebrities, on magazine shoots, weddings, photo shoots—you name it. If it involves makeup, I’ve probably done it! What drives me is helping women feel confident and empowered through transformation. I’ve always wanted to break down the intimidating side of makeup and show people how approachable and fun it can really be. Read more>>

Tai Orten

While I don’t believe every idea is meant to be tattooed, I’m committed to finding a creative solution for any challenge. My goal is to work within the parameters of what the client envisions, crafting a design they’ll be proud to carry with them. Above all, I strive to ensure that the tattoo experience is enjoyable and meaningful. What sets me apart is my ability to meet clients where they are in life, making it an honor to be part of their personal transformations, which often align with the tattoo journey itself Read more>>

Alex Lewis

Graduating from Western Carolina University was a process that took me more than four years thanks to the clocktower curse and a full-time job in customer service, but I walked away with an English degree. I believed this expensive piece of paper meant I would soon be an accomplished author. What it actually meant is that I would be writing Facebook posts and Instagram captions as a social media specialist. Read more>>

Kayti Hall-Stokes

I bought a stylist chair, a nail desk, some products and of course a neon sign to complete my salon in 2023…but it wasn’t until Feb 2024, following a major surgery that kept me from going back to bartending for many weeks, when I truly started pursuing and promoting my business. Thanks to multiple girls groups on facebook, self promotion and just “word of mouth” situations my business EXPLODED and I was able to go full time only 3 months after really getting my start. Read more>>

Justin Luis

I was born into a life of very few options. Young, eventually separated parents, and my mother’s illnesses made it so that I had to fend for myself and my younger sister much of the time from very early on. My love of performing and creativity, then, quickly had to become a means of income to help us get by. Immigrating to the United States in 2016 was a gamble of a choice made out of necessity, like so many others who uproot their lives for the mere possibility of meaningful change. Read more>>

Tony Chetta

I first moved to Nashville at 17 years old with the dream of opening my own studio, engineering for bands and songwriters, and helping artists propel their careers so that they can make a living doing what they love. Within the first couple months here, I met a friend who had a similar dream and we decided to team up and start a production company to do just that. We went on to build a couple studios together and we worked with a lot of Belmont artists since that’s where we were going to school at the time. However after we graduated, we realized how difficult it was to scale this business model, my friend felt called towards a different career, and I found myself being pulled into writing rooms as a “track guy” fairly often. This started the second phase. Read more>>