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.
Kimberly Best
For years, I worked as an ICU and emergency department nurse, navigating life-and-death situations daily. The service, intensity, and immediate impact drew me in, but eventually, the suffering that people endured led to burnout. Read more>>
Kim Wheeler
I first became a notary over 20 years ago when I was a middle school bookkeeper. I wanted to help out staff and parents. Then 8 years ago I had a few life changes including a job change and a divorce. Being a single female making my way in the world was really hard. This is when I started doing more notary work. Read more>>
Bryan Flum
I started my career trying to be a chef and own my own restaurant one day but after 11 years of the grind in the hospitality industry I decided that I need to make a change because at the time, I had a 1 and 3 year old girls that I didn’t see very much and wanted to be more in there life. Read more>>
Dillon Mysliwiec
My story started in a place you wouldn’t expect — mechanical engineering. I was always analytical by nature, but as an engineer, I found myself finishing work early and craving something more creative. Out of curiosity, I began watching marketing videos, reading business books, and eventually experimenting with design and small websites for local businesses. What began as a side project quickly became a passion. Read more>>
Christie Hague
Hello! My name is Christie Hague, and I’m the owner of Hague Consulting, a website design firm. Born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, I attended college in Boston, Massachusetts, where I earned my BS in Nursing. After several years in the nursing field and welcoming my first baby, I sought greater scheduling flexibility. Read more>>
Linda Baker
I found my calling in High School when I took Accounting classes, then followed through in college with Business Management and Accounting degrees. I always had a side hustle in Direct Home Sales while working my full time job, earning top sales in my units & learning key leadership skills along the way. Read more>>
Seth Nolan
I grew up in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where my parents pastored a local church on Center Point Road for nearly 25 years. That church became a spiritual home for many people in our community. Read more>>
Christal Pennic
My story began with loss — the kind of loss that shakes you to your core and changes how you see the world. After my brother passed away, grief became more than something I experienced; it became something I studied, sat with, and ultimately felt called to help others navigate. Read more>>
Nate Newton
I started homebrewing in college around 1995 or so and fell in love with the process of making beer. It’s such an amazing mix of science and art, and it is something humans have been doing since we figured it out over ten thousand years ago. Read more>>
Jady Kasinger
JadyK began as a small brick-and-mortar boutique in Mount Juliet, TN in 2018. When COVID hit in 2020 and we had to temporarily close, we decided to pivot. We begin designing our own line of bralettes that solved the biggest complaints we often heard from customers that came into our store: poor fit, thin pads, and lack of inclusive sizing. Read more>>
Krystal Lynch
I graduated in 2003 from Lipscomb University with a strong background in Biology and Chemistry, launching my career at Vanderbilt where I spent two years in colon cancer research. I later returned to Lipscomb to earn my BSN with honors. After completing my MSN with honors in 2009 at Vanderbilt University, I became board certified in Women’s Health. Read more>>
serene soliman
Originally from Tennessee, I spent the past decade in Nashville before moving last August to pursue a master’s degree in Somatic Psychotherapy at Naropa University. My background is rooted in the arts — from burlesque dance and music (with an EP project awaiting my next Nashville family visit) to modeling. Read more>>
Patrick Iannone
Patrick Iannone started his career in journalism, working for a local newspaper in Martinsburg, West Virginia; he also worked in higher education and in non-profit management before pursuing a career in business technology. More recently, Patrick founded Smart AI 4 Biz. Read more>>
Jennifer Cathey
I’ve always loved planning parties – even in high school I used to love throwing the most fun and decorative Halloween parties each year. It was always about the details. Fast forward to becoming a stay-at-home mom with my son; I began diving into the details of his birthday parties, making them as memorable as possible. Read more>>
Brandon Cox
Hi my name is Brandon, Im a 23 yr old living in Lebanon TN. I was born completely blind. I’ve always had obstacles in my life but I’ve never let it stop me. Music has always been my first love so it’s a good area to live. Not a lot of work around for bagpiping though. Read more>>
Christy and Bart Stewart
School of Rock Murfreesboro is owned and operated by Christy and Bart Stewart, passionate music lovers, experienced educators, parents of a School of Rock student, and first-time franchise owners. Read more>>
Robyn Cleveland
Java Road began its journey in 2015 as a humble coffee truck in Texas, founded by Shelia Archer. For two years, the truck served customers on the go before finding a permanent home in Fayetteville, Tennessee. In 2017, Java Road opened its storefront, where it has proudly operated for the past eight years, becoming a beloved gathering spot in the community. Read more>>
Nick Cotellese
I started training in Taekwondo in 1984 after seeing The Karate Kid in theaters. Like a lot of kids my age, I walked out of that movie ready to crane-kick my way into a dojo. My mom, however, thought karate sounded a little too violent and tried to steer me toward gymnastics instead. Read more>>
Mallorie Bailey
Sun and Root Healing started with a dream in the winter of 2019. At the time, I was working an unfulfilling job in Human Resources and in an unhealthy relationship—life was anything but perfect. Little did I know, that dream would set me on a deeply spiritual and transformative path of letting go and trusting the universe. Read more>>
Robert Grimes
Grew up next door to the first World Hot Air Balloon Champion, Dennis Floden, aka; Capt Phogg. Took my first balloon flight in 1973. Received Private and Commercial Balloon Pilot Licenes in 1977. Moved to Albuquerque in 1979 to work for Sid Cutter, founder of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and owner of World Balloon Corporation. Read more>>
Clint Martin
I first wanted to be a Veterinarian at 5 years old. I saw our local Vet doing an exam on our dog and thought ‘I want to be him when I grow up.’ The answer to ‘what do you want to be when you grow up’ never changed after that moment. Read more>>
David Kumm
I was born and raised in Miami. My dad’s American and my mom’s from Chile. They split up when I was about five, so I grew up with my mom in Miami. That city shaped me in every way. I loved the seafood, I loved the water and the ocean, and I was surrounded by so many different cultures. Read more>>
Chloe Rossouw
I was born in Tennessee, but spent most of my life in upstate New York before moving back to Tennessee in 2014. My journey into design wasn’t a straight path. I actually started out in nursing school. During COVID, I worked in healthcare and quickly felt the effects of burnout. I wasn’t sure where my life was heading at that point. Read more>>
Sam Beretta
From a young age, I have always been a natural listener, drawn to deeper conversations and the stories people share. Through this habit, I became aware of the struggles people face—how often they feel isolated and the challenge of truly understanding themselves. This realization sparked a passion in me to help others make sense of their experiences, leading me to becoming a therapist. Read more>>
Patrick Peterson
I am a second generation tax guy. I pretty much grew up in my family’s tax firm, for a couple years I even got off the bus at the office. After going to MTSU, I ended up taking a job with my family tax firm on 4th ave for many years. Read more>>
Shannon Orrand
I got started in real estate in 2012. I went to church with a builder who also had his own real estate team. He offered to pay for me to go to real estate school, covered all of my fees and even paid my cell phone bill! I was on his team for 4 years until I sensed it was time to move on. Read more>>
Danielle Jeffers
Mother Hats was born out of my own experiences and struggles in motherhood. I had two babies just 16 months apart during COVID, and without much of a local village around me, I often felt lost in my new identity as a mom. Read more>>
Starner Jones, MD
I am board-certified in emergency and addiction medicine and graduated from Emergency Medicine Residency at The University of Mississippi Medical Center and Addiction Medicine Fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. I have treated more than 80,000 patients and detoxed more than 1,000 during my career. Read more>>
Cam Powell
I started off as a teenager building barns and doing concrete work. I worked for several different contractors throughout my teenage years into my early 20’s, then started my own company working as a subcontractor for other builders. This lasted several years until I ended up becoming a licensed builder myself and investing in real estate. Read more>>
Andrew Brantley
Hello! I grew up in Georgia, and in my early years I was influenced a lot by the folk music my dad would listen to. The soothing vocal harmonies really gave me that desire to sing, so as I got into my teens I learned to play the guitar. to have something to back me. Read more>>
Emily Joy Montgomery
I’ve always had a strong pull toward creativity, storytelling, and connection. I started as an administrative assistant at Reliant Realty in Nashville at the start of the pandemic, learning the ropes from the ground up. Over time, I taught myself graphic design, social media, and marketing, skills that opened doors to bigger roles. Read more>>
Desireé Artemus
Born and raised in South Carolina, Desiree Artemus is a multimedia entrepreneur and community builder who transforms lived experiences into platforms of empowerment. She is the founder of BrwnGrlz Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying the voices and economic power of Black women, and the owner of Aligned Quality Gemz, a wellness-centered jewelry brand crafted with intention and care. Read more>>
Beth Price
I have always wanted a coffee/tea shop since I was just a little girl. I would take my dolls and set them around the table and serve them “tea” (it was really water – LOL) and would serve cake with it as well. Yes, the cake was real. Some of my older brothers has made me small cake pans while in welding class. Mom would let me take a little cake batter and make a small cake. Read more>>
Laurel McCreary
At Spooky Laurel Co, I focus on handmade tie-dye and DTF (Direct to Film) printing to create bold, durable designs. We are a one stop shop, we can make anything from bandanas, to shorts and tote bags! Our DTF designs can be pressed onto just about any material, making custom merchandise opportunities endless. I’m especially proud of our unique, vibrant patterns of tie dye and our T-shirt bar at vendor events, where people can pick a blank garment and a design they love, and I press it right there on the spot. Read more>>
