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.
Kristen Maxwell
Sit Still is more than a salon, it’s a vibe. When I first heard about it, I had one thought: Nashville needs this. I’m a mom. I’m a multi-tasker. And like so many parents here, I wanted a place where my kids could get an exceptional haircut and actually enjoy it without turning it into a full-on production. Read more>>
Kyle Gordon
I always loved art growing up, and I have wanted to be an artist ever since I can remember, but I never really found my niche or a particular art form I excelled at… I was just a little good at them all. Around 2010, I somehow talked a church into hiring me as their creative artist… Read more>>
Jennifer Quinn
My career started on the development side of construction, where I spent over a decade learning how projects truly get built; how to sequence decisions, protect budgets, and collaborate with trades. Even then, I was drawn to the creative side: how people move through their homes, where light lands, and how to make a space feel elevated without overspending. Read more>>
Chanci Culp
Authenticity has become my brand. Chanci Culp’s TikTok Journey Initial Goal: Chanci started using TikTok as a strategic way to advertise her return to doing hair after leaving the corporate world, aiming to fill her appointment schedule. The Shift: The content quickly evolved from professional advertising into a daily vlog, journal entry, and personal check-in, sharing her authentic daily life. Read more>>
Rachel Gelfer Hornaday
My first visit to Central America was in 2003, and it was a life-changing moment. I fell in love not only with the stunning landscapes but also with the warm hospitality of its people. That visit sparked a passion in me so profound that I have returned every year since. Read more>>
Maria West
My name is Maria and I first started modeling back in 2021. Through modeling Ive met so many great people and some not so great. In 2023 I had a lot of friends and models come to me feeling unsafe in the community and asked me if I could possibly take their photo. Read more>>
Michelle Workman
I started out with Interior Design as a side-gig supporting my acting career. I also worked as a Florist, Personal Chef, and Assistant during this time period in my 20’s. At the time I was friends with an A-list Celebrity and after she saw one of my designs, she encouraged me to pursue it as a career. Read more>>
Andy Melton
If you’d told me 25 years ago that I’d end up coaching high-performing entrepreneurs and leaders on how to win in business and at home, I probably would’ve laughed. Back then, I was just a kid from small town Missouri who wanted to help people make sense of their problems. Read more>>
Chelsea Howell
At The Children’s Ballet Theatre, founder Chelsea Howell has spent more than a decade shaping an environment where young people can grow through dance, not only in skill but also in self-awareness and community. Her approach is rooted in structure, patience and a belief that each child brings something unique to the studio. Read more>>
Chris Kemper
Serving others has always improved my quality of life. As a kid, my parents would take us down to Tijuana, Mexico to build houses for homeless families. The first thing I learned from that was that excess does not produce happiness. The families we built homes for, but also the community (their friends and neighbors) were fundamentally kind, gentle, happy people. Read more>>
Lorean Mays
My journey is one defined by purpose, compassion, and the power of using one’s voice to uplift others. Growing up with a strong sense of community and a deep concern for the well-being of others, she learned early on that true leadership begins with service. Being bullied from Elementary through middle school impacted my self-esteem at an early age. Read more>>
Kevin Green
1) Rising Up Everyday: How Kevin Green Inspires Students and Professionals to Find Purpose, Passion and Potential Each year, thousands of students graduate confused about what to do next. They possess degrees, debt and doubt, but no certainty on how to apply learning to successful careers. Read more>>
Ashlye Fleming
I learned about BODYROK while living in San Francisco in 2012. They had just opened and I was hooked right away. I soon moved up to Sonoma County and after having a baby was feeling unfulfilled at my corporate marketing job and really missing the workout. Read more>>
R’Ligion
I first found the love of music when I was 5 years old. From the time my mom had music playing from the radio, any melody in a song would get stuck. From the radio, to tv shows, soundtracks and more… it was where it all started. When I was younger, I kept my love for music a secret. Read more>>
Paul Martin
Former lead vocalist guitarist for country pop group Exile 1988-1995. Grammy winning artist, member of the Kentucky Music Hall Of Fame. Current leader at Rockland Road LLC since 2018. Rockland Road is six musicians who share the last name Martin—representing four generations of musical heritage—all vocalists who among them are also multi instrumentalists. Read more>>
Ashley Gerlach
Ashley Gerlach is the owner and stylist behind To Dye For by Ashley Gerlach in Lebanon, TN. Her journey started with a love for creativity and connection — turning simple hair appointments into confidence-boosting experiences. Ashley built her salon to be a space where people can relax, laugh, and leave feeling like the best version of themselves. Read more>>
Ashley Smith
Honestly, my story’s been a mix of purpose, pivoting, and a little bit of divine timing. I started out just loving music and storytelling — I’ve always had an ear for how things feel, not just how they sound. Over time, that evolved into producing, curating, and building creative spaces where art, culture, and community could live together. Read more>>
Guillermo Ortega
Marrocko: Latin Rock with Soul, Passion, and Purpose Marrocko is a Spanish-language rock band founded in 2003 in Cali, Colombia, by Guillermo Ortega Delgado (Guile Gadel) and Alexis Zúñiga. Their musical proposal blends Latin rock energy with contemporary sounds and emotionally charged lyrics, establishing them as one of the most representative acts of their genre in Colombia. Read more>>
Bill Ricigliano
More Than Just a Game — A Mission The Putting Zone (TPZ) began as a passion project over 30 years ago, born at the intersection of two lifelong interests: golf and creative flooring design. In the late 1980s, Bill Ricigliano—a golf enthusiast since high school and a seasoned flooring contractor since 1973—envisioned a new kind of golf experience. Read more>>
Lori Putnam
Growing up in the Tennessee countryside, I spent many hours immersed in nature, without neighbors for miles. Those solitary moments helped cultivate my love for the outdoors and fueled my creative spirit. In high school, art classes became one of the first places I recognized my aptitude for drawing and my desire to paint. Read more>>
Kasey Fanton
I started shooting weddings when I was 16 and fell in-love. Since a young age I knew that I wanted to pursue my passion in photography. It took me years to build the confidence to fully commit and go full-time in my business. And once I did, things really took off! I didn’t always believe that it would be possible for me. Read more>>
Warren Steury
When I was a kid I was completley immersed in reading and spending time outdoors, all while absolutely hating school and wanting nothing to do with it. I became entrepreneurial around the age of 14 with a lawn care business, car detailing business, and all the other gigs we come up with when we’re teenagers trying to make an extra buck. Read more>>
Jewell Winn
My husband, Timothy Winn is the visionary behind Lighthouse on the Lake. After owning and operating a catering business since 1997, Tim expressed a desire to own his own venue with a commercial kitchen. He had interned with the Marriott after graduating from Tennessee State University with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism and was hired as the restaurant, lounge and room service manager. Read more>>
Sarah Bates
Becoming a transaction coordinator who helps real estate agents save time and money from contract to close wasn’t always part of my plan. In fact, when I was ten, I was certain I’d be a lawyer. Getting paid to argue for justice? What other occupation could even compare? Read more>>
Laura Wright
Although I missed the sourdough craze during the pandemic, I’ve since found my own path. Bread has been a constant presence in my life, from my childhood to raising my own family. My oldest son’s limited palate made bread a staple, but I knew I needed a better option than store-bought breads. Read more>>
Dave Isaacs
My career path has not been a straight line, but a series of spirals with branches and detours. I’ve written in the past about the importance of focus, and it’s true that my private teaching business has been at the center of my professional life for 20 years now. Read more>>
Dr. Eric & Cassandra Durtschi
We both grew up in Tennessee, Eric in Watertown and Cassandra in Cookeville. About 18 years ago, what started as a small chocolate making hobby began to shape our future in unexpected ways. After Eric was injured in an accident that limited his ability to work full time in his medical practice, chocolate moved from hobby to calling. Read more>>
Madison Fendley Harvey
For as long as I can remember, whenever someone asked who I am, my answer was always, “Hi, I’m Madison, and I’m a dancer.” It’s been a part of me for as long as I’ve been alive. I started dancing when I was three years old, and by the time I was nine, I knew I wanted to make a career out of it. Read more>>
Allen Penn
Framework started with a pair of milestones in my personal life — turning 40 and bringing home my first child. These two roughly concurrent events shifted my perspective on my health and drove me to create a brand and a business that met my needs and those of others looking for attainable and enjoyable ways to improve and optimize their health. Read more>>
Jacqueline Becker
I started because I saw a need! I was working Home Health Physical Therapy since 2018, where I would see patients in their home that are home bound or post hospital. Generally, if the patient improved and was no longer considered home bound, they would attend Outpatient therapy at a clinic. Read more>>
