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.
Tia Cristy
Like many great stories, mine didn’t start with a perfectly mapped-out plan—it started behind a microphone. I started my career in radio, working in major markets where I discovered just how powerful communication could be. Read more>>
Haili Holzworth
I moved to Nashville from Mansfield, Ohio when I was 22. I’ve been here for almost four years, and I have embarked hugely on a self discovery journey in my time here. I moved here on a whim, wanting to shed the sporty, work-til-you-die midwestern culture to embrace the creativity of this city and what it has to offer. Read more>>
Dimitris Nezis
My journey in music began in Greece, where my passion for singing led me to study vocals and music theory at the National Conservatory of Athens and Fame Studio, before continuing my music performance studies at the University of West London. Those early years gave me the technical foundation, but they also taught me that persistence is just as important as talent. Read more>>
Kenny Hanover (Keha)
I’ve always been into music. I started making beats because I thought it was fun, and over time I realized I loved the whole creative process, especially recording and working with artists. That eventually led me to SAE Institute in Nashville and to starting my own recording and mixing business. It definitely hasn’t been a straight path. Read more>>
Kaitlyn Baker
How Smoke N’ Lenses Got Started Every business has a story, and ours started with a simple love for preserving memories. Long before Smoke N’ Lenses existed, photography became a passion for Kaitlyn. She began as a second shooter, learning every aspect of the industry while developing her skills behind the camera and in Photoshop. Read more>>
Kristen Sellars
I always knew that I wanted to go into healthcare. When I was a senior in high school, I did a program that allowed me to shadow different healthcare professions. At that time, my grandpa was in the hospital. Read more>>
Neal Burnette-Irwin
When we last spoke, I had recently moved from Knoxville to the Nashville area while finishing my journalism degree at Middle Tennessee State University. Since then, I’ve graduated, started working for RFD News, and continued building my modeling career with AMAX Agency in Nashville and The Rock Agency in Chicago. Read more>>
Damien Horne
Damien Horne is a Nashville-based recording artist, songwriter, speaker, and philanthropist whose journey has been defined by resilience, faith, and purpose. After experiencing homelessness while pursuing a career in music, Horne persevered to become a nationally recognized entertainer, sharing stages with artists including John Legend, Keith Urban, Bon Jovi, and The Commodores. Read more>>
Dayna Slaughenhoupt
Growing up, I always loved hair and all things beauty. Throughout my childhood, I watched my mom face many health challenges and at a certain point during cancer treatment, I watched her lose her hair. She let me help her shave her head, and in that moment, I realized that the beauty industry is so much more than vanity. Read more>>
Rob Foglia
I got into real estate in 2013 for the same reason a lot of people do. I wanted to own my life. I wanted to be my own boss and chase that elusive thing called freedom. And for a while, I did it the way the industry tells you to do it. I grinded. I built a team, Foglia Properties, inside Keller Williams. Read more>>
Jennifer Esposito Mojica
I never imagined that one day I’d own multiple businesses or develop products used by professionals across the country. My journey started 16 years ago with one spray tan machine in my garage and a simple goal: to build a life that gave my family stability while helping people feel confident in their own skin. Read more>>
Savannah Walder
Hi, I’m Savannah! I’m the baker, recipe developer, and heart behind this small, home-based gluten-free bakery. Back in 2024, my family moved in with my in-laws in Southern Georgia. My mother-in-law has Celiac, therefore, we only ate gluten free in their home. Read more>>
Lyndsie Lord
Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was always the kid with a camera in my hand—the one documenting everything, chasing moments before I even realized storytelling could become a career. I genuinely just loved everything about photography, taking photos, looking at photos – I was always so mesmerized by the emotion in each one. Read more>>
Leah Burns
I’m originally from Massachusetts. I was the quiet, shy kid who somehow came alive the second there was music involved. I was constantly putting on pretend concerts in my living room, singing at the top of my lungs, and I was convinced from a young age that I was going to be a rockstar. Read more>>
Emi Duncko
Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, I moved to Nashville in the fall of 2019 to attend Belmont University. I have been singing and playing music all my life, so I intended to pursue a degree in Audio Engineering. Read more>>
MICHAEL IYEMA
My Story: From a Child in a War-Torn Village to Trader, Investor, and Entrepreneur My name is Michael INGOMBO IYEMA. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, people usually have three names, but most people know me simply as Michael Iyema. Read more>>
Kathleen Davis
I’ve always had a passion for teaching and helping children learn. Before becoming an author, I spent more than a decade as an elementary school teacher and instructional coach, and I earned my Master’s degree in Elementary Education. Read more>>
Shanderia Montgomery
Since this is the opening question, it’s a great opportunity to tell your story in a way that’s personal, professional, and memorable. Here’s a version that reflects the journey you’ve shared over the years. My journey into accounting began in 2009, but becoming a business owner wasn’t part of my original plan. Read more>>
andrew Owsley
I bought my first turntables at age 21, I was more interested in learning to scratch than actually being a DJ. I eventually began doing DJ battles, and then finally got into being a DJ. And also got into making beats and production. Read more>>
Barney Willemse
My story probably starts before I was even born. My mother used to be a singer and my dad was a guitarplayer. I grew up on all sorts of music and when I was around 6 years old, my parents took me to a Country music festival. That’s where I fell in love with the music and guitarplaying. Read more>>
David Aprea
I retired early from a career in teaching back in 2015 and spent the next several years pursuing other things, including home remodeling projects and deck building. My interest in homes eventually led me into the home inspection industry, where I worked for an established inspection company, gaining a lot of hands-on training and valuable experience. Read more>>
Angela Finelli
I have been a self taught artist my entire life. I deeply believe in using art as a catalyst of healing throughout hardships endured in life. Enduring my share of hardships from an early age, I nearly lost my mother to a TBI as well as two strokes at the age of five. Read more>>
Jake Schultz
If I am not smoking meat, I am probably in the air flying. I am a corporate pilot in Nashville. My barbecue journey started in 2010 when I flew as an air ambulance pilot in Houston, Tx. I flew all over the state which aloud me the opportunity to taste Texas barbecue. One restaurant in particular got me hooked on Texas cue. Read more>>
MESO
I’ve always been a dreamer, so for as long as I can remember, I’ve had so many different interests, goals, and aspirations. On Monday, my dream walking into kindergarten would be to grow up and become a chef-dancer-teacher-extraordinaire, and on Tuesday, my new dream would be to become a cheerleader-trackstar-author who did chemistry experiments on the weekend. My only consistent dream, though, was to sing. Read more>>
Alicia Stachura
When I first joined Main Street Murfreesboro, I never imagined where the journey would lead. I simply knew I loved our community and believed that downtown had a story worth telling. I started by managing social media and promoting events, but I quickly realized that marketing could do much more than advertise. Read more>>
Becky Wilson
For my husband, Chris, and I, becoming owners of three Vintage Market Days® territories wasn’t something we set out to do—it was something we grew into over time. For years, we traveled the country as vendors, participating in nearly 30 Vintage Market Days® events annually. Read more>>
Zavieta Hamilton
When I was sixteen years old, I wasn’t thinking about starting a women’s health business. I was simply trying to make it through another day of school while hiding pelvic pain so severe that I could barely stand. After years of unanswered questions, I underwent laparoscopic surgery in 2005 and was diagnosed with endometriosis. Read more>>
Anthony CULVER
I grew up in small farm towns in Massachusetts and Maine, where hard work and community were part of everyday life. Music was always around me, but I didn’t come from a family with industry connections — everything I’ve built has come from showing up, learning the craft, and staying persistent. Read more>>
Valerie Zapata
When Nashville Voyager first featured my business, I was known as the founder of Wet Nose Dog Food—a local Nashville company preparing fresh, human-grade meals for dogs. Since then, both my business and I have evolved in ways I never expected. Today, that business has grown into Pure Pet Pantry. Read more>>
JJ Schrick
I originally began producing as a means to an end for myself as an artist. I quickly fell in love with it though. I mainly pursued the artist route for a while, but I discovered how much I love supporting artists and helping them find their sound. I still write and record my own music, but producing has become such a fulfilling journey for me. Read more>>
Peach McComb
I moved to Old Hickory Village in the 90’s and met my mentor, Mary Field Neville, a very talented commercial artist. We became fast friends and one day when she was visiting my house, she saw a mural that I painted on a wall to disguise a very bad plastering job. Mary said, Miss Peach, I believe we have found you a new job! Read more>>
Markeisha Hayward
People often say where you start doesn’t determine where you’ll finish, and my life is proof of that. I was born and raised in Compton, California, where resilience wasn’t a choice—it was a necessity. In 2009, as a mother of five, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life. Read more>>
Katie Tucker Gossett
Twenty-eight years ago, I was part of a Young Artists and Writers group in Nashville when an event coordinator asked if anyone would be willing to face paint at a high-volume event for about 400 children. They supplied the materials, they just needed artists. Read more>>
Laia Jones
I’m Laia Jones; an artist, Session Vocalist, and Artist Administrator. Having spent years on the creative side of the music industry, I’ve seen firsthand how even the most brilliant artists can be held back by a lack of administrative structure. My mission is to bridge this gap for the artistic community. Read more>>
Wesley Crutcher
My filmmaking journey started when I was a student at Glencliff High School. I was the kid walking around campus with a video camera, filming everything and everyone. What began as a hobby quickly turned into something bigger when I made my first short film with friends from school and my neighborhood. The film ended up being a huge success. Read more>>
Jacqueline Jacobo
My journey has been anything but traditional. As a first generation Latina, I grew up understanding that opportunities weren’t always handed to you. You had to create them. College wasn’t a path I could realistically pursue because supporting myself financially had to come first. Instead, I chose a different route, one that required taking risks without the certainty of knowing where they would lead. Read more>>
A.J. Pacella
Hi, I’m A.J., a photographer from a small coastal town called Scituate, MA. At home I often work with local artists and events, but on the road, I find myself in some of the most beautiful places in the world. I started my photography journey back in High School. Read more>>
Precious Perez
I was born and raised in Chelsea, MA just north of Boston. I knew I was going to sing in some capacity at age six, and that passion only grew throughout my elementary and middle school years singing in choir, participating in talent shows, and starting to write my own songs. Read more>>
Derek Boylan
My name is Derek Boylan. I am born and raised in Nashville TN. I have always been into collecting and filming Lego. Ever since I was a child I dreamed of becoming a YouTuber or just someone filming and reviewing stuff. Read more>>
Thyra & Magnolia Road Karin Thyr Eriksson
We met on tour 30 years ago, so honestly the music and the relationship have never been separate things. There was never a moment where we ‘started’ writing together — creating was just a natural outcome of being together. Thirty years later we’re married, and we still write our songs on the same couch where we’ve had our worst arguments. Read more>>
Jesse MacLeod
I’ve been living in Nashville for a little over three years, but I’m originally from Los Angeles. I picked up the guitar in 2007 and started playing and singing cover songs at restaurants and wine bars in the Fall of 2008. I began writing my own songs around that time and released an EP in 2010 and 2012, and two songs in 2017. Read more>>
Jasmine Chambers
Before JASPER was a company, it was a dream. Honestly, hundreds of them. Jed and I have been partners in life for over twenty years, and parents to four awesome kids. It all started with us. Two people, all in, who believed the life we were building together was worth fighting for. Read more>>
Austin Markham
I got asked to sing a part on a Casting Crowns song in my grandfathers church in Vinita, Oklahoma when I was about seven years old. I barely knew what a microphone was, but I knew I loved music. I remember sitting on the front row during band rehearsals before church just locked into the music and singers. Read more>>
Connor McMurry
I was born and raised in a small town called Camden, AR. I moved to Nashville when I was 19 to pursue music and content creation. I studied film back in Arkansas, which landed me an internship to travel to Nashville as a videographer for a documentary. Read more>>
Carter Vandiver
I started Winslow House the summer after graduating high school. It was a weird transitional period where I wasn’t very comfortable with the past, present, or future. My first album, ‘Pilots and Postmen,’ was a product of that feeling. I got to talk to so many awesome creative artists because of the decision to put those songs out there. Read more>>
