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.
Lala Klosterman
As a child I always had the longest hair, and my mom would trim my hair at times. I remember the very first time I stepped into a Hair Salon, at the age of 10 and had my first professional haircut! I was infatuated! By the Stylist working behind the chair, the loud pop music, the scents of hair chemicals and the busyness of a hair salon, It gave such vibrant energy, I love it! I decided I wanted to be a Hairstylist when I grow up. So in High School I enrolled Central Texas Beauty College. Read more>>
Jon Cooper
On a Tuesday evening every ~3 months, Tiny Talks is an event that features 8 talks ,~5-8 mins each, on topics that span the full spectrum of human interests. The focus is on entertainment rather than education – great stories and stuff that’s “fun to know” rather than good to know. Read more>>
Christopher Casazza
I began tattooing February 2013 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Moved to College Station, Texas in 2015 and began grinding. I needed to figure out where I belonged and where I wanted to be in the industry. In 2018 I began focusing strictly on Newschool, doing conventions, and meeting very rad artists. Doing this helped me grow and learn new techniques in art as-well as tattooing. Today I’m currently navigating fatherhood with my wife Jordan and our 2 month old son Anthony. As if that weren’t enough I’m also opening my first shop, The Texas Tattoo Club with my good friend and incredibly talented artist Caleb Gandy. Opening in March of this year! Read more>>
Wendy Daza
Meanwhile we picked up another dog to foster for a few days until he was sent to Virginia to be adopted but from that moment I we wanted to adopt him and he stayed with us. Since we got those two rescued dogs, I started to realize all the abandon of dogs in Mexico. At that time I started looking for help for the dogs in Monterrey, Mexico. I helped them for a place to stay meanwhile they got adopted and still continue helping them. Read more>>
Andrew Bennett
My journey as a creative business owner really started with music. I’ve been playing guitar since I was 8, and I’ve always played in bands. While playing actively in the Austin music scene, I bought myself a Canon Rebel and 50mm prime lens and started taking it to shows. I’d shoot the opening band, or the bigger bands we were opening for and my love for photography grew from there. The Austin Chronicle named me the “Best Live Music Photographer” of 2017, and the publicity from that allowed me to quit my day job and pursue photography full time. Read more>>
Kevin Boucher
I have always been into fitness and went to college to swim originally. Post-college, I joined the software world and the yearn for entrepreneurship came too. After living in Sydney, Australia for two years, and I found F45 Training. After acquiring three studios, I have found a new passion in Pilates. Hence opening studios in Mueller and Domain! Read more>>
Jason Krohn
In 2010 I bought my 1st 40ft yacht as my personal boat. After a year of ownership, maintenance, and fuel expenses, I was contemplating getting rid of the boat. Back then, the only rentals on the water were houseboats and pontoons. The captained pontoons were nice, but there really wasn’t any options on Lake Travis for a well equipped yacht. So thus Lake Travis Yacht Rentals was born. For roughly 6-7 years I ran my business while working full time in corporate in the tech sector. I handled all phone calls, website development, bookings, boat repairs, and was captain on this very same yacht. Read more>>
Amber Worner
I only work with children whose parents are willing to work with me from a parent coaching perspective because I see that generalizes change much faster in families. That passion has lead to public speaking, teaching, and online classes to support families who want to parent their children from a place that builds resiliency, confidence, security, and love that has a ripple effect for generations to come. I specialize in teaching Christian parents because I’m passionate about teaching parenting principals that align with the love of Jesus, although the principals are beneficial for all beliefs. To learn more go to www.carefullycounseling.com Read more>>
JOE Emery
How is it that the same amplifiers we have been playing all this time weigh more now than they did 20 years ago! Any long-term group creative endeavor has its challenges and ups and downs, but really we’ve been very lucky. We have a great community of friends and fans here in Texas and beyond, we’ve been fortunate to get to play shows throughout North America and Europe. We’re very grateful to still be out there playing and getting great reception after all these years. Read more>>
Brian Nyberg
I’ve been skateboarding for 24 years. It’s the only thing I identify with as a human being, sincerely. It’s shaped most of my worldview I’ve been able to go headfirst into conflicts not being deterred by trial and error and just dust myself off. It builds massive amounts of confidence and determination. I see the world in a very different way than others and it helps give me some fortitude for sure. Read more>>
Chris Searles
This means protecting Earth’s vital organ ecosystems first because they’re the most significant on life-support services production, quality of life, climate stability, moisture circulation, temperature, and food production globally. those ecosystems happen to be forests, tropical forests… Fast fwd to now I’m utilizing the science on how forests move moisture over landscapes to fight wildfire. I’ve done 10 regional projects in the last 3 years, 9 of them successful. I’m currently working #11, “The Central Texas Projects” and about to launch, ‘WTF, Texas!” Water Trees & Forests, TX! Read more>>
Josh Ronsen
The biggest problem has been finding a reliably supportive audience, partly due to most people’s provincial dislike of new experiences and partly due to most of those interested in these forms of music are performers themselves who are busy with their rehearsals and performances. Although taking hours and hours of rehearsing and planning, I am rarely at lost of what to do; the most dire problems I face are purely of marketing and promotion. Read more>>
Lauren Bailey
From there I worked my way up in a couple different shops learning as much as I could from other artists and my own research. The first tattoo I ever did was on my husband, who is still my biggest supporter. I practiced on myself a lot as well in the beginning and I learned a lot. I appreciate everyone who was supportive of me from day one and the motivation they gave me to keep going. Read more>>
Brianne Bernstein
When I was 10 years old, my grandma gave me my first bead kit and i was so excited to do anything craft related with her but this one really stuck. I started doing them on my own, took classes, taught some friends and family and then i began selling my own items which then lead into me wanting to start my own boutique online because i loved having items that not everyone had which began with having jewelry that not everyone had. This all lead to Trendy B Boutique LLC. What was once a dream became small pop ups, online orders, to now a brick and mortar for almost 4 years. Read more>>
Jude Laird
Teachers, parents, and students all voiced the frustrations and I really became kind of a big deal in the school, especially since I was the lead guitar/band leader of the praise band for 2 years. After this I luckly graduated from Austin Highschool nearby and went onto college just as I had planned. I went to UNT for one year, attained a 4.0 gpa, and then transferred to my dream school UT where I currently reside. I now am spending most of my time writing music and trying to build towards my goals of being a songwriter, producer, and artist. Read more>>
Leslie Gilbert
I have loved photography since I was a child. I started learning more about it in High School photography classes. I went on to get my Bachelor’s in Business and went into the corporate world and continued to enjoy photography as a pastime. I was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 37. I continued to work but it was taking a serious toll on my health. My husband and I decided that I needed to focus on my health and leave corporate America. Read more>>
Dae Emanuel
Originally I’m from Virginia Beach,Virginia and have been living in Texas for roughly over two years. I’m an Army Veteran, a phlebotomist, and having been modeling for two years. Within those two years I’ve been signed to an NYC agency and walked NYFW. I’m also a member of the Austin Chapter Haus of Vondutch, better known as ‘Divo Vondutch’. Read more>>
Lisa Perez
In 2009, I decided to formalize my training by enrolling in beauty school in Modesto, California. I attended alongside my sister, Anna Mendivil, who is now our talented Lash Tech. The following year, in 2010, I moved to Texas in search of a fresh start and the opportunity to grow my career as a hairstylist. While I initially tried working in salons, I quickly realized that the independent route suited me better. I began working as an independent stylist and continued on that path until the fall of 2023. Read more>>
Sarah Tadesse
It all started with my daughter’s first birthday. Like most moms, I poured my heart into planning every detail—I wanted it to be magical. But when the day finally came, I was so busy setting up, managing the schedule, and making sure everyone else was taken care of, I barely had a moment to actually be with her. I got to the end of the party and realized… I had missed it. That beautiful moment I worked so hard for had passed me by. Read more>>
Chris Tejeda
Fitness has been central to my life since I first stepped into a weight room in middle school. As a high school powerlifter, I qualified for state competitions and discovered a passion for strength training that shaped my career. Early on, I had the privilege of completing a practicum at the University of Texas, learning under legendary coaches Jeff “Mad Dog” Madden and Donnie Mabe, and an internship at Train for the Game, where I became familiar with functional movement and three-dimensional training. Read more>>
Tiffany Weinbender
For most of us, it’s about slowly cultivating a wide range of relationships and having the patience to keep showing up and nurturing them. I often tell newer florists that this is a marathon, not a sprint. The people who succeed are the ones who know how to push through the slower seasons, pivot with each shift in the market, stay relevant in a scene that’s constantly evolving with new talent, and seize momentum when it shows up. And more than anything, they deeply understand the business side of their business—because honestly, about 80% of the job isn’t flowers. Read more>>
Diana Paschal
After graduation, I spent half a year living in London, traveling Europe, then officially left the south for the concrete jungle of New York City to create “a better life,” but it wasn’t as easy as I’d hoped. While pursuing a career as an actress, I spent too many nights partying with anybody and everybody, washing down pizza with Tequila. I wasn’t connected to myself. I avoided and numbed my pain. I felt restless, scared and alone. I protected myself, closed myself off from vulnerability and deeper relationships. I built a shield and bottled everything up inside, until I eventually, learned how to process and be with my difficult emotions. I learned how to trust again. Read more>>
Shaun Flinn
I’ve been an artist for as long a s I can remember. Tried college but it wasn’t a great fit. I got started tattooing in Pennsylvania, in 2007 at a local shop. Like a lot of artists, i bounced around shops for a few years until I landed in a well known shop in Wilkes-barre, PA. During the 7ish years I spent at this shop I learned a lot and was able to travel to several different conventions around the country. I met some great artists and made some good friends. I moved to Texas in 2018 to get a new start and work at my friends shop Black Heart Tattoo Collective. I’ve been here for almost 7 years and I love it. I have the absolute pleasure of doing really cool tattoos on the awesome people of Texas! Read more>>
April Ruiz
But I was determined to start what I finished for him, myself and my family. And with my strong support system from my parents, I was blessed to finish what I started. I remember watching Grease 2, and thinking to myself, I am not going to be a beauty school dropout either. In this industry, you will sacrifice a lot of your time building a reputation and career. And that was at times very hard to do and balance my duty as a mom. Read more>>
Nicole Raglin
From the very first Pilates class, I was hooked. The movement was subtle but powerful, and the connection I felt to my body was unlike anything I had experienced before. I felt grounded, strong, and deeply present. It wasn’t long before I was not only practicing regularly, but teaching mat Pilates alongside other group fitness classes. Teaching felt like a natural extension of my passion, and I loved helping others experience the same transformation I had. Read more>>
Kimi Winjum
In our home, herbs are a daily topic of conversation—especially through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine. My partner, a licensed acupuncturist, has helped deepen my understanding of the way herbs can be used to interpret and address symptoms holistically. Watching her care for others in such an intentional, supportive way inspired me to do the same—not just for friends, but for anyone seeking a more grounded approach to wellness. Read more>>
Danielle Alex
Pain turned into purpose. My story began when I was 16 years old and struggled with the image in the mirror basing everything I was on images from magazines, playboy, and movies. I was unable to see the beauty in myself and started to change how I ate to attempt to fit a mold that was not for me. I went to college at CSU in Fort Collins, Colorado and obtained two degrees. One in Nutrition and Food Science and the other in Psychology. I knew deep down all I wanted to do was to understand eating and how to be skinny. Read more>>
Isabel Meijering
It turns out I could be—but only because I wasn’t doing it alone. I got in contact with my old friend Kasey Ducloux, who had also worked at the old studio, and thankfully, our visions aligned. She was all in, ready to manage the space and help shape what we were building. Soon after, two more dear friends—Dacy and Heath Cameron—offered their unwavering support and stepped in as my business partners. They’re the perfect balance to my energy, and we work so well together. I feel deeply lucky to call all of them friends and collaborators. Read more>>
Jennifer Lindberg
My journey began behind the lens as a photojournalist, documenting raw stories with film that found their way into the pages of The New York Times and Marie Claire. I documented everything from teen birth mothers to Death Row inmates with profound developmental disabilities—learning along the way that every photograph is more than just a moment. It’s proof of presence. Visibility. What I didn’t realize then was how this idea of visibility would become the foundation of my own studio. But it did. Read more>>
Veronica Winther
In my twenties, I pursued a career in beauty and wellness, working in spas and salons across Arizona and eventually settling in Austin, Texas. But I always felt called to something deeper—something that combined my love for healing, design, and meaning. After leaving a long-term relationship and essentially starting over, I poured myself into creating BellaVee—a wellness brand that honors self-care, intention, and community. Read more>>
Skyler Tanner
Certainly getting through 2020 was a challenge, as we pivoted to a virtual training model that we still use when clients are on the road or taking a summer trips in cooler places. Finding people who take the profession of training, and the opportunity to work with clients for years and years, provides a unique challenge in a landscape of quick fixes and “12 week challenges” (hint: there is no 12 week fix when you have the rest of your life ahead of you!). That said, we’ve grown steadily year over year and continue to focus on what matters most: helping the client in front of you achieve a level of strength they could not have imagined for everything else they value and would rather be doing, all in only 1 hour per week. Read more>>
Jelly Ellington
The first seven years of playing guitar was dedicated to studying classical music, composers like Francisco Tarrega, Segovia, and Bach really caught my ear. As a teenager my friend brought over his electric guitar with a Zeppelin record, and the rest is history. Jimmy Page’s approach to the guitar and songwriting was a great transition for me moving from my classical roots to rock n’ roll. The electrifying musical prowess of Led Zeppelin really caught my attention. Big shoutout to my Dad for always having their greatest hits record on during our road trips, I’m grateful to be so heavily influenced by their timeless music. Read more>>
Rebecka Pitre
Starting a business in a place where I had no connections was daunting. Add in starting a family and trying to find a rhythm between motherhood and building something creative, it’s been a constant balancing act. Some seasons felt like survival mode, others brought clarity and purpose. The quiet, intentional pace I grew up with in Sweden has helped me hold onto what matters: slow mornings, presence, time with my children, and not letting the hustle override the heart of what I do. Read more>>
Brooke Dupper
Our story really starts with two people—James, a former Army infantryman, and me, Brooke, a former educator—who shared a vision for building something meaningful through art, community, and hard work. After James completed his military service, he started a tattoo apprenticeship while working full-time. Once he finished his apprenticeship, he left the Army and pursued tattooing full-time with the same discipline and drive he developed in the military. Read more>>
Joe Edgar
This tech company grew exponentially, facilitating billions in rent transactions for hundreds of thousands of landlords and millions of tenants and growing to be worth hundreds of millions. Part of the TenantCloud team are Ukrainian, which brought me to Ukraine many times a year and has been devastating since Russia’s invasion. After nearly a decade, I transitioned in 2023 to launch Loac.us. My current venture focuses on empowering local businesses by providing customers with an intuitive app for rewards and engaging content all focused on local businesses. Read more>>
Aisha Uddin
“Fast forward a many years to the pandemic. Like many of us, I found myself confined to my home—juggling virtual school for three kids, each in a different grade, and trying to hold everything together. It was overwhelming. Baking became my escape again. It gave me comfort, a sense of control, and most importantly, a creative outlet when everything else felt chaotic. That’s when I realized it was more than a hobby—it was something I wanted to share with others. Read more>>
Robin Bond
About the time I was 8-years-old, it was apparent to those around me that I was right-brain dominant – artistically focused. I began singing with my dad’s sister, Aunt Rosie, plus I loved to create, paint and draw. I was also keenly aware of my environment, specifically my bedroom. I cared deeply about how it looked – and more importantly – how it made me feel. I was very particular about what my bedroom contained and how it was arraigned. This led to my parents getting my input on selections for their custom home when I was 16-years-old. Read more>>
Stephanie Marks
Kelly left us to raise children in 2015 and we expanded the salon. We also hired ashley to be an employee and later are salon manager. Shortly after covid, we closed our main doors and moved on. Kristen ashley and I are still together after all these years. Bettie Bangs salon is now located in the phoenix salon suites. We are like family not only amongst the three of us but with our clients. We strive to make sure that our clients leave happy with not only beautiful hair but with our level of service that we provide. We pride ourself in all that we do. Read more>>
Charlotte Bell
I have been an artist since 1976. I got into photography by printing images and appliquéing then on to the garments I was designing and making for women. This eventually lead to doing weddings etc and for the last 25 years I have been doing photography only. Mostly head shot and events Read more>>
Carmen Ortiz
Growing up, my dad carried his 35mm camera everywhere. I remember him carefully loading the film, tucking the used rolls into black tubes, and dropping them off to be developed. Weeks later, we’d open those envelopes and relive moments in vivid color—birthday parties, park adventures, and all the silly things my brother and I used to do. Those weren’t just photos; they were time machines. I see it now when my parents look at them—they smile, eyes sparkling, as if they’re transported right back to that exact moment. I realized then that photography isn’t just about the image—it’s about the memory it preserves and the emotions it awakens. Read more>>
Adele & Ashton Verrengia
Method Pilates began in 2017 when Ashton opened the first studio in Houston with a vision to offer high-intensity reformer Pilates in an inclusive, community-driven environment. What started as a single studio quickly gained momentum, attracting a loyal following and eventually expanding to multiple locations in Houston. From the beginning, Method has been about more than just movement — it’s been about empowering people to feel strong, confident, and connected through Pilates. Read more>>
Hitman Ree
Always been a fan of music I just loved how they express their feelings thru music and I studied and watched them for years I didn’t get the confidence to do music till I hit my early 20s and I did my first mixtape and people loved it that gave me a extra push and every since then I just got better and better but my music comes from the heart and it’s 100% authentic Read more>>
Monisha Tandon
Over time, that inner journey evolved into something much deeper. I began to see that my true gift wasn’t just creativity—it was the ability to hold space for other women. To make them feel seen, heard, and truly understood in a world that often tells us to shrink or stay quiet. I had worked various jobs—some in admin roles, some in customer service—and while I was grateful for the experience, I never felt fully aligned. It wasn’t until COVID hit and the world came to a standstill that I had the space to reflect and ask myself what I really wanted to do. Read more>>
Britten Tedford
The road definitely hasn’t always been smooth. One of the biggest challenges in this industry is the demanding schedule, especially around major holidays. I’ve had to sacrifice a lot of personal time—missing out on celebrations with family and friends—while working 16+ hour days to meet deadlines. It’s physically intense work, often spent entirely on your feet, sometimes skipping breaks just to ensure every arrangement is finished on time and up to standard. Read more>>
Ember Sherman
I started doing random commissions for friends here and there and then opened an Etsy store. I did that for a few years and then took a break during COVID. In 2021, I starting doing calligraphy workshops all over Wilco and Austin teaching hundreds of students for about 18 months. During that time I was hired to personalize ornaments live for their Christmas party and I realized how much I loved it and the rest is history. Now I work independently for many luxury brands all over Texas and even a few outside of Texas. I offer live calligraphy, hand engraving, heat foiling and bottle painting. Read more>>
Rebecca Rogers
My journey into Pilates started from an invite to a class, but a little about my journey. I spent over 25 years working in healthcare as a nurse, primarily focused on adults and rehabilitation. During that time, I saw firsthand how much our quality of life is tied to how well we move and care for our bodies. As I managed multiple facilities and supported both patients and staff, I began to feel a strong pull toward preventive health and wellness—helping people *before* they reach a point of crisis. Read more>>
Patricia Taylor
I never expected to become a Picasso scholar; like many people who were young in the Seventies, I thought he was over-valued, over-paid BUT in my first seminar in the graduate program in art history, Europe 1907) my professor showed us Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, saying if we could understand that painting (which had baffled Picasso’s friends when he first showed it to them), we would understand Europe in 1907. Read more>>
Sioban “Damalia” Majeed
I have done pretty much everything within the industry from salon ownership, set work , editorial, educator, runway , music videos and various fashion weeks to include , New York , Philly, Paris and soon Milan fashion weeks. My love of helping women to look and feel there best has always been priority for me especially now as natural hair/coils and curls are now in the forefront of the industry from executive women to magazine covers women are now embracing their hair textures. Read more>>
Megan Shekleton
In my executive coaching, I specialize in supporting my clients in moments of transition when they are on the precipice of change, ready to truly push past anything holding them back, and fully step into their power. Most of my clients come to me feeling unfulfilled, stuck, lacking clarity, or full of self doubt, and together, we partner together to identify what is that meaningful change that they want to create and then, start to embody it through internal and external transformation. Read more>>
