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.
Wade Giles
I’ve always been fascinated by homes and how people live. I could spend hours getting lost in design magazines, studying floorplans and elevations, and imagining how different spaces could be lived in. I’ve always been drawn to architecture and interior design, but what really pulled me into real estate was the human side of it. Read more>>
Benjamin & Anna Carter
We met in church and were married in 2016. As we were planning our wedding, an opportunity was presented by Manor Ghost Town to use the venue for our wedding in exchange for playing music a few weekends. During this conversation, we mentioned that we were involved in ministry. Read more>>
Lisa Baker
I grew up in Colorado and knew from taking my first psychology class in high school that I wanted to keep learning about it. I went to the University of Massachusetts Amherst to get my BA in Psychology and loved learning about people, behavior, and the brain. Read more>>
Ana Jansen
I started Samba Sips because I wanted to bring a more authentic version of açaí to Austin — one that actually reflects how we eat it in Brazil, where the açaí berry is originally from. I grew up with açaí as comfort food. It wasn’t about trends or wellness culture — it was about flavor, connection, and community. Read more>>
Jovino Gutierrez
I am Songwriter, Singer and Percussionist, have been in the professional music business for over four decades. For eleven years was the singer and band leader for the local Latin band Orquesta Caribe, organized in Killeen, TX. Read more>>
Ashley Martin
In my early twenties I had some health issues pop up that ended up causing chronic pain and a slew of other symptoms. It wasn’t until I started seeing a Chiropractor that was focused on who body approach to healing. Read more>>
Chris Martin
I got my start during the dot-com boom of the late 90s, working for ISPs back when dial-up ruled the internet. Those early days taught me how fast technology shifts and how important it is to build systems that can shift with it. I moved back to Texas in 2006 and spent the next decade-plus at the intersection of web development, operations, and marketing. Read more>>
Emily Girard
I’ve grown up professionally inside this organization, but my path here started in policy- not sales. I began my tenure at the Austin Board of REALTORSⓇ as Director of Public and Government Affairs, where I worked on housing affordability campaigns and advocated for the private property rights of homeowners. Read more>>
Mitch Buhr
I started in the auto body industry back in 1994 with a broom in my hand. I worked my way up the old-school way—body work, paint work, and eventually into writing estimates and managing shops. I saw firsthand what it takes to repair a vehicle the right way, not just the quickest way. About five years ago, I was writing estimates for insurance companies. Read more>>
Mike Sailors
I’m originally from Charleston, South Carolina, but I grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, in a household where music was always present. My dad played Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Earth, Wind & Fire, Steely Dan, artists whose sound worlds were full of horns, groove, and the DNA of jazz. Without realizing it at the time, I was being conditioned to love great music. Read more>>
Marcela Diaz
Best Scoops began with a dream rooted in passion, family, and hard work. Our journey started in 2014 in Austin, Texas, when we first entered the world of authentic Mexican ice cream through Michoacana Natural Ice Cream. With the support and collaboration of our family, we gained invaluable experience in customer service, product quality, and the heart of the ice cream business. Read more>>
David Yokuty
Started from the bottom now we here! Life is a incredible journey including ups downs opportunities love respect Most of all being open to change and learning Executive chef David yokuty Read more>>
Vinoth Rajkumar
Cork2Glass was born out of a deeply personal journey with wine that started as a curiosity and grew into a lifelong passion. Over the years, I discovered that wine was never just about what’s in the glass—it was about the connections it created, the stories it carried from vineyard to table, and the way it turned ordinary moments into something meaningful. Read more>>
Andrea ‘Andie’ De Luna Eva Montes
One day, Eva called me and said, “I need you to come over to my office and help me move.” After more than a decade of caring for her patients, Central Family Practice (CFP), a widely recognized clinic since the late 90s, was unexpectedly closing its doors. Having our own practice was always the goal… just not this suddenly. Read more>>
Raymond Keasler
Bumper sticker version, through a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol and just downright nastiness until I turned 40 years old when I was healed by the Lord and saved; June 11th, 2000! After suffering from lung disease and extreme addiction, the New Me started following the Lord and His Word; the Bible. Read more>>
Radha Windham
I grew up in a very musical family and starting playing the piano at age 3. Throughout my childhood and teen years I studied piano, guitar, and drums and fell deeply in love with music. I was homeschooled which really allowed me to spend more time in the areas I was interested in and I had more freedom and independence. Read more>>
Ellie Ray
My entrepreneurial journey started over a decade ago, long before Simply Fancii ever existed. For ten years I’ve been building brands, creating confections, and finding my voice as an artist in the dessert world. I always thought I would run a traditional gourmet bakery until I realized something important about myself: I don’t actually like baking. Read more>>
Dr. Lou (Louisa) Tomaio
I grew up in New Jersey surrounded by animals — dogs, horses, and a neighborhood wildlife rehabilitator who let me help bottle-feed raccoons and care for injured wildlife. Healing always felt like home to me, and for most of my childhood I assumed I’d end up working with animals in some meaningful way. Life took a few turns. Read more>>
Bri Childs
As the Sales Manager for the beautiful Cactus Moon Lodge, I bring my 10 years of expertise in the wedding and events industry to my role in connecting with couples, groups, and corporations to host the most relaxing and restorative weekend they can imagine, celebrating their love, team or accomplishments. Read more>>
Wally and Peggy Tucker
For years this property was our private family retreat – a place where our children and grandchildren would come to visit from North Texas and San Antonio. The grandchildren enjoyed playing by the river and so much time was spent just enjoying the company of family. These six acres were filled with laughter, nature and lots of memories. Read more>>
Sibby Barrett
I have been in the floral, event planning, bakery, restaurant, and cooking instructor businesses for 45+ years, through managing a floral company, owning a bakery and restaurant and running a cooking school, bed and breakfast and event venue. I relocated from Dallas 25 years ago to the Hill Country to start Onion Creek Kitchens at Juniper Hills Farm. Read more>>
Bri Davis
I actually started my journey with TrueCore as a client at our temple location. I quickly fell in love with the energy of our cycling classes and the sense of community that group fitness brings. That passion inspired me to get certified to teach cycle, and from there I went on to earn additional certifications in barre and Pilates. Read more>>
Katherine Deichmann
I was born into the horse world. I grew up a horse trainer’s daughter and granddaughter to veterinarians; I was beyond privileged to grow up devoting my life and education to animals, horses specifically. Working with students and horses every day is not only my passion but also a childhood dream I am lucky enough to have pursued. Read more>>
Donna Lee Lamendola
From my website: Donna Lee’s comedy journey began in 2006 when she became a finalist on Nick@Nite’s Search for the Funniest Mom in America, earning her early recognition as a rising star in stand-up. For five years, she hit the stage while juggling the full chaos of motherhood, marriage, and a demanding day job. Read more>>
Shelley Dennis
Lois Reiter founded Academie Musique in 2006 at Temple College in response to a need for affordable arts education in our community. Academie Musique (the Academie) enables and encourages young artists to hone their craft and gain valuable experience, not only in preparation for college or professional performance, but to make the world a more beautiful and kinder place through artistic expression. Read more>>
David Barkley
I grew up in a baseball family. That was our world for years — practices, tournaments, weekends at the ballpark. But when I was ten, I realized my heart wasn’t in it anymore. I wanted something that challenged me differently, and that’s when I discovered martial arts. Read more>>
Angelo White
Hi my name is Angelo White. I am a 30 year African American male born and raised in Detroit, MI. I currently reside in Texas. I have been a licensed barber since 2015. I started cutting hair to have freedom over my life and to help people. Read more>>
