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.
Clarissa Hernandez
I started my career in the mortgage industry five years ago with a simple goal: to help families build stability and long-term wealth through homeownership. Early on, I learned that this business is about much more than rates and numbers—it’s about education, trust, and genuinely caring about the people you serve. Read more>>
Jada Smith
My affinity for the grandest moments of life began long before I stepped into a professional planning role. Growing up on the pageant stage and at the table of charity galas, I developed a lifelong reverence for the theater of formality and the grace of a perfectly executed evening. Read more>>
Sabrina Young
Young’s Daughters Funeral Home and Bereavement Center in Bell County, Texas, is a locally owned, veteran-operated funeral home led by Sabrina N. Young, offering personalized and technologically enhanced funeral services, including unique options like overnight vigils. Read more>>
Shamrock Holak
My name is Shamrock Holak, and I turned a passion for helping others into a 26-year career in insurance. As a preacher’s daughter, service has always been a part of my life. I opened Shamrock Insurance Agency in Hutto, Texas, in 2020 to offer meaningful, relationship-based service to families needing auto, home, life, or commercial coverage. Read more>>
Beau Watson
I started washing cars the day I got my driver’s license at 17. I took a job at a local car wash because I loved cars and it beat working fast food. What began as a high-school job quickly turned into a career. By 18, I was an assistant manager, and by 19, I was given my first store to run. Read more>>
Henry Gutkin
Born in East-Germany, my culinary journey began at the age of 17 on the island Juist, in the North Sea (Northern Germany). I started as an apprentice at the Hotel Achterdiek, one of the best and most exclusive ranked Wellness and Romantic Hotels in North Germany. I was able to experience and learn the basics of Culinary Art in those great 3 years of education. Read more>>
Jaclyn May
I’m originally from Virginia, and early in my career I made a defining decision: I sold nearly everything I owned and moved halfway across the country to pursue a role in medical device sales. It was a leap of faith, but one that taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, adaptability, and building something from the ground up. Read more>>
Janna Paulson
As a local Austinite, I grew up watching my father – Larry Peel – in all phases of apartment development. He would bring me along to construction sites and allow me to sit in on his architectural meetings. I knew at a young age this is what I would do when I grew up. After graduating from Arizona State University, I moved back to Austin. Read more>>
Hailey Hendricks
New Braunfels CrossFit has been a part of this community since 2009. I joined the gym as a coach in 2018 and immediately fell in love—with the people, the culture, and the way this place used fitness as a tool for connection and growth. Read more>>
Jazz Moe
I’ve always loved capturing memories, both the big celebratory moments and the small, funny, everyday ones. In high school (and even earlier), I was constantly borrowing my mom’s old Canon camera to take photos of friends. I didn’t think much of it at the time; I just knew I loved documenting life as it happened. Read more>>
Samuel Alexander
Samuel Alexander CEO, C2C Fashion and Technology Ecosystem. Read more>>
Desiree Fox
The teachers there in the public schools of Monticello, NY were phenomenal and it didnt take long for them to see that my test scores and dedication to my education was something to pay attention to. I was quickly placed in more advanced classes and given access to programs and scholarships based on my academic merit that ultimately allowed me to become the first in my family to attend and graduate from college. I finished school with a double degree in Business and in Dance. Read more>>
MonaLisa Fanner
My entire journey—from childhood gifts and professional validation to the hard-won battle of self-acceptance and formal wellness training—culminated in the founding of Haven Intuitive Wellness. Today, my work is rooted in providing grounded, compassionate, and precise energetic care and healing. Read more>>
Castell Land Company
As part of our journey in Castell, Texas outside of Austin, we have been working on creating a cultural hub of sorts with the goal of showcasing local artists and collaborators from across the Texas Hill Country. Officially opened in 2025, Castell Hill Country Gallery regularly hosts art exhibitions and events, often drawing crowds many times the size of Castell itself (Pop. Read more>>
Carol Olson
After moving to Texas almost 10 years ago I was looking for a part time job to get back into the work force and ended up at a bridal shop. Read more>>
Robyn Fuentes
I was set on becoming a detective growing up and throughout college, but my life took a left turn into technology. After years working nights and weekends in the restaurant business, I realized I wanted a different future than doing the same thing in law enforcement. Read more>>
Bryan Snead
It’s tempting to try to point to one defining moment that led me here. The reality is it took me years. Before I even started the process of becoming a licensed therapist, I spent decades working in IT and High Performance Computing. I enjoyed it, but internally I knew something was missing. I wasn’t fulfilled. Read more>>
Robin Emmerich
Yes, thank you for having me! I’m a native Austinite, and this city has played a big role in shaping who I am and the work I do. I started out in the corporate world, following what looked like the traditional path to success. My dad worked at Motorola, and growing up I saw both his dedication and the quiet cost of overwork. Read more>>
Lowery Walker
After graduating high school, I joined the U.S. Navy and became part of the nuclear propulsion program. My husband and I were high school sweethearts, he joined the U.S. Army, and we were married while we were both in active service. Read more>>
Alaa BouGhanem
When I stepped onto the plane that would take me from Lebanon to the United States, I was 17 years old and convinced of one thing: the people I grew up with would eventually forget me, and the people I was about to meet might never fully accept me. That uncertainty stayed with me, but it also became fuel. Read more>>
India McDowell
I started out taking hair a little more serious back in Georgia. I knew moving to Texas I wanted to do something different. I thought about a plan and started doing my research. I brought a bus and started converting it into a mobile hair salon. I’ve been using my mobile salon covering area from Killeen to San Antonio. Read more>>
Emily Cruz
My hair career took flight in 2018 when I graduated from Hair By Hays cosmetology school’s esteemed high school program. I soared to new heights at Great Clips, mastering cutting-edge techniques and building a solid foundation in the industry. Read more>>
Michael Glover
I started The Art of Rucking LLC because of my experience in basic training. While in basic training I injured my ankles for not being properly prepared how to ruck. I want to give people the true Rucking experience on how to properly ruck. Read more>>
Cecy Holubec
My love for photography comes from understanding just how powerful an image can be. I never had the chance to meet my father, he passed away before I was born and photographs became my only connection to him. Those images weren’t just pictures; they were memories, comfort, and proof that moments can live on. That experience shaped why I became a photographer. Read more>>
Chris Barker
I was born in Rockdale, Texas, in 1990, and from a young age, I was surrounded by machines, motors, and hands-on work. Dirt bikes, three-wheelers, and go-karts were a regular part of life, and I spent countless hours tinkering, taking things apart, and figuring out how they worked. Read more>>
Klondike Steadman
My wife (Wendy Kuo) and I started Orpheus 23 years ago because we were looking for a more collaborative and supportive teaching environment for ourselves and our students. We began with just ourselves and 5 friends teaching 40 students all together and have grown to two locations (one on Far West Blvd and one in Cedar Park) with over 800 students. Read more>>
Darryl Messick
My name is Darryl Messick. I am a professional Building Designer, and I was born in Southern California. I graduated High School and College there in the 1980’s. I started working in and Architectural firm my first semester in college. Read more>>
Emily Doelitsch
I grew up in Spicewood, Texas, and my middle school offered a photography elective taught by a local photographer. I signed up on a whim and immediately fell in love with it. I started bringing my camera everywhere and taking photos of my friends just for fun. Read more>>
Sarah Zeringue
I started working with TSP in 2013, when I auditioned for and was cast in the musical Blood Brothers. Since then, I have been involved with TSP in various capacities, including actor, volunteer, and rentals coordinator. Currently, I serve as the Graphic Designer and Website Manager (and I performed in our most recent production, nora). Read more>>
Caysha Toepfer
I am grateful for the chance to share my story and how I found my way into rescue work. Animals have been a source of comfort, purpose, and connection for me for as long as I can remember, and that love is what brought me to this mission. Read more>>
Dave Hawks
Back in college, a friend had asked me to photograph her headshots for an upcoming audition. I had played around with photo and video in high school, but never anything with quality equipment. She had a nice DSLR, and so we went to a nice outdoor area and took some photos. Read more>>
Cassidy Leggett
My passion for working with children began early on, which led me to earn my degree in Family and Child Development from Texas State University. After working closely with families, I realized that sleep—something so foundational and vital for a child’s development and a parent’s mental health—was often the area they struggled with most. Read more>>
Yvonne Espinoza
As a child growing up in Southwest Austin, I never dreamed of one day becoming a college counselor or a business owner. Upon graduating from Boston University and spending my senior year in Madrid, Spain, I received my college degree feeling the way many recent graduates do: without a particular ‘passion’ and unsure of what my future held. Read more>>
