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.
Grace Reyer
Max Yancy, a longstanding friend and radio programmer, surprised me one day with a text – ‘You want to open a record store?’. I was in the middle of a bittersweet departure from my current job. I sent back: ‘I’m burnt out, broke, not too experienced with business management. Other than that, sure!’ Like all good ideas, it started over meeting for beers. Read more>>
Smitha Bobby Thomas
My love for sarees began in childhood, watching my mother drape her own with such perfection and grace. I was always fascinated by how a single piece of fabric could so beautifully transform a person. Whenever she undraped a saree and set it aside, I would secretly wrap it around myself, walking around with the pride of someone who had achieved something extraordinary. Read more>>
Pearls Of Austin
We are Pearls of Austin, a vibrant and dedicated community of 24 women who share a common passion for serving others and creating positive change in our world. As a non-profit organization based in Austin, Texas, we’ve been committed to empowering women, supporting local causes, and providing aid to those in need, both in our city and beyond, including our efforts in Africa. Read more>>
Christina Jones
After shifting from corporate tech support to a few years at home with our newborn, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to build a career aligned with my deepest values. Read more>>
Chuck Wright
My journey into leadership development didn’t begin with a grand plan to start a business — it began with a deep curiosity about people and how teams actually function in real environments. Over my 40+ year leadership career, I’ve served in operational leadership roles across nonprofits, small and mid-sized businesses, Fortune 500 organizations, and most recently public education. Read more>>
Wooden Woodworks LLC Oscar and Marla Santiago
Wooden Woodworks began in a single car garage back in 2018. Oscar Santiago built a toy box for oldest son. After Family and friends saw the potential in his great craftmanship skills they too began to ask for custom orders. Some of the first few orders included a 10ft long dining table, entry tables and even a custom US Flag. Read more>>
Helenna Snowden
I’ve been growing plants since I was a child, starting with putting lemon seeds in pots to see if they would grow. They did, and one of those trees is still alive today. When my husband and I bought our first home in College Station, I was excited to start a butterfly garden and learn about native plants. Read more>>
Mylah Renae
When I graduated college, my now-husband (then-boyfriend) gave me a DSLR camera as a graduation present. My sisters all called it my engagement camera. He and I met at a study abroad program, where we got to study and visit significant places in the life of Jesus and mission trips of Paul. Read more>>
Brendan Brown
My journey starts back at West Point, where I attended school studying business, cybersecurity engineering, and—most importantly—how to become a strong Army officer. While I was there, I played football, powerlifted, and served as the president of the Special Olympics program. Read more>>
Harini Chokshi
I was born and raised in India and am now based in the Austin area. Photography has been part of my story for as long as I can remember. My dad owned multiple cameras and had a deep love for capturing moments, and watching him document life so passionately left a lasting impression on me. That quiet influence eventually became my own calling. Read more>>
Lucy Leora
I come from a line of photographers. They probably wouldn’t call themselves that, but the hundreds of film negatives and slides I have of theirs says otherwise! I started photographer really young, and then eventually moved on to get my degree in it. I’ve dabbled in various forms of photography, but currently my love and passion is wedding photography. Read more>>
Kady Kearns
At the center of it all? Our founder, Kady Kearns, a woman with over 20 years in the industry and nearly a decade of agency leadership under her belt. She launched Pacific Elite Nannies back in 2016 and quickly became one of the most trusted names in Southern California and beyond. Read more>>
Heather Eure
My path to becoming a lactation consultant and entrepreneur has been circuitous, but the common thread has always been a deep belief in the power of women and a commitment to education. While completing my PhD in Comparative Literature at The University of Texas at Austin, I welcomed my first child and discovered peer-to-peer breastfeeding support. Read more>>
Jane Estes
Lark & Owl Booksellers opened in April of 2019 and we’ve had great support from our community ever since. Georgetown had been without an independent bookstore for several years after the owner of Hill Country Books retired. Founded by 10 women who were committed to books, Lark & Owl has become a cozy, welcoming third place for many people in Georgetown and beyond. Read more>>
Tony Greaves
Little America Miniature Horses is the result of a lifetime of love for small horses. When I was born, my family had Shetland ponies and gave me one when I was just a few months old. I bred my first miniature sized horse when I was a senior in high school in 1963. The American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) was started in 1978. Read more>>
Xavier McIntyre
My journey started through sports and a deep curiosity about how the human body performs, adapts, and recovers. I played Division I football and studied kinesiology, where I became fascinated by hydration, nutrition, and performance at a systems level. During that time, I noticed a recurring problem—athletes were consistently dehydrated and not getting enough real nutrients, especially vegetables, despite training at a high level. Read more>>
Arely Hernandez
First and foremost, I am incredibly honored to be on hidden gems. If you would have told me starting a faith based mom group would lead me to be on an article online I wouldn’t believe you. When I reflect on this journey, I know it began long before I ever created this community. It truly began with my parents. Read more>>
Jasmine Tatroe
I attended Le Cordon Bleu from 2012-2013, completing the Patisserie and Baking program. A few months after graduating, I was diagnosed with Celiac disease: an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the small intestine when gluten is ingested. I became bitter with the diagnosis for multiple reasons, but I soon learned that I could not have children until I lived a completely gluten free lifestyle. Read more>>
Felix Jaimes
It all started in high school when I began hand-drawing classmates’ names so they could decorate their binders. What felt small at the time ended up being the beginning of everything. Read more>>
Rachel Cohen
I am a lifelong artist and community builder. I grew up in San Diego and created in as many mediums available from painting, collage, photography, metal work, to name a few, and grew up prioritizing singing and drumming. I studied Visual and Performing Arts in undergraduate, performing musical theater, Shakespeare, and Moliere and while also singing in rock, jazz, and funk bands. Read more>>
Criselda White
This is my Story. Share yours! I am a FOUNDER of Lymph in Motion! My name is Criselda White was raised in the small fishing town of Solana in the Philippines as the third of six children. My father was a fisherman and my mother sold fish at the local market. Read more>>
Kevina Daniel
When I was in Physical Therapy School, we had a Special Topics class. It basically went over different specialized areas within Physical Therapy that we might pursue at some point. One day, we talked about Pelvic Floor PT and that one lesson changed the course of my life. I just knew I was going to be a Sports PT. Read more>>
Nikki Richardson-Rafferty
Things Celtic started 25 years ago in Austin. Seven years ago, it was moved to Dublin Texas and a year ago. We bought it and moved it to Elgin Texas. It has been a staple in the community for culturally authentic imports from Ireland, Scotland, and other Celtic nations and providing culturally appropriate entertainment. Read more>>
