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.
Ashley Sievers
Dr. Sievers (my husband) joined Cambridge Orthodontics in 2010 with Dr. Brad Videen. In 2013, we became the sole owners of the practice. It was a pivotal time in our practice when we decided to examine who we really wanted to be and what role we hoped to have in our community. Read more>>
Reona Berry
My Story My knowledge about breast cancer began with my cousin Linda, an airline attendant who was diagnosed at age 27 in 1983. At age 35 I found a breast lump, which was later determined to be a fatty cyst. In June 1989 I noticed a discoloration on my right breast, under my armpit. Read more>>
Ashley Tebay
I started my career as a registered nurse in 2006, working in a variety of settings both inside and outside the hospital. Over the years, I gained a lot of experience, but I also started to see the limitations of the healthcare system—especially when it came to truly helping people feel better, not just managing symptoms. Read more>>
Lucy Richardson
I was born and raised in Aldama, Tamaulipas, Mexico, in a low-income but very close-knit family. Some of my favorite childhood memories are simple ones—spending time with my two siblings (sister and brother) and many cousins, playing outside, climbing fruit trees, and going to the river where our mothers would wash clothes while we swam and helped where we could. Read more>>
Ally Bowman
My journey into photography really began long before I ever picked up a professional camera. As a little girl, I was always fascinated by old photographs. I loved sitting with my grandparents, flipping through photo albums, hearing the stories behind each image, and feeling the nostalgia those memories carried. Read more>>
Christin Ament
I started in the Neuro ICU at Mayo Clinic where I saw a tremendous amount of sudden death. I was struck by the way in which our culture (families, professionals, systems) lacks the appropriate reverence and support to those dying. It’s viewed as a failure and if treatment doesn’t fit some guideline or into some box to be checked, it is not thought about. Read more>>
Heidi Rimstad
This story of mine has been unfolding for decades. Every day, every choice, every experience has contributed to who I am today. And for the record, my story isn’t finished—we’re simply capturing a moment in time. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology in the mid-1990s and worked in human resources and administrative roles before becoming a full-time stay-at-home parent in 2000. Read more>>
Erin Buss
I’ve worked in healthcare for most of my adult life, primarily in high-acuity settings like the Pediatric ICU, where decisions matter and systems have to function well. That background shaped how I think. I’m not naturally drawn to trends. I’m drawn to structure, safety, and understanding how things actually work. Read more>>
Ronald Okenfuss
My company, RJ Okenfuss Global Management Solutions LLC, is a global consultancy focused on driving sales and profit growth by improving executive integration with sales, marketing, finance, supply chain and manufacturing managers. Our clients include executive teams at global multinationals like GlaxoSmithKline, Ecolab, and most recently the $36b farmers coop, CHS Inc. Read more>>
Zach Rynders
My journey into the world of architecture actually began in a completely different sector: corporate wealth management. However, like it did for so many others, 2020 changed everything. My wife, Anna, is a licensed architect who was furloughed from her role at Life Time during the pandemic. We decided to turn that challenge into an opportunity, launching R2 Studios Architecture as a freelance venture. Read more>>
Naomi Thompson
We started in meat rabbits in 2014 after selling our day spa. My health took a turn and I could no longer work, and we had our kids to feed. They were 5 and 10 at that time. My husband and kids stumbled across a baby rabbit nest (wild) in the field behind our apartment. We lived right on a small river. Read more>>
Shelle Hagen
My career has always been defined by a deep curiosity about how the body heals. I came into this field 26 years ago with a background in Exercise Science and a personal mission: my mom was suffering from migraines, and I wanted to find a way to help. Read more>>
Shawn McCarthy
I have been drawing since an early age starting with cartoon and comic book characters. I have always had a love for art. Art has been my way to tune all the worries of the world away. When I got into high school I had an art teacher at Grand Blanc High School in Michigan by the name of Mr. Clegg. Read more>>
