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.
Josh Hetterick
I got into the sport of Handball back in 2008 during the Bejing Summer Olympics. I saw Handball on TV during the Olympics and I knew I had to start playing. Shortly after, myself and a bunch of people from a Burnsville Rec Center called “The Garage” reached out to the USA Handball Federation (USA Team Handball) to see how to get started. They connected us with athletes from around Minnesota who either played back in their home country or have played for USATH national affiliated teams. From there, we started Minnesota Team Handball Club and since then we’ve been growing and promoting thew great sport of Handball! Read more>>
Naomi Rae Hommerding
This prompted me to deep-dive into herbal medicine, studying in-depth how different cultures have used plants for thousands of years. That research, along with my knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biochemical pathways, I created herbal formulations to help target hormone balance from teens to menopause, stress & libido support, men’s hormone balancing, cycle symptom support, and so much more. Read more>>
KiJana Jones
That’s when the vision for The Ark Lounge MN came to life. While we don’t yet have a physical location, we’ve been bringing this vision to life by hosting intentional and engaging events that create space for people to connect, build friendships, and enjoy themselves in an uplifting environment. The Ark is more than just a lounge; it’s a place where conversations spark purpose, where ideas bloom, and where relationships flourish. Whether you’re looking to expand your business circle, strengthen your faith, or just enjoy a chill evening with like-minded friends, The Ark is that space. Read more>>
Gabe Johnson
Then I decided to do something about it. I started going back to the gym and putting healthy food in my body. I stopped smoking and was really able to take off. In regards to the store, it was a safe-haven for me. I was a customer before I was the GM and received so much help along my fitness journey, it made me want to do the same for everyone. I want to have an impact on lives and help people reach goals they feel are impossible regardless of what they are. Could I go find a job in statistics? Absolutely. However, I feel that my passion and my drive is keeping me in the store to make as much of a difference in the world as I can! Read more>>
Jolene Law
I love the quote, “You’re going to be happy,” said life, “But first, I’m going to make you strong.” I whole heartedly believe that this is true and part of my story that makes me who I am today. Of course, it’s hard to see the forest through the trees when you’re in the thick of it, but life always has a perfect way of turning out just as it should in its own time. I hope to inspire anyone going through a hard time of life to push through and do the work, inside and out, because I promise, it gets better. Read more>>
Amanda Rose
I have always dreamed of becoming an artist. As a child, I spent most of my time drawing and painting. Luckily, I was blessed with numerous opportunities to explore my artistic passions. I completed my primary and secondary education in St. Paul, Minnesota. I took several art classes in school, and took some summer youth courses at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD). I expanded my artistic interests and abilities throughout middle school and high school at Great River, a Montessori charter school. I am grateful to have received support from my family, as well as my arts and humanities teachers. Read more>>
Sara Wilcox
Six months later, I took what money remained from the minor student loans I’d taken out for my third attempt at structured post-secondary education and got a U-Haul trailer. The steelworkers in my family welded a ball hitch to the frame of my Hyundai Elantra so I could tow this trailer, which I packed full of all I would continue to carry with me: from my childhood, a trunk that had been salvaged from a neighbor’s post-flood clean-up refuse pile, which we painted a deep Gak-like electric blue over its original driftwood grey; from an ex-boyfriend, a solid futon chair; too, too many clothes; and everything else in bulging Rubbermaid bins. Read more>>
Megan Anderson
It has been a difficult road, I wasn’t sure for a long time what I even wanted to do as a career, It took me a while to get to this point to know what I want to do, and with how the economy and the world is, it’s sad and frustrating that I am unable to do the things I love as a career & that I have to work a full-time job elsewhere, I’m still not able to support myself, or have a lot of free time for my passion for photography. I am doing my best to be more creative when I can and will not give up. Read more>>
John Vieno
I come from an Artistic Family. My Mother was a recognized American Folk Arists who taught & Sold her Artwork. I learned to paint watercolors at an early Age. The notion of attending Art School at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design was never out of the question, There at MCAD I studied Painting & Drawing. I have always had an Art Studio since 1985. I’ve experienced Artistic Success and recognition at times. There have been good decades and bad decades, regardless I keep showing up to the Studio every day, as Oil Paint is my medicine. Read more>>
Crystel Becker
To gain more experience, I started taking on family sessions, refining my skills in lighting, composition, and editing while continuing to work full-time as a nurse. At the time, I had just graduated nursing school, and photography was something I pursued on the side. But as my passion for photography grew, I realized I wanted more. Three years in, I made the leap to turn it into a full-time business. Read more>>
Gabriel Phillips
Right before the pandemic struck, I secured an artist showcase in April at moto-i in Uptown. I was invited back after performing a short set for bar goers and some of my closest friends a few weeks prior. Unfortunately, I never returned for the artist showcase as things shut down marking the beginning of COVID-19 but fortunately for me that’s when the most fulfilling part of my musical journey began; the genesis of the Aftertime. Read more>>
Josephine Beddor
I’ve been a lover of vintage style my whole life, and largely due to the women that raised me. My mother lived abroad in her 20s and traveled often for work, so she slowly collected and covered our home in vintage furniture and art she sourced from the flea markets she would visit. My late grandmother Marilyn Beddor, “Nani” as the grandkids coined her, is the heart of J’adore Beddor Vintage. She was the epitome of grace and elegance, and taught me that style is more than the clothes we wear. A fellow introvert, she let her clothes do the talking for her, with lots of playful prints and timeless silhouettes. Her closet alone should be in a museum, with its rows of fantastic fabrics paired with so many stories behind them. Read more>>
Ray O’Keefe
Everyone was extremely kind and I was welcomed into the vendor community warmly. Any self doubt I felt before has been shoved down for now, I’ll deal with that in therapy. Read more>>
Chrissy Davenport
In 2016 my family, husband Sam, boys Theron (now 10) Orrin (now 9), moved to our farm near Underwood, MN. I grew up in Fargo/Moorhead and Sam grew up outside of Fergus Falls. Shortly after moving we adopted a herding mix dog who I thought needed a job so I started researching sheep; we had already added cows and chickens to the farm. I landed on a rare, dual purpose breed, the Romeldale/CVM, and added 7 sheep to our farm. As it turns out, our 1st dog was a herding flop so that lead to finding a Border Collie bred for work because now I have sheep and I enjoy herding. The next spring the sheep were shorn and I got to work marketing their wool to handspinners. Read more>>
Amy Bizal
Yoga had always been a part of my life, but it became even more essential during my second pregnancy and birth. It was through consistent practice that I found strength, both physically and emotionally, to face the challenges of motherhood head-on. Yoga not only played a pivotal role in helping me overcome perinatal depression but also contributed to a much quicker and easier birth the second time around. Read more>>
James Osgood
I began drawing at the age of 5, captivated by comics, anime, and the graffiti on passing trains. Over time, I developed a strong eye for detail and a passion for realism—recreating images from references—and that drive to improve never faded. I was always pushing myself to capture more detail and refine my skills. A few years later, another artist suggested I try tattooing. At first, I didn’t think it was something I could do, but the thought of creating art all day, every day, kept me up at night. It quickly became all I wanted to pursue. So, I took the leap and haven’t looked back since. Today, I’m proud to say we own a tattoo shop surrounded by talented artists who push each other to improve every day. Read more>>
Mikaela Fisher
Since April 30th, 2023, I have been alcohol-free, nearing the two-year milestone. I was fortunate enough to avoid hitting rock bottom, instead experiencing a moment of reckoning after a month-long period of abstinence, during which I confronted my self-destructive tendencies, marked by hanxiety and guilt. While alcohol was not always a a negative influence in my life, it was not a consistently positive either. Moving forward to the present day, we have established a boutique-style non-alcoholic bottle shop which opened its doors on November 25, 2024. This venture was born after a friend introduced me to the emerging trend, inspiring me to create a space where all individuals from all walks of life feel recognized, respected and safe. Read more>>
Ezra Kettersmith
Before I purchased my first sewing machine, I sat down to think about what I wanted my clothing to accomplish. Hailing from Minnesota, I felt constantly at odds with the cold, harsh, and often unforgiving environment. As a reaction to this and the greater state of the world, I decided that I wanted to make clothes that felt weightless, warm, and hopeful: Like wearing a deep breath. Read more>>
Ava Steen
Having a career in the beauty industry has been a goal of mine since I was young. I studied cosmetology at the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis, and while in school, I quickly discovered my love for styling—specifically, formal styles. I started by doing prom hairstyles and working behind the chair at a salon. Over time, I transitioned from prom styling to wedding styling. I grew my wedding business through word of mouth and referrals, and I now have a team of amazing, talented women who travel with me throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, allowing us to be a part of so many special days! Read more>>
Alberta Mirais
I began my love affair with visual art as a small child, expressing heartache and joy through crayon, chalk, paint and clay. Dancing though time into adulthood and continually learning from old books, à la carte classes, and the teachings of my artist mother and grandmother, I honed my skills and crafted a career after years of painting. It’s a pleasure and an honor to paint the people, pets and places that are dear to my clients. Read more>>
Nataliia Liaturynska-Renhevych
I thought that I would be able to return home and to my life in two weeks, then in a month, then in a year I realized that the war was still going on and I had to start living. Because the feeling of not living and not making plans is very destructive – you are not at home, but you are not where you are now either. You’re in some kind of in-between world. Read more>>
Rachael Noga
I’m not sure I can tell you how I got to where I am today in this business without first telling you about my parents’ story. My parents began this business about 40 years ago. My dad was going to college for computer technology when he decided one day that he didn’t want to spend his life behind a computer at a desk. They are some of the most active people I know! He and my mom began a business painting and wallpapering traveling all over Minnesota. While that was fun, the traveling did get old. They opened a prefinishing shop and began doing woodwork for houses in their shop. This was somewhat of a new concept, so they had no idea how it would go. Read more>>
Chasing
We are two friends who came from our home countries through a cultural exchange program with the goal of learning English and immersing ourselves in a new culture. We are two people who arrived with a love of travel, and we began searching for national parks and tourist spots in general to visit. Every time we traveled, we were amazed by all the wonderful places in the United States. After visiting around 21 states, we saw the need to create a digital product aimed at all travelers who love to explore and discover remote corners of nature. Read more>>
Allyssa Tipton
Pottery is basically all about struggling until you finally make something you want to keep. I primarily make wheel-thrown items and it takes a while to make something worth keeping on the wheel. Every point in the pottery process introduces opportunities for your pieces to break or fail. I always say, never fall in love with something until you have it in your hand at the very end. Everything up until that point is an experiment. Read more>>
Detra Miller
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been plenty of times when the road felt uncertain. Giving It A Voice launched during a global pandemic which brought a whole new level of complexity. There were challenges with funding, finding location, more people to do the work with us, many moments of doubt with the overwhelming task of figuring out how to bring a vision to life from the ground up. Read more>>
Amy Hayes
I have been in the Beauty Industry for 27 years. As a licensed cosmetologist. I have had the opportunity to work in all areas of the field. Such as working behind the chair interacting with clients one on one. To education. I have worked with new employee hires, doing advanced training. I even spent some time working as a full time educator in a cosmetology school. As well as working in a medical spa performing advanced skin laser services. Read more>>
Micah Daniel
Those courses taught me about the ins and outs of cameras and how they worked, which gave me the confidence to learn how to use them for video. At 16 I made my first short film, and in the years since I have helped shoot and edit over a dozen more as well as a handful of feature films. During the day, I work in the creative marketing department at a electronic components distributor up north, shooting and editing marketing material and internal videos for the company, and in my free time I help shoot, edit, and direct short films and other videos for smaller businesses. My current project is a short film I hope to direct in the winter of 2025, “Leaves,” which is currently in pre-production. Read more>>
Fenani Ahmed
Even from a young age, I knew I wanted to model, to express myself, to act, and to be on a big screen. More than that, I wanted to show the world that hijabis were beautiful too. But as I grew up, I faced the same struggles many people of color do. Microaggressions, hate, and unsolicited comments. Being visibly muslim already made me a target, but to be a hijabi, a person of color, and a woman? The criticism followed me everywhere. So, instead of stepping into the spotlight, I watched from the sidelines. Read more>>
Cassie Fjosne
Willa was loved, desired, and prayed for; she had a heartbeat, and they had to make an impossible decision to terminate their pregnancy due to the threat to Cassie’s life. Three weeks after the D&C, Cassie learned she had new growth of this abnormal tissue and was now declared cancerous, and learned that it had metastasized to her lungs. Cassie and Trevor agreed for her to undergo a total hysterectomy. With the rate at which these tumors grow, the risks of regrowth, and the fear for future babies, it was the only decision that felt safe. Read more>>
Connie Karstens
Today, our Wellness Center is home to a dedicated network of independent practitioners offering services such as nutrition counseling, herbal medicine, massage therapy, thermography, lymphatic drainage, muscle-nerve therapies, myofascial release, mental health counseling, detox therapies, and much more! We recognize that each person’s wellness journey is unique, and we provide a variety of functional medicine services to support individual health needs. Read more>>
Nicolle Danús
I capture those raw, unposed and real, in-between moments. I transform life’s mundane moments into artful portraits – the ones you didn’t know would be so important in six months or a decade from now. If you’re looking for light, bright and airy photographs, you won’t find them here – moody, grainy and soulfully warm is my aesthetic. I see things from an inspired and offbeat point of view and capture it in an artistic photograph to admire for an entire lifetime. Read more>>
Destiny Gbor
What started as simple fun and memories has now evolved into a thriving presence. While it may not seem like much now, I’m confident that with continued effort and God’s guidance, I’ll one day be able to say that I’ve truly made a name for myself. A name that symbolizes a unique star who inspires others to embrace their authentic selves with confidence, no matter what society defines as “normal” or trendy. Read more>>
Daysha Patterson
What makes Raw Radiance special isn’t just the products — it’s the experience. I wanted to create a vibe where women feel seen, valued, and celebrated. Whether you’re grabbing new bundles, shopping for beauty essentials, or booking a stylist for a fresh install, my goal is for every customer to walk out feeling like that girl. Read more>>
Jon Preekett
At that job I learned more about government contracts, sales, and custom orders from manufacturers. I even got to speak often to one of the reviewers/writers for guns and ammo magazine, since we were the shop that conducted their firearms transfers. This got me more interested in that side of the industry. Read more>>
Ashley Kollie
Throughout this project, I’ve found a lot of joy. I found peace in the connections, successes and failures I’ve made along the way. So instead of ending my project, I decided to continue on and hopefully learn more about fashion journalism. Now, I still continue to make posts and YouTube videos. Once I graduate from high school, I hope to travel more and meet new artists and along the way promote sustainability. Read more>>
Maurice Walker
As a young kid, I always dreamed of acting, modeling, and making videos. I remember binge-watching Jackass the TV show and thinking to myself, “Wow, it must be so much fun to have a group of your closest friends filming and having fun all day.” On the other hand, every time I watched a movie, I’d practice my acting skills. Read more>>
Kathleen
I’d been in environments where I had to shrink myself to make others feel comfortable, and the thought of playing office politics was nauseating. It was in this realization that I made the decision that cleaning was going to be that new start I needed. I truly loved the art of cleaning and was quite good at it. I felt aligned with my purpose. With my work experience and entrepreneurial spirit, I dove all in. Fully insured, I created a website and an LLC. to make it official: A Clean Sweep was now a fully operational business! Read more>>
Cullen Zahorski
Vance founded Line Cutterz in 2014 after coming up with the idea for a safe, convenient fishing line-cutting solution. His invention took off, especially after appearing on Shark Tank in 2016, where he secured a deal with Daymond John. Around that time, I already finished my degree at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and had developed a strong background in graphic design and sales. Read more>>
Jessica Splinter
I was born in Chile but was adopted and raised in a small, conservative town in Minnesota. Growing up, I always had a creative side and was drawn to beauty, but I didn’t see many people who looked like me or shared my background in the industry. That actually motivated me even more—to create the kind of space I never had. I started working in a salon at a young age, building experience and relationships, and eventually opened Salon Oriana, named to reflect light, warmth, and beauty. It’s now been 9 years of owning this space, and I’m proud to say it’s become a home for all kinds of people—clients and artists alike. Read more>>
Hrishi Shah
Alongside my love for sketching, my interest in films, music, and fashion grew. Music, in particular, became a gateway to another world for me. Every time I listened to a song, vivid visual frames would run through my mind—scenes, colors, movements. It felt as though there was an entire story unfolding within me. But one thing always left me feeling incomplete: when I came across a song without visuals to accompany it, the story felt unfinished. It was then that I began to experiment with the idea of pairing images with music to bring the music to life in my own unique way. Read more>>
Mike Blechta
I spent my 20’s living in Uptown Minneapolis playing in bands, delivering pizzas and cleaning windows in the summer while deliveries were slow. In 2015 I decided to go full-time window cleaning with the intention of learning all angles of the trade in order to start my own business. By 2017 after being an independent subcontractor for close to a year, I registered Blechta Exterior Cleaning as an LLC and went truly solo. Read more>>
Gerry Ross
We are not growing as many vegetables but are focussing on a few winners such as garlic, cacao, and vanilla. Throughout our journey we have placed food waste diversion into an active on-farm compost stream as a priority for the farm and we divert on average 35 tons of food waste a year from restaurants which we use to build and maintain soil. Our sol recently scored a 92/100 for soil health (UH Crow Lab) which is a reflection of our commitment to regenerative agriculture and the high quality of our produce. Read more>>
Kayla Fearing
I’ve always been taught that Cannabis was medicine. That plant and natural medicines were always superior to man made pharmaceauticals. Long time believer, but never used as a teenager, or young adut until I had too. I was raised by a single father who was a small business owner, Veteran, and a Cannabis Ethusiast. I grew up loving sports, science, and the outdoors; This led me to leave high school with 12 Varisty letters, one knee surgery, and a D1 Scholarship offer to the University of Minnesotas Softball Team. Read more>>
Drake Powe
It has been challenging, but the challenges turned out to be advantages. Being in stressful environments riddled with conflict appeared to be the greatest of challenges. However, I came to realize that regulating my own feelings about the situation was actually a bigger obstacle than the circumstances I was dealing with. Learning to experience my feelings without identifying with them allowed me to shift my emotions and encourage more listening and greater harmony. Read more>>
Tony Balluff
I am Minneapolis born and raised, and have lived here my whole life. I began learning clarinet at age eight and received classical training, performing in concert bands and orchestras. But even at a young age my curiosity for how the clarinet sounded in jazz began to overtake me, and I kept pursuing opportunities in that direction. It wasn’t until I turned thirty and met my jazz mentors that the world of jazz was truly opened to me. The Hall Brothers Jazz Band are Minnesota traditional jazz legends, performing for over fifty years starting in the late 1950s. Members of that band took me under their collective wings and gave me an education never to be found in a formal institution. Because of them, I know I will be playing this music for the rest of my life. Read more>>
Kristy Boike
I now do grief speaks and book signings normalizing conversations about grief and loss and the big emotions surrounding it. It continues to be such a blessing to be able to put a little comfort for others into a space that is just so difficult to maneuver. Being able to take such a devastating experience for my family and turning it into something that can be used to help others through grief helps me feel the love my mother embodied in her life. Even after death, her love is continuing to make a difference and I’m so thankful to be able to continue to feel that through this work. Read more>>
