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.
Rebecca Larson
While in school, I was fortunate to meet incredible mentors and, through a student club, landed a job assisting with weddings at The Enchanted Barn in Hillsdale, WI. In my very first season, when the venue was hosting three weddings each weekend, the Event Coordinator unexpectedly quit mid-season. I saw an opportunity, and—even though I wasn’t fully qualified yet—I confidently asked my boss to give me a chance. He did, and in 2015, before I had even graduated, I became the official Event Coordinator. Read more>>
Dr. Britt Stamer
On a more personal level, I’ve always had a natural inclination to listen to people’s stories. That’s a huge part of who I am. I want my patients to feel safe sharing every aspect of their lives with me: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. I believe a lot of healing happens in those in-between spaces, when someone feels heard, deeply cared for, and supported beyond the clinical checklist. That’s what I strive to offer, heart-centered care that doesn’t sacrifice quality or rigor, but instead integrates compassion with high-level, individualized medicine. Read more>>
Ian Alexy
After a couple of years in Burlington I moved out to Duluth Minnesota where my brother Teague Alexy was regularly performing. We formed indie folk group Hobo Nephews Of Uncle Frank and began a twelve year journey of touring and recording. We produced five records and toured all four corners of the United states. We also had a song called Old Number Four that went viral after CBSSports.com did a story on it. We were a regular presence on Minnesota Public Radio and MN public Television. Hobo Nephews first tour in the western states was supporting Trampled By Turtles for several sold out shows in Montana, Washington, Oregon, California and Colorado. Read more>>
Yer Lor
Being a stay-at-home mom may not involve a traditional job, but it comes with significant work and responsibilities such as time management, multitasking, and problem solving. Managing two business from home while raising kids is not easy. What I’m most proud of is seeing the efforts I’ve put into my floral business coming to life. I believe that once you start something, like a floral business , and with the support of my husband, you will never look back. This experience sets me apart from others, as it gives me the opportunity to focus on my passion. Read more>>
Jacqueline Elizabeth
As the company has grown, the struggles shifted to scaling: learning how to delegate effectively, finding and training staff I can trust, and creating systems so the client experience stays consistent no matter who was involved. On top of that, taking on a venue came with a whole new layer of responsibility – acquisitions, contracts, licensing, and financial risks that were completely different from what I knew in the service side of the industry Read more>>
Bryce And Kim Holmgren
In 2015 their son, Drew, finished his degree in landscape architecture. When he returned home, he and Kim began to dream. They made the decision to move the horses and turn the barn into an event venue. The east and west additions were added as well as a walk bridge, stonewalls, the Pinewood Pavilion and our guests’ favorite, the Pinewood Cathedral, our wedding site in the pines with the lake for a backdrop. The entire family worked together to create the details of the venue known today as Stonewall Farms. They host events such as weddings, prom, church events, and corporate meetings. Read more>>
Paul Osterbauer
I returned to Minnesota in 1998 to teach and research at Northwestern Health Sciences University (formerly NWCC). In the Methods Department of Northwestern Health Sciences University, I developed & taught courses in Geriatrics and participated in an interprofessional Geriatric Residency pilot program. I also taught Evidence Based Programming to strengthen posture, developed by Dr. Stephen Weiniger of BodyZone. Read more>>
Mike Hendrickson
Destination Fitness started over 10 years ago! we began our journey doing personal training and group fitness classes. Since then, we have added buddy and small group personal training, team strength and agility training, a 24/7 workout facility, a building with 6 treatment rooms (massage therapy, physical therapy, esthetician services, etc), a nutritionist that offers free consults, and a shake shop that is coming soon! We still offer individualized personal training and group fitness classes but have expanded our services to meet the needs of the community. Read more>>
Danielle Weaver
I continued to grow my knowledge and experience and eventually (with a dash of courage and a lot of faith) decided to open Lavender Cow Mercantile & Design. In addition to bridal, Lavender Cow is a full-service, all-occasion floral studio and shop. I also dabble in other passions like re-purposed furniture, woodworking and mercantile hard goods. At Lavender Cow you can also find my sweet Benelli Sue, my “go everywhere friend” and flower shop dog…she’s sure to steal your heart, and my clients sometimes come strictly to see her! Read more>>
Fabiana Peterson
That’s when I left the corporate world to become a Life Coach at 47 years old. After about a year, I decided to deepen my expertise by studying neuroscience and became a Certified Brain Health Coach, gaining a deeper understanding of how our thoughts influence our feelings, behaviors, and overall quality of life. Around that same time, I began noticing the changes in my own body and the way society perceives women as we age. I realized how many women struggle with confidence, not because they aren’t capable or beautiful, but because of the pressure to fit into outdated narratives about aging. Read more>>
Kim Matthews
I mostly earn a living as a freelance graphic production designer and editor-writer-proofreader, not necessarily in that order. When I’m not hustling, I’m doing all the things that make the hustle possible: I meditate twice a day, swim a few times a week, walk, cook, and am just climbing out of despair to the point that I can resume my studio practice again. So much has happened in the world and my faith in my ability to do meaningful work has been shaken, to put it mildly. Read more>>
Chloe Jones
he first year was SO fun. Sales were amazing that first couple weeks, then it slowed down a bit and I struggled to get the name out there, so I started doing vender events/pop-ups. That is where I grew, learned, and met some incredible business owners. Fast forward to May of 2024, the owner of the local shop I was still working at, decided to sell her business. I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity, and now here we are on Main Street of my hometown of New Prague running Honey Lou Boutique in an incredible, small-town community. Read more>>
Kat Chelstrom
I’ve designed and completed murals for both commercial and residential spaces, transforming overlooked or unloved areas into vibrant, engaging environments. Beyond murals, I create acrylic paintings and digital art. I’m currently seeking collaborations with women-owned businesses and cannabis companies interested in featuring local artist work on their packaging. Whatever the medium or setting, my goal is always the same: to bring color, energy, and joy into the spaces we share. Read more>>
Vaughn Paradise
I grew up as a black, metal-hip hop kid in New Jersey in a very Black Baptist community, Later, an all white, traditional Catholic town in the midwest, near Pittsburg. That being said, I was in a music vacuum. Nobody did anything other than acoustic singer-songwriter or Christian worship music. When I started writing, it was a lot of learning new skills, burn out, and trying to rely on people who knew more than me. Thank God for my sister introducing me to Pierce the Veil, Asking Alexandria, and Three Days Grace. Read more>>
Aaron Keller
Then my life took a different path from a country kid to the University of St Thomas. After four years, a graduation and some celebrating I landed at Yamamoto Moss, a design agency on the edge of exponential growth. The firm grew ten times its size and I got to learn along the journey with stellar entrepreneurs and working with amazing clients. After seven years it was time to start something fresh. Read more>>
Wei Vivian Lu
I worked as a 3D technical artist for a few years, and when my contract with the company came to an end, I returned to school for a Master’s of Fine Arts program. It offered two years of curriculum and studio space for students to explore their creative practice. I chose to dedicate the entire program to creating my first original comic, Fireheart. I wanted to craft a story inspired by Han Dynasty history and elements of my family’s past. Read more>>
Katrina Widener
Now, my work is really about helping entrepreneurs build businesses that feel aligned, sustainable, and fun—not just another grind that leaves them burnt out. A big part of that comes from my own experience in toxic work environments, where I constantly felt like “just a number.” I wanted to create the opposite: a supportive, empowering space where people can thrive as both business owners and humans. Read more>>
Megan Engeseth
I know how hard it can be to get in front of the camera and give it your all. At the heart of my business is the belief that portraits should transform the way people see themselves. My goal is always the same: to create artwork that’s both uniquely, stunningly authentic. To embrace who they are, how they show up, and tell their story through art. Read more>>
Keisha Williams
With courage and determination, I packed up and moved to Minnesota in search of a fresh start. My first step was enrolling at the Hubb Center on University Avenue, where I earned my GED. That achievement opened the door to college, and I chose the medical field—because I wanted my work to have meaning. Read more>>
Rachel Paulus
I’ve loved photography since I was a child. I loved thumbing through my dad’s National Geographic magazines, not for the articles, but for the images. They held countless illustrations of other lives lived in foreign cultures around the world. The vivid colors and gorgeously lit photos are a buttery memory that still warms me up when I think about it. For my late teen years I imagined that perhaps I may one day be a National Geographic Photographer. I knew before I even had taken a real photo class that I wanted a Nikon camera, and I worked hard to earn the money to acquire the gear I have now. Read more>>
David Farr
My journey into magic began with a fortunate accident at age 10. My father worked as a movie buyer for Target Corporation in Minneapolis, which meant our house was filled with VHS tapes of unreleased films. One day, while my friend and I were hunting through his collection for something to watch, we stumbled upon a “How to Do Magic” double box set – one box contained the instructional tape, the other held the actual tricks. Read more>>
David Timm
No way! We have literally started with nothing but a dream and hard work ethic. When we started we couldn’t afford the mats for the floor so we would buy a few a month until one day we had the entire place covered. We would buy equipment slowly because we just didn’t hand the capital to purchase a bunch at once. When we moved into our current space we needed a small loan to get the place up to code and i literally went to 20 different banks until I found one that would help us out! Read more>>
Kristy Ziolkowski
From the time I was a little girl, I was instinctively and constantly compelled to create safe, nurturing spaces. Atmospheres that enchant, disarm, and invite us into refuge, beauty, and delight. I attended UW-Stout and paired my conviction to support people in relational, emotional, and spiritual health with my love for art and design. I received my Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Studies, with a minor in Interior Design. Read more>>
Sarah Conti
That experience was the perfect foundation for my ultimate goal, which was always to have my own business. After taking some time off to raise my son, I was ready to focus my professional energy in a new direction. In 2000, I put that deep industry knowledge into practice and opened my own design studio right here in Rochester, giving me the flexibility to build a career on my own terms. Read more>>
DJ McShellen Michelle Ndely
Well, my journey into deejaying started right before the pandemic hit. The isolation opened up an opportunity to dive deeper into something I’d always been surrounded by: music. My dad came from Cameroon and fell in love with deejaying, mom was a choir director, brother a beat maker, so it was literally impossible to not be immersed in a musical environment. Growing up, I was that one friend with the aux cord. I loved introducing people to something they hadn’t heard before, whether it was a song or a genre. That passion for music naturally led me to pursue deejaying. Read more>>
Graze Food Co-Op
What truly sets us apart is our deep commitment to putting local farmers and producers first. We believe in building a better food system, one that strengthens our local economy, reduces environmental impact, and gives people access to food they can trust. When you shop at Graze, you’re directly supporting small farms, ethical producers, and fair-trade practices. Read more>>
Athena Thorne
I am a creative soul at heart, but I’ve also had a knack for business since a very young age, having begun freelance illustrative commission work at 13 years old. I worked in food service for many years, following in the footsteps of my mother and older brother, my mother having owned a truck stop for many years and my older brother being a chef. When I was 24 I started a small skincare business in my hometown utilizing my beeswax and honey as I was beekeeping at that time. There was a retail space on Main Street and an online store as well and the business did very well right out of the gate. Unfortunately, having gone into business with my best friend, after two years I was left without a business and without a friend, a mistake I will never make again. Read more>>
