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.
Louisa Schneider
I grew up in North Carolina dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur, despite coming from a family full of medical professionals. I attended Dartmouth College and, after graduation, began my career on Wall Street with roles at Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan – two of the industry’s biggest names. Read more>>
Sheryl Galash Wagner
At the age of 60, I never dreamed I would be running my own business, but as I reflect on my career, the driving force has always been connection. I wore many professional hats: starting out as a waitress and then moving into management that included catering events for large groups. Every success came from building trust and rapport—whether it was anticipating a diner’s need, coordinating a 300-person event, or leading a staff. Read more>>
Thomas Gratz
I’ve always wanted to become an attorney, but for a long time, that dream felt out of reach. I was fortunate to build a rewarding career in insurance and risk management, which gave me opportunities to work alongside lawyers and navigate disputes. Still, it never truly satisfied my desire to practice law. In 2015, my daughter Alison passed away from complications related to kidney disease. Read more>>
Jared Berg
When I first started my business, I was working at a growing marketing agency. At the time I was working as an SEO specialist and was doing all of the technical work and reporting for around 20 clients who were on a monthly retainer. Read more>>
MICHAEL LEE
In the heart of Minnesota, in the suburb of Eden Prairie, friends and family passionate about Japanese cuisine saw an opportunity: to bring the authentic spirit of “yakiniku” (Japanese grilled-meats) dining into a warm, stylish and interactive setting for their local community. They chose the name Gyu-Mai (written in Japanese as 牛舞) which literally translates to “Cow Dance”. Read more>>
Pastor Tyler Braucht
I was born right here in the Twin Cities in February, 1987. I grew up in a Christian home as a Pastor’s kid. My parents, Joe & Vicki, are the Founding Pastors of Destiny Christian Church. After serving in the Church of God denomination as the State Youth Directors, they were asked to take a small struggling church in Lakeville called ‘Valleyview’ at the time. Read more>>
Forest Gillis
Music has been there for me for as long as I can remember. When I was 8 years old, I began violin lessons. My teacher brought me to Bluegrass jams and fiddle competitions and helped me prepare for classical recitals and auditions. I began teaching in high school, under her guidance, when she had more students than she could teach. Read more>>
Christie May Kielblock
My journey as The Soul Doula began with my own search for peace and serenity. For years, I was living what many would call the “American dream” — a high-level executive management position, a husband, two kids, a dog, and a custom-built home in the country. From the outside, everything looked perfect. I hosted dinner parties, summer barbecues, and appeared to have it all together. Read more>>
Juan A. Vazquez
As a high school dropout in Mexico, my expectations for education when I arrived in Minnesota were modest at best. My only aspiration was to find steady work and hope for the best. And for a while, that’s exactly what I did. I took on every job that came my way—dishwasher, busboy, pizza maker, cook. Read more>>
Jen Flynn
If you had told me a few years ago that I’d own and operate a health and wellness practice and a management company — I probably would have laughed. Over the years, I’ve helped several people successfully launch their own companies and programs, watching them grow, thrive, and make an impact. But turning that same energy toward building something of my own? Read more>>
Dan and Cheri Gieski
We purchased this 1924 English Tudor from the Catholic diocese in 2019 with the hope of preserving its history and making it, not only our home, but a unique get-away on the Mississippi river. Read more>>
OSKAR GRANQUIST
My initial start of Granquist and Associates, LLC in late 2015, https://www.granquistandassociates.com/ actually began as OGPACCOR in 1991. Read more>>
Deepak Gulati
Our functional medical practice and gynecology department at www..patients medical.com , in 2006 started getting increasing requests from reproductive medicine patients needing egg donors and surrogates. The practice started as a division of the medical practice and over time has been restructured into three websites Surrogacy4all.com, eggdonors4all.com and IndianEggdonors.com. Read more>>
Carolyn Will
My first job out of college was as an agricultural TV reporter covering central Minnesota. My first on-air experience was delivering the noon farm commodities report. Then I hustled out of the anchor chair, shot a field report, came back and edited it, and was back in the anchor chair for the 10 p.m. news. Read more>>
Robin Cicmil
Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be in business for myself. After earning my Associate’s Degree in Business Management, I started a family and quickly realized how challenging it would be to balance a full-time job and the cost of childcare. That realization led me to open my own daycare, which I successfully ran from my home for 10 years. Read more>>
Kayla Erdmann
Outside of work I like to spend time with my family at the theater watching our kiddo perform, at the cabin watching our dog “fish”, traveling preferably via epic road trip, playing games and singing. Read more>>
Allen Horner
I began training in Karate and Judo at 11 and Tae Kwon Do at 13. At 16 I started Jiu Jitsu, that was 1979. I opened my first dojo in 1983 and have been teaching Martial Arts continuously since then. I trained in Kenpo Karate for 10 years and fought as a prize fighter for 26 years before retiring from competition in 2013. Read more>>
Lila Wilson
I graduated from UW-Milwaukee in December 2016 with a BA, focused on printmaking studies. I moved back to Duluth where I worked at Pita Pit. During an opening shift I was approached with an inquiry into who had done the window art. Turns out it was the current general manager of How Sweet It Is. Read more>>
Ben Kuns
I was encouraged to go to massage therapy school after dropping out of college. I never knew how monotheistic my learning style was. Where I struggled with the linear style of school, I excelled at monotheistic leaning like anatomy, physiology and biomechanics. Read more>>
Hilary Patzer
Dr. Hilary Patzer is dedicated to helping athletes achieve their highest levels of performance and success. A Doctor of Chinese Medicine, licensed acupuncturist, and Chinese herbalist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dr. Patzer blends traditional medicine with modern performance strategies to optimize athletic potential. Her extensive training includes certification as a Level III Fascial Stretch Specialist, Cranial Sacral Therapy practitioner, and Neurokinetic Therapy provider. Read more>>
Kylar Pagnac
I have been playing piano for over 15 years, and all throughout junior high and high school I knew I wanted to do something in music. By the time I graduated high school, I was sure that I was going to teach choir in a high school. After one semester of music education, though, it just didn’t feel right. Read more>>
Ashley Venburg
I started working at Hawaiian Tan about 17 years ago and instantly fell in love with the industry. Much of what I learned about tanning was self-taught or passed down from the previous salon owners, who became incredible mentors over the years. During my 15 years with them, I grew from a salon consultant into management roles, first leading teams, then overseeing multiple facilities. Read more>>
Logan Otomo
I got started with towing back in 2020 during the pandemic. I wasn’t happy with the career path i was on and i wanted to do something different. I started working for my grandpa when i was 15 years old. My grandpa owned his own engineering firm and i would help out in the field and would work on autocadd projects. Read more>>
Steven Walli
To keep my head on a swivel, I stay active — I recently ran the Grandma’s Full Marathon and have competed in triathlons, which keep me sharp both mentally and physically. I’ve found that pushing myself in fitness often parallels the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship: discipline, endurance, and a willingness to keep moving forward no matter what. Read more>>
Daniel Vega
My name is Daniel Vega, owner of Vegas’ Travel Agency! I was born and raised on the Lower East Side of New York and The Twin Cities of Minnesota. I am fluent in both English and Spanish. For over 30 years I have served the traveling public as a Chauffeur and Local Tour Guide. I have lived in Saint Paul for over 50 years. Read more>>
Alli Neal
I loved that business and that mission, but turning your hobbies into your career has its dark side. Shutting it down was hard, but there were bigger things to focus my energy on at that time that helped me keep perspective. I got involved in state level politics in communications and email marketing, and the organization I was with helped flip the Minnesota, Michigan, and Virginia state legislatures. Two of my campaigns were the ones that officially flipped their Houses. Read more>>
Cal Carlson
My name is Cal Carlson. I’m a former TLC camper and have been involved in TLC professionally for 10 years, as an instructor, a supervisor of tennis, and now TLC’s Associate Director. I am 2017 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College where I was a member of multiple MIAC Conference Championship teams. Read more>>
Rachel Traxler
I worked in the cancer center at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, so I worked in the medical field before I went full-time in photography. My disease group was GYN, so gynecology and I worked with women with ovarian cancer, and I was picking out which chemotherapy regimens would be best for them based on their prior treatment. Read more>>
Alicia Hinze
I am Alicia Hinze, and I am the owner and founder of The Buttered Tin restaurants and Freshly Frozen product line. Born and raised in Saint Paul, my passion for cooking was ignited at an early age through the warm, home-cooked meals prepared by my family. I am dedicated to crafting exceptional comfort food with a modern twist. Read more>>
John Croarkin
I am a musician who started playing bass guitar in rock bands as a teenager. I switched to flute when I was 17 after becoming a fan of Jethro Tull. Then I discovered other great jazz flute players such as Roland Kirk, Eric Dolphy, Hubert Laws, Jeremy Steig, Herbie Mann, Hermeto Pascoal and Joe Farrell. Read more>>
Jamie Dake
I grew up with a mom who was a cosmetologist, so beauty has always been a part of my world. From a young age, I struggled with my own skin. My mom would take me for facials, bring me to the dermatologist, and buy me packs of Proactiv (which, at the time, I had no idea how to even use!). Read more>>
Michael Isenberg
I grew up in New Ulm, MN and went to Mankato for college and moved to the Twin Cities after college. My wife and I settled in New Hope 20 years ago and quickly became integrated into the community starting with setting up a neighborhood watch as block captains. Read more>>
Eddie Ulrich
The “Fuzzy Duck” Story: My career in creative marketing – and the name of our company – originated while growing up on a farm in southern Minnesota where I spent much of my time with a sketchpad and my imagination. Read more>>
Reed Ross
As long as I can remember, I was always baking with my mom, Melissa, and grandma, Carol. Read more>>
IvyRose Sachs
Hey friends! I’m IvyRose, owner of Twisted Ivy Boutique. I started my boutique journey when I was just 17 (during Covid!) after buying a little storefront in my hometown. Six months later, it grew into Twisted Ivy Boutique—a fun mix of women’s clothing, accessories, kids’ items, formalwear, and more. Read more>>
Don Bursell
I began my performing career at 10 years old, when my Grandmother gave me a magic set. I performed my first show when I was 12, and went full time at 15 years of age. Upon graduation from high school, I applied, and was accepted, to Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey’s Clown College, at the time located in Venice, Florida. Read more>>
Daryl Lanz
I’ve always loved books and bookstores, especially used bookstores. In 2012, after a decade of working in retail (music business), and another 15 years of teaching high school, I decided to take the plunge and start my own business and opened Chapter 2 Books. Thirteen years later and it’s still going, stronger than ever. Read more>>
Gail Grimslid
I’ve always been the person who goes a little extra for parties and celebrations. I worked as a wedding and event coordinator for 12 years, prior to having kids. During the covid shut down, I was pregnant and bored and started setting up balloon garlands for my family members as a way to still celebrate without having huge groups of people. Read more>>
Miki Orr Campbell
My journey into the spiritual and metaphysical world began unexpectedly around 2007–2008. A friend invited me to see a psychic, and during that session, she told me I should consider joining her psychic development classes. I laughed and replied, “I don’t think so—I’m not psychic.” But Spirit had other plans. The seed was planted, and the thought wouldn’t leave me. Read more>>
Rebecca Benstead
I have worked with my gifts of intuition, deep listening, and reading energy since I was a small child. These gifts run in my family lineage. I took my first official bodywork training (Shiatsu Therapy when I was 20 years old. I continue to be a lifelong student and recently finished my Master’s degree in Holistic Health in 2024. Read more>>
Cole Douglas Meyer
It really began when I was a wee tot. Usually, kids say that they want to be a fireman, astronaut, lawyer, police officer, or doctor when they grow up, but me… I had my eye on something different. Read more>>
Cynthia Moe
I moved to St Cloud in January 2022 after a divorce, and Mind, Body & Spirit was one of the first businesses I visited. MBS features crystals and stones that can help support spiritual and emotional growth, and it’s a wonderful resource for people who are interested in spirituality that is outside the mainstream as well as those searching for truly unique gifts and decor. Read more>>
Bob Countryman
Nine Mile Brewing was an idea born out of a desire to bring a brewery/taproom to Bloomington. Prior to 2019 the Bloomington City Charter effectively prevented breweries, distilleries and corresponding tasting rooms by very strictly describing how alcohol could be sold in the city. Therefore, Bloomington was one of the few communities in the metro area without a brewery/taproom. Read more>>
Michael Grego
About 15 years ago, while I was working as a Marketing Director for a child card facility, I had been running into many other businesses that needed help with their marketing. Logo design, website help, general media buying, whatever, and it began to peak my interest in starting to do marketing for myself. Who doesn’t want to make their own hours, right? Read more>>
Tyler Schmitt
In 2018 Growing Power went bankrupt and my father stepped in to buy the urban farm from the city of Milwaukee and keep operations going for the community. In 2019 we started Ultimate Farm Collaborative Inc. as a design agency to look over the farmers on site, as well as care for and research plants and animals including lake perch, goats, chickens and bees. Read more>>
Sophia Rome
Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to do something creative that allowed me to work closely with people and serve them. I had no idea that God had placed photography on my heart from such a young age. I officially started my photography journey at the end of my sophomore year of college. Read more>>
Rod Raymond
Rod Raymond’s entrepreneurial journey began in Duluth with a vision to blend community, history, and hospitality. Over the years, he’s created and revitalized several iconic establishments that have helped shape the city’s cultural and dining scene, from founding Fitger’s Brewhouse, Minnesota’s oldest brewpub, to restoring historic spaces like The Rathskeller and The Oliver Inn. Read more>>
Samantha Hosch
I knew I didn’t want to go to college and I’ve always wanted to be a business owner. My parents are Debbie and Paul Hosch and actaully owned the Big Event Company in the early 2000s so naturally it’s in my blood Read more>>
Leslie Johnson
Over two decades ago I officiated my first ceremony and it was a beautifully formative experience. My profession at the time was in restaurant management and I also owned a small event studio, but the memory of that ceremonial evening remained strong. Read more>>
Oluwafunso Akande
Crystal’s Cakes is a Ramsey, Minnesota–based bakery specializing in producing and selling custom cakes, pastries, and baked goods that serve weddings, birthdays, graduations, showers, corporate functions, and community celebrations. Started in 2015 as a home bakery by Oluwafunso Akande. Read more>>
