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.
Lindsey Walsh
I actually got my start in photography at a local real estate agency, pushing paperwork, of all things! One day, my boss knew I loved being creative and asked if I wanted to try photographing listings. I thought, “Totally(!), that sounds way better than sitting at a desk 9–5!” From that moment on, I was hooked. Read more>>
Josie Bergmann
Minnesota Unknown was started by three history nerds who met working at the Minnesota Historical Society. We enjoy sharing the unique and unknown History of our great state and started our company to do just that. We began in 2024 and are thrilled to be in our second year of delivering unique tours and podcasts. Read more>>
Hannah Zeleznikar
As a young adult studying business at the University of Minnesota, I was a hormonal mess — dealing with fatigue, acne, and brain fog — and I felt an overwhelming lack of direction. After trying every supplement in hopes of finding relief, I finally booked an acupuncture appointment. Read more>>
Kate Goebel
I’ve always known that music had a special power to heal, but it wasn’t until after I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with my degree in Music Therapy and a minor in Business that I really began to understand how deep that impact could go. Read more>>
Tim Molter
In the quiet fields of rural Minnesota, a family’s bold step of faith has grown into a thriving church that’s been transforming lives for over a decade. What started as a simple home Bible study in 2013 is now Calvary Chapel Fergus Falls—a living example of perseverance, outreach, and devotion to Scripture. Read more>>
Ginger Juel
Voyageur Magazine – Hidden Gems Feature (Updated with Family Creativity) I was born in Rochester, Minnesota and raised in Superior, Wisconsin. Creativity runs deep in my family—my mom (who was born in Canada), my dad, and my grandmother Ginger exposed me to art from my anishinaabe heritage —she is who I’m named after—we are all creative in our own ways. Read more>>
Stephanie Kessler
I started dancing when I was three years old and instantly fell in love with it. Over the years, I trained in a variety of styles — ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, and more — and by twelve, I was competing regularly. Read more>>
Rocio Bermudez
I’m originally from Guatemala, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in architecture and began my career more than 20 years ago. I worked on hundreds of residential, commercial, and industrial projects, which gave me a deep understanding of how design and construction come together. Read more>>
Leanne Kruse
I grew up in Australia, where being outside was just part of daily life – camping trips, ocean swims, and endless time exploring. That love for nature never left me, and it shaped how I see the world – especially when it comes to caring for the environment. Read more>>
Jasmine Flowers
In 2018 I moved from Chisholm MN to Duluth MN to start a new Life. I’ve always had a passion for doing hair, fashion, modeling and acting. I decided to show my talents off to the world. I started Blessing Royal Collection LLC where I do and sell different styles of hair, I sell clothes and accessories. I am an active participant in the community. Read more>>
Kazenda Namoonde
Healing Holistically began as a shared vision between my partner, Mike, and me. We both saw how individuals living with mental illness often struggled to find care that supported not only their minds but their entire being,emotional, physical, and spiritual. We wanted to create a space where healing didn’t stop at medication or therapy, but also included nutrition, movement, mindfulness, and community. Read more>>
Sabrina Ehlis
I began my career as an aesthetician at Spalon Montage in Edina, MN. I worked there for 13 years and in 2016, I left to start my own studio in Eden Prairie. During my three years there, my husband and I purchased a commercial building in Hopkins, MN where I am located today. My husband is a builder/contractor and gutted and remodeled the entire building. Read more>>
Saroeum Path
Before starting this business, we had a beauty salon in St. Paul called E & S Lashes, where I did lashes and permanent makeup. That business started in 2018 as an in-home salon at my residence for about two years. Read more>>
Vannalin Kol
My name is Vannlin Kol, but most people know me as Naly, the name behind my brand, Nails by Naly. I grew up in Cambodia, where I was introduced to the beauty industry as a teenager and first learned how to do hair and nails. When I moved to the United States, I carried that passion with me. Read more>>
Katie Ludwig
I’ve always had a love for the beauty industry and for helping people feel their best. After graduating from Regency Beauty Institute in May 2011, I started my career at In Styles Salon the following month. I spent several years there learning from great mentors, building relationships with my clients, and really finding my style as a hairstylist. Read more>>
Selenas Do
My journey to becoming the owner and leader of Diamond Beauty College is a testament to the power of grit, passion, and unwavering belief in oneself. Read more>>
Kelsa Myszewski
For over a decade, I’ve been behind the lens, documenting stories through my photography business, Kay Collective, photographing weddings, couples, families, and portraits across Minnesota and beyond. More recently, I’ve fallen in love with the timeless craft of tintype photography – a process that slows time, where each plate is made by hand and every image is truly one of a kind. Read more>>
Kate Bratt
Never did I ever think I’d be teaching ballroom dancing and have a ‘huge’ family, but here I am. Being ‘energetic’ as a child, my parents put me in gymnastics and from sixth grade until college, it was school, gymnastics, and working part-time. Read more>>
Paige Schuette
The VINE Home Thrift Store was recently named the 2nd Best Thrift Store and Furniture Store in Mankato. The thrift store offers more than just beautiful, gently used furniture and home goods. This is a vibrant community store, where generosity and connection create impact. Every item on display, from vintage lamps to modern sofas, is donated by neighbors who believe in giving back. Read more>>
Barbara Haney
Team Ascension Combat Sports & Gymnastics began during the COVID-19 pandemic as a virtual school, with Brent, Tosher, Lizzie, Saxon, Barbara, and Kendall Haney. All of them have trained with world-class instructors from Guatemala City, Guatemala. These instructors include Nelson Sunu, Luis Alberto Morales, Mike Olson, Justin White, and more. Read more>>
Jacob Panka
I became a naturopathic doctor because I couldn’t find the kind of care I was looking for. For years, I went through the standard medical system feeling like no one was really listening or looking at the whole picture. It was all quick appointments and prescriptions that masked symptoms without addressing what was actually happening in my body. Read more>>
Jodi Undersander
Jodi has always had an eye for design and creating beauty in every situation. Growing up in small-town USA, Illinois, Jodi’s roots run deep. She learned the grace and importance of enhancing traditions with simple, yet elegant, modifications or from-scratch creations in her design and branding work from an early stage. She has been designing logos and branding for people and organizations for 10+ years. Read more>>
Emile Freitag
If you had told me years ago that I’d one day own a thriving bridal beauty agency, I probably would’ve laughed. I didn’t have a clear vision for what I wanted to do with my life after high school. I didn’t grow up with a lot of structure or guidance, so I found myself bartending and serving while trying to figure out my path. Read more>>
Mark Bluhm
A few years ago, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with dementia. As her condition gradually progressed, she began experiencing increasing difficulty managing daily activities—remembering appointments, making phone calls, and understanding her schedule. Although she lived in an assisted living facility, the staff faced high turnover and limited time, making it challenging for them to know each resident personally or provide personalized support. Read more>>
Elizabeth Hoffmann
I’ve been a music director in the Catholic church for the bulk of my professional career, starting in my hometown of Waseca, MN, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In 2011, I moved to the western suburbs to start my family. Shortly after, I got a job at St. Joseph Waconia as the Music and Liturgy Director. Read more>>
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>>
