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.
Maks Stepenko
My career started far from code and boardrooms — I worked in television as a stylist and makeup artist. That world trained my eye and instincts early: perception matters, details matter, and nothing exists in isolation. About a decade ago, I transitioned into digital and founded The First The Last®, a creative agency focused on design, technology, and strategy. Read more>>
Jeremy Shir
After law school, I was fortunate to begin my career as Chief of Staff to a State Senator. That experience gave me a deep, practical understanding of how policy, politics, and key decision-making intersect in real life. It also underscored the importance of relationships- working in a state as large and diverse as Florida exposed me to a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. Read more>>
Ana Colwell
I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, where my path in education began at the age of seventeen. Early in my career, I worked closely with rural communities facing significant social and economic challenges. Many of the children I served came from deeply unstable family environments and experienced profound deprivation at home, including limited access to emotional support, resources, and opportunities. Read more>>
Jenice Garcia
I didn’t begin my career in photography. I originally studied architecture in Venezuela, a field that shaped the way I see light, composition, balance, and detail. Life, however, took an unexpected turn, and after immigrating to the United States, I found myself rebuilding from the ground up—both personally and professionally. Photography started as a quiet, almost accidental passion. Read more>>
Derek Kaplan
I’ve been serving the community desserts for almost 20 years. I started out baking in my home kitchen when I was 15 years old. Key Lime pie was the first dessert I ever made and over the years I learned to make other pies, cakes, cheesecakes, cookies, ice cream and much more! Read more>>
Ana Kamkhadze
My story is one of persistence, reinvention, and building something meaningful from the ground up. I began my career outside the United States, working in the legal field and gaining early exposure to international business, policy, and cross-border work. From the very beginning, I was drawn to the intersection of law, entrepreneurship, and global mobility—how legal systems can either limit potential or unlock extraordinary opportunity. Read more>>
Paola and Juan Olarte
My husband always had the dream of having a Mexican restaurant, We have always been in love with Mexican food and culture, so after trying for many years and looking for the right place the opportunity came along and the dream of having a Mexican Restaurant became real. Read more>>
Asaf Peled and Rob Morrison, Au.D. N/A
Asaf Peled (CEO) – I was born in a small suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel and was enlisted in the Paratroopers (Airborn Rangers) as a medic at age 18. It was there that I found my passion for helping people. Read more>>
eric campbell
This headshot business is a funny thing. When I started my only goal was to make some money and provide for my family. Little did I know that I was starting on a path that would lead me to the greatest fulfillment I have ever experience, well as far as my career is concerned anyways. Read more>>
Javier Marquina
My story with Hogar began in college, around a year before graduating, in 2023. Reading old journal entries I’ve found notes where I mentioned Airbnb, property management, real estate, etc way before any of this became a reality. Read more>>
Christian Arellano
My name is Christian Arellano, and I’ve lived until this point what I believe is an extraordinary path. I’ve always been driven by a deep curiosity for how systems work and a strong desire to build something meaningful. From an early age, I was drawn to entrepreneurship—experimenting with small projects, learning through trial and error, and constantly looking for better ways to create value. Read more>>
Valeria quintero
I went to architecture school, where I confirm my passion for photography. After graduation I studied photography in Boston, feel in love with fashion photography and from there to now has being a journey of discovering my style, what I want to show through my photos and combine color, romanticism and roots. Read more>>
Yasmin Samuels
My journey started over a decade ago with a simple love for hair, creativity, and helping people feel confident in themselves. I became a licensed cosmetologist in 2015 and spent my early years learning, observing, and refining my craft—especially in locs, which quickly became both my specialty and my passion. Over time, I realized that my work went far beyond hair. Read more>>
Wilmis Medrano
My journey began quietly, behind the doors of my home, where fabric, patience, and persistence slowly stitched together a dream. What started as a home-based clothing alteration business grew, year after year, through steady hands and steady progress. Eventually, my husband and I felt the pull to take a leap of faith—to give the work a space of its own. Read more>>
Sarnia Leveille
I started my practice about three years ago as a fully mobile wellness service, offering IV infusions and vitamin injections while meeting clients where they were—at home, at work, and within the community. From the very beginning, my family played an important role in supporting my vision, whether through encouragement, flexibility, or helping me balance the demands of entrepreneurship and family commitments. Read more>>
Sean Mullervy
In early 2000, I was a 20-something, first-year financial advisor. I didn’t have any money, and didn’t know anyone who had any money. Not a good combination. The firm I worked for paid me an $18,000 draw on commission which was even worse than the $24,000 salary at the company I had just left. Read more>>
Joshua Brown
My path to building LUXBNB didn’t follow a traditional route, but it all connects. Before real estate and property management, I spent several years working as a professional model, primarily based in Milan, traveling and living abroad. During that time, I stayed in countless Airbnbs and short-term rentals across different countries and cities. Read more>>
Eddy Beethoven
At birth, the seed of my potential future was planted when my parents decided to give me the second name of “Beethoven.” Being raised between New York City and the Dominican Republic, I was exposed to both Latin and North American cultures in which music played a major role in everyday life. Read more>>
Daniel Palacios
I started like most trainers—inside a traditional gym—but early on I realized that if I really wanted to change lives at scale, I needed to think differently. Over time, I became obsessed with studying movement at the highest level—elastic coil mechanics, rotational power, CNS-priming, coiling, rope flow, landmine university principles, and tools that most people had never seen before. Read more>>
Alejandro Puga
I’ve spent my entire professional life in the hospitality industry, and along the way, I fell in love with one simple but powerful idea: quality. Hospitality taught me that quality isn’t just about products—it’s about intention, care, and the way something makes people feel. One of my earliest passions was wine. Read more>>
John Pineda
My story really began when I moved to the United States from Colombia when I was about 20 years old. At that time, I did not speak English, I did not have a professional network here, and I was essentially starting from zero in a new country. My background was in architecture. Read more>>
Jestina Smith
I’m Jestina Smith, born and raised in Miami, Florida. Before photography, I was a full-time professional dancer, traveling and performing with artists such as Don Omar, Trina, 2 Chainz, and Uncle Luke. Dance shaped how I understand movement, presence, and storytelling, skills that now live behind my lens. Read more>>
Brando Quilli
Our story began as a family dream rooted in Italian tradition. In 2009, my parents immigrated to the United States from Italy with their two children, driven by a passion for authentic gelato and the desire to build something of our own. Read more>>
Frisian Waller
I’m Frisian Waller, the Founder and CEO of Brainforest Academy, the first Montessori Microschool in the Southwest Ranches and Weston area. Although I hold a degree in Computer Science and served in the U.S. Army’s Military Intelligence Brigade, teaching has always been my true passion. Read more>>
Syamarani dasi
It was 1966. I was an ordinary 19 year old in New York City with an interest in art and history. I often wondered, ‘who am I really? Where am I coming from? If I wasn’t born in my mothers womb, would I still exist?’ All my questions were answered one day when I was walking to a friend’s house. Read more>>
Bertha Gross
La Vela Coffee began in Venezuela in the 1950s, founded by our grandfather and shaped by the generations that followed. What started as a family craft became a family promise: roast coffee with intention, consistency, and real pride in the cup. When we moved to South Florida, we brought that craft with us. Read more>>
Toivo E Halvorsen
Dharma Home Suites was co-founded in New York in 2008 by Toivo Halvorsen as a boutique corporate housing and premium short-term rental company. Beginning in the New York metropolitan area, the company focused on providing fully furnished, high-quality apartment stays built around comfort, reliability, and service. Read more>>
Cassandra Belony
I began my acting journey almost thirteen years ago, while still in high school. I always had a strong interest in performing on stage. When I was younger, I would beg my mother to put me in theatre classes. However, my mother couldn’t afford them. Read more>>
Sergio Gutierrez
I’ve always been someone who learns through making. I started working with metal and materials decades ago through fine jewelry, spending years focused on precision, repetition, and understanding how materials behave under the hand. That discipline shaped how I think as a maker. Over time, I felt limited by scale. Read more>>
Daria Marchik
MARCHIK Miami-based DJ & Producer | GLITCH Events Founder My journey into music started from a place of pure curiosity rather than a clear plan. I was always drawn to sound, atmosphere and energy — the way music can shift a room, a mood, even a moment in time. DJing became a natural extension of that fascination. Read more>>
Hugo Vargas
I started working for a freight forward in Miami in the billing department, also I was in college for international Trade, preparing my self. Read more>>
Dr. Ori and Dr. Jordan Eizenberg Weinger
About seven years ago, we made the decision to open an animal hospital that truly reflected our vision of what veterinary care could, and should, be. After working in a variety of practices, we realized that something essential was often missing: a genuine partnership between the veterinary team and pet parents. Read more>>
Tony Millington
Opulent Transport wasn’t born from a single idea. It was earned through more than a decade of quiet excellence. For eleven years, our story unfolded behind the scenes as a luxury concierge company trusted by discerning clients who valued discretion, precision, and seamless experiences. Read more>>
Karissa Rivera
My journey to founding 222 Legal® wasn’t traditional, and that’s very intentional. Before law, I worked in experiential marketing, representing major brands and seeing how much value a strong brand really holds. With both of my parents spending decades in the marketing industry, brand recognition and protection were part of my world long before I became an attorney. Read more>>
Osama Said
Dr. Osama Said is an experienced Veterinary Surgeon at Care for Paws Animal Hospital, a veterinarian clinic committed to providing accessible, high-quality veterinary care to all animals in need. With over 15 years of clinical and surgical experience, Dr. Said is a trusted expert in animal health and a compassionate advocate for animal welfare. Read more>>
Douglas Chironno aka “DougFit”
My path has always lived at the intersection of fitness, nutrition, fashion, and entrepreneurship even before I had language for it. I originally became a personal trainer to pay my way through my nutrition education. What began as a side job to support my master’s degree quickly took on a life of its own. Read more>>
Diego de Vera
“Diego de Vera came to the United States in 2001 after losing everything in Argentina, arriving in Miami with nothing but determination and a vision. Through relentless discipline and hard work, he built KO Zone into one of the most respected MMA gyms in the world — a place known for forging real fighters and instilling true character. Read more>>
Jessica Gomez
0
In 2021, Killer Coffee was born from the ashes of a dream. My twin sister, Gaby, had spent five years building an award-winning specialty café in Mexico (Playa del Carmen), only to see it shuttered by the pandemic. But we refused to let the story end there. Read more>>
Victoria Nilbrink
My name is Victoria Nilbrink. I’m a creative director, visual storyteller, and founder of Vici Studio—an award-winning creative agency shaping brands and businesses worldwide through intentional, timeless, and results-driven design. I’ve always been a deeply curious and creative soul, though I never imagined I’d one day be creative directing for leading brands in hospitality, entertainment, and more. Read more>>
Billy Tartour
Opa Projects didn’t start with the idea of opening a traditional gallery — it started with a desire to build relationships around art. My background combines art history and the art market, and over the years I worked closely with private collectors, helping them navigate contemporary art with confidence and curiosity. Read more>>
Erica Krider
My career began in the hospitality industry, where I spent nearly two decades advancing to a leadership role in Human Resources. I supported teams through hiring, conflict, crises, and organizational change. I was often becoming the person employees trusted with what they were carrying beneath the surface. Read more>>
Leah Tibbals
The idea of opening an in-home euthanasia business first came to me while I was working as an emergency veterinarian. So many clients expressed a desire to be at home for their beloved pets final moments. I didn’t find the motivation to make this idea a reality until I found myself a single mother of two right around the time that Covid entered the picture. Read more>>
Jorge Alvarez
Wiser people than me have said to find something you love to do, and it will no longer feel like work. After 30 years in the corporate world, my wife, Maxine, and I decided to follow our hearts—and we took the leap into the cooking world! I’ve always been blessed with the gift of creating delicious food. Read more>>
sergio perez
Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Sergio J. Pérez grew up with a deep passion for learning and personal development. A top student throughout school, he earned outstanding grades and pursued a degree in Informatics at the university. By the year 2000, at only 19 years old, he became a teacher of information technology, dedicating six years to educating others while continuing his own studies. Read more>>
Marisol Blanco
I felt a special connection to both kids and older adults. There’s something about their honesty, their stories, and the way they let you into their world that really stayed with me. Growing up with loving grandparents and an extended circle of family/friends taught me early on what compassion, respect, and genuine curiosity can mean to people. It can help them grow, feel worthy, and see themselves and others differently. Read more>>
Diane Vich
I started my journey in healthcare nearly 20 years ago as a pediatric emergency room nurse, driven by a deep desire to serve marginalized communities. That passion was sparked even earlier—during a high school mission trip to the Dominican Republic, where I provided care to families in remote mountain villages. That experience lit a fire in me to lead with compassion and purpose. Read more>>
