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.
Michail Christofakis
But with belief and persistence obstacles can be eliminated. The lessons i learned along the way really comes down to one. That you got to believe in yourself, never doubt what you are capable of and never stop. Also you have to embrace the deniers and the ones who look down on you not to prove them right but because they can show you where to improve and do better. Read more>>
Allison Calderon
In 2020, I picked up sewing as a creative outlet, which quickly evolved into embroidery. What started as a hobby turned into something I genuinely loved. When events came back, I worked in the industry for a few years and saw firsthand how experiences were designed and executed. That’s when I noticed something missing. Read more>>
Alyssa Severino
I originally went to cosmetology school because I loved makeup, but once I started assisting in a salon, I quickly fell in love with the creativity and energy of the hair industry. I began my career right after high school, moving from West Virginia to Pennsylvania for school. After three years behind the chair building my skills, I took a leap and moved to Florida. Read more>>
Silvana Borges
My life has been defined by new beginnings. After graduating in Interior Design, I moved to Brasília,( Brazil) where I truly launched my career. At that time, there were very few trained interior designers, which allowed me to quickly gain visibility and become one of the recognized professionals in the city. Read more>>
Angela Mallett
It all started when I began taking photos for my mom’s business, as well as capturing portraits for friends and family. What began as a hobby quickly blossomed into a passion, propelling me into destination weddings. Over the years, I’ve built a wonderful team and now also mentor other photographers who share my vision of capturing love in its purest form. Read more>>
Myrian Romero
I began my professional journey in the corporate world, where I spent over two decades in sales, marketing, and innovation leadership. That experience gave me structure, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of value creation. When my family relocated to Miami, I stepped away from my corporate career and, together with my husband, invested in a franchise of The Cleaning Authority. Read more>>
Melanie Empowers
In 2018, I was on summer break from my junior year of college when my mom kept insisting I get blood work done. I hadn’t gone in a few years and didn’t think it was necessary. After months of her “bugging” me, I finally went. None of us expected the results to show kidney issues. Read more>>
Jodie Booras
My story began in college, where I majored in Journalism and Public Relations and wrote for the university newspaper. Realizing I wanted more strategic and tactical experience beyond writing, I decided to pursue a career in public relations. Read more>>
Semajh
Grew up surrounded by music and entertainment. Always loving the art of building a story .. by writing poems and cinema scripts since age 9, along with music I moved out to Miami in 2022 to pursue a career in song writing and as a Artist Read more>>
Kathy Kissik
I grew up on 50 acres of apple orchards in Cumberland, RI. My grandfather, a Ukrainian immigrant, was a master of necessity; he saved every scrap to build the machines and structures he needed to survive. In our world, nothing was ever discarded—everything was repurposed. That environment is where my eye for the ‘found object’ was born. My path to art wasn’t a straight line. Read more>>
XAR ENTERTAINMENT
XAR Entertainment grew by combining artistic excellence with production logistics: stage plots, technical riders, curated setlists, branding strategy, and scalable band formats depending on the client’s vision and budget. Whether it’s a city cultural arts event, a school celebration, a corporate gala, or a private luxury party, we approach each event with the mindset of a producer, not just a performer. Read more>>
Dante Cerruti
Almost a decade ago, I started creating drink videos just for fun. At the time, I had no idea it would turn into a career. Everything really shifted when I began collaborating with Tipsy Bartender — that’s when my content started reaching a much wider audience and my following began to grow. Read more>>
Piroska Szabo
I was born and raised in Germany, where I developed a strong work ethic and an appreciation for structure, quality, and attention to detail. From a young age, I was drawn to hospitality — I’ve always loved creating experiences that make people feel welcomed, cared for, and truly special. Eventually, life brought me to Miami, and I instantly felt at home. Read more>>
Iskander Lemseffer
I decided one day to become an art dealer. Not really a smart career choice or someone who was in fashion, but I thought it would be a seamless transition. And it was. Thanks to my mother. Read more>>
Cristina Bustamante
I moved from Colombia to the United States to pursue my university education, beginning in California at University of California, Davis and later continuing my veterinary training at Cornell University. That foundation shaped my commitment to practicing thoughtful, high-quality medicine rooted in compassion and connection. Read more>>
Angeline Celestin
Hi, I’m Angeline Celestin — a multi-hyphenated being. I live at the intersection of Health, Wealth, and Tech for all. As an alternative health advocate, I pioneered the first Yoni Spa in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, and I continue this work through luxury retreats and active practice—helping women dismantle high stress conditioning and reconnect to their body’s intelligence. Read more>>
Jeannette Paulino
I began my “grand” career as a waitress at a BBQ chain restaurant in Times Square at night, working in an unpaid peace and conflict NGO internship by day. As a Miami native, I had left home to study Political Science and International Relations at the University of Florida. Read more>>
Alicia Vallejo
Since I was a child, I loved going to museums, visiting exhibitions, and attending cultural events such as the cinema, theater, and ballet. However, I had never experienced painting or creating with my hands. I was always a bit clumsy with manual work; my strengths were reading, researching, and analyzing. My interests leaned toward the social sciences and literature, which is why I studied Anthropology. Read more>>
Vittoria Zaza
I grew up in Venezuela in an Italian family where food was always at the center of our lives. My parents owned an Italian restaurant for many years, so from a young age I learned that food is not just about eating, it’s about bringing people together, creating moments, and sharing traditions. Read more>>
Aimee Stern
I was born and raised in NYC 
. My parents had me very late in life (50 yrs old) which help shape my outlook on life. Both of my parents were very kind and family oriented. Read more>>
Sloane Lopez
I’ve been surrounded by art for as long as I can remember. I started at a Montessori arts elementary school, then attended a STEAM school focused on graphic design, which shaped how I think about composition and visual storytelling. In high school, I majored in digital media at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, where I began taking photography seriously. Read more>>
GEORGE JOSEPH RERES
My father was a Public Defender for 30 years and still practices Criminal Defense today. My mother was a Special Education teacher. Because of the environment I was raised in, I started my career with a deep desire to help people and a belief that the right lawyer can change the course of someone’s life. Read more>>
Irene Sperber
Growing up in Maine in the 50’s/60’s I knew there was a lot more out there and I wanted, needed, more than my own back yard. Did I ever have a concrete plan? No, of course not, but a vision and a passion to make life interesting and creative was not to be ignored. Mission accomplished. Read more>>
Esperanza Solar
I began my artistic journey for the most part in March of 2020 as an attempt of hand-creating some birthday gifts for my Mami, I made her a few crystal and charm bracelets, and I fell in love with the craft of jewelry making. I moved to resin, have explored with a bit of air dry clay but have always come back to crystals. Read more>>
Debbie Arrondo
I was involved in a serious accident in 1984 that left me with herniated disks and chronic back pain for years. I considered surgery and was referred to Dr. Bart Green at the University of Miami. Dr. Green suggested I get neuromuscular therapy from David Shea before considering surgery. After three months of extensive therapy I was pain free and avoided surgery all together. Read more>>
Michael Feuerman
I am a commercial real estate broker, representing office and industrial tenants based in South Florida. I help them find the space that they occupy locally, and outside of the state, as well. I represent those tenants in finding space that best fits their current and future needs, negotiating business terms, and reviewing their leases and contracts. I’ve been in this business since 1999. Read more>>
Waylon Zeng
Aestira began with a simple observation: modern aesthetic medicine had become fragmented and transactional. Surgery, wellness, nutrition, and lifestyle were often treated as separate domains, even though they influence the same outcome—how a person looks, heals, and feels. Read more>>
Sergio Steele
Sergio Steele is a South Florida–based private chef, entrepreneur, and the founder of Steele’s Catering, a luxury catering and private chef company known for creating high-end dining experiences for clients in their homes and at private events. Read more>>
Brent Naquin
I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana—skateboarding, playing music, and making art. I came up around the skate and graffiti scene, and that’s what pushed me into graphic design. I taught myself Photoshop first, then Illustrator, and started designing graphics for friends’ skateboard brands and clothing lines. Over time, I helped brand more than 15 skateboard companies, including my own. Read more>>
Kimberly Hernandez
My dog training career started from as young as I can remember. My family always had pets, from cats, dogs, reptiles, fish, birds and pocket pets like hamsters and rabbits. As a child I would train all of the animals to do fun tricks. Read more>>
Jessica Gonzalez
I have always had a natural passion for décor and hosting meaningful gatherings. Creating beautiful spaces where people can come together and celebrate has always brought me joy. Seven years ago, when my sister-in-law began her career as a wedding planner, she invited me to assist her with an event, believing it would be a natural fit. Read more>>
Millissa Jayne
Hi, I am Millissa Jayne, founder of MJ Digital Productions, a digital media and AI consulting company based in South Florida. I was born in Birmingham, England, and my career journey has taken me across continents. In 1998, I was transferred to New York, and later relocated to Florida in 2005, where I have continued building both my career and my business. Read more>>
Milan Mijatovic
What started as a personal recalibration gradually evolved into something much bigger. As we began shaping the concept — alongside my business partners & friends — people started showing up, helping and donating their time, valuables and expertise. SILA became a place people wanted to be — outdoors, grounded, connecting with like-minded individuals in nature, and simply show up as themselves. Read more>>
Anthony González
We initially welcomed guests through platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo, and as we grew, we decided to build our own website so we could present Garden of Manors exactly as we envisioned it, with more room to personalize the story, the design, and the full experience. Read more>>
Nataly Morales
My journey began with a deep love for animals and a personal realization that grooming could be so much more than just a service. Before founding Lollipaws Grooming, I experienced firsthand how stressful and emotionally damaging grooming could be for dogs. Read more>>
