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.
Timothy Chester aka PeaceRussie
Raised on a wide spectrum of sound — from Electronic and R&B to Underground Hip-hop and Baltimore Club music — PeaceRussie developed an approach that values texture, mood, and narrative as much as rhythm and melody. Read more>>
Jacqueline Aizen
At the core of my work is a belief that the body has its own innate healing wisdom. We all carry a divine spark within us, and my purpose — whether through wellness, food, creative expression, or dance — is to help awaken that in others. Today, my journey blends these two paths: healing through nourishment, and connection through creativity. Both allow me to meet people on a deeper level and inspire them to feel more alive, embodied, and fully themselves. Read more>>
STEPHANY DIAZ
I started my career in medical aesthetics with a strong focus on understanding the face before ever touching a syringe. Early on, I realized that injecting well isn’t just about product placement — it’s about assessment, structure, and understanding how small changes affect the entire face. As I developed my skills as an injector, I became very focused on education and technique. Read more>>
Kevin Schmertzler
I started getting into photography around 2020 when I got ahold of a buddies old camera. I started out just doing street photography until a good friend who runs a tactical medical course asked me to attend and bring my camera. Apparently all the students liked my gritty moody style lol so I started getting into the tactical community as a photographer. Read more>>
Darren / Lupita Anselmo / Ferrer
Well, it’s a pretty interesting story and I feel faith brought my business partner and I together Last May 2025 I was invited to a SAG AFTRA dinner hosted by Telemundo. I was in a few projects for Telemundo as an actor so I was inner system. The dinner was for SAG members which I was not. Read more>>
Roberto Alvarez-Galloso
I have been involved with my blog Noticiero RCAG [Spanish] [previously El Noticiero Alvarez-Galloso] since 2006 while the English Version [Americana Bistro Grill and the present AG News Show] existed since 2014. In 2014, the Americana Bistro Grill was founded while 2019 was the year that the AG News Show came to be. Read more>>
Whitney Hartford
My journey with early childhood education is a true ‘full circle’ story. It began at Post Sunshine Ranch, where I was a student myself. That early spark led me to become a junior counselor and eventually a CPR-certified assistant teacher. I loved the field long before I realized how difficult it would be to navigate as a mother. Read more>>
Daniel Ochoa
I have always loved art and design ever since I was little, I was always creating and building things. I went to school for graphic design and then slowly realized that wasn’t creative enough for me and it felt a little too boring so I was always experimenting with working in different mediums to satisfy my need to create. Read more>>
Federico Rozo
I tend to think that some decisions are taken consciously, subconsciously, unconsciously or even before you are born! So I’m not very sure on which of those plans my decision of having a very close relationship with the graphic arts craft was taken. Read more>>
Edda Martinez
My story begins a little over a year ago. I opened my eyes and stared at a white ceiling. Lying on a yoga mat, I stretch my body, trying to make sense of what I had just experienced in a deep meditative state. I was in a Kundalini activation journey led by a facilitator during a time of major personal life changes. Read more>>
Romina Garber
I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, & I immigrated to the U.S. as a kid with my family. Growing up, I fell in love with words, & I started writing for my high school paper, which opened the door to an internship at the Miami Herald the summer after graduation. Read more>>
Ryan Mayiras
Candid Studios started in a way that was honestly pretty unexpected. My background was originally in technology and digital design. I began taking digital design classes when I was about 14 years old, and my family has always been very tech-oriented, so computers, media, and creativity were a big part of my life growing up. Read more>>
Maria Sky
My creative path has never been linear, but storytelling has always been the constant thread. I’m from the literal center of Long Island, and as a little girl, I dreamed of working in “The City.” That wish was fulfilled when I began my career in journalism. Read more>>
Jewel Lord
I’m an artist, and a homeschool stay at home of 3 boys. I came from a small town with no money, job, car, friends. I was “off the grid” since childhood with no legal documents and spent 8 years working towards obtaining a birth certificate, social security ect all while raising my first son and battling depression. Read more>>
Pablo Alejandro
The story of Pablo Alejandro is one of passion, perseverance, and love for music. Pablo Alejandro began his journey as a solo artist more than two decades ago, driven by a deep passion for bachata and romantic Latin music. From the very beginning, he chose to follow his own path, writing and recording songs that reflected real emotions, love, heartbreak, and life experiences. Read more>>
Rick Alvarez
I have been creative since I was a kid. I always did well in my graphic arts and woodshop classes—not because I was the best at drawing, but because I liked finding ways to do things differently. I never wanted my work to look like everyone else’s. Despite that creative side, I never really pursued art. Read more>>
Diana Olmedilla
From a young age, I knew I had a passion for transforming spaces. It all started with my grandmother, my biggest inspiration. She had an eye for beauty and a deep understanding of how a home should feel. Together, we would rearrange furniture, refresh rooms, and breathe new life into the spaces we lived in. Read more>>
Gabrielle Belinfante
I started baking during COVID after realizing that many birthday cakes I tried didn’t taste very good. I’ve always loved a good slice of cake, so I decided to try baking one myself. A friend who baked gave me a few tips, and I made my first cake during the pandemic. Read more>>
Yana Bromberg
I graduated from Touro School of Health Sciences Physician Assistant program in NYC in 2016 and took my first job working at Staten Island University Hospital. It was important to me to start my career in a position that would allow me to apply what I have learned in real clinical practice and provide me with a well-rounded understanding of how to diagnose and treat real medical diseases. Read more>>
Caroline Antoin
My path hasn’t been completely traditional. I moved to South Florida from Michigan looking for a fresh start and new opportunities for myself and my daughter. Life has given me some major challenges that have shaped the way I see the world, including surviving cancer myself and later losing my father to cancer. Read more>>
Denise Righetti
My career began in hospitality and tourism, working with Royal Caribbean, where I developed a deep appreciation for the power of travel and memorable guest experiences. Later, while working as a Marketing Manager in Boca Raton, I discovered how much I enjoyed bringing people together around food, wine, and shared experiences. Read more>>
Jeff Steen
I graduated from Iowa State University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree, following a formative summer internship at Raymond Jungles’ Miami studio, Raymond Jungles, Inc. After graduation, I joined the firm full time, where I had the privilege of apprenticing under Raymond’s leadership for eleven years. Read more>>
Alejandro Certain
Certain Homes Inc. was founded with a simple vision: to build exceptional homes in South Florida with a focus on quality, transparency, and attention to detail. From the beginning, our goal has been to deliver homes that are not only beautiful but also thoughtfully built to stand the test of time. Read more>>
Juan Alfonso Urrutia
I’m originally from Peru, a country where food is deeply connected to culture and identity. Growing up in that environment naturally pushed me toward cooking, but what truly shaped my career was discovering the dialogue between Japanese technique and Peruvian flavors. That combination, what we know today as Nikkei cuisine, felt incredibly natural to me. Read more>>
Karina Gutierrez
I grew up in Miami, and from a pretty young age I was always drawn to personal development and understanding people on a deeper level. My journey started with yoga and embodiment practices. I was really fascinated by the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. Read more>>
Seige ‘Sej’ Lander
I was born and raised in Trinidad, but my dad is from Dominica and his family’s spread out all over the Caribbean. So I kind of grew up immersed in Trinidadian, Dominican, even Bajan culture. I really got to experience so much of the Caribbean growing up, and I think that gave me a different perspective when it comes to music. I’ve always loved singing. Read more>>
Derek Brown
I started at a local The UPS Store location as a Notary Public. The owner of the franchise let me know that the Notary certificate was mine and mine alone and can use it outside of work if I choose to. So after hours, I would go to a friend’s houses to Notarize documents for them for their business. Read more>>
Cynthia McKenna
I grew up in a small town in Chiclayo, Peru. My first experiences in entertainment started very early when I worked as a “Dalina,” performing and entertaining at children’s birthday parties. From a young age, I loved being on stage and connecting with people, which eventually led me to move to Lima, the capital of Peru, to pursue a career in acting and modeling. Read more>>
Hamie Passos
I was born in the U.S. to Colombian and Venezuelan parents who came here looking for opportunity. Growing up, I watched them do whatever it took to support our family — cleaning houses, selling Venezuelan food like hallacas, and even running a small school bus business. They were incredibly hardworking and entrepreneurial, and that environment shaped how I view opportunity and resilience. Read more>>
Heidy Hernandez
Hi, I’m Heidy, the creative mind behind Decor by Heidy! For the past 9 years, I’ve been bringing events to life through colorful balloons, custom backdrops, and thoughtful design. What started as a passion project has grown into a full-blown event design business based in sunny South Florida — and I couldn’t be more proud! Read more>>
Erika Angulo
I was born and trained as a psychologist in Colombia, but my life took a meaningful turn when I moved to the United States on my own, searching for new opportunities and a new chapter. Like many immigrants, the beginning was filled with challenges, adjustments, and a lot of learning. Read more>>
Natalia Arencibia
I was born and raised in Miami, and being Puerto Rican and Cuban has shaped so much of who I am and what I do. My upbringing and culture gave me a deep love for community, boundless expression, and the most potent energy and warmth. My culture shapes everything I do, influencing both my creative work and how I connect with people. Read more>>
Kara Burnstine
My path to nutrition began in the early 90s, navigating a thin-obsessed culture as a teenager struggling to find balance. Like many, I fell into the trap of skipping meals and fearing ‘fat,’ which left me depleted and anxious. Read more>>
Teresa Rodriguez Bonilla
Throughout my career as a dietitian, one question has consistently guided my work: Why do people respond so differently to the same nutritional approach? I grew up in Puerto Rico, where my early curiosity about nutrition and metabolic health first began. Early in my career, I noticed that many individuals living with chronic health conditions were not improving with conventional dietary recommendations alone. Read more>>
Bryan Macharia
My story started at the beginning of 2023. Since I was young I was always captivated and raised up on music and all the genres that came with it, and growing up I always wanted to tell the stories behind some of my favourite artists and songs. Read more>>
yosef ayzencot
My name is Yosef Ayzencot, and construction has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up as the son of a general contractor, and many of my childhood summers were spent on my father’s construction sites, helping out and trying to make a little money as a kid. Read more>>
Josh Lauriston
I was born in the Bahamas to Haitian parents and moved to the United States in 2013 with my family in search of a better life. Adjusting to a new country came with challenges, but everything began to shift during my senior year of high school when I joined a Bible Club and had a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Read more>>
Meliza Ruby A.
I’m Meliza Ruby, the artist behind By Melrub, a Dominican-American creative whose work blends art, storytelling, and identity. Through Ella, my signature figure always facing back. I created a visual diary that reflects memory, womanhood, resilience, nostalgia, and culture. What began in watercolor and sketchbook form grew into Dear Diary monologues in Spanglish, where I express emotion through both words and image. Read more>>
Yulia Bratkovskaya
I am a life long equestrian, traveled the world doing my art, now settled in USA, moved to Florida about 3 years ago and started a horse riding school under my name and philosophy Read more>>
Alana Reina
Initially, I started this business as a meetup group for women who wanted to enjoy matcha & mocktails, while chatting about mental health, self care, and being a woman in today’s world. At the time, I was still doing therapy full time for a group practice, and trying to get my holistic wellness business up and running. Read more>>
Stefani Malka
Hi, I’m Stefani – founder and designer at Littlestef, where creativity meets elegance to transform every celebration into an unforgettable experience. Littlestef was born from a simple belief: every moment deserves to feel beautiful. What started as a love for styling small gatherings has grown into a full event-design studio, creating elevated, modern, and unique setups across Miami. Read more>>
JVNCLRK
But I think that’s kind of what sets me apart & what I’m proud of. It’s all a flow. An ever evolving portfolio of aesthetics & taste. I’m into art of so many forms, so they all teach me something & bleed into one another, which is creating this overall beautiful body of work Read more>>
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>>
