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.
Stacy Dalberiste
I started my career in education with a strong passion for working with students who need additional support, especially those in self-contained and intensive support settings. Early on, I quickly realized that my purpose wasn’t just about teaching academics—it was about helping students build confidence, communication skills, and independence that would carry over into every part of their lives. Read more>>
Catalina Patino
I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and moved to the U.S. when I was young, which is where I studied interior design and really started building my path. But honestly, I think my connection to design started much earlier—I’ve always been very sensitive to spaces, to how they feel, the energy, the light… all those little things that make a place special. Read more>>
Tony Perrotta
The story of Tony Waffles started when I was just a kid who loved waffles. My mom would make them from scratch, and they were the best especially topped with raspberry jam or pure maple syrup. As I got older and started making them myself, waffles became my go-to. Read more>>
Brandon Gonzalez
Right at the end of highschool I got into the car scene, I had a nice car and always had no money to pay someone to take photos of it, so me and my best friend at the time decided to take the little money we did have and split a Nikon D3200 for $200 off the selling app OfferUp. Read more>>
P.G.M PRINCE GAUTIER MASKOTT
I started my journey as an artist driven by a deep passion for music, performance, and visual storytelling. Coming from a multicultural background with strong roots in Africa and Europe, I developed a unique afro-urban identity that blends rhythm, elegance, and authenticity. Read more>>
Epiphany Bee
My story actually began with a complete redirection. Fresh into college, I was set on a path toward medical school—but when that didn’t work out, I had to take a hard look at where my curiosity truly lived. That moment of pivot led me back to my first loves: Interior Design, art, and music. Read more>>
Isermite Melus
I started Grace F Cleaning in 2013 as a single mother looking for a way to provide for my family and build something of my own without having to depend on others. Coming from Haiti, I always had a strong desire to own a business and create opportunities for myself. Read more>>
Shena Moreau
My journey started as a product of childhood trauma. Learning to self soothe myself and keep quiet to please the family dynamic. I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, which is full of activity and culture. My family is of Haitian and Jamaican background, leaving me a descendant of both countries. Read more>>
Maya Levy
My journey into pediatrics and ultimately founding Pediatric Wellness Concierge has really been shaped by both my medical training and my desire to provide more personalized, relationship-driven care to families. I completed my medical training with a strong passion for pediatrics, drawn to the opportunity to support children’s growth and development while also guiding parents through what can be both a joyful and overwhelming experience. Read more>>
Margarita Ushina
Here’s a brief life story based on what you shared: At 24, I packed my life into suitcases and moved to the USA—chasing a future I could only dimly imagine. I studied hard, became a certified medical assistant, and stepped into healthcare ready to help others. Then COVID hit. Like so many, I witnessed burnout, grief, and the fragile edges of the system up close. Read more>>
Moise Simbert
Moise Simbert, known to the world as CooL Spitta Moe, is a Miami-based recording artist, actor, and cultural strategist who operates at the intersection of music, visual culture, and movement. Rooted in the energy of the Haitian diaspora and shaped by the vibrant mosaic of South Florida, Moise has built a body of work that blurs the line between art form and cultural statement. Read more>>
norma isaba
I am a social communicator and television presenter with a solid track record in international media. For nine years, I was part of Sun Channel in Caracas, Venezuela, where I hosted the program *Beach Guide*, traveling across the most iconic beaches of Latin America and the Caribbean to highlight their cultural, touristic, and natural richness. Read more>>
Tatiana Williams
I grew up in Liberty City, where strength is something you learn early. It’s a community full of culture, love, and resilience, but also one where access and opportunity can feel out of reach. As a young Black trans girl, I was trying to understand who I was in a world that often refused to see me. Read more>>
Jennie Alfonso
I began my journey in healthcare over 17 years ago, working as a medical assistant with a deep passion for patient care. Over time, I grew into leadership roles, becoming a trusted support system for physicians and patients alike, while also expanding into clinical research as a coordinator. Read more>>
Ronald Green
I came from a family where giving was second nature, as a small child I remember my parents helping family members that moved from South Carolina to Baltimore make a smooth transition. My father owned his own home renovation business and he would not only employ people but my mom would also house them during their transition. Read more>>
Joanna Andrea Amezquita Narvaez
We’re two athletes from Cali, Colombia Joanna Andrea and Sandra who came together with a shared vision: to bring high-quality Colombian sports apparel to a broader market. Read more>>
Germán Sitz
My story began in La Pampa, where I grew up surrounded by the culture of the countryside and a deep respect for product. I trained professionally with Martín Berasategui in Spain, an experience that gave me the technical rigor I needed before returning to Argentina, where I founded La Carnicería with my partner, Pedro Peña. Our idea was always to break paradigms. Read more>>
Victoria Melhuish
During covid we got Moet a Shorkiepoo puppy, (shihtzu/yorkie mum with mini poodle dad) My daughter, 11 years old at the time, & myself started @funkymoet on instagram. Mainly to learn more about social media & not swamp my personal social media with thousands of puppy pictures! Read more>>
Keon Gaynor
I’ve always enjoyed movies since I was a kid. From watching films like breakfast club to goodfellas. I would say I started late 2018, and seriously pursuing in 2019. It wasn’t till my third film the ball started rolling. I met someone who would later become my best friend (Tyrese Saint-Cyr). Who introduced me to an acting class that I take to this day. Read more>>
Liz Abreu
I started my journey with a simple love for creativity and capturing moments that felt real. What began as a passion quickly turned into something deeper—I found purpose in creating, connecting, and telling stories through my work. In the early stages, I didn’t have everything figured out, but I stayed consistent, trusted my vision, and kept showing up for myself. Read more>>
Magda Pena
I was in the medical field before, working career service at a medical technical school and they shut down. So I started working at a beauty school in career services and grew an interest in the hair industry. So I went to school full time and graduated in less than a year. Took my state license and happily passed on the first go. Read more>>
Silvana Massolo
I came to the United States from Peru more than 30 years ago, and I was the first in my family to graduate from college here in the U.S. That experience — of building something from nothing in a new country — has shaped everything about how I approach my work and my life. Read more>>
Abhishek Sharma (CALINITE)
I started when I was around 14. There was this magic show in my school where they played Martin Garrix’s “Animals” and I was instantly hooked. That moment really flipped something in me. After that, I got deep into electronic music, especially artists like Alan Walker, just listening nonstop and trying to understand the sound. Read more>>
Mike Stevens
I was in the internet start up space. It was like a ‘Linkedin’ for Blue Collar Jobs. I used to live in New Jersey and worked for a family business. Moved back to Florida in 2017 and started a company called American Metal Roofing Supply. We provided standing seam and 5v Exposed Fastener Systems to Roofing Contractors. Read more>>
Lisa Corrao
The first time I realized I was funny was in kindergarten, when my teacher told my mom, “Lisa is funny.” My mom agreed, but my teacher grabbed her shoulders, looked her in the eye, and said, “No—she’s really funny.” That tracked. Comedy was a big part of my childhood. Read more>>
Sarah Claire Colling
Bungalow Counseling began as something much smaller and much more personal. I started in private practice on my own under SC Counseling & Coaching. It was just me, one therapist, stepping into the unknown of building something from the ground up. Read more>>
Carlos Betancur Gálvez
My journey began at the intersection of complex systems and industrial logic. As an Electronic Engineer, I spent my early career managing technical operations and large-scale industrial efficiency for major conglomerates like Grupo Nutresa. This foundation in systems thinking and automation logic became my secret weapon when I pivoted into the business world. Read more>>
Ekaterina Kovaleva
My Story My journey with Oriental cats began in 2019, while I was still living in Russia. At the time, I could never have imagined how deeply this breed would change my life. My first Oriental cat came into my life unexpectedly, but from the very first moment, I felt a connection that was impossible to ignore. Read more>>
Kevin Baly
I’ve been working in design for over 25 years, including time as a Creative Director at Ogilvy & Mather in New York and Connecticut. That background shaped how I think — in terms of systems, structure, and long-term impact. Rohan Village is really what happened when I started applying that same thinking beyond visuals. Read more>>
Marissa & Padideh Makey & Safavi
Pelatas was built on a simple but powerful idea: the best knowledge already lives within our communities—we just need better ways to share it. We’re a free platform that connects passionate, talented individuals with people who want to learn, grow, and make the most of their lives. Read more>>
Kreshnik Behrami
My name is Kreshnik Behrami, and my story started in Kosovo, a small country with a strong history and resilient people. Growing up, I learned early the importance of strength, ambition, and never giving up no matter the circumstances. Coming from a place that has been through war and hardship taught me to appreciate every opportunity and work hard for everything I achieve. Read more>>
Dylan Cecere
Started as a real estate investor and opened the insulation company because there was a lack of good companies to hire Read more>>
Cecile Pearson
I grew up in South Florida in a family that took art seriously early on. I studied graphic design, spent several years working in advertising, building visual discipline and client-facing experience, and nurtured a studio practice the entire time, painting whenever I could. Eventually, the studio practice outgrew everything else, and I went full-time with art. Read more>>
Valentina Ricci
I began my journey in hospitality working internationally for about six years, which gave me a strong foundation in luxury service and a global perspective. During that time, my boyfriend at the time, who is now my husband, was relocated to Miami, and I made the decision to follow him and continue building my career in the U.S. Read more>>
Dave Rubinson
I moved with my family from Philadelphia to Palm Beach County at the start of high school, and it was here that everything clicked. Read more>>
Kimberly Saich
I was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in a community that taught me resilience early on. My story isn’t one of ease or predictability—it’s one shaped by challenge, responsibility, and an unwavering drive to build something meaningful. Read more>>
Jovanna Santamaria
My journey really started during a challenging time for my family. In 2017, my father lost his job after his firm downsized, and as a civil engineer, he struggled to find a new role because he was overqualified. Read more>>
Ariel Marciano
My name is Ariel Marciano, im 33 years old, my love to cooking is from my grandmother who taught me everything I know , I realized something most people in this industry overlook — people don’t remember the food the way we think they do… they remember how you made them feel. And that changed everything for me. Read more>>
Laura Mendez
I come from a background in fashion marketing and creative production, but my journey really comes alive when I moved to Miami. That’s where I began working closely with my husband, Augusto Mendez, a filmmaker, through our production company Black Mambo Films. We’re both deeply creative in different ways: he brings the directing vision, and I step into the role of producer. Read more>>
Damla Yenigun
I’m a designer and creative entrepreneur with a background in product and interaction design, and the founder of Atelier Newday, a pottery painting and art studio based in South Florida. My journey into this space is both personal and creative. The studio was originally founded by my mom, who built a beautiful community around art and creativity. Read more>>
Wolfgang Ramos
I started my career studying architecture in Venezuela, where I first developed a passion for design and the idea of shaping how people live through spaces. Early on, I had a renovation business that gave me practical experience and helped me understand clients, construction, and entrepreneurship. While it was successful in many ways, I realized I wanted something bigger creatively. Read more>>
Carlos Mieles
Been deejaying for a little over 15 years, started doing small gigs like house parties then transitioned to bars/night clubs to doing massive luxury weddings. Read more>>
Ana Hernandez
When I’m invited to share my “success story,” I always feel the need to first explain what success truly means to me. For a long time, success was measured only in numbers, professional growth, recognition, or visible achievements. Read more>>
Jalissa Vicente
My journey didn’t start with fitness. It started with a wake-up call. I was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at a young age, and as I got older, my health continued to decline. As an adult, I found myself overweight and found out I was pre-diabetic. In that moment, I knew something had to change. Read more>>
Jozi Radus
My name is Jozi—short for Jo-Ann—and it’s also the nickname of my hometown, Johannesburg, South Africa, where my journey began. I earned my Master’s in Social Work in 1990, and soon after, I spent nearly a decade working in hospice care, supporting individuals and families through death and dying. Those years profoundly shaped me. Read more>>
