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.
Julianne Prior
My grandmother was a watercolor artist, so as long as I’ve been able to hold a paintbrush I have been painting. I would sit at her side while she painted and she taught me all about color mixing, composition, and the techniques of great artists in history. Read more>>
Lajoyce Lewis
My journey began with a passion for serving children, families, and my community while following God’s purpose for my life. I started Lady L’s Little Angels Daycare with the vision of creating a safe, loving, faith-filled environment where children could learn, grow, and thrive. Building the business wasn’t always easy. Read more>>
Cutter Chisnell
Heard the Store was founded in 2021. We started as a pop-up vendor in Staunton, as well as traveling to other parts of VA. As our brand grew, we had the opportunity to have a permanent place with Redwood Candle Co, here in downtown Staunton, while continuing with popups. An opportunity arose to have our own storefront here in town, which we jumped on immediately. Read more>>
Monica Morgan Emily Martini
Emily and Monica are both military spouses who started as participants with FIT4MOM Alexandria in 2023 after moving to the area with their 1 year old sons; they were looking for community and a routine for themselves and their boys. Slowly, they became more involved: Emily became an instructor and Monica created the Playgroup Captain role. Read more>>
Myra Janell
My name is Myra Janell. I was born in Bethesda, Maryland, raised in Washington DC, and lived in various parts of Northern Virginia. I come from a two parent household, with two sisters, and I am a military brat. Read more>>
Kelly Ferenc
This summer, Bishop Boutique celebrates 15 years in business, and it’s hard to believe how quickly the time has gone. I opened the boutique with a simple vision: to create a welcoming space where women could discover beautiful, thoughtfully curated clothing while feeling confident, inspired, and genuinely cared for. Over the past 15 years, we’ve grown into so much more than a clothing store. Read more>>
Jennifer Wright
My photography journey began simply by capturing everyday moments with my two young children and photographing landscapes during family travels. The true spark ignited after a disappointing experience with a hired photographer for my own vow renewal in late 2013. Realizing I could do better while creating a flexible career to stay home with my kids, I decided to master the craft myself. Read more>>
Shaen Goetsch
Our story really starts with a problem we needed to solve as parents. When our oldest child turned out to be allergic to the synthetic chemicals in most commercial baby shampoos and washes, Rich and I just started reading labels, trying to figure out what was actually in these products. Read more>>
Gee Murtza
I started this business in 2015 with just one vehicle and a big vision. Like many entrepreneurs, I faced challenges in the beginning, but I believed that if we consistently delivered outstanding service, customers would keep coming back. Over the years, that belief proved true. We expanded one vehicle at a time, built an incredible team, and earned the trust of thousands of clients. Read more>>
Tanika Mann
When I think about my story, the word that comes to mind is restoration. My faith is of the utmost importance in my life because I have seen how God has carried me through seasons of heartbreak, disappointment, uncertainty, and transition. I have experienced a great deal of pain, but I am grateful that those experiences did not make me bitter. Read more>>
Ennedi Shtanko
Looking back, I realize every chapter of my life prepared me for the next one. I just didn’t know it at the time. When I was a little girl, being raised in Paysandú, Uruguay, I couldn’t have imagined that one day I’d be painting murals across Virginia. Read more>>
Avani Siddhapura
I’ve always had a natural draw toward healthcare and a deep passion for helping people, but my specific path into optometry became crystal clear during college. I started out volunteering at a local eye care clinic, which turned into a hands-on job offer. That real-world experience was invaluable, but the true turning point for me was deeply personal. Read more>>
Tessa Cannon
I started The Wandering Shelf because I believe books are one of the most impactful resources to evoke positive change in the world on an individual level. Read more>>
Carolyn Byrd
I retired from the Virginia Community College System as an administrator in 2011. May husband had already retired. Initially we did a lot of travel, visiting family, attending music events, etc. We visited several lavender farms in Virginia and North Carolina. I loved them. Read more>>
Kyle Cusack
My photography journey began in 2017 while I was a student at Fairfax High School. What started as a photography class quickly became a passion that has stayed with me ever since. I’m especially grateful to my teachers, Kevin Smith and Pete Datoc, who introduced me to photography and encouraged me to pursue it beyond the classroom. Read more>>
Gene Granger
IncuHub was founded by Marko and Kristin Frigelj, a husband and wife team who each owned their own business. When they were looking for office space for their businesses, they wanted to find a community of other business owners where they could network, learn, grow, and thrive together. Read more>>
Lia Johnson
Miss Lia hails from the beautiful country of Argentina, where she learned to appreciate nature and care for the environment from a young age. She is the product of a farm school, where she was taught environmental stewardship by her mother and grandmother. Read more>>
Maureen Lynch
Looking back, photography feels like something I naturally grew into. I have always loved animals, and I have always loved taking pictures, but I never imagined those two passions would come together the way they have. A little over a year ago, what began as a hobby started growing into a business that I am truly passionate about. Read more>>
Brian Keith
I grew up in a single parent household in Louisville, Kentucky, where curiosity became my way forward. That curiosity led me to the U.S. Naval Academy, where I learned the values of leadership, discipline, and service as a Naval Flight Officer. Read more>>
Vu Nguyen
I grew up in Vietnam, where I learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and taking care of others. After moving to the United States, I entered the nail industry and gradually built and operated couple of nail salons. Read more>>
Tishauna Brevard
I started this business as a young mom who realized I didn’t want to spend all my time working and miss the precious moments with my child. At the same time, I knew I wanted to be a provider—to build a life where I could take care of my family while still being present. Like many women, I began to lose myself. Read more>>
Seth Chambers
I got a summer internship at a Virginia winery in 2006. Since then I graduated with a bachelors in Life Sciences with a concentration in Organic Chemistry from Penn State in 2007. Received my Enology Certificate from WSU in 2011. I have been managing the wine production at The Winery at La Grange since 2016. Read more>>
Katy Betcher
My story with photography started long before Betcher Bottom Photo existed. Back in high school, I took a photography class that still impacts me to this day. One of our assignments was to develop our own film and create prints in the darkroom. I remember standing there watching my photograph slowly appear on a blank sheet of paper. It felt like magic. Read more>>
Maria Bartos
I’ve never really taken a straight path to entrepreneurship. I earned my undergraduate degree in Communication Studies with a concentration in Public Relations from James Madison University, where I fell in love with storytelling and branding. During college, I interned as a broadcast intern for D.C. Read more>>
Rick Geez
Started Djing in Philly in 1995 at 15 years old. DJ’ed at Hampton University 1998 – 2002 IHeartRadio 103 Jamz (WOWI FM) 2002 – 2024 Toured with Clipse and Pusha T 2008 – 2024 Read more>>
Nyteisha Nicole Stith
My journey has been one of faith, perseverance, and transformation. As a single mother raising two incredible daughters, I have experienced seasons of hardship, personal loss, and uncertainty that challenged me emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Those experiences did not define me; they refined me and became the foundation of my purpose. Read more>>
Lisa Antus
I began my journey in tax preparation while my husband was serving in the military. At the time, I started helping fellow military personnel with their tax returns, and that experience became the foundation of my career. Read more>>
Daniela Zapata
My parents once told my siblings and I not to mess with the digital camera without supervision when I was 8/9 years old. We were a little reckless, so I get it, but I snuck the camera away anyway and still remember all the silly photos we took. My siblings and I made silly home videos together too; I’m talking fully scripted production and dancing. Read more>>
Valerie Dennis
I don’t think I became an esthetician because I loved skincare. I think I became an esthetician because I knew what it felt like to be uncomfortable in my own skin. As a young girl in middle school up until my 30’s, I struggled with acne. Read more>>
Florence Barnick
This historic cemetery was founded in 1844 by a group of local businessmen. More than 3400 known burials have taken place since then. There are slightly more than 2000 gravestones in the Cemetery, and their designs reflect a wide range of styles and customs over time. Stately monuments stand near simple markers, reflecting the varied lives of the souls beneath. Read more>>
F45 Ashburn
F45 Ashburn was built by franchisee and owner Robin Vaitonis in 2019 after noticing a need for functional fitness in the Loudon County area. Nestled in the heart of Goose Creek Village, this studio became the perfect place for avid fitness goers and beginners alike. Read more>>
Susan Martin
I started my yoga practice journey over 22 years ago. I began my yoga teaching journey in 2007 when I enrolled in a 200-hour Prana Flow® affiliate program w/ Samudra School for Living Yoga taught by Maria Garre & Shiva Rea. I took a Mini Yogis® 10-hour kids foundation teacher training w/ Shana Meyerson in 2008. Read more>>
Catalina Cueto
Lina’s Bakery really started from my love for creating moments that bring people together. Growing up in Chile, food was always at the center of family, conversation, and making people feel at home. When I moved to the U.S. as a teenager, I think I carried that with me. Read more>>
MONICA Jackson
My journey into early childhood education began more than 30 years ago with a simple desire to make a difference in the lives of children and families. What started as caring for a small group of children in my home has grown into Jackson Child Care, a state-licensed family child care program in Springfield, Virginia, dedicated to helping children learn, play, and grow together. Read more>>
Tipa Potjanamart
My husband (Leng) and I are from Thailand, and we love cooking and eating Thai food. In Thailand, Chicken Rice (Khao Man Gai) is a hugely popular street food that we adore, but it’s hard to find here. We wanted to share this comforting, affordable, and delicious meal with everyone, so we decided to make it ourselves for everyone to try. Read more>>
Laura Russell
We never wanted to own a business. My husband Kelly started in the sign industry when he was 20 years old and spent the next 25+ years learning the trade. We were busy raising our three kids, working our jobs, and living our lives. Owning a company was never part of the plan. Read more>>
Randi Milton
After spending many years operating a neighborhood café, I felt ready to take the leap into business ownership. The opportunity to build something alongside my sister, Maria, was especially appealing, and the timing felt right. We spent months conducting informational interviews, researching the industry, and brainstorming what kind of business we wanted to create. Read more>>
Shaun Haidar
I am Shaun, and my story is quite interesting a lot of ups and downs. I’ll start by reminiscing on my childhood, I had a great one. I was fortunate enough to be involved private school then eventually day care where I become more social and made friends easily. Later on graduated from high school and had no idea what I wanted to do. Read more>>
Joe Timberlake
I was born and raised in the quaint country town of Rockville, VA just west of what is now Short Pump outside of RVA with an immediate love for the outdoors, animals and music. My youth was spent playing most sports and attempting to be a skateboarder. Read more>>
Elizabeth Osorio
I am the proud daughter of Colombian immigrants. My parents brought my siblings and me to the United States when we were young, seeking greater opportunities and a brighter future for our family. Their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering work ethic have shaped the person I am today. At 21 years old, I decided to attend massage therapy school. Read more>>
Oscar Mendez
My journey started with a simple passion: helping small businesses succeed online. I’ve always been drawn to creativity, technology, and problem-solving, and I realized early on that many small business owners had incredible products and services but struggled to establish a professional online presence. I wanted to change that. Read more>>
Michael Skipper
I got started when i was 22/23 years old, i was living in a central Pennsylvania town looking for a job. There wasnt much going on there and the only job i can remember hearing back from was a cooks position at this travel plaza/truck stop in Breezewood, PA. You see it in a meme online actually. Read more>>
Teaira Abston
My story really starts with who I am as a person, long before any business existed. Growing up, I was always in the middle of something. Leading organizations, rallying people around a cause, building connections that actually meant something. It came naturally. Read more>>
Jesse Hernandez
My story in Virginia began shortly after I was medically retired from the United States Marine Corps. After leaving the military, I returned home to Arizona for a few years before eventually making the move to Virginia. When I arrived, I was struggling mentally and emotionally with the effects of PTSD. Read more>>
Chris Beckner
Just like any other American even with a well paying job I just couldn’t make ends meet. So I decided to start a small side business of just mowing lawns on the weekends while I was still a plant manager for Boxley Ready Mix. In 2009 I lost my Father suddenly from a heart attack at the young age of 47. I was lost. Read more>>
Gibran McNeal
I’ve always had a passion for creativity and the arts. From a young age, I enjoyed designing, building, and bringing ideas to life, which naturally led me to pursue a career in graphic design and visual communications. My educational journey took me through Fayetteville State University and The Art Institute of Washington before earning my Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Southern New Hampshire University. Read more>>
kelsi suh
I was born in South Korea and moved to the United States when I was 14 years old. At that age, you’re still figuring out who you are, and suddenly I was learning a new language, adapting to a different culture, and trying to find my place. Read more>>
