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.
Layla Katharina Redwan
n 2015, I signed up for a photography class in college without really knowing what to expect. I never imagined I’d fall in love with it, but I did. From that point on, photography became my creative outlet. I loved learning the technical side of photography just as much as the creative side, and I was always excited to experiment with new ideas and concepts. Read more>>
Hasan YBH YOBOYHASAN Anderson
Hasan: I’m from a small town out of Virginia called Fluvanna County. I’ve been living there for most of my life. I grew up with my relatives listening to R & B. Artists around me who boosted me to want to do music are Chris Brown, Trey Songs, Pharrell, all of the Virginia natives. Read more>>
Morgan Carter Christian
I began my career in retail, where I quickly advanced by developing strong customer service, leadership, and relationship-building skills. That early experience gave me a solid foundation in understanding people, solving problems, and creating exceptional customer experiences. From there, I transitioned into the corporate world, where I built my career in talent acquisition, recruiting, and sales. Read more>>
Lakeisha Wood
Growing up in the small town of South Boston, Virginia, I learned early that life’s greatest moments aren’t measured by money—they’re measured by the memories we create with the people we love. I’ve always loved bringing people together. Whether it was serving in church ministries, helping with community events, or simply watching families celebrate life’s milestones, I found joy in seeing people smile. Read more>>
Mira Adwell
My photography journey began during a month-long trip through Southeast Asia. It was there that I fell in love with photojournalism and the experience of capturing people, places, and moments that were completely new to me. Wandering the streets of Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, Bali, and Cambodia, I felt something shift. Read more>>
Anusha Khatri
My journey into the beauty industry began when I moved from Nepal to the United States in search of new opportunities. Starting over in a new country wasn’t easy, but it taught me resilience and inspired me to pursue a career that I truly loved. I discovered my passion for lash extensions and dedicated myself to mastering my craft. Read more>>
Michale Lara
RnM was founded after Veterans Affairs informed me that I might need to retire due to service connected disabilities from the Military. At 35 and 40 my wife and I did not agree with this so we came up with a plan to start our own business. Read more>>
Heather Leeper
“Ouch.” Heather Leeper pulled her finger back, pricked once again by the needle in her hand. Around her, fabric spilled across the living room floor in bright, hopeful piles. There was no studio yet. No waiting room full of dance bags. No seven studios across two locations. No full production calendar or rows of costumes waiting backstage. Read more>>
Elisa Bonilla
Ristorante Renato was founded in 1978 by Renato. Our family’s story, however, began a few years earlier. My parents came to the United States from El Salvador with little more than the money in their pockets, chasing the American dream. They settled in Washington, D.C., where they met Renato and his family. Read more>>
Tiffany Griffin
Makeup honestly wasn’t at the top of my mind growing up. I’ve always felt that God gave me a gift for artistry, but at first that gift showed up through painting. I loved colors, I loved blending, and oil painting was my favorite medium. I also loved graffiti and creating art in different forms. Read more>>
Katelyn Cassell
My story isn’t about just me. The Dogeared Page is a family affair. The shop was opened in August of 2021, by our founder and a good friend of mine, Catherine Caldwell Carter. After over a decade without a locally owned indie bookshop in Danville, Catherine opened The Dogeared Page on Danville’s Main Street, and nurtured it. Read more>>
Susan Horne
I have been in comedy for the last year. I decided to take a comedy class, after I had a life threatening flu, sepsis, and pneumonia. I was in ICU for 6 days and the hospital a total of 11 days. I went home several months on oxygen and I decided at 50, to try something I always wanted to do! Read more>>
Aidan Leclaire
I first started taking guitar lessons at 11 and then drum lessons around 13. I played with my friends for a bit before stopping around 15 to focus more on soccer. My senior year of high school my dad got a ukulele for his birthday and I became extremely fascinated with and taught myself how to play it. Read more>>
Janika Porterfield
My name is Janika Porterfield, and I’m the Founder and CEO of TippyToes & Cute-icles LLC™. I’m a licensed nail technician, nail educator, entrepreneur, and proud mother of two beautiful daughters. What started as a passion for nails has grown into a mission to empower others through beauty, education, and entrepreneurship. Like many small business owners, my journey wasn’t easy. Read more>>
Shara Posner DC
My journey into healthcare started with a passion for movement, nutrition, and helping people live healthier lives. After earning my Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland, I went on to receive both my Doctor of Chiropractic degree and Master’s degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport. Read more>>
Chad Buck Matt Cannoy
The Noke Training has been part of the community for years before we ever owned it. Matt and I have been friends for over 12 years after meeting through CrossFit. We’ve trained together, competed together, and even won a competition together. Fitness has always been something we’ve shared, and over time The Noke became a place we both genuinely enjoyed training. Read more>>
Jeff Woolard
Out of high school I went to work for my dad in landscaping. I worked the family business for 25 yrs and then decided I would go to college to get a business degree. At 40 college was tough but I maintained a 4.0 average and graduated with a Business Administration degree from Liberty University. Read more>>
Jalesa Jules
I started off working as a bedside registered nurse on a cardiac interventional unit and eventually worked in intensive care settings. I decided to go back to school and pursue a Nurse Practitioner degree in Adult and Gerontology Primary Care services, and thereafter worked in a Level I Trauma Center within the hospitalist service. Read more>>
Jordan Brown
I’ve been in business since before I knew what the word meant. I was raised by business owners, multiple businesses, different industries, so commerce wasn’t something I studied, it was something I lived. By the time I was 14, I was learning the mechanics of selling, and over the last 10 years I’ve sold across automotive, telecommunications, and several of my own ventures. Read more>>
Jennifer Dmuchowski
I’ve always been drawn to thoughtful, elevated design. Long before I knew it would become my career, I was fascinated by the details behind brands that made people stop, feel something, and remember them. Whether it was fashion, interiors, or visual identity, I found myself studying not just how things looked, but why they left such a lasting impression. Read more>>
Brian Smith
We were looking for something that might provide income in retirement. Not realizing that it is near impossible to make money off of anything that eats, we bought some goats. Then we bought more goats. Then we bought some more goats. Then we started breeding our own goats. Read more>>
Robert Zuchel
I’ve always enjoyed finding simple solutions to everyday problems. If something isn’t working as well as it could, my mind naturally goes to, ‘There has to be a better way.’ Throughout my career as a flight attendant, I met people from all walks of life, traveled extensively, and learned to look at situations from different perspectives. That curiosity stayed with me. Read more>>
Aidyn Mancenido
Much of my life has hinged on the question, “What if?” What if I could participate in the infinite, colorful expressions of life? What if there were no limits to who I could become? Each chapter of my story has been written with incessant curiosity. Read more>>
Rachel Euresti
I’ll be honest, I didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a wedding photographer. I had a camera that I would pick up every now and then, but photography was just something I enjoyed casually. Everything changed when one of my friends got engaged and another asked me to photograph her wedding. Read more>>
Chad Barrett
I first started using a camera professionally in broadcast sports as a camera operator. As a teenager, film production was my life goal. That lead me into photography and I fell in love with it. I started as a landscape photographer while living in VA. After meeting my mentor, Weston Mosburg, I began my fashion and commercial photography business in NY. Read more>>
Paul and Rebecca Williams
We moved to Midlothian in 2014 with our three wonderful boys. We truly love the community and have proudly served it through Boy Scouts, School Organizations and Huguenot Little League. Paul’s love of wine started as a child on his Dad’s farm. Elderberry, pear, apple and plum mixed with curiosity and a lot of free time turned Paul into a wine maker. Read more>>
Brandi Rosa-Lewis
From the time I was about 8 years old, art was always an escape for me from a tumultuous childhood. I started with drawing and sketching, always focused on shading and light. Read more>>
Alexus Baldwin
Growing up, I was always drawn to creativity. I wanted to try everything—church choir, dance, cheerleading, gymnastics, horseback riding, cosmetology…you name it. Creating has always been a part of who I am. It’s what makes me, me. If I can’t create, it simply isn’t for me. Read more>>
Nitika Achalam
True Grit Farm & Flower grew from a core belief that a connection to one another, the beauty of the natural world, and recognition have a place in everyday life, not just special occasions. Long before I became a flower farmer, I was practicing herbalism and growing medicinal plants. Read more>>
EVERGIB Rachel Scott Everett & Brian Gibson
We first met at the VCU Brandcenter in Richmond, Virginia, consistently ranked the top graduate advertising/creative program in the U.S. After graduation, we spent over ten years working at various ad agencies around the country. Read more>>
Nida Syed
Hi there! I am Nida Syed and founder of an adventure and experiences organization: Caravan Tales. Since I was young, I always knew I wanted to be an actress. I loved the art of expressing emotions. More importantly, I discovered that acting was a high form of empathy and learning about humanity at the most intimate level. Read more>>
Dana Queen
I started Stay Social with a simple belief: great businesses deserve great marketing. What began as a passion for helping local businesses improve their online presence has grown into a full-service marketing and creative agency focused on helping brands attract attention, generate leads, and drive revenue. Read more>>
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>>
