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.
Jerimia Wood
I was a military child growing up and spent a majority of my life in Alaska. I lived there for 18 years. One day during high school, I experienced the coldest day of my life. It was -60 degrees, not including the wind chill. It was so cold you are given a break during school to go start your vehicle. I had a ‘96 Kia and when I started the car it was just shaking. I took my pointer finger and pressed it to my review mirror and where the glass connected to the plastic. A chunk of glass broke where the mirror was connected. Read more>>
Jeff Kervin
I had the privilege of learning what the jobs should look completed that would make customers happy with their property. As time passed, customers in our community would asks me if I could remove trees and clean them up. This eventually led me to taking a leap of faith and starting Kervin Brothers Stump & Tree Co. LLC. It is hard to believe at how fast 29 years have went by. This company has blessed my family and I in so many ways, and we love nothing more than serving our community and others. Read more>>
Lil’True
Growing up I was always the ‘the shy guy’. So as I grew into myself, I had to force myself to be more outspoken whereas I use to harbor my emotions causing a strain on my mental health at a young age. Music was a creative way to display my art through words, as well as making awkward conversations easier for me to discuss. To further master my craft I studied the biggest names in rap culture of that time which was Lil’Wayne, Nick Minaj, Drake & Lil’Twist. All of who still serve as my inspiration today. Read more>>
M. Greg Green
I was accepted and graduated from The Citadel. A school built to keep black people enslaved and didn’t accept women until 1995. I was the 22nd woman to graduate from that place. I identify as a transman, and my transition was after I experienced the school. I then went into law enforcement where my transition was used against me and I was fired. I began my own business speaking on inequities, inclusion, sharing of resources, and system change to benefit all. Read more>>
Natalie Blackwell
NatalieWynette&Co. is love, peace, healing, self care, and new beginnings while bringing our community together to promote positivity within events I plan, coordinate or products hand made by me. Read more>>
Jason “Lil’ Round” Osborn
I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road, nothing was easy. I’ve worked very hard, at some times two jobs and exhausting hours. But it’s not been as difficult as some have had to endure. I’ve been blessed to have a supportive wife, wonderful mentors and friends who have helped me a long the way. As well as amazing clients who allow me to create for them. Read more>>
LaTonya Sanders
The journey has been anything but easy—Scripture never promised it would be. I’ve faced trials that could have broken me: from the murder of my twin brother, to a painful marriage with a person who was sent to destroy me, to facing time in prison for attempted murder charges. But God kept me. The seeds I planted were good, and those who truly knew me could never be convinced otherwise. No matter how dark the season, I held on to purpose. Read more>>
Graysen Walles
Almost three years later, we moved into The Commons—a space that’s given us the chance to grow and take things to the next level. Landing at The Commons has been a game-changer. It’s more than just a food hall—it’s a community of passionate small businesses and creatives working together to bring something special to Greenville. Read more>>
Berenice
My main challenge has been overcoming my own internal discourse of defeat. That voice that kept telling me that I was (and I am) too old to pursue a career as a writer (I was 50 when I published my first book) or that my stories wouldn’t interest anyone. The second obstacle is common, I think, to most of the beginning writers: how to stand out in an oversaturated market of books where the reader´s universe is limited. It’s no easy task even with great tool of autopublishing that has its own challenges. Read more>>
Tim Shipp
Croozshipp is funky bass music meets live instrumentation. Croozshipp is a combination of a Dj set but have instrumentalists improvise during the show. My main Instrumentalist for the Croozshipp performances is my good friend Clark Keagy or “Clark on the sax”. He was one of my good friends that I went with to Electric Forest and have been friends ever since. The Croozshipp project is 5 years old now and it’s just getting started! What’s really cool about this artist journey is both “D0min0” and “Croozshipp” are progressing in their own way, and I couldn’t be happier! Read more>>
Julia Harris
After about a year and a half of academies, Elevate expanded into its first ever club season in the 2022-2023 season. We began with 27 girls trying out, and a grand total of 3 teams. While continuing to run academy sessions and camps, we also knew our club demand was growing. After the first season with 3 teams, out 2023-2024 season expanded to a total of 9 teams, and then the 2024-2025 season we expanded to 12 teams. Read more>>
Ladrea Williams-Briggs
I was born in Columbia, South Carolina. I’ve built my life, work, and my family right here in this state. I was raised by a community of strong, fearless Black women who taught me to trust God, speak up, and to never shrink myself. I’m the oldest of two, with a twelve-year age gap between my little brother and I. That dynamic has shaped a lot of who I am. Being so far apart in age made me the ultimate big sister: a protector, a provider, and a natural fixer. Read more>>
Jessica Stubbs
It definitely wasn’t overnight; I took time to understand the business side, develop a pricing model, and test what worked and what didn’t. I had no clue what it all entailed to start a small business at first, but very thankful for local friends who are business owners who have helped me with that portion. I became certified, insured, and licensed. I started to work on what I wanted this to be and grow into and told myself I would stick to it no matter the challenges. Now, I not only offer those original small boards, I have a mobile charcuterie cart which is the first of its kind in our area and surrounding areas. Read more>>
Tanner Barley
Once I finally outgrew the hypersensitive life, I jumped into martial arts. That opened the door to weight training—and that’s where everything clicked. From bodybuilding and rehabilitation-focused lifting to calisthenics, hybrid fitness, and eventually powerlifting (where I got massive and, admittedly, a bit fluffy near 400 lbs), I became obsessed with understanding the human body, biomechanics, and the science of performance. Read more>>
Brit
Last year, I finally decided to stop overthinking and taught myself how to use Garage Band. I didn’t know what I was doing half the time, but I slowly figured it out and ended up producing and releasing my first single, *fallen angel*, this past January. Seeing people actually listening to something I made still feels absolutely unreal. I’m just grateful I had the chance to put it out there. Read more>>
Talon Grace
At 54 I considered my life over. Going thru a very dark time in life including mental issues/addiction and just a overall feeling of being lost a future friend ask me to give painting a try and without any art background or history in art I discovered by chance what it was I was put on this earth to do. Read more>>
Navada McKoy
It honestly felt like coming home! Joye Fowler, the owner of Salon 561, has been a truly positive force who has helped me navigate running my own business and offered countless pieces of advice. Between her and the other independent stylists at Salon 561, I immediately felt at home. God has blessed me tremendously on this journey. After 4 years of being an independent stylist and with over 10 years of experience, I have strived to build my name as a blonding and color specialist. My goal is to make each one of my clients feel special, seen, loved, and beautiful. Read more>>
Chris
We didn’t set out to build a brand—we just wanted to serve. But as Stryke grew, we knew we had something special. We poured our soul into it: the coaching, the culture, the creativity behind the workouts. Our training methods incorporated elements like animal-style movement, cold plunges, saunas, and spiritual alignment. It wasn’t about just burning calories; it was about breaking generational cycles and building strong men, women, and families. Read more>>
Katie Simmons
Art has always been an integral part of who I am. Whether it’s drawing, painting, singing, or writing, I’ve always been drawn to creative expression. When I was 13, two of my classes happened to have field trips on the same day. I was scheduled to sing in a choral concert and attend a trip to the Columbia Museum of Art. Both teachers were incredibly supportive and told me the choice was mine to make. That simple gesture meant the world to me, but it also forced me to look inward and make a difficult decision between two things I deeply loved. It was the first time that I truly understood the weight and impact of choice. Read more>>
Kori Campfield
Back in 2015, I was a student at Claflin University, an HBCU in Orangeburg, South Carolina. I majored in Mass Communications with a minor in Digital Media Marketing and a concentration in Television Broadcasting. Believe it or not, my dream at the time was to become a radio personality or a news anchor. Hair was something I did on the side — a creative outlet that just so happened to bring in quick money when I needed it most. Read more>>
Thom Dougherty
Starting up a rescue is not easy. A lot of people get into rescue thinking they will have donations coming to them with frequency, this is just not the case. Most rescues open and close within a year or so. Getting your rescue’s name out there is the biggest hurdle. The more people hear about you, the more access your rescue has to possible donations and community support. Even in today’s age of social media, a lot of rescue work is complete word of mouth. Read more>>
Danielle Lamar
We bought the donut shop on a bit of a whim in late October. We had heard that Mondo Donuts was closing and decided – kind of last-minute – to reach out and ask if anyone had expressed interest in buying the business. As it turns out, our message came just in time. They told us they were planning to hand off the equipment to someone else the very next day, but if someone wanted to buy the whole thing, they needed to know that day. We met up with them, and by the end of that conversation, we knew this was something we wanted to do. Read more>>
Chris Willey
One day a light bulb when off in my head. Working out of my garage with the help of my parents, we set out to create the first prototype cork yoga mats, hand-laminating the cork and recycled rubber layers together, working well into the night. The minute we introduced the mats to the local studio, I knew we were onto something special. Teachers would grab the cork mats before any students could get their hands on them. Read more>>
Derricus Davis
What sets us apart is our commitment to treating every customer with respect and making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible. We show up on time, communicate clearly, and make sure the job is done right the first time. Many of our customers come back to us or refer others because they trust the quality of our work and our strong work ethic. Read more>>
Vickie Zambrano
Vickie is a 15+year veteran of the restaurant industry. She worked for two of Greenville’s largest locally owned restaurant groups, a large locally owned event company and also managed a private club. Building on her extensive front and back of house experience, her industry-wide connections, and her passion for fresh, Mediterranean mezze-style food, Vickie’s natural next step was to open her own restaurant. Read more>>
Dakassha Holmon
What changed everything for me was understanding credit and how powerful it really is. Once I learned how to use credit as a tool instead of a trap, I rebuilt my life from the ground up. I launched Kay’s Financial Services and began helping others fix their credit and build businesses the right way—without using their personal money. Over time, that grew into multiple programs, mentorships, and events, including Wealthy Women on Wheels and the Wealthy Women Society Group. Read more>>
Alicia Murray
What started as a personal blog slowly grew as I realized how many people were looking for easy, approachable meals. Over the years, I leaned into my background in journalism, photography, and marketing to build Balancing Motherhood into a trusted resource for busy families. I’ve written over 1,000 recipes, and grown a loyal community of readers and followers across social media. Read more>>
Demetrice Bright
I’m an audio engineer, a recording artist, a brand owner, and a father. I specialize in recording and mixing music and audio books and other forms of audio recordings. I most known for my recording ability and my rap persona NLB Honcho. I’m most proud of me overcoming my lack of resources and all the people who told me to follow another dream and the people who wanted me to be an employee all my life when I aspired to be a boss!! My drive and my ability to relate to anyone is what sets me apart from everyone else. Read more>>
Kadi Harris
I primarily specialize in braiding, but I’m currently expanding my skills by practicing quick weaves, sew-ins, wigs, and other techniques. What I’m most proud of is being entirely self-taught, which I believe sets me apart and reflects my dedication, passion, and willingness to grow in this industry. Read more>>
Cortney Allison
There have been many bumps along the road. I think all entrepreneurs and small business owners face many challenges. Some for me include: not being able to find enough inventory while out thrifting that day, getting burnt out, juggling taking care of two kids while trying to grow my business. I think what helps me the most when I struggle is resilience, and when that doesn’t work pivoting. Also just remembering why I do this in the first place. I want to be close to my family. I think working a 9-5, spending so much of the day away from your family doesn’t make sense to me. I want to be with them any chance I get. Read more>>
Jacinda Wright
Any sales job is going to be challenging becuase you hear way more NO’s than YES’s. Real Estate is sales, and it can be very compettive especially in the Myrtle Beach area. To date we have about 5200 agents within our CCAR MLS. So it’s importatnt to focus on your own lane and starve the distractions of comparison. On top of that, when I began my real esate career in 2014, the case was still a very fresh memory. I was apprehensive at times because something like that is not exactly a badge of honor. Read more>>
Kortnee Belue
I also had to grow into my voice. I’m always learning how to communicate clearly, effectively, and with precision to get the best possible results for my clients. That’s what they hired me for, after all. This is a people-first business, and a big goal of mine is always to coach and empower my clients through the process so they feel like the hero of their own story. Read more>>
Ashley Harwyn
I’ve always been deeply drawn to both healing and human connection. My background as a Physician Assistant, combined with a fellowship in functional and anti-aging medicine, gave me the clinical foundation. But it wasn’t until I started listening more closely—to my patients, to the gaps in traditional healthcare, and honestly, to my own gut—that Solcara truly began to take form. Read more>>
Allison Balcezak
I’ve always had a passion for creating warm, cohesive spaces, especially on a budget. Throughout my 20s, I lived in small apartments in expensive cities, where maximizing both space and style was essential. Over time, I became the go-to person among friends for practical yet beautiful home design advice. When I was laid off, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to turn this lifelong passion into a purpose: helping others create a home they love, no matter their budget or square footage. Read more>>
Christopher Mason
I stated playing the guitar in the middle of the COVID-19 Lockdown where I watched YouTube videos and learned my favorite rock tunes. After the lockdown, I continued to play simply for fun. After studying with Brian Darnell for about a year, I took a Guitar 1 class at GTCHS and realized that I wanted to understand my instrument in a deeper level. So I auditioned for the Fine Arts Center’s Jazz department. With the guidance of Matt Dingledine, I got into the program for my sophomore year, and till I graduated last school year, I have been studying both Jazz and classical music theory. I will be pursuing a higher education at Coastal Carolina University, majoring in music, specifically Commercial Music and Jazz. Read more>>
Savannah Kusak
There is so many things that can wrong with chemical reactions that mean you have to start over from the beginning. Sand it all down, and do it all over again. In the beginning I repainted things multiple times on my dime before giving them back to the customer. Contamination, humidity, water in your air line, the list goes on and on. But those are all technical issues I had to learn about and how to fix them. Then there are all the other things you have to learn about a business when you don’t have a mentor. Pricing jobs in the beginning is so difficult and in the early years I stayed in the negative. Read more>>
Justin Seabrook
Pollution, environmental degradation, and the spread of human consumption of our world, as much as I had love and a want to “save the world,” it was all too much. Our destruction of the natural world was just the tip of the iceberg in learning the true forms of intentional and unintentional hatred people have presented to the earth and one another. Almost always simply because of misunderstanding and lack of knowledge Read more>>
Audrey Adams
There have definitely been struggles. There are some people who know what they want to do from a young age. That is not my story. Although I’ve always loved music, it took me a long time to realize that I had a gift to share with the world (and that I could actually make a career out of it!). I’ve struggled with a lot of self-doubt along the way, and it’s always been my family that has encouraged me to keep going. As an artist, it seems like most of the time, my biggest problems come from inside myself. I tend to beat myself up over a mistake or compare myself to others. I’m still working on this, but thanks to my family and friends I can say that I’ve come a long way. Read more>>
Gracie Mintz
I am a licensed massage therapist in South Carolina serving the Upstate. I specialize in deep tissue massage, and some medical and Swedish massage techniques. I’m most known for not holding back on pressure at times, making sure I hit the right spot to relief pain points. I’m most proud of my determination and work ethic, I believe those two things set me apart from others. Read more>>
Christine Storey Smith
Christine’s career took off behind the chair, where she cultivated a loyal clientele with her signature blend of warmth, artistry, and precision. Her talent didn’t go unnoticed. Driven by an insatiable desire to grow, she sought out advanced education and opportunities beyond her salon walls. From backstage at New York Fashion Week to the sun-soaked runways of Miami Swim Week, she built a reputation as a high-fashion stylist with an editorial edge. Read more>>
Santana Reese
I began my professional journey in the medical field. Throughout my senior year of high school, I was enrolled in an EMS academy and later pursued a degree in Exercise Science at the College of Coastal Georgia. But like many others, my college experience was interrupted by the pandemic. After two years, I returned home and began working at Sephora, where I rediscovered a passion for makeup and connecting with people through beauty. Read more>>
Angel Heaven Lee
Professionally, I built a strong foundation in executive administration and human resources. I’ve worked in nonprofits, workforce development, and political spaces, gaining firsthand insight into how policies and practices impact real people. Over time, I moved deeper into disability advocacy and community organizing, serving on boards and councils that champion independence, accessibility, and equity. Read more>>
Myles
I mean, it hasn’t been a smooth road but this is what I want to do and this is what I love so I do what I have to do. Some of the challenges that I’ve faced is… just getting your name out there, keeping your nose clean, being someone people wanna be around and listen to, and just being an all all around good person. Read more>>
Sulondia “Sue-Ham” Hammond
When I left the military, I jumped headfirst into entrepreneurship. I wore many hats as a playwright, filmmaker, motivational speaker, and now mortgage broker and real estate investor. Along the way, I worked jobs that taught me valuable lessons, but I knew deep down I needed the freedom to create and express my true potential. That realization pushed me to build a platform that not only helps people secure homes but also inspires them to build wealth and leave legacies. Read more>>
Alex; David Winebarger
We want the readers to understand the level of complexity surrounding veteran issues, such as PTS, and that it is not a simple fix. The burdens both veterans and their families live with go unspoken and we truly believe the documentaries give a glimpse into what really comes home with them and lingers after war. Read more>>
Benji Greeson
I started in radio by answering an ad in the paper when I was in high school. The local AM station was looking for interns and they hired me. I did that for a couple of years. Finished school, and started working for a major railroad company. I worked there for 11 years. There were cut backs and layoffs, the landscape just wasn’t stable. So I ended up back in radio, thanks to then WZLA station owner, Shelley Reid. I started the Southern Fried Morning Show in 2014, and bought the station in 2020. 11 years in and we’re still going strong. Read more>>
Liz Donovan
Like so many others, COVID cracked open my perspective on life. After years working in NYC finance, I knew I needed a reset. I left New York, packed a backpack, and spent the next year and a half traveling throughout 23 countries. That journey reminded me what really matters. Time with loved ones, support and belonging. Mom Me Minute was born from that awareness, from lived experiences, and from deep empathy. Most of all, it was born from the belief that every mom deserves more support and space to care for herself. Read more>>
Suely Meira
After many difficulties, challenges and learning, I began to feel the need to learn more, so I started investing in several courses. The first of these was MIDAS soon after The Power of Network and also BEYOND. Read more>>
