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.
Logan LaMance
Kanga started with frustration, uncertainty, and a gut feeling I couldn’t ignore. I was a student at Clemson when I had the idea. My friends and I were heading to a tailgate, and like always, we’d grab a cold case of beer and just drink it as it got warm. Not because better coolers didn’t exist—but because using one was a hassle. Read more>>
Tom Cullipher
I was on a business trip a few years back, flipping through channels in the hotel, and ended up watching Shark Tank. Something about seeing people pitch their ideas lit a fire under me (no pun intended). I kept thinking, “Why not me?” I have always had the spirit of an entrepreneur and so I started my business as a side hustle in 2019. Read more>>
Abby Stevens
I’ve always had a natural love for art and creating. During my senior year of high school, I joined the yearbook team, and my mom gifted me my very first DSLR camera for a mission trip. From that moment on, I discovered how deeply I connected with people through portrait photography. Read more>>
Yolando Lewis
I learned the importance of documenting life at an early age. I lost all of my grandparents except one, by the age of 14. I have very little photos and videos of them. And oh how I wish I did. I’ve always had an eye for photography. I decided to invest in my interest professionally around 2017. Read more>>
John Shipman
My restaurant career started as a senior in high school washing dishes at a local restaurant in northwest Ohio. I later became the cook. I then worked in various restaurants as a put myself through college. After graduation from Bowling Green State University (BGSU), I went to USAF pilot training and became a fighter pilot. Read more>>
Shawn Robinson
It all started with a love for movies and a question. How are movies made? I decided I was going to find out. So I bought an old video camera and headed to the internet. For the next 4 months I watched training videos and read articles on the subject. It was a large amount of knowledge. Read more>>
Desmond Darby
I started my business back in 2016. I didn’t really take it serious until 2019 when Covid came into place. I started detailing out of a garage and was charging $35-$55 on some vehicles that were way bigger than me. Read more>>
Sharyn Knight
The Story Behind The Pour Market The Pour Market was born from years of experience, friendship, and a shared passion for hospitality. Phil and I have spent the better part of our careers in the restaurant industry. From long nights on the floor to early mornings building teams, opening concepts, refining menus, and developing brands restaurants have never just been our jobs. Read more>>
Mindy Kuhn
In 2016 I (Mindy Kuhn) acquired a publishing company and published a cookbook for Shonali Thomas who owns a catering/gourmet food business. The two became fast friends. Over the years to follow they would chat about their future business goals and discovered that they aligned. Read more>>
Justin Bowers
I put all my eggs into one basket and decided to pursue in home personal training years ago. To cut costs and to give the endeavor my full attention, I lived in my car for a bit. 18 years later I own 4Life Fitness Studio in Greer, SC. We have an amazing group of trainers who each bring their own individual style. Read more>>
Rhodes Farrell
In high school, I was able to take an audio recording class and wanted to be an audio engineer. But as I went to college, I realized I had worked with cameras a lot as well. In my final semester of college, being too late, I figured out I should have gone for Film Production. Read more>>
Colton Conner
From an early age, I have always had a love for playing and creating music. I started my music journey as a child hitting pots with wooden spoons on the kitchen floor and now drumming on stage for thousands of people. Most of my early years were focused on rudimentary and marching percussion. Read more>>
Teresa Pruitt
I truly believe I have always had a passion for art and sharing it with the world. When I was 15 I ended up with a job at this art studio in Greenville and I was just so excited because I got to paint and it felt like I had landed my dream job at 15! Read more>>
Lane Henderson Joiner
I truly believe I was born to do this work. My mother is a dancer; choreographer; former studio owner; and founder of a local, non-profit ballet company. I’ve been dancing with her since the womb. She never forced the stage onto me but I was naturally drawn to it. Read more>>
Freda Merck
For years, I built my life around caring for others. As a Registered Nurse and nurse leader, healthcare wasn’t just my career — it was my identity. I loved serving people. But somewhere along the way, I stopped listening to myself. On the outside, I looked successful. On the inside, I was exhausted and quietly misaligned. Read more>>
Luke Brown
In 2014, after my time serving in the United States Air Force, my wife and I moved to South Carolina to start a new chapter in our lives. In 2017, we purchased a piece of land at the corner of Sitton Mill and Sitton Shoals, originally intending it to be a hunting property. Read more>>
Kyle Hulbert
I grew up in the family construction business, where hard work was the baseline and pushing through was just what you did. I learned responsibility early, learned how to build, how to solve problems, how to carry weight. But while I was helping build homes, my own body was quietly breaking down. Read more>>
Lisa Williams-Holloway
I began my career as a CNA at around the age of 18 years old. As time passed I increased my education and experience, deversifying my work over the years to be more well rounded, well read and learned. Read more>>
James Bettis, Jr.
It’s funny… owning a cleaning company is not something I imagined 15 years ago. I graduated high school in 2010 with a music performance & education scholarship to Tarleton State University. Throughout my studies, I traveled not only the U.S., but Northern Europe, singing opera. Yep, I figured the rest of my life would revolve around music. Read more>>
Roni Haskell
I came to real estate through design and construction, not sales. I earned my degree in interior design with a focus on kitchens and baths, then worked at an architecture firm after relocating to Charleston. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for how homes are built, how neighborhoods evolve, and why details matter far beyond what you see on the surface. Read more>>
Jenna Silkwood
Growing up, my mom occasionally hosted truck shows in our home, and I was captivated by the energy of women coming together — laughing, encouraging each other, and leaving feeling confident in something new. That sense of community and excitement always stayed with me. Read more>>
Dan Rundle
I’ve always been drawn to building things that actually matter and endure. Early in my career, I became fascinated by the intersection of business, technology, and human culture. Software felt like leverage at scale. One well-designed system could multiply the impact of great people. That insight shaped everything that followed. We built Worthwhile to help leaders create strategic software and AI that truly drives impact. Read more>>
Charles Owen
I grew up in a family in which my dad fixed everything that was broken around the house, including the cars and electronics. I learned a lot from watching and helping my dad fix things throughout my life and that knowledge has translated into me loving to learn how to fix things and solve problems. Read more>>
Kandice Hanley
I joined the Communications program at Columbia International University in 2009, picked up my first DSLR and never looked back. It was something I always wanted to do but had not had the opportunity until then. I fell in love immediately! Read more>>
Ashley Emberson
My name is Ashley and first and foremost I am the mom to two fun, energetic and smart young boys, Elijah and Ezra. They are the drive and inspiration for my business and also where the name “Sweet E’s” comes from! I started my local business in February 2025 here in Murrells Inlet, SC. Read more>>
Jennifer Ables
My Journey Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I struggled with frequent illness – sinus infections, swollen tonsils, poor digestion, chronic fatigue, and a host of allergies and sensitivities. I was often on antibiotics or medications. In college, my health took a downturn when I became seriously ill with what was later identified as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Epstein-Barr). Read more>>
Joseph Virgo
I grew up in Bridgeport, CT, with four siblings in a hardworking immigrant family from Jamaica. My mom worked tirelessly as a nurse aide, and watching her dedication taught me the value of perseverance, service, and showing up for others. That example shaped both my character and my career. In 2005, I began my journey in the insurance industry as an insurance producer. Read more>>
JD Hopper
Every student deserves a tutor who believes in them, challenges them, and helps them see what they are truly capable of. Purpose Tutoring grew out of that conviction. Purpose Tutoring’s founder, JD Hopper, was an exceptional student in high school. Read more>>
Valencia Henry
I’ve been a nurse for over 30 years, completing my DNP (doctorate in nursing practice) in 2016 from West Hartford, CT. I am board certified as a family nurse practioner since 2012. I’ve worked in CT, MA, MD, NC as a heart failure specialist, assistant professor, primary care provider in the community, hospice provider and pain specialist before settling in Myrtle Beach, SC. in 2019. Read more>>
MaryEllen Eller, MD
Dr. MaryEllen Eller is a board-certified psychiatrist recognized for her clinical expertise, leadership, and holistic approach to mental health. Dr. Eller’s training spans general adult psychiatry and specialty training in what to do when traditional interventions (medications and psychotherapy) have not helped enough. Read more>>
David & Marie Brinkley
We originally purchased a horse barn along with thirty-three acres of rolling countryside to use for agricultural purposes, but once we saw the view, we knew it was too beautiful not to share. The building itself was originally a horse barn so we cleared it all out and upgraded the interior, adding a kitchen, bar area, bridal suite, and groom’s room. Read more>>
Michael Woodland
I served 22 years in the United States Army as an Infantryman, MOS 11B. An Infantryman is part of the Army’s primary ground combat force, trained in weapons systems, tactical operations, and mission execution under pressure. Those years shaped how I approach everything in life. Discipline, accountability, preparation, and execution were not optional. They were the standard. Read more>>
Lauren Chase
I’m Dr. Lauren Chase, and I offer a calm, supportive space where high-achieving women and girls can slow down, exhale, and feel truly understood. I work with clients navigating anxiety, self-doubt, perfectionism, and the constant pressure to hold everything together. Read more>>
Crystal Koehler
To start, I grew up in the part of New York that has more trees than cabs. (Yes, I’m a transplant, but I’ve lived here over half of my lifetime!) At 18 years old I was faced with the reality that I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life (no pressure, right?). Read more>>
