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.
Charlene Keys Bowen
My story is one of evolution, faith, and building with intention. For nearly thirty years, I held executive leadership positions within the telecommunications sector, overseeing large-scale operations, navigating complex challenges, and driving organizational growth during periods of significant transformation. These experiences fostered a disciplined approach, honed my strategic acumen, and reinforced the vital importance of effective leadership. Read more>>
Sarah Ball
I was what our culture calls a high-functioning achiever, praised for pushing through stress, rewarded for burnout, and celebrated for how much I could carry, while my body was quietly breaking down underneath it all. Eventually, my body began to reflect the cost of living this way, and I could no longer ignore it. Read more>>
Sean Kim
The Story of MOA Hospitality I originally moved to South Carolina as a sophomore transfer student from Korea, planning to finish my degree in three years and move on. Those plans changed when I met my wife. Read more>>
Shamieka Sims
I am the youngest of 12 children, raised by parents who believed in loving each other well and taking care of family no matter what. Our home was full, busy, and built on showing up for one another. We did not really look outside for help, but we were always willing to give it. Read more>>
Carrie Richmond
I’m Carrie Richmond, founder of The Crystal Quill — a luxury crystal studio and creative sanctuary based in a historic second-story space in downtown Simpsonville, South Carolina. My background is actually rooted in storytelling long before crystals ever entered the picture. Read more>>
Ashley Elmore
I am a Columbia, SC native. My background is in Human Resources Management. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, I went into Human Resources and was in the field for 7 years at various state agencies in Columbia and then became the HR Manager for a fintech before going into Real Estate full time in 2023. Read more>>
Tiffany Wright
Coffee Doc was built from a simple idea: creating more than just a place to grab coffee — creating an experience and a brand people connect with. I started Coffee Doc with a passion for great coffee and an even bigger passion for building something meaningful from the ground up. Read more>>
Sunny Moore
Hello, Voyagers! I’m Sunny, and I’m excited to share a piece of my “voyage” with you! I’ve always been an ocean baby diving in exotic places- shark diving in Fiji, working as a safety diver for University students at reef research destinations and “fun” diving in the Caribbean. Read more>>
Eric Wilson
I started back in 2004. Back in those days you had to drive to see every client, so I would drive 100 miles sometimes to meet a potential client. It was tough back then as you could not see as many clients back then due to drive time. Also back then probably 20% would not show up for the appointment. Read more>>
Lorena Vargas
I’m a first-generation college student, and everything I do is grounded in opportunity, mentorship, and service—but that didn’t start with a title. It started at home. I was raised by a young single mother, alongside my grandparents and my two sisters. Read more>>
Lena Marie
My story starts with dance. I remember the first time I walked onto a stage — bright lights shining warmly down on me while the audience faded into the background. I could barely see the chairs in front of me, but none of that mattered. In that moment, I felt something I had never felt before: purpose. Read more>>
Brenda Green
I am Brenda Green, the Founder and CEO of The B Strong Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 alongside my husband, Patrick, in honor of our son, Braden, now age 20, who lives with sickle cell disease. We have two adult children as well. We were shocked after receiving Braden’s diagnosis from the newborn screening at the age of three months. Read more>>
Rebekah Ball
Simply Aloha: Serving heart, Culture, and Community in Every Plate For Rebekah Ball, the journey behind Simply Aloha didn’t begin in a commercial kitchen or with a business plan – it began at home. ‘I just wanted to feed my family good food,’ she says. Her cooking reflected the life she knew -an intersection of cultures and comfort. Read more>>
Mara Norris
During my first career as a voice teacher, I began filming cooking videos with dreams of auditioning for Next Food Network Star. Not long after, I enrolled in culinary school and turned my passion for cooking into a second career. Read more>>
Chaska Salmond
My journey in fashion began in 2015 during one of the most difficult seasons of my life. After the passing of my then spouse, I found myself navigating life as a mother of three young children while trying to rediscover my confidence and identity as a woman. I entered the fashion industry as a model, initially seeking connection, healing, and a fresh start. Read more>>
Alexandra Osborn Genovese
I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Minor in Entrepreneurship from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2018. Immediately following graduation, I moved across the country to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where I spent my entire life visiting for family vacations. I obtained my real estate license in the Summer of 2018, and hung my license soon after. Read more>>
Cannon Banyon
Started after high school in 2001 DJing , 2008 open first store , 2025 open second store Read more>>
Portia Smith
I started my business over 10 years ago but open my brick and mortar 6 years ago as a Home Decor Boutique, Pink Sheep Interiors. I have been in the retail industry most of my adult life and have learned all the things that make a company successful and also things that ruins a company. Read more>>
Katie Blair
Baby was never just a dog to me. She was my child, my greatest source of strength, and the absolute reason I fought through the impossible to open my own pet grooming studio. Honestly, it all started with her, my little white pit bull. Read more>>
Cheyenne Conner
I got my start in real estate working for a custom home builder in Arizona, where I fell in love with homes, design, and the entire building process. That experience really sparked my passion for real estate and helping people find a place to truly call home. Read more>>
Tatianna Guinn
We started LETMEE EAT because my husband and I noticed there are not any mom and pop donut shops here in Lexington. We moved from the midwest, where donut shops are everywhere! We decided we were gong to start with a home-based donut shop and offer free delivery. One day we hope to have a shop of our own. Read more>>
Cheryl Walker
I started my firm with the goal of aiding individuals in achieving the new American dream, entrepreneurship. One way to achieve this goal is by applying purpose daily. Over the past decade, I have dedicated my platform to social development. The mindset of a person sets the tone for their lives. Where the mind goes, the body will follow. Read more>>
Endurance Pannell
Getting into this business started with me, a laptop, a mic, and a closet. I randomly got into music not taking it too seriously until, eventually I fell in love with it. From there I started building my home studio and taught myself (pulling tips from others in my life) how to record, mix, and master music. Read more>>
Bliss Wildwood
Teaching, coaching and guiding have come naturally to me since childhood. Over the course of my career, I’ve explored many areas of interest and all of my jobs have been in the service industry, by design. I attained my Masters degree in Exercise Science & Health Promotion and spent 17 years as a personal and medical exercise trainer. Read more>>
Bradley Shuffler
I started BAShufflerproductions with a passion for storytelling and a camera in my hand. What began as a creative outlet quickly turned into something much bigger as I fell in love with filmmaking, cinematography, and creating emotional stories that connect with people. Read more>>
Tom Bates
I create one of a kind home décor using recycled and gently used materials I discover at Thrift stores, transforming trays, boxes, tins, bottles, and wood pieces into vintage inspired treasures. Each item is carefully decoupaged with patterned rice papers, book pages, fabrics, or lace, then sealed for everyday use. Read more>>
Lisa Bass
Just entering my LinkedIn Bio here. Hope that helps! – Top 50 Agents on Social Media in South Carolina Award Recognition – GUILD Recognition Awardee – Certified Luxury Home Specialist Designation – Seniors Real Estate Specialist Designation For Lisa Bass, real estate is more than a career-it’s a passion. Read more>>
Lynn Tihopu
I was born in Culver City, CA and have lived all over from Lancaster, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Palmdale, etc. I am a Culver City High School, West Los Angeles and CSUN graduate. I come from a family of four children (Therese, Brigitte, James, Lynn). Read more>>
Cicily Shaull
Transitioning from a 21-year career of service in the United States Army to real estate wasn’t just a career change for me—it was a continuation of a mission. Read more>>
Jules Mason
I grew up singing in church and traveling with my family, and from a young age, music felt like home it was the one place I could fully be myself. When I first started coaching about ten years ago, I was honestly really nervous. Read more>>
Lisa Patterson
I didn’t start in real estate the traditional way. I started by buying and restoring an old house in college with a small inheritance—and I was hooked immediately. I grew up in a historic home, so I think it was always in me. I’ve always loved the history, the architecture, and the process of bringing something back to life. Read more>>
Holly Lewis
I’ve been a nurse since I turned 21, in 1998. I’ve worked in nursing homes, home health care, and several hospital units. Most of my clinical background is in the intensive care unit, I was a clinical educator at Providence Hospital (now MUSC) for about 2 years, then took a position as clinical manager on a surgical telemetry unit. Read more>>
Michele Bennefield
My story started many years ago. I always wanted to help people, and pursued my Bachelors Degree in Psychology and later a Masters in Counseling. Read more>>
Alberto Tapia
I started my career in the automotive industry, where I spent several years in sales, finance, and leadership roles. That experience shaped how I approach business—focused on performance, problem-solving, and understanding people. In 2014, I took my first step into entrepreneurship by opening a retail store at the Savannah airport. Read more>>
Hannah Driscoll
It started right before I decided to go to rehab. I was homeless and an acquaintance ran into me at Walmart parking lot and offered to let me stay in her guest room and work with her cleaning. I enjoyed being away from all the chaos of my life at the time and making something like new again. Read more>>
Nikki Stromlund
I’ve always been a strong advocate for mental health. It’s something I care about deeply. I also discovered early on that I genuinely love the administrative side of running a business. Most people dread it; I thrive in it. When I started seeing how overwhelmed mental health professionals were, buried in billing, scheduling, and insurance calls, I realized I could do something about it. Read more>>
