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.
Melissa Cynova
I started reading tarot cards in 1991. It was an odd thing to do back then, but my parents were always supportive of my weirdness. I read throughout college, bartering for whiskey and cigarettes. I miss the 90’s. I started to go professional around 20 years ago, doing parties and office events. Read more>>
Beth Snyder
I’ve been an entreprenuer all my life…even as a teenager, before Etsy! I love to make beautiful things, and I love to sell them. I studied Graphic Design and Fibers at Mizzou, earning a BFA in 2002. I worked as a designer for the local NBC affiliate tv station before I graduated, and then took a job in Nashville at the CBS affiliate. Read more>>
Nicole Zimmer
My love of photography began when I was much younger. I always loved to get out the old photo albums and look through them. Each photo told a story and it was a timeline in photos . As I got older I always enjoyed taking photos but I always discovered I had a good eye to capture the right moment. Read more>>
LaTonya AnNoor
My journey has never been about chasing titles it has always been about creating impact. Long before I held executive leadership roles or stood on stages as a keynote speaker, I was simply a young woman who believed in pouring into others. Read more>>
Rayy knights
My wellness journey began during one of the hardest seasons of my life. In late 2022, I lost one of my best friends. The grief was overwhelming, and I knew I needed something positive to pour my energy into—something that would help me navigate my mental health and give me a sense of purpose again. In early 2023, I started my Pilates journey. Read more>>
Gabrielle Stahlschmidt
Like many small businesses, Gabrielle Studio of Music didn’t begin with a grand business plan; it began with a passion for helping people. I started teaching voice lessons over 12 years ago because I believed every singer deserved to feel seen, supported, and equipped with healthy, functional technique. As the studio grew, so did my vision. Read more>>
Bryon Pierson
Growing up in foster care taught me early that stability is not something everyone gets to take for granted. At 15, I fought for independence through court emancipation, and by the time I got to college, I already knew I was going to have to figure a lot of things out on my own. Read more>>
Michaela Cruse
CHARIS Chorus St. Louis (CHARIS for short) is a multi-generational treble chorus that uplifts women and LGBTQIA+ people, advocates for social justice, and nurtures authenticity and joy through musical artistry and vibrant community. CHARIS was formed in 1993 as a predominantly lesbian chorus open to all women. The chorus has evolved considerably over our 33 year history. Read more>>
Andrew Pautler
Pull & Pour started about nine years ago as a fun side project alongside my web design business, Pautler Design. I spent my days building websites for clients, and I wanted a creative outlet that had nothing to do with deadlines or client meetings. Read more>>
Ajay The DJ
I started off on my college campus because there was a need for international music at campus events. I’ve always been into music and fascinated by DJs since I was a child. Later, I continued to grow on campus and outside of school through networking and some lucky openings at certain venues. Read more>>
Maria Vandegriffe
I have always believed that the life you want is something you have to be willing to work for. I graduated from high school early at 17 and worked throughout middle school and high school, saving enough money to pay for esthetics school entirely on my own. Read more>>
David Woolridge
I am a singer songwriter, I grew up in a family of musicians from Kentucky. My uncles and dad played Bluegrass Gospel music. The played the Bill Monroe circuit for many years. They wrote originals and it was something I always wanted to do myself. I started writing around the age of 18 . Read more>>
Tiffany Ruby
I’ve always been drawn to creativity. I started my career in the beauty industry, specializing in makeup and permanent cosmetics, where I spent years helping people feel confident in their own skin. Over time, I realized I wanted to create something even more permanent and meaningful, so I made the leap into tattooing. What started as learning a new craft quickly became a passion. Read more>>
Heidi Drexler Stehr
For nearly two decades, I built a career as a lifestyle photographer, creating colorful, story-driven imagery for national brands, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. Photography started as a way to document my own family, but over time it became my life’s work. Read more>>
Sarah Mezzera
I started out in graphic design. I’d work in local coffee shops, sketching out my designs, and people would stop and say they’d want it as a tattoo. I had several tattoos but never thought of myself as an artist. I didn’t even think it was an option. After 4 years of this constantly happening I decided to find an apprenticeship. Read more>>
Jessica Baine
This is such an interesting story for me because what started as loneliness in motherhood turn into a tourism/travel account. I went through this huge life altering event, divorce, and i was so lost. Read more>>
Dan and Madie Klein
Six years ago, I attended my very first overnight paranormal investigation at the Missouri State Penitentiary. I went simply out of curiosity, but by the end of the night, I knew I had found something I was truly passionate about. What began as a hobby quickly became a calling. Read more>>
Shannon Chalene
When I was 14, my mom moved me to a little town, Bagnell, MO. When I was 15, I started my first job bussing and learning to serve at the small Bagnell restaurant at the campground next door to where we lived. I loved every second of it. I only worked there for the summer, and then when school started I focused back on that. Read more>>
Jessica Mode
I started my food and recipe website, Homebody Eats, back in 2019 as a creative outlet to share the recipes I was making in my own kitchen. At the time, I simply loved cooking and wanted a place to document what I was learning. As the website grew, I realized my favorite part wasn’t just developing recipes. It was teaching people why recipes work. Read more>>
Maja Eernisse
From a young age I knew I was creative when it came to my self expression. As a preteen I experimented with starter earrings from every piercer’s favorite shopping mall store that shall not be named with girlfriend’s during sleepovers. Looking back I only thought of it as a girl’s right of passage — we all were doing it. Read more>>
Brittney Washington
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about people. That passion deepened during my undergraduate studies in sociology, where I discovered not only a love for understanding individuals but also a calling to serve my community. Throughout college, I worked across a variety of social service settings, giving me the opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life. Read more>>
Christa Riley
I’m a licensed counselor working as a supervisor for the archdiocese at an all women’s substance recovery organization. Photography is my largest passion and hobby. I’ll always consider myself a semi-professional as I don’t seek supplemental income through photography. However my scope of practice is well versed in many areas. For example, I photograph people, families, events, bands, landscape, cityscape, animals, nature, and wildlife. Read more>>
Amya Renee
I have been doing nails since April of 2020. It all started in my bedroom (during the pandemic) when I was 14 and everything grew from there. In April of 2022 I expanded to lashes and that has opened doors for me I didn’t think were possible. Read more>>
Kayla Verderber
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. As a little girl, I was constantly creating little businesses of my own, making crafts, and dreaming up ways to turn my ideas into something real. My dad was my biggest supporter and always encouraged my creativity, believed in my ideas, and reminded me that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. Read more>>
Jeffrey Dunn
My career began in 1989 when I started learning both scientific glassblowing and neon. I fabricated custom laboratory glassware for research and industry while, at the same time, learning the art of bending glass tubing for neon signs. Although they are very different applications, both require the same precision, patience, and craftsmanship. Every piece of glass is shaped entirely by hand over a torch. Read more>>
Brittany Eultgen
I began my career as a teacher, but I found myself wanting a more creative path. I started teaching children’s cooking classes, which naturally led to families asking if I could prepare meals for them. What began as cooking for a handful of private clients quickly grew through word-of-mouth. Read more>>
