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.
Maria Machado
My journey began with flowers. With more than 20 years of experience in floral design, I discovered how much I enjoyed helping people celebrate meaningful moments. That passion led me to establish Flower Event Planning, which recently celebrated nine years in business. Over time, my work grew to include wedding and quinceañera coordination, floral design, and bilingual wedding officiant services. Read more>>
Monique Dixon 
I grew up in Ohio before moving to San Diego as a teenager, where I completed high school and later attended college. I was raised by a single mother who had me when she was still a teenager herself. She dropped out of school but later earned her GED in her twenties. Read more>>
Yeminya McGee, MBA 
Everything I’ve built has come down to two things: creativity and relationships. I’ve always been a creative at heart, and my story starts with poetry. When I was nine years old, I heard Maya Angelou’s ‘On the Pulse of Morning,’ and even though I didn’t have the language for it then, it changed my life. Read more>>
Milton García 
My name is Milton García. I am a Cuban artist based in Havana, an actor by training and a musician by vocation, with a deep affinity for cinematic language. My relationship with music, acting, and film runs through the way I create. Read more>>
Missy Zipperer 
I started MissPetSit in 2019 with a genuine love for animals and a determination to build something meaningful. I knew from the beginning that pet sitting was about much more than feeding pets or taking dogs for walks. It’s about earning people’s trust, respecting their homes, and caring for their animals as if they were my own. Read more>>
Dr. Paulishia Augillard 
Dr. Paulishia Augillard is a mental health professional, educator, and leader in behavioral health services with extensive experience in clinical operations, counseling, and case management. She holds a Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychological Studies and is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S). Her professional work focuses on physician wellness, burnout prevention, resilience development, and faith-integrated mental health care. Read more>>
Gabrielle Goodwin 
Goodwin & Gather started in a season of life that looked a little different than I imagined. I was sitting on the couch breastfeeding my second daughter while my oldest was at school. I didn’t have some huge epiphany or a perfectly mapped-out plan to start a business. Read more>>
Jessica Zuarez
Hello! I’m Jessica, the proud owner of Summerfield Picnics & Events and Jessica’s Holiday Decor. As a certified interior decorator, I’ve always had a passion for transforming spaces and creating beautiful experiences that bring people together. My journey into entrepreneurship began while I was working in finance and pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Interior Design. Read more>>
Morgan Cammarata 
I wrote my first children’s book overnight, following a visit with my grandpa in the CVICU and reading bedtime stories to my own two children later that evening. My grandpa has been someone I’ve looked up to my entire life. He has always had a way with words and a gift for writing poetry. In fact, he even officiated my wedding in 2018. Read more>>
Ashley Stewart 
I believe leadership is not defined by a title, but by a commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. For as long as I can remember, I have been driven by a purpose to uplift, empower, and create opportunities for those around me. Read more>>
Leslie Williams 
The Story Behind It’s Personal by Les LLC Every great business starts with a dream, and mine started with a simple T-shirt. Four years ago, a friend came to me with a T-shirt and asked, “What do you think?” I told her I thought it was nice, and she said, “Well, let’s start a business!” That’s where my journey began. Read more>>
Leslie Parke 
I have been making my living as an artist for about fifty years, and while the appearance of the work has changed considerably from one decade to the next, I have realized that the underlying pursuit has been strangely consistent. Read more>>
DeShena Woodard 
I grew up surrounded by hardworking people. We weren’t poor, but money always seemed to be tight. Like many people, I grew up believing that the path to success was pretty straightforward: go to college, get a degree, land a good job, and make good money. What I didn’t learn was how to actually manage that money once I earned it. Read more>>
Desiree Segundo 
I have always had a passion for books and owning a bookstore. When I was cleaning out my library I asked my book besties on my book Instagram if I should sell them on a book resale site or as blind dates. Obviously the blind date choice one! Read more>>
Roc Bee 
I was born and raised on the Southside of Houston, Texas. I’m from Yellowstone, and I also grew up in Fresno. Growing up, I always wanted to be two things: a rapper and a wrestler. But I’ve always had a love for fashion and being creative too. Read more>>
Valeria Laverde
My story began in Bogotá, Colombia, where I was born and raised before moving to Houston, Texas, at the age of 15. Like many immigrants, I arrived in this country with big dreams, an unfamiliar environment to navigate, and a determination to create a future filled with opportunities. Read more>>
Albert DeJesús Rivera 
I grew up in Puerto Rico, in the mountain region of a small town on the southeastern side of the island. It was a world of wonders: forests, rivers, dark nights, and great stories. I was fortunate to have parents who believed deeply in education, and at 17 years old, I arrived in New York City with $300 and dreams of becoming an archaeologist. Read more>>
Matthew Rodriguez
My journey in the entertainment industry actually started in eighth grade when my older brother encouraged me to audition for our district musical. He thought I would do great on stage, so I figured I’d give it a shot. I ended up being selected for one of only two solos given to eighth graders, and that’s really where everything began. Read more>>
Joy Baldwin 
I was born in Port Arthur, Texas, and raised in Houston’s Fifth Ward. After graduating from Westside High School in 2011, (Go Wolves) I went on to earn my bachelor’s degree in business management with a concentration in Human Resources from the University of Phoenix in 2019. Read more>>
Tim Mousel 
My story really begins with martial arts. When I was about five years old, I had a neighbor who was a black belt and would come over and show me different martial arts techniques. Those early experiences sparked a fascination that would eventually shape much of my life. Read more>>
Brandon Rogers 
The journey of the RogersBros started in November 2016. It stemmed from a mastermind conversation with a close friend who encouraged me to bring my personality to YouTube and incorporate marching band. At the time, doing reaction videos wasn’t a known concept in the marching band niche. Read more>>
Chimere Norris 
I think one of the most interesting things about life is how you can look back and realize that so many of the experiences you went through, even the ones that didn’t make sense at the time, were preparing you for something greater. Read more>>
Daisha La-Fond 
My journey into graphic and web design actually started by accident. Back in 2018–2019, I owned a beauty business and began creating my own graphics and designing my own website simply because I needed them for my business. At the time, I never imagined it would turn into something I would eventually do for others. Read more>>
French Dressing 
Pardon me for being brutally honest, but Things changed for me after prison. Upon getting released in 2014 I just knew I didn’t want to go back lol. I furred I would go with something that was effortlessly to me. Read more>>
Taylor Yearby 
Hi, my name is Chef Taylor, and I’m the founder of Taylor Jayde Enterprises LLC. I’m a private chef and culinary entrepreneur based in Houston, Texas, specializing in private events, custom meal preps, and curated dining experiences. Cooking has always been more than just food for me — it’s about bringing people together and creating moments that people remember. Read more>>
Brittany Fenwick, PhD 
My journey has been defined by a commitment to healing, innovation, and challenging the way we think about behavioral healthcare. I’m Dr. Brittany A. Fenwick, a licensed psychologist, healthcare technology founder, author, and entrepreneur. As the Founder and CEO of DrBcares2, LLC, the parent company of PsychElite Health, I’ve dedicated my career to bridging the gap between clinical excellence, technology, and accessible mental healthcare. Read more>>
Rachelle Boyd-Huff 
I have always had a passion to care for others even as a little girl. I was a nurturer who cared for my friends and family. Read more>>
Damenique Streety 
Art has never just been something I do. For me, art has been a way of seeing the world differently. My journey in art started in college for an assignment, we had to re-create an artist style. For me, I chose Jackson Pollock, and if you don’t know who he is, his art is just pretty much paint splatter. Read more>>
Martesha Lagard 
I founded Social Good in Action (SGIA) in Houston in 2009 with a simple commitment: when people are going through hard times, somebody should show up for them — with something practical in hand. What began as a personal calling to serve has grown into a community institution. Read more>>
Alvaro Espinal 
My name is Alvaro Espinal. I’m a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Pearland, Texas. One thing that’s somewhat unusual about me is that I was born without a left hand. I play guitar by duct-taping a guitar pick to my arm. I’ve played in several bands throughout my life, starting when I was an undergraduate in college. Read more>>
Nicholas Piotti 
Started off in highschool with writing music which eventually evolved into business model planning and opening my own LLC (NO OTHER CHOICE RECORDS). I’ve been through a lot of hardship, but so have we all. I’m trying to better the world by creating a more user-friendly network and “cloud” based strategy to the music industry’s multi-faceted structure. Read more>>
Jeannette Rodriguez 
My journey into counseling grew from a desire to help people feel heard, understood, and supported through life’s challenges. I spent six years working for Child Protective Services, an experience that became an important part of my professional foundation. After graduate school, I worked in psychiatric hospitals, inpatient and outpatient programs, county-based community mental health services, residential treatment, alternative schools, and a juvenile detention center. Read more>>
Alexandra Green 
My interest in counseling began earlier than most people might expect. In middle school, my teachers selected me to participate in a pilot peer mediation program, where I helped classmates work through disagreements and find common ground. I remember feeling both nervous and honored to be chosen, but what stayed with me most was how rewarding it felt to help others reach a compromise. Read more>>
Iryna Nemova 
I have lived the American story twice — once in Ukraine, and once starting from zero in America. I built my first career in finance. I started out fascinated by one question — I was sixteen when I began hunting down books on psychology and the human mind, asking why people who “have everything” so often feel like they have nothing. Read more>>
Kevin Reynolds 
Growing up, I’ve always had an intense passion for football. I always wanted to not just play but also learn the game. I was blessed with a mom and a strong support system that fostered my athletic development and poured into my interests. By my senior year of high school, it was evident that my football career would continue onto the college level. Read more>>
Prince KyRon Huff
HelpUsFindFaith (HUFF) started with three brothers, one last name, and an idea to create something that was bigger than just clothing. My brothers, Syre and Sir, and I wanted to build a brand that represented who we are, what we believe in, and the values our family raised us with. We took our last name, Huff, and turned it into something meaningful: HelpUsFindFaith. Read more>>
Corisha Rogers 
Born and raised in Third Ward by a single mother, I’ve long had a passion for being politically involved. I saw the importance of voting, thanks to people in my life showing me the importance of investing in community. Read more>>
Faith Olweny 
Honestly, entertainment has been part of me since I was a kid. My parents used to joke that I was the easiest kid to babysit: just turn on the TV and I wouldn’t say a word. Looking back, that should have been my first clue. Read more>>
Toni Harris Taylor 
My story is one of faith, reinvention, relationships, and taking DRASTIC steps, even when I couldn’t see the entire staircase! If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout my entrepreneurial journey, it’s that it’s never too late to make a DRASTIC change in your life! I started my career in corporate America, working in financial services, including financial advising and management. Read more>>
Nathan Ingram 
Cooley Hat Company started with a simple idea between my father and I. We were wearing hats from other big-name brands one day and started thinking, why not create something of our own? Why not build a brand that represents us, our family, and our name? Read more>>
Ashley Ayala 
I have always been a fierce advocate for kids. During my first year as an intern at an elementary school, I quickly realized how important it was to integrate the family into the therapeutic work. So often, its the children of the family that carry the pain that is passed down generationally. Read more>>
Ariana McElroy
My story began with something simple: my love for feeding the people I love. Growing up, I enjoyed spending time in the kitchen with my mother, who helped shape my passion for cooking. Preparing meals has always been one of the ways I show love to my friends and family. Read more>>
Netta Brooks 
I’ve always been a creative being. It started out as drawing and painting, but I stopped because I didn’t believe for a while that I could make something of out my wonders as an adult. I was sadly mistaken. Read more>>
Zachary Paige-Westbrook 
I am Zachary Paige-Westbrook, though many in the creative and sports worlds know me as ‘ D-R-A-C-O.’ I was born in Washington D.C but Memphis, TN is my hometown. I moved to Houston at the end of 2024. Read more>>
Audreyanna Garrett
Today, I am a strategic Human Resources leader, Clinical Psychology doctoral candidate, published author, and advocate for cultural competence, personal growth, and mental health awareness. My most recent publication (2020) is a memoir is titled, I Don’t Repect Your Politics. My career reflects an interdisciplinary commitment to understanding human behavior, strengthening organizations, and empowering individuals to achieve meaningful personal and professional growth. Read more>>
Julie Hisey Orezzoli
Very Julie really grew out of my own life. I’m a full-time medical professional and mom of three, but I’ve always loved interiors, entertaining, and creating beautiful spaces. I joke that in another life I would have been an interior designer, and I was craving a creative outlet of my own. Read more>>
Heer Parikh 
My journey began with a vision to create something meaningful—not just a restaurant, but a space where people could experience how delicious, exciting, and accessible vegan food can be. In 2024, I took a leap of faith and opened Just Falafel Vegan Cafe in Houston, establishing the first-ever woman-owned vegan restaurant in River Oaks. Read more>>
