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.
Isabella Trichilo
Little Tides began from a combination of my professional background as an occupational therapist and my own experience becoming a mom. After more than a decade working as an OT, I found myself looking at play, development, connection, and the everyday experiences of childhood through an entirely new lens once I had my own children. Read more>>
Mel Brown
I loved doing nails at the age of 17. When COVID-19 hit it was in high demand. What salon is opened? I need my nails done. So in 2021 I graduated and got my license. I am the only Philadelphia mobile nail tech. Read more>>
Juliene Featherman
I founded my salon in Philadelphia in October 2005. Previous to this, I had worked as a Senior Litigation paralegal and worked at length in toxic tort class actions, litigation etc. I was immersed in the world of dire consequences that befell workers in the chemical and asbestos manufacturing industries: severe health consequences from repeated exposures. Read more>>
Kailin Bouse
I always say I didn’t really choose this work; it sort of chose me. I’ve been interested in spirituality, nature, music, and the deeper questions of life for as long as I can remember, but my path into wellness really began through my own life experiences. Read more>>
Martina Springer
My journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t exactly planned. After working in corporate America—and experiencing a couple of jobs that ultimately didn’t work out—I decided it was time to create something of my own. I started by opening a small gift shop, but I wanted to give my community more. Read more>>
Justin Gingrich
I started playing guitar in my early teens after being inspired by Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Behind the Music on VH1. I didn’t really take it too seriously until Trevor and I started playing together in our early 20s though. Read more>>
Lucie Uba
My Love for photography started when I was young, I grew up surrounded by both of my aunts doing photography then my aunt giving me my first camera. From there my passion began! I was photographing everything and anything I could, from families and couples to racing and automotive I was there. Read more>>
Rodney Whittenberg
According to my parents, I was singing and making up songs from the time I was born. I always had what people used to call an overactive imagination—imaginary friends, elaborate adventures, and plenty of made-up stories. Read more>>
Dana Barnes
We are two friends who met through our grad school sustainable business program. We had always wanted to start a coffee shop and post grad school we were looking for ways to get more involved in the Pittsburgh community. Since we both work full time, we figured starting small with a mobile trailer would be the best way to try it out. Read more>>
Syriana Davis
I was always the person taking recap videos at family events, so media had my interest early on. I actually signed up for cosmetology in high school, but a scheduling mix-up landed me in graphic design instead — and I fell in love with it. I told myself I’d start shooting once I had ‘the best’ equipment. God had other plans. Read more>>
Jacqueline Gascot
A little over three years ago I had just had my second son and left my job as a full time nutritionist. I have my bachelors in nutrition and dietetics and worked in the field for about 8 years before I decided to stay home full time with my boys. Read more>>
Stuart Landon
I was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and grew up between Bartlesville and Houston, Texas. I suppose I was a theatrical producer before I knew that was a job. As a kid, I would gather my sister Rachel and the neighborhood children in our backyard and mount our own adaptations of whatever Disney movie had captured our imagination—sometimes something current, sometimes Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Read more>>
Karen Dundore-Gulotta
The idea of me opening my own theater, began on the island of Ocracoke where I was taking a sabbatical from my job. I was living on the island teaching performing arts and puppetry to school children. I was also directing a tale of Blackbeard in the evenings. Read more>>
Lexus Dean
I learned how to crochet in middle school. I have always been drawn to creating clothes. There was a time period that I stopped crocheting but senior year of highschool I picked up my hook again and haven’t put it down since. My very first fashion show was at my highschool. I made headbands and fun hats. Read more>>
Gabriella Wilson
While studying Fine Arts in a pre-university program in Montreal, I began tattooing from home with the help of a tattooist friend that I had met years before. At 21 years of age I began travelling through Europe with a backpack, and my tattooing equipment, which went on for 3 years. Read more>>
Angel Rivera
My journey with DJing started when I was 14. My father has been a DJ for as long as I can remember, and I grew up watching him—he even DJed at my middle school. That exposure sparked something in me, but everything I learned behind the turntables was ultimately self-taught. Read more>>
Robin Abel Melinda Sanders
Opening in 2015, our store has gone through so many changes. From new business learning, to a pandemic, to ownership change, it’s been a lot for this locally owned small business. Current owners Sanders and Abel are transplants to the area who have loved setting down roots and sharing life in the Zelienople community. Read more>>
Brittany Boote
My path here definitely wasn’t a straight line. I grew up in a small city in Northeast PA & I ssigned with an agency on Park Avenue for television and film, leaving my high school during the week to audition & head out for go-sees in the city. That which really shaped the way I see storytelling, people, and imagery. Read more>>
CJ Stasik
For a long time, I was great at doing what I thought I was supposed to be doing. I spent more than two decades building a career in high-pressure, high-performance environments, eventually becoming the COO and then CEO of an award-winning digital marketing agency. From the outside, I had built a successful life. Read more>>
Sam Kuchwara
Growing up, I always loved to draw and paint but didn’t really get started with any classes until senior year of high school, and just remember thinking that I want to spend way more time doing this. After a few intro classes in college, I basically was still thinking the same thing, so I majored. Read more>>
Theresa Fantauzzi
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to caring for people and helping them navigate difficult moments. My father was studying nursing while serving in the military before he passed away when I was seven years old. For years afterward, I kept his nursing bag in my closet. I can still remember the stethoscope and bandage scissors inside. Read more>>
Alaina Joy
I’ve never really known how to separate who I am from what I make. I’m Alaina Joy, the artist behind @painted_thingies, and my work has always been a way of taking the things that hurt, anger, inspire, confuse, or excite me and turning them into something I can put into the world. Read more>>
Dani Fiore
In 2023 I was looking forward to my summer break and wrapping up another great year as a music educator at a private lesson studio. It was my 5th year at this organization and my schedule was full, students were thriving. I had no idea I was about to be launched into the next amazing chapter of my life and career. The catalyst? Read more>>
Nyia Nikol (my last name is Lewis but professionally go by Nyia Nikol)
When I was 7 years old I spent the week with my aunt who owned a dance studio at the time and was hosting a summer program. One day I asked if I could take class and she allowed me to join. I don’t remember much about the class but I do remember having a lot of fun. Read more>>
Holly Adair
I started out as an art major in college before moving into fashion merchandising and design, and that led me to a career in fashion and luxury retail. From there, I joined a personal care startup as Director of Brand Development, where I helped pioneer infinitely recyclable aluminum packaging. The company was acquired after Covid, and I began consulting on branding, creative research and strategy. Read more>>
Staci Egan
Smith and Front began as a husband-and-wife business run by Staci and David Egan. The shop opened in downtown Philipsburg in 2019 as an art studio, shop, and gallery. At the time, the goal was to find an affordable space with character—State College was too expensive, while Philipsburg offered the kind of large, inexpensive historic space that made the concept possible. Read more>>
Ashley schrecengost
My name is Ashley, and my career path has been anything but traditional. I became a registered nurse in 2020, right in the middle of COVID, so I was introduced very quickly to the realities of healthcare and how unpredictable it can be. As challenging as that experience was, it was also where I discovered my love for critical care. Read more>>
Dakota Stanley
My journey has really been shaped by family, resilience, loss, and ultimately finding purpose through all of it. I became a mother at a young age. Two of my five daughters were born before I graduated high school, so responsibility came early for me. Read more>>
Jai Crabbe-Gorrell
The heart behind D.O.P.E., which stands for Doing Our Part Eclectically, was planted in me long before the organization officially began in 2014. When I was about eight years old, my aunt would take members of our church into the community to feed people experiencing homelessness around the holidays. Ironically, one of the places where D.O.P.E. Read more>>
Michael Getz
I have been a runner for as long as I can remember. My earliest memory of running goes back to when I was about five years old in the mountains of central Pennsylvania. One deer season, while we were waiting for the rest of our hunting party, my grandfather began timing me as I ran up a small hill on the trail. Read more>>
Aaron Jackson
My mother was a huge influence in terms of music and the arts in my childhood, introducing me to music at a young age to the likes of Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, Phil Collins and more. She always made it a point to heavily invest in any interest I had and having that full support in my creative journey was pivotal. Read more>>
Jessica Liokareas
I started doing hair in 2001 after attending Pittsburgh Beauty Academy and quickly fell in love with the industry. Over the years, I worked at several salons throughout Pittsburgh, where I gained experience, built a loyal clientele, and grew both personally and professionally. I’m also a mom of four, and after having my third child, I decided to create a salon at home. Read more>>
Caleb Stelle
I’ve been in the wedding business since I was thirteen years old. I’m a pastor’s kid and I learned violin starting in third grade. That combination meant I was given the opportunity to perform at weddings in my early teens, and it continued through college and into where I am now. The business side of C. Read more>>
Alisa Rassin
My path to veterinary medicine actually started with a love of wildlife and nature. I’ve always been fascinated by animals, and after moving to the US, I had the opportunity to spend some time working at a wildlife sanctuary in Costa Rica. That experience really solidified for me that I wanted to build my career around animals and medicine. Read more>>
Robert Aibel
Robert Aibel opened Moderne Gallery in 1984, after a part time stint selling all manner of art and antiques. Moderne Gallery was devoted to French Art Deco, but a year after opening we began to handle the work of George Nakashima. That led us to broaden our specialization to the entire field of Studio Furniture, Ceramics, Wood turning and Metalwork. Read more>>
Nikki Erikson
I got into the wellness space after losing 70 pounds myself. I had struggled with my weight for most of my life, and after years of trying different approaches, I finally found success through a program I created for myself. Along the way, I worked with coaches and personal trainers who helped me, but I always felt like something was missing. Read more>>
Olivia Brinich
I’m entering my fourth full year of running an equestrian learning center focused mainly on children and ponies. We are inclusive program that offer everything from local schooling shows to rated national shows from starting with one pony in December 2021 with maybe a handful students to now approaching 30 students and more than a dozen horses in my care. Read more>>
Priyanki Heidelberger
I came to USA 15 years ago, did internal medicine residency (my second residency!) and then worked with wellspan health for 11 years. While I was working, I found that there was something missing in the care and decided to pursue fellowship in integrative medicine which is a broader umbrella that includes functional medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, Chinese medicine etc.. Read more>>
Keith Renard
I was born and raised in Scranton, PA. I always love creating different types of artwork in all sorts of mediums, Loved art class all through school. I took private art lessons while I was growing up. Read more>>
