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.
Carley Hauck
My interest in health and human potential began when I was 19, when I started a meditation practice that continues to be an important part of my life today. I became fascinated by the relationship between the mind, body, heart, and spirit—and by the question of what allows people not simply to function, but to truly thrive. Read more>>
Natalia Rumiantseva 
I grew up in Russia and was always surrounded by art in many different forms. I sang in a touring choir, loved to draw, and was always creatively inclined, but I was told that a creative career would never pay the bills and that art was something I should keep as a hobby. So, for a while, I listened. Read more>>
Don Nathe 
My journey as a Healer began when my late wife was in the process of leaving her body in 2010. I was introduced to Energy Medicine through her provider and received various modalities of Hands On Healing including Reiki and Craniosacral Therapy. Read more>>
Valerie-Jean Rivera 
It all started with books! My older brother was an avid reader like me, and when he was attending the University of Arizona, he took me to the university library while he was studying for his classes. I found the art books section and I totally lost track of time and sat there for hours. Read more>>
Leslie Plimpton
When I was a little girl, I watched my mother color in oil onto professional portrait photography that was mounted on board before color photography became the norm. She also did a few oil paintings for herself on the side. It never occurred to me that someday I would become an artist. Read more>>
Breezy Barendt 
After 30 years and 8 tattoo shops, I am hosting a tattoo convention and car show May 1-2, 2027 at the Madonna Expo Center. We are expecting close to 10,000 visitors throughout the weekend. The show consists of live tattooing and piercing, tons of vendors, food trucks, bands, performers, competitions and more. Read more>>
Carlos F. Villagómez 
I grew up in Greenfield, in South Monterey County, and for as long as I can remember, art has been the place where I could put the parts of myself I did not always know how to explain. I was a quiet observer. I noticed people, gestures, landscapes, light, and small details. Read more>>
Janelle Stephanie Koch 
I started taking photos when I was young, around junior high, I think. I was totally nuts about it. I would photograph every adventure my friends and I had. I would practice taking glamour shots with friends. I photographed the sunrise. I truly believed that each moment was so precious. I would eagerly wait for my film to be developed at Rite Aid. Read more>>
Kendra DeÀnna 
First of all, let me just say, the first step often seems impossible until you take it! You’ll either fail miserably or succeed beautifully; either way, at least you took action! Read more>>
Kenna New 
I started dancing when I was 13 years old in Oaxaca, Mexico, and from the beginning, movement became so much more than just a hobby for me. I’ve always been a passionate person, and I’ve always loved connecting with people, creating, performing, and helping others feel seen and confident in themselves. Read more>>
Swam Lewis 
I got my start in Michigan as a music artist and audio engineer, working regular nine-to-fives — plumber, pizza delivery, whatever — while saving up to eventually move to LA and try to ‘chase my dreams’ (I know it sounds so generic). In 2020, I sold my car and alot of my extra belongings and bought a one-way ticket. Read more>>
Luis Mendoza 
I’ve always been someone who believes in working hard and figuring things out as I go. My background has taken me through construction sales, project operations, shipping and receiving, and facilities, but I’ve always had the goal of building something of my own. That eventually led me to start The Waste Wranglers, a local pet waste removal service. Read more>>
Nikitha Yelchuru 
Paper Sweetly began in 2012 with a single strip of paper and a question: how much beauty could be coaxed from something so ordinary? Quilling, the centuries old art of coiling narrow ribbons of paper into intricate forms, gave me my answer. Read more>>
David Pascolla 
I’ve been a professional photographer on California’s Central Coast for more than 25 years, but my interest in photography started long before it became a career. What began as a love of making photographs gradually turned into a business and the opportunity to photograph people during some of the most meaningful times in their lives. Read more>>
Oghenetega Mofe-Damijo 
Chaos in Control started during my last year in college. I’ve always loved drawing and sketching, and in addition to that, I’ve always loved graphic tees and hoodies. One day, I decided to make my own. I worked with a buddy of mine who had his own brand, and he helped me through the process of making my first hoodie. Read more>>
Cynthia Rovnaghi
Though I received my Developmental Psychology, PhD (5/2025), I’ve managed the Child Wellness Laboratory (CWL) for three decades. The CWL has been affiliated for the most recent ten years with the Maternal Child Health Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine. Read more>>
Ramon Pasos 
I’ve always been the type of person who sees a problem and immediately starts thinking about how it could be solved. DESI started with a pretty simple observation: when someone has been drinking, rideshare can get the person home, but their car is still sitting at the bar, restaurant, event or wherever they left it. Read more>>
Mayra Martinez
My first camera was gifted to me in junior high, and from that moment on, I became obsessed with documenting everyone and everything around me. I loved capturing the little moments, the people I cared about, and the memories that I knew I would want to look back on. That passion continued throughout high school, where I became a photographer for my yearbook. Read more>>
Sue Eisaguirre 
Wanting to reach more students, but unable to do so in my position at the time, I often came home frustrated. One day, my husband said, “Why don’t you do this on your own?” He bought me the book How to Form a 501(c)(3), and away I went. Read more>>
Aaron Bobertz 
I started making music in the summer of 2025 with my best friend “prettilitt” who I still make music with today. Originally, I took most of my inspiration from Tyler, the Creator, but over time I started listening to underground rap. prettilitt is the main reason why I make the type of music I make today. Read more>>
Jeeti Janda 
I started Glam Tans By Jeeti when my son was 4 years old and heading to pre-school. At the time, I had been a stay-at-home-Mom for about 8 years. I left my high stress corporate accounting job in the tech world behind to raise my kids and never looked back. Read more>>
Graffiti Bleu 
Born in the same place that Hip-Hop was born, The Bronx New York. I came up in NYC during the so-called ‘golden era’ of Hip-Hop at ground zero on the planet it was happening on. Grew up fast as a word nerd in a land of gamblers, scramblers, pimps, pushers and dope fiends. How I survived Rond Reagan’s America in the 80’s is anyone’s guess. Read more>>
Monique Smith 
Hello, my name is Monique Smith. I’m from Sacramento, California. My journey began for me singing in church in the choir and being in theater when I was younger. Then that led me into music, where I became a recording artist, Miss MouthPeace, creating soul music. I started internationally in Japan and was able to bring that experience back to the States. Read more>>
Lia Adams 
I started working in hospitality fresh out of high school, and my introduction to weddings came through a coworker who connected me with Heidi Sebok of Coastside Couture. Heidi had been a food and beverage manager at a local venue and was ready to launch her own wedding planning company. She brought me along as her right-hand woman, and we got to work. Read more>>
Alfredo Gonzalez 
I grew up in Oxnard, California. Art is something I always found myself doing, a lot of my earliest influences came through graffiti and skateboarding. I was just drawn to images, lettering and painting. There wasn’t really anything attached to it. I did it because I wanted to. Read more>>
Mimi Caperton 
My name is Mimi modeling has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl . When I was around 17 year old after I graduated high school I decided to take my dreams into my own hands I started shooting with local photographers who wanted to build there craft just as I did . Read more>>
Betania Rodriguez 
I started playing piano at six and began taking harp lessons at 11. I never really connected with the piano, but I had always seen pictures from my parents’ wedding, where they had a live harpist. The harp was also my mom’s favorite instrument, so at 11, I decided to start taking private lessons. Read more>>
Andrea Brown 
Interior design has been part of my family’s story for at least three generations. Read more>>
Arville Persons 
I’ve always been an artist and have had a deep love and appreciation for tattoos and the transformation of the body. In 2016, while I was in college, I decided I was ready for my first tattoo. When I asked my mom if she would pay for it, she lovingly told me I’d have to figure it out for myself. So I did. Read more>>
Kayla Bellamy
I’ve always been the little girl who loved arts and crafts. Creating things in a way that brought my imagination to life was so soothing to me growing up. My older brother Tarell has always been so skilled at drawing and so watching him draw inspired me to sketch too, and I immediately fell in love with it! Read more>>
Mara Purl 
Though my home city is Los Angeles, I was invited to spend a summer performing in the small coastal town of Cambria, California. Having lived only in big cities, I found a small town intriguing and began to think of it as an interesting paradigm for a story. Read more>>
Chrissy Newman 
Thank you for having me here. Painting had been a lifelong hobby. My father was a professional commercial artist, so art supplies were always available. But I’m self taught, so I never really imagined this little creative outlet would become such a big part of my life. In 2019 I fell in love with fluid acrylics. Read more>>
Melissa Newton 
I began photography over nine years ago. I’ve always loved seeing the beauty around me, but becoming a mom changed the way I saw it—and the way I wanted to capture it. It started simply. I bought a camera and enrolled in a photography course because I wanted to better document my children’s childhood and my own journey through motherhood. Read more>>
Angela Murguia 
My name is Angela Murguia. I am the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of our nonprofit called The Circle Monterey County, Inc. I was born and raised in Salinas, Ca. My story of giving back to my community started almost 16 years ago. I was diagnosed with the big “C” word… yup, Cancer. Read more>>
Aqueena Render
Growing up, I was always intrigued by cartoon characters, dance, and media as a whole. I was very active in dance & gymnastics as a child into my late 20s, where I became a dance movement therapist & counselor. Read more>>
David (Merle The HERMIT) Peterson
I’ve been playing music from a very young age. Starting at just 6 years old with a Christmas performance of ‘Silent Night’ at my church for my mom as a last-minute gift. I took piano lessons from my grandfather, and went on to join as many school bands as I could – playing trumpet, singing, drumming, and even a few years as drum major. Read more>>
