![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/c-1769608568860-personal_1769608568160_1769608568160_nolan_brown_hibachi.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\nEvery 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\u2019re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series.\u00a0 Check out some of our latest local gem features below.<\/p>\n
Nolan Brown<\/p>\n
I started opening fast casula hibachi restaurants for Terry Ho the Yum Yum sauce guy he is from Albany, GA where I am from. I learned how to cook hibachi and the business at his stores in Pensacola and Mobile. I took a corporate job in Atlanta, met my wife and moved to St. Mary\u2019s where she is from.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n John Barling My path to where I am today started long before I entered the painting industry. I joined the United States Marine Corps straight out of high school and served five years, including two tours in Iraq. I completed my service honorably in 2007. The Marine Corps shaped how I think about leadership, accountability, and pressure.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Shirley Saulsby Shirley Saulsby is a proud Jacksonville, Florida native and the founder of Visionary Workforce Staffing. A graduate of William M. Raines High School, Shirley has always been deeply rooted in her community and passionate about creating opportunities for others.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Erik Paabo We\u2019re a husband-and-wife team, and Crooked Tail Family Farm started the way a lot of real things do, with life taking an unexpected turn. In December 2019, Erik suffered a neck injury that eventually cost him his job. Not long after, the pandemic shut the world down and made a lot of us think differently about stability, food, and what \u201csecurity\u201d really looks like.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Asma Aftimous I graduated from the Syrian Arab Republic with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and began my career as an independent pharmacy owner, serving rural communities for more than five years. During that time, I focused on patient education, medication counseling, and improving access to care for underserved populations.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Lakshmi Dove<\/p>\n My relationship with cows began when I was three and a half. In 1980, my family moved to a Hare Krishna farm where my father helped care for the cows. I have fond memories of when he took me to the cow barn to help him care for them. My parents\u2019 spiritual master, A.C.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Angel Grissom My journey started long before I ever launched a company. I lost my mother at six years old and grew up navigating life without the stability many children take for granted. That experience shaped me. It taught me resilience early. I learned that my \u201cright now\u201d was not my forever, and education became my path forward.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Erica Rodriguez In 2019 after running my first 10K, I had this nagging rib pain. The pain worsened progressively & lasted well over a year. After many different doctors, misdiagnoses, failed treatments & false imaging- I felt pretty hopeless that it would ever go away. My Mom kept telling me to go to her Physical Therapist- maybe there was something he could do for me.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Calin Lucaciu My introduction to woodworking began in my teenage years. While attending high school I spent weekends working in a woodshop gaining hands-on experience and learning the fundamentals of materials, tools and construction, those early experiences established an appreciation for precision ,proportion and the discipline required to build well. After high school, I attended college and later entered medical school.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Wilfred Torres Wilfred Torres, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, am the founder of Wegotchu Enterprises NPO, Inc., a community-based organization established in 2016 to provide essential resources to communities who are in need.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Gary Garcia<\/p>\n So, I used to manage another shop, that was more geared into performance, which I had done as a hobby since I was young, I mean, I would spend weekends with my buddies helping them install their go fast bits, rebuild their engines, setup their suspension. You know, car guy stuff.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Dillon Robles Pelican Pools was started in 2019. We wanted to have a business that emphasized on doing the right thing for clients and giving the best service possible. We started out small but over time, we grew through referrals by setting realistic expectations and following through. Today, Pelican Pools is a family-run business built on transparency, accountability, and steady growth.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Karissa Hagemeister For several years now I have had an online boutique. For the past three years, I have wanted to open up a space as I have had a dream growing in my heart. This past year I was able to open it up to the public and make into more of a community space for people to come together, hang out and make new friends.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Kimberly Shipley Scott and Kim\u2019s journey into the jewelry industry started with Scott\u2019s lifelong passion for design. Scott has always been a designer of something\u2014whether it was houses, artwork, or creative projects\u2014and that natural gift eventually led him to jewelry. About 15 years ago, he began designing jewelry, which quickly turned into requests for redesign projects, and then into learning the craft of jewelry repair.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Janet Sampson Jeff and I began our farming journey in 1988, when we were married and started our first small herd of cattle in Davie, Florida. Jeff had learned from experienced cattlemen as a teenager, which gave us a strong foundation as we built our operation together.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Jeremy Gatto Jeremy Gatto: Restaurateur and Pizza Aficionado Jeremy Gatto is a native New Yorker whose journey in the culinary world began in the bustling kitchens alongside his father. Growing up, he absorbed the essence of food from a young age, hearing his father\u2019s wise words: \u201cEveryone has to eat.\u201d This phrase ignited Jeremy\u2019s lifelong passion for the culinary arts.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Samantha Moore I\u2019ve been bartending for over 13 years, and from the very beginning, I\u2019ve always loved the connection it creates\u2014bringing people together, sparking conversation, and being a part of meaningful moments. For years, I had the idea to start a mobile bar, but like many people, I doubted myself and stayed within my comfort zone.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Dawn Thayer I started cleaning at 12 years old so I could afford to care for my horse. That early responsibility instilled a strong work ethic and appreciation for consistency and accountability. Over the years, cleaning remained a steady thread alongside roles in university operations, banking, bookkeeping, and business management.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Dr. Claire Merriman I was 2 years out of my doctoral physical therapy program, working in an outpatient orthopedic clinic when I took my first Herman and Wallace pelvic floor course. I immediately fell in love with the subspecialty. It was such an underserved population and one in which physical therapy could support a huge improvement in quality of life.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Ashley Skaer-Tilley<\/p>\n I moved to Florida nearly seven years ago from a very small country town in southern Illinois, but my journey into event planning and supporting small businesses started long before that\u2014right in my local church. Our church didn\u2019t believe in taking out loans, so whenever something needed to be repaired or updated, we found ways to fund it ourselves.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Amy Beach Beach Junki started as a nickname someone gave me after noticing how much time I spent at the beach\u2014walking at sunrise and just being there. In 2013, everything changed when I came across a sea turtle in distress and was able to help with its rescue and release. I became involved with the local sea turtle patrol team.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Bethany Bryan I started shooting weddings in 2013 for free because I truly loved it and wanted to learn. I\u2019ve never been someone who does this just for the money, I do it because I genuinely value life and the moments we don\u2019t get back.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Patti Brannon My journey began with a love for timeless style and a profound commitment to community. I founded B Togs & Co as a lifestyle and activewear brand rooted in the belief that what we wear should support how we live \u2014 beautifully, actively, generously, and with intention. What makes the brand especially meaningful to me is that it carries the legacy of my mom.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Kimberly Pacetti I\u2019ve been involved in medicine in some form since my college years. I started working in a medical office filing charts and gradually progressed into full patient care as a medical assistant. During that time, I had the opportunity to work with a brilliant, forward-thinking female physician who deeply influenced how I viewed patient care.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Nichole Clark I was a curly-haired hairdresser getting butchered haircuts from my coworkers. I decided to \u201ccheat\u201d on my salon and go get a curly cut from the local curly salon. I ended up going to work at the curly place and have done curly hair ever since.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Dr. Chris Owen Here\u2019s how it started\u2026. Years ago, I was diagnosed with a severe hyperthyroid condition that rapidly pushed my body to its limits. I was eating four full meals a day and still wasting away \u2014 eventually dropping to just 98 pounds. \u200b I was exhausted, anxious, and barely able to function with two small kids to care for.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Allison Moses I joined Row House about four years ago as a part-time coach while working full-time in healthcare, mostly because I loved fitness and the energy of the community. After COVID, I was laid off from my healthcare role, which turned out to be a pivotal moment for me.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Jennifer Jeffers My journey with The Simple Stencil began in 2003 with a very practical goal: I was a stay-at-home mom trying to fund my daughter\u2019s school trip to France. Having worked in the signage industry, I was comfortable with vinyl, but I had always possessed a personal \u2018love affair\u2019 with words and quotes.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n R Scott Hartsfield I was last of 6 kids. When we were all young, as a family we would watch the news and TV shows together. My role was to either rub backs, feet, legs or whatever hurt. Unbeknownst to me, this training prepared me to be a Licensed Massage Therapist, now 30+ years. I have done this work 7 days a week for over 20+ years.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n Gabby Wettstein I\u2019ve always felt deeply connected to animals, especially dogs and horses. Growing up riding and working in horse barns, I was immersed early on in the rhythms, responsibilities, and quiet communication that come with caring for large, sensitive animals. Between the ages of 19 and 21, I worked full-time at a horse barn where I was first exposed to equine bodywork.\u00a0Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Every day we have a choice. 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