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.
Amanda Butts
I started this business in the pandemic when my job closed. We went through some hardship, but in that time came the self reflection and the desire to do something I want for a change. No one in my area did the type of work I was looking for so I decided to start my own business. Read more>>
Roger Macias
I didn’t start out wanting to build an agency. I started by trying to understand why things worked when they worked, and why they broke when they didn’t. My background spans creative work, technical systems, and business strategy, and over time I noticed a recurring pattern: most companies don’t fail because they lack effort or talent. They fail because their underlying systems are misaligned. Read more>>
Paul Kim KOREAN AMERICA ASSOCIATION OF SAN ANTONIO METRO AREA
The Korean American Association of San Antonio traces its roots back to 1975, when Korean residents in the area came together to support one another, help newcomers find their footing, and build a lasting bridge between Korean culture and the broader San Antonio community. Read more>>
Misha Stouklov
My parents were immigrants to the US in the 90s after the Soviet Union fell apart and they had no money or prospects. I was born in the US while my family was struggling to establish their new roots. They instilled within me the immigrant ethos of hard work to achieve the American dream. Read more>>
Sherrie Wilson
My name is Sherrie Dawn Wilson, originally from Princeton, Kentucky, born July 26, 1980. I’m a country girl at heart who now proudly calls Texas home. I moved here in 2000 from Wiesbaden, Germany, where I attended high school — yes, I’m an Army brat. I’m a mother of 5 amazing kids! Divorcee for 4 years now after nearly two decades of marriage. Read more>>
Maria Garza
At 29, I had to move into a Transitional Home, unsure of the direction of my and my children’s lives. I was fortunate to have a safe place to raise my children until I could figure it out. Read more>>
GILBERTO PAIZ
I was finishing up a bachelor’s degree in general business studies at UTSA and was considering options for when I graduated. Sadly, my father in law passed away in 1997 at the age of 47. My mother in law inherited some life insurance money and needed help with what to do with it. Read more>>
Michael Holloway
This is a long answer. Summary: San Antonio born. Catholic private school (aside from one year) before Army infantry for GI Bill/College Fund. UTSA for premed program graduating Magna Cum Laude with Biology degree. Low back injury while working through college brought me to my first chiropractor. Carried in by two men as I was unable to walk. Read more>>
Esmeralda Alarcon
I started my journey in 2008 when I graduated from cosmetology school. Undecided of what I wanted to do I ventured off and explored other corporate avenues ranging from retail, bartending, insurance, admin work, banking, apartment leasing and management. Read more>>
Richard Mogas
Born in Laredo, Texas the youngest of six children to Maria Benavides Mogas and Jose Roque Mogas, but lived the majority of my life in SA. Degree in Architecture from the Univ of Texas at Austin then moved to New Mexico for a few years. Read more>>
Jeffrey Lewis
I grew up in a small town in Michigan and began working part-time in junior high school, continuing all the way through college. I graduated from Central Michigan University in 1972 and started my career at Aetna Insurance Company. Over the years, I took on positions of increasing responsibility, eventually accepting the role of President of Prudential’s Property and Casualty company in 1993. Read more>>
Dr. Derin Patel
I was brought to San Antonio for family reasons. My family and I had been settled in a small town in Indiana, where we fully expected to retire and build our lives long term. However, life had different plans. My father was diagnosed with a severe immune-mediated liver disease that ultimately required a liver transplant. Read more>>
Damon Smith
My wife was making extra virgin olive oil infusions with herbs and peppers for friends for fun and then as gifts. We loved them ourselves, and we were encouraged by friends to sell them. We were somewhat skeptical, but we signed up for a small market at a local brewery to test the idea. Read more>>
Sean Kovarovic
My story starts with the end of my military career. When I first got out of the Army, my knees were so bad, I had to crawl up and down the stairs in my own home. After about 6 months practicing Tai Chi, I could walk up the stairs again. This inspired me to keep training. Read more>>
Jenifer George
There was always one thing that puzzled me, though. My family travels to Italy often, my mom’s side is from there, and every time we visited, I could enjoy dairy and even pasta without a single issue. I could eat freely and feel good. And every time we returned home, I found myself thinking, something isn’t right when I eat here. Read more>>
Ellis Goins
My journey to becoming senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Northwest San Antonio is really a story of my spiritual journey. It was at a men’s Bible study in New Orleans, LA, the place of my of my birth, where God showed me my need for salvation and invited me to accept His marvelous free gift through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Read more>>
Asencion Escajeda
My journey hasn’t been easy, and it definitely hasn’t been perfect. Like a lot of entrepreneurs, I started with nothing more than a strong work ethic, a vision, and the willingness to take risks when there were no guarantees. I entered the beauty industry because I loved the craft, but I stayed because I saw how powerful it could be. Read more>>
Brian Morgan
The Texas Youth Football and Cheer Association (TYFA) began in 1995, founded by two like-minded individuals with a shared vision to unify youth football across the state of Texas. At the time, youth football was highly fragmented, with numerous independent leagues operating under different rules, regulations, and standards. This lack of consistency created challenges for athletes, families, and organizations alike. Read more>>
Hannah Griggs
My writing journey has had a lot of twists and turns, and I’ve definitely seen God’s hand at work as He has used other people to have a tremendous impact on me as a writer. Read more>>
Sam McCrary
REPTD was established to address the need for access to high-quality athletic training and sports medicine services. The concept originated from our lead clinician’s early experiences as a contract athletic trainer, traveling to rural schools to provide injury clinics, evaluations, and game coverage in areas with limited resources. Read more>>
Kelley Howe
I started my photography business 20 years ago, right after my son was born—back when digital cameras were just becoming a thing. What began as a love for capturing moments for friends and family quickly grew into a full-time career. Over the years, I photographed everything from weddings and engagements to maternity and newborn sessions. Read more>>
Kim Clark
Many years ago, I worked for an oil and gas investor and his wife was a Realtor. It looked like an exciting career so in 2003, I took the plunge and obtained my real estate license and have never looked back! Read more>>
Joy Mendez
I have a background in massage therapy for humans. One day I was at my friend’s house and his golden doodle, Sonny, was having trouble getting around due to his hip dysplasia. Read more>>
Julio Escamilla
JCE started with a simple realization: most businesses don’t have a traffic problem — they have a revenue problem. We began in the trenches in 2008, working directly with local and service-based businesses that were spending money on marketing but seeing little return. Read more>>
Dr. Kruti Lehenbauer
After spending about 20+ years in academia, including teaching at UTDallas, Northwood University, and University of the Incarnate Word, I decided to explore the world of consulting on a full-time basis a couple of years ago. I have always been passionate about math and statistics applications, which is what led to my PhD in Economics and Public Policy back in the early 2000’s. Read more>>
Tory Meeks
I started to gain a substantial social media following, which made me seriously consider making art my career for the first time. I began by selling some stickers and art prints online, and I made the jump to in-person craft fairs in June 2024. The market scene in San Antonio is incredibly welcoming, and I met dozens of other local artists who were willing to help me with my display and show me which shows to apply for. My small business grew very rapidly, and my biggest event so far was Kawacon in January 2025, a massive convention with hundreds of attendees. Read more>>
Gabby Garcia
During my three years at Gray Digital Group, I gained valuable skills in marketing, design, and website building—tools that would eventually help me launch my own art business. In 2023, after having my son, I decided to leave my job to stay home with him. Art was still on the back burner, and my mind was set on other ways I might reenter the workforce one day. Read more>>
