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.
Liz and Clayton Hoff
Our journey to Vida Baking started years before we ever imagined calling Ashland home. We met while working at the C&O Trattoria in Venice Beach, California. From the very beginning of our relationship, we would talk about one day opening a breakfast place together. Read more>>
Erika Copeland
Our story began in a place most entrepreneurs rarely talk about openly: survival. In 2020, my life unraveled in ways I never could have prepared for. I lost both my father and my sister. Read more>>
Ella Olson
I have enjoyed working with children since I was in high school, my first jobs included being a nanny, and working at after school and summer programs. I find children to be beautiful reflections of their own worlds with an innate ability to look for moments of joy. Read more>>
Jake Rockwell
I grew up middle-class in Eastern Oregon, and from a really young age, I was completely driven by making money to buy the things I wanted. I was a natural hustler—shoveling snow, mowing lawns, and going door-to-door selling The Oregonian and greeting cards. By 14, I was doing manual labor for my dad’s carpet cleaning and fire restoration business. Read more>>
Chad Fuss
I started out as a litigation attorney representing insurance companies in car accidents and personal injury claims. It wasn’t until our son was a toddler, and we planned on going out of town without him for the first time that I even thought about estate planning. Read more>>
Stefanie Johnson
Where Elevated Whispers Began: Elevated Whispers did not begin as a business plan. It began as a spiritual return to self. After years of caring for my father through his decline and death, I found myself in a raw and tender place. I was grieving, exhausted, and trying to understand who I was after so much loss. Read more>>
Tanya Rasley
Cozy Chaos Craft Co. was founded by Tanya Rasley, Maat Pittman, James Kelley, and Clay Rasley, who each brought different skills and creative backgrounds to a shared vision: creating a place where creativity and community come together. What started as an idea between four friends has grown into a destination for makers of all skill levels. Read more>>
Alyssa Saez
I didn’t start this business or get into art because I had some perfect plan. I got into it because my life blew up after a divorce, I moved across the country, and I needed to rebuild from the ground up. I landed in rural Oregon with a tiny workspace, a senior rescue dog, and a brain that refuses to sit still. Read more>>
Dr. David Tuyo II
My journey into finance started much earlier than most people would expect. In sixth grade, one of my teachers assigned us a project to follow a publicly traded company and track its stock performance over several weeks. Something about understanding how businesses grew, how markets worked, and how financial decisions shaped people’s lives immediately captured my imagination. Read more>>
Kim Marks
Going back as early as 2009: I was wanting a change. I had spent most of my adult life working in the nonprofit sector and with small grassroots groups doing environmental and climate justice work, from coalition-building to tree-sits. Read more>>
Stephanie McBride
I am a licensed massage therapist and the creator of Grounding Gear, a weighted compression pack I developed in 2018 to support clients recovering from injuries and to help calm the nervous system. As I continued using Grounding Gear in clinical practice, I observed that it also appeared to support lymphatic flow while helping reduce inflammation. Read more>>
E. Chewy Cereceres
So I started cooking when I was 18 years old professionally in Chicago where I’m from. I worked for Michael Kornick, who is a famous Chicago chef and after two years I moved to Napa Valley and worked with Thomas Keller opening up Bouchon, and at Pinot Blanc with Joachim Splichal. Read more>>
Bailey O’Bar
Photography has always felt less like a career choice and more like a calling. I first found myself on the other side of the lens as a model. I couldn’t yet afford a camera of my own, and modeling became my entry point into the creative world I longed to be part of. Read more>>
Zachary Moore
My name is Zach Moore, Owner of Outdoor Solutions Lawn Care, Sprinklers, & Snow in Redmond, Or. Before starting Outdoor Solutions, I spent a decade in the health & fitness industry as a gym manager/personal trainer. During that time, I also became an EMT as I have a passion for helping people & serving my community. Read more>>
Nicole Dame
I’ve always been creative, but never imagined I’d one day own a flower preservation business. My journey really began with a love for art and creating meaningful pieces that tell a story. When I discovered flower preservation, I realized I could combine my artistic background with helping people preserve some of the most important moments of their lives. Read more>>
Natalia Price
I moved to Portland in April 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. Since I was new to the area, I started looking for ways to stay active, have fun, and meet new people. As a former collegiate track and field athlete, I was excited to discover Willamette Striders Track Club through one of my former teammates, and I began pole vaulting again. Read more>>
Brian Keary
Education: University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (December 1992) Upon graduation, I ventured into the realm of programming as a freelancer, proficiently navigating through languages such as Fortran, HTML and CSS, although their relevance in today’s technological landscape has significantly changed. My insatiable thirst for knowledge led me to self-teach these new updated plus search engine optimization (SEO), achieving certification annually since 2002. Read more>>
Joseph Franco
-worked years in kitchens in California, grandparents are restauranteurs-moved to Oregon in the middle of covid, in the middle of winter, with a food cart we purchased through life insurance from my father’s passing-sold almost nothing and almost closed down Read more>>
Aaron Cope
Raven Roofing was founded by Aaron Cope and Josh Gardner with one goal: to build the kind of roofing company they always wished existed—one that puts honesty, communication, and craftsmanship ahead of high-pressure sales. Aaron’s path into roofing wasn’t traditional. Read more>>
Ian Hopper
At the end of 2019 I discovered I could make a planter out of a basketball and I became totally obsessed. Two of my favorite things combined into one. For the first few days, I was flooded with inspiration of a brand where Plants and Basketball coexist. Plantsketball was born from sheer delight and wonder. Read more>>
Toney Chay
Our story began in 2015 with a simple idea: create something that would last for generations while bringing people together. What started as a family business focused on craft beverages has grown into 7Bev Corporation—a vertically integrated company that combines farming, beverage production, hospitality, construction, and event experiences under one vision. Read more>>
Phillip Farris
I started Eugene Garden Coach because I kept seeing the same disconnect: people love their outdoor space, but they’ve been taught to think of it as something to control rather than work with. Somewhere along the way I realized the best landscapes aren’t the ones that get fought into submission every season — they’re the ones designed around what the site actually wants to do. Read more>>
Adrienne Carlson
After college, I worked a few corporate jobs here and there, but hadn’t quite found my groove until I started working at The Oregonian. I was in a sales support role, but I worked closely with the design team and art department. I’ve always loved art and being creative. I would make little clip art and Microsoft Paint art projects on my computer for fun. Read more>>
Melissa Rinne
I’ve been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2012. I’ve learned a lot in those 13+ years. The most important thing that has stuck with me is that I love being an LMT. I have the best clients, I love my work space, and my colleagues are so supportive. I’ve always known that I wanted to do something in the healthcare field. Read more>>
Kayla Haliski
My journey into entrepreneurship began in high school, where I developed a love for photography and started a wedding + portrait photography business. After a few years, I drifted away from weddings, but my love of capturing stories of the people in front of me has lived on. Read more>>
Alyssa Hansen
Pacific Petals was born from a season of change. After spending 13 years as a registered nurse, I found myself longing for a slower, more intentional life that allowed me to be present with my young family while pursuing a creative passion I’d always loved. Read more>>
Nicholas Stevens Patrick Miller
Grand Cru Hospitality was founded in 2012 by Patrick Miller and Alex Chong with a vision of creating exceptional hospitality experiences through outstanding cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and genuine service. Just six months after the company launched, Nick Stevens joined the team, becoming part of the journey as Grand Cru continued to grow and evolve. Read more>>
Tricia Salcido
I’ve been fortunate to have a colorful life and loving family, which supported me in taking risks. Growing up in rural Wisconsin, I yearned to travel and did a year long exchange in Mexico. To have that level of challenge and freedom as a 15 yr old was life-transforming – amplifying my curiosity and confidence later in life. Read more>>
Kelsea Crouter
I was diagnosed with celiac disease at a very young age. Growing up in the early 2000s, there were very few gluten-free options available, and most of them tasted nothing like the foods everyone else got to enjoy. Living with celiac disease wasn’t just about following a gluten-free diet—it often meant feeling different and left out. Read more>>
Celeste McGowan
My path into design wasn’t at all what I expected. Like a lot of people, I assumed interior design was all about decorating until my first college professor changed my mind. She said that if we were there to decorate, we were in the wrong program. Interior design was about problem-solving, and understanding how buildings come together, just as much as it’s about aesthetics. Read more>>
Bethany Downs
For many years, my greatest joy was being a stay at home mom, raising my children and supporting my family. When my life unexpectedly changed after a difficult divorce, I found myself needing to build a career from the ground up. It was intimidating to start over in my 40’s, but I knew I wanted to create something my children would be proud of. Read more>>
Jean Chen Smith
I discovered Pilates more than 25 years ago after a serious running injury sidelined me from the sport I loved. As a marathon runner, I was frustrated that I couldn’t run, but Pilates became the bridge that helped me rebuild my strength, improve my balance and stability, and ultimately return to long-distance running. Read more>>
Jim Russell
It’s a simple math equation – Architecture + Energy & Resource efficiency + product marketing & branding = ideabox. My career began in architecture which led to implementing efficiency programs in factory built housing which led to working on national energy programs with national brands & retailers. Read more>>
Susan Hobson
The Armory is a very special place. Its uniqueness stems from a blending of a remarkable 84 year history which include the memories of great dances, skate rink fun, famous concerts, dignitaries, conferences and community gatherings. The building was originally used by the military with the focus on entertainment. Read more>>
Derek Sherrell
Like a lot of people in Southern Oregon, my path wasn’t a straight line. I grew up in Ashland and spent years working blue-collar jobs before building a career in the fire service. I eventually became an Assistant Fire Chief and EMT, where I spent more than a decade serving my community. Read more>>
Justin Cory
My journey to the place I am now took a lot of turns and had its fair share of dead ends. I have always been excited my creating art and music and throughout playing in various bands I would often be the one to design, illustrate, and create our visual identities. It started with logos but evolved into shirts, album illustration, poster/flyer layout, and beyond. Read more>>
G. Brian Benson
For many years, I lived a life that looked successful from the outside, running my family’s business, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was calling me. I felt like I had a gift that wanted to come out, but I didn’t know at the time what it was. Read more>>
Ken Brown
My story really started when I joined the U.S. Army Infantry. I wanted to challenge myself and be part of something bigger than myself. During my time in the Army, I deployed to Iraq where I gained experience in security operations, convoy security, route reconnaissance, and protecting personnel in high-risk environments. Those experiences taught me discipline, accountability, and how to make sound decisions under pressure. Read more>>
Andrea Alric
The foundation of my healing practice began in Kansas City. In 2005 I received my first two levels of Reiki and in 2006 I received my Certification in Massage and Bodywork. Read more>>
Violet Jensen
Hospitality has always felt like a natural fit for me! I got my start helping with my family’s catering business and spending busy weekends at local farmers markets, where I learned early on that creating memorable experiences and genuine relationships comes from passion, hard work, and an eye for the little things. Read more>>
Houston Rasmussen
H&M Top-Notch Landscaping began out of a deeply personal need to heal. After serving on the front lines in the Army, infantry, I returned home carrying the heavy weight of combat—an environment defined by chaos, noise, and destruction. Read more>>
Melanie Stein
Dr. Melanie Stein’s path into medicine became personal while she was still in naturopathic medical school. One morning, she woke up completely paralyzed. Instead of receiving clear answers, she was dismissed by physicians and given a diagnosis of conversion disorder. But she knew something deeper was happening. That moment changed the direction of her life and career. Read more>>
Kellee Ratzlaff
My father first recognized I had a gift for art. He noted that I had a natural ability to draw distance and perspective while others were drawing stick figures. With his encouragement over the years, I built up “pencil milage”. Read more>>
Jacob Jesionek
I first picked up a camera during college when a good friend approached me about documenting some trips we had coming up. From that point on, I was hooked. My camera follows me everywhere I go, snapping photos of wildlife and scenic views, or filming hiking and fishing expeditions. All of the things that I capture find a home on my YouTube channel, Life Outdoors. Read more>>
Chris Tokatly
Our company, Portal Adventures, started in 2017. Myself and my two brothers, Anthony and Benjamin have always been close and wanted to work together since we were kids. We have always been drawn to the entertainment industry as we spent lots of the rainy days in Oregon playing video games and watching movies together. Read more>>
Anna Long-Stokes
I’ve always been drawn to two things: people and the deeper, energetic layers of their stories. I chose social work and counseling as my professional path, and for years I quietly cultivated the intuitive and energetic side of myself as a personal practice. Eventually, those two worlds stopped feeling separate. Read more>>
