The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below. Check out our favorite stories from across the Voyage family.
Shelly Combs
The vision grew stronger as I looked around our little town of Valley View. I saw the need for a place that wasn’t just a restaurant, but a gathering spot. A place with fresh, homemade food, a coffee bar for early risers and late workers alike, and even a full bar for winding down. I wanted to build something that reflected both my roots and the heart of this community. Read more>>
Sierra Preston
After several years working on my skills I took the leap to start my own business. It was one of the greatest risk I’ve ever taken. but oh wow, is it worth it. So worth it. I now co-own a suite with my bestie and work for myself. It has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Truly building something that started as ideas in you’r head and then bringing them to life is such a special feeling. Read more>>
J.I. Mardones
At 9 years old, I saw Star Wars for the first time and because of that saga I became very interested about filmmaking, storytelling and sci fi stories in general. Years later, that led me to apply to the Film & TV Direction program at University of Chile, from where I graduated in 2015. Parallel to my film studies, I also developed my music skills by taking electric guitar classes and learning to compose music by self-taught. Besides, during these years I also used to record live concerts of my most favorite local metal bands, using my first camcorder. Read more>>
Eva Brandys
I was fortunate to receive full scholarships from both universities — an opportunity I remain deeply grateful for to this day. When I first began teaching, I quickly realized that music could be so much more than lessons — it could be a place where children build confidence, discover their creativity, and feel truly seen and supported. That belief inspired me to open Park Cities School of Music in 2010. Read more>>
Lynde Griggs
Running a nonprofit is never without challenges. Economic shifts, fewer volunteers, staff transitions, and the pandemic all forced me to rethink how we serve women. Instead of trying to do everything, I focused on what has the greatest impact: growing the candle program locally and continuing our work in Guatemala. What felt like obstacles ended up being opportunities—strengthening our mission and allowing us to serve women in a more consistent, meaningful way. Read more>>
Sylvie Marie Renault Toussaint
My journey in massage therapy began in 1996, when I first trained and became a Certified Massage Therapist in Texas and in 1997 with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). Over the years, I’ve continued to expand my knowledge and skills, becoming a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner in 2014. As my passion for teaching and sharing my knowledge, I went on to become a Texas Massage Therapist Instructor in 2020, allowing me to guide the next generation of massage therapists. Read more>>
Jae Grey
I got a camera upgrade and the chance to shoot the creme de la creme – the Vans Warped Tour (2008). Over the years, I got to photograph the Dallas date for many years of Warped Tour and they are, I think for all of us who ever attended, some of my favorite memories. Nobody can do it quite like Kevin Lyman and the crews & bands of WT every brutal summer. Now I’m 18 years in and still as passionate and excited about every show I shoot as my first year. THAT’S how I know I’m doing exactly what I should be doing. Read more>>
Cookie Bowden
I’ve been baking since I was a teenager—what started with an Easy Bake Oven turned into TTP Cakery, my home-based bakery where I create custom cakes and desserts. Running my business has taught me how to manage clients with big visions, work under tight deadlines, and deliver high-quality results every time. Read more>>
Marshall Bewley
My calling to psychology always felt inevitable, as I followed in my grandfather’s footsteps as a mental health provider. Both of my grandparents worked in corrections when I was a child, and I was inspired by their commitment to underserved populations. Read more>>
Arlana Brumfield
During high-school, I acquired a license in Nursing (LPN). I learned microbiology intrigued me more. I enrolled in college for Biology/Pre-Med. After a year I chose to enlist in the US Army to help pay for my college tuition. I became a Food/Sanitation/Water Inspector and Educator. I loved my job. My education allowed me to embrace the microbes in water and food. Read more>>
Charles & Linda Musselwhite
We both worked in corporate America for over 20 years before making our entrepreneurial leap. On paper, life was “good,” but deep down we wanted something more—freedom, impact, and the chance to build something of our own. In 2009, we took the leap and launched Musselwhite Marketing out of Temecula, California. Like most new entrepreneurs, we hustled, learned, and adapted quickly. Read more>>
Jesse Fernandez
I started my Accounting journey in 2012. I was a part-time college student for eight years while working full-time jobs. I prioritized working so I would not have to take out any student loans. I’m very proud of that decision as I graduated in 2020 with $0 debt. I began my career in accounting in 2020 and quickly became a manager. Read more>>
Meredith Myers
I’ve loved animals of all shapes and sizes ever since I was a little girl. Growing up in Colorado, I started pet sitting for friends and neighbors with the help of my parents, and as I got older, I added dog walking to the mix. When my family moved to Texas in 2010, I kept that love for animals close to me. Read more>>
Dillon Springfield
I grew up learning the construction trade from my dad, Keith Springfield, who’s built metal buildings and poured concrete since 1994. Starting at the age of 15, I worked alongside him during summers and school breaks, absorbing the craft hands-on. After graduating from Springtown High School in 2015, I pursued a business management degree at Texas Tech, continuing to work for my dad between semesters. Read more>>
Virginia Ankley-Bell
I like to say my journey started long before Bell Health & Wellness ever existed. I was raised on holistic living – homeopathy, no artificial preservatives, no processed foods, grass-fed beef on the table, and a garden in the backyard that kept us busy all summer canning vegetables. Read more>>
Michael Mcvea
I was a hobby baker who found his passion for cake when I started creating cakes for my teenage daughters years ago. The more I bake and design cakes the more I love doing it! With every cake I began to realize my hobby was soon turning into a craft and a mission to help make memories for people’s lives through my cakes. Read more>>
Dennis Fontana
I used to own several restaurants in the DFW area. I love the interaction with my customers. After covid my leases were up and i sold the last 2 restaurants i had. I was offered a position at a large auto leasing company as a sales manager. Read more>>
JUNG PARK
My name is Jung Park. Me and my husband started this Tailor shop on 2016. Before, we were running a dry cleaning and alteration shop in South Dallas. My husband got diagnosed with cancer on 2014, we decided to close out drycleaning business and opened up a tailor shop. He passed away 2016 right after we opened this business. Read more>>
Ben Pink
My 30+ year career in Corporate America was in consumer package goods sales where I held numerous leadership roles. I managed sales team with as many as 20 associates. The corporations that I worked for included Mars Inc, Diageo, Red Bull and Pernod Ricard. So, I’ve sold candy, energy drinks, spirits, wine and Champagne. Read more>>
Marquis Graham
I was working in the same barbershop I own now, The previous owner had issues with the guys that were in the shop by the time I came along they went to open their own shop and I was there with some of his family, my clientele starting booming! Read more>>
Ti Dandy
I grew up in North Philadelphia, where I quickly became aware of the social and economic conditions that shaped and often limited my community. From an early age, I knew I wanted to be part of the solution. Education became my pathway to change. After graduating from Roxborough High School, I went on to Albright College in Reading, PA, where I earned my B.A. Read more>>
Lauren Peeler
From a young age, my summers visiting family in Chicago involved helping out in my cousin’s salon, sparking my love for hairstyling and inspiring me to become an owner. I was drawn to the creativity with hair and the salon’s welcoming atmosphere where women could relax and express themselves. Read more>>
MJ Artmire
I began my journey studying accounting at Tarleton State University. In 2018, as my mother’s heart failure progressively worsened, I made the decision to move back home and finish my degree at a local college. That December, she gained her wings. Just a month later, I learned I was pregnant. Read more>>
Adam Stern
Dreams: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac In the ever-evolving music scene, few bands hold the legendary status of Fleetwood Mac. Among the modern acts inspired by their legacy is the band Dreams. With three members from an original band known as Voodoo Logic, the group had already started playing a few iconic Fleetwood Mac songs. Read more>>
Audra, Emily, Cindy Stamp, Krocheski, Castro
My name is Audra Stamp. In 2020 when we all needed a passion project, I decided to take my passion for rescue animals and my college degree to write children’s books in my free time. I wanted to focus on true stories and the triumphs that animals go through in getting adopted and finding their happy ending. Read more>>
Stanislav Nedzelskyi
Art Wheel Studio was founded by Liliana and Stanislav, a mother and son team. Liliana, a Ukrainian artist with a passion for teaching, wanted to provide her community with accessible and holistic art education. Stanislav grew up studying his mother’s techniques and helped incorporate the studio in 2015, further developing our methodology and teaching new staff. Read more>>
Boisey Bristo
According to my mother, my journey began before birth. While pursuing her undergrad in law, she took an introduction to psychology course. She often recounts reading works by Freud and René Descartes aloud to me during pregnancy. This narrative is frequently shared at family gatherings as a testament to my upbringing and an opportunity to take credit for my professional achievements (lol). Read more>>
Jennifer Toney
My journey to becoming a professional travel agent was a natural extension of a long-standing passion. For years, I was the travel planner among my friends, always taking the lead in researching, organizing, and booking memorable trips. The pivotal moment came when someone noticed and innocently asked if I was a travel agent. Read more>>
Kaitlyn McCoy
I have been working in a tattoo shop for almost 9 years now, and tattooing for a little over 3. I’d always had tattooing in the back of my mind, but I had no idea how to get my foot in the door until I was about 20 years old. Read more>>
Andrew Machalicek
From a young age, I’ve always been fascinated by how things work, often taking apart electronics and appliances to understand their inner mechanisms. This curiosity naturally led me to careers in construction and manufacturing. In these industries, I repeatedly encountered a common challenge: the maintenance of hoses and cables. Read more>>
Mahvish Hasan
Two years ago, I found myself yearning for something deeper. On the outside, I had what many would consider a stable life—a successful corporate career, a family, a home. But inside, there was a quiet ache. I wasn’t seeking a religion or a doctrine. I was simply searching for peace. For happiness. For a connection to something more. Read more>>
Elian Haan
Hi, I’m Elian Haan—a trauma-informed executive coach, speaker, bestselling author, wellness strategist, and fitness studio owner. I help midlife professionals, leaders, and high performers reset, realign, and reclaim their power, from the boardroom to the body. Helping others has always been my purpose. As a little girl, I dreamed of being a dancer. Read more>>
Jorge A Monsivais
Hello my name is Jorge A Monsivais, I’m merry to Juanis Monsivais we have four kids Marleen, Stephanie, Daniel and Emanuel Monsivais. Read more>>
Marilyn Woodruff
I have been a lifetime professional musician and an IT leader for about 20 years. Read more>>
Dulani Stephens
My yoga journey started in a very special way. I was first introduced to yoga by my college track coach (a straight African American man) while I was competing as a collegiate track athlete, throwing shot put and discus at Langston University. I practiced yoga then, but I didn’t return to it for another three to four years. Read more>>
Nelson Ramírez
I started studying music when I was 6 years old, and music has always been a part of my life. At age 15, I joined my first band, and from that age until now, I have worked exclusively with music. I studied at an arts conservatory from age 6 and graduated with a specialization in piano and saxophone. Read more>>
Alec Ruland D.C.
Dr. Alec’s journey in Chiropractic started early in his life… “I was blessed to be born into a Chiropractic family. My whole life I have been treated with Chiropractic care. It has helped me with success in school as well as my performance in many different sports. Read more>>
Summer Ritter
I started off as a vendor with a crystal shop, Fifth Element Crystal Co., doing 2-4 vendor markets a week. I found something I was passionate about & jumped right into it. I grew up near festivals, fairs & pop-up events so it was very easy for me to find my footing. I did this for about 4 years prior to becoming a market organizer. Read more>>
Brianna Lutrell
I’ve always had a love for two things – sugar and a good party. Honestly, Two Tiers Baking Co. started when I felt a little stuck in life and decided to push myself by doing one intimidating thing each week. One of those weeks I baked a heart shaped cake and I loved every part of it. Read more>>
Jamare’ Baity
Just Doing Business: A Story of Resilience Ever since childhood, I’ve carried the same dream. Whenever my mother asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always the same: “I want to work for myself.” That desire to build my own lane became the fuel behind my journey—and the reason I created Just Doing Business LLC. Read more>>
Ross & Rachel Gray
In the spring of 2022, Ross and Rachel, who for the record were never on a break, decided it was time to leave the corporate grind behind and chase their shared love of the arts. Their adventure led them to Clifton, Texas, a charming little town two hours southwest of Dallas, best known for its Texas Impressionist roots. Read more>>
