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.
Mary Pepkin
In just two years, she completed her Master’s degree and worked full time while raising three teenagers in a new country — a powerful example of resilience and determination that has shaped my own values. I went on to attend college here in the U.S., where I met and married the love of my life. More than twenty years later, we’ve raised two smart, responsible teenagers who bring us immense joy. Read more>>
Kayleigh Bucur
My career has always lived at the intersection of environmental education, youth development, and community impact. I started out in hands-on, field-based education roles like teaching kids outdoors, taking underrepresented communities on camping trips to state and national parks, and building access to nature. Through these programs, I helped students build curiosity, confidence, and a sense of stewardship for the natural world. Read more>>
Nathan Noller
I began my electrical career at 17 years old with Ari-Tex Electric. In 2001 I met my wife Misty and had 4 amazing children. After 21 years, 7-day work weeks, and relentless studying, I received my Master Electrician license and moved on to chase my dream of opening my own electrical company. Read more>>
Bo Rogers
From 2001 to 2009, I worked at AT&T Wireless in a call center environment. During those years, I developed strong communication skills, learned how to truly listen to people’s needs, and helped customers navigate important decisions in a rapidly growing industry. It was an exciting time—cell phones were becoming a necessity rather than a luxury. By 2009, nearly everyone had a cell phone. Read more>>
Raul Jaquez
Panther City Remodeling has technically been around since 1996, but the new version that many may know today really took shape after the 2008 financial crisis. As a family-owned and ran business, this period forced our family to rethink everything. Read more>>
Tia Clarice
Urban Soul began in 2019 as a simple catering idea rooted in community and comfort food. At the time, we were just cooking for gatherings and special events, food that felt like home but elevated in presentation and experience. Read more>>
Annie Gilstrap
Our story began as a true family effort. My husband Brian, his brother Matt, and I set out on this journey together, doing everything ourselves that we possibly could. Around the same time, Brian and I were excited to start our own family after ten years of marriage. Read more>>
Cal Quigley IV
I grew up in Stop 6, a Fort Worth neighborhood that represented everything Black families hoped for in America—safety, opportunity, and a chance for their children to thrive. But the crack epidemic of the late 80s and 90s turned our vibrant streets into a war zone. Read more>>
Ted Mckay
This adventure started out in 1979 in Nacogdoches TX. After a friend kept bugging me to come to the radio station because I had a good voice for radio. Went to a interview with the general manager and got hired on the spot and away we go. Read more>>
Diana Chavez-Gifford
With my first child, I experienced excruciating pain with every latch, even though I was able to push through 4 weeks of that and have a successful journey I later learned that breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt. With my second child I found my village, La Leche League of Garland. Those meetings shaped the mother and person that I was to become. Read more>>
Kaye Gitibin
Kaye Gitibin founded Go Rentals with his brother Kavous 30 years ago, beginning only with two vans, but with the absolute intention to make his the best rental car company in the nation. Fast forward and Go Rentals is the premier rental car company serving the everyone from business men and women to those traveling by private aviation to your everyday celebrity and sports star. Read more>>
Richard Valentino
At this point in my career I had been laid off so I was looking for a job where I felt like my own hustle made a difference in my employment. So I went to an open house event with a friend to look more into becoming a home inspector. Home inspection is a trade and provides you with a little more control over employment. Read more>>
Don Krasen
My name is Don Krasen and our company is Krystal Clear Audio-Video. We are located in Dallas Texas and have been in business for over 43 years as Dallas’s oldest company in this field and among the country’s most established. Music has been in my blood from my earliest days, listening to all the great music of the 50s, 60s and 70s. Read more>>
Coach Barnett
I started welding young. Real young. I was about 8 years old when my uncle JD put a stinger in my hand. We were stick-welding extended forks on bicycles. By the time I was 10, I was building go-karts. At 14, I bought my first car that needed frame work and welding. Read more>>
Jonathan Todryk
I was born July of 1984 in Minneapolis MN. When I was 7 our family moved to northern Illinois where I would spend the rest of my childhood. As long as I can remember I’ve always had an interest in the arts. My Dad, being a drummer and a painter, heavily influenced my interests early on. Read more>>
Perla Montoya
I have been in the nursing/healthcare industry for 27 years and after the pandemic what started as a hobby turned into opening my own med spa business in the Rio Grande Valley. Since I have family in the Dallas area, I began traveling to offer concierge services to family and their friends, where I started to be known. Read more>>
Tiffany Corson Bednar
I grew up watching my dad build his own business, pouring concrete for custom homes, primarily in Highland Park. He has owned and operated A&T Concrete since the 1980s, and I’ve rarely heard him complain. What I absorbed from him was not just his work ethic, but the power of autonomy. He showed me that work could be built with integrity, pride, and independence, and that it was possible, and encouraged me to design a life rather than inherit one. Read more>>
Naz Hosseinkhani
I entered the catering world unexpectedly but I stayed with intention. What began as a simple opportunity quickly revealed a natural strength for creating elevated, memorable experiences. With a background in Commercial Economics, I understand both the art and the structure behind a successful business. But beyond strategy, I discovered a deeper calling: transforming food into atmosphere, and gatherings into lasting memories. Read more>>
Steven Navar-Landa
I started at Red Productions a little over 10 years. Being hired on as the company’s first Operations Manager, I handled all the day-to-day tasks of ‘keeping the lights on and the doors open’. These tasks included hiring, process documentation, A/R, A/P, training, building and resource management, and almost everything in between. Read more>>
Andrea Harsch
My path into the work I do today really began during seasons of my life where I was forced to slow down and reevaluate everything I thought I understood about control, health, and identity. I went through multiple serious health challenges, including near-death experiences, that left me searching for answers beyond just physical recovery. Read more>>
Erin Lewis
My journey in fitness started when I became a competitive swimmer at the age of 7. This is what created the foundation for what would become my interest in health and fitness – along with many other sports I played. I went on to earn an athletic and academic scholarships to an NCAA D1 school in North Carolina (Gardner-Webb University). Read more>>
Amber Olson
I began working as a behavior therapist supporting autistic children. Seeing how incorporating their interests in a natural and play-based way could support their communication and regulation inspired me to pursue my Masters in Special Education. Once receiving my M.Ed., I completed requirements for becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Read more>>
Keshaun Fudge
I was born in Queens, NY, and moved to Mississippi when I was young. It was a culture shock, but it exposed me to two different cultures. Playing college football gave me a broader perspective of the world. I visited places I would never have had the chance to see at 18. It was a vehicle to help me see different parts of the world. Read more>>
Jeanna Davis
My story starts with a family that was rooted in faith and community. I’ve always served others in some way before I even realized the long-term impact it would have on my life. As the granddaughter of a preacher, our family at-large (aunts, uncles, cousins) were always supporting our neighbors, building businesses and the community. Read more>>
Diana Beltran
My journey started from a deeply personal place. As a first-generation Latina and someone who was diagnosed with OCD in high school, I experienced firsthand how misunderstood anxiety and OCD can be — especially within our community. I didn’t see many providers who looked like me or spoke openly about these struggles, and that planted a seed early on. Read more>>
Megan Burch
I started photography a little over 6 and a half years ago and immediately jumped into shooting music/shows because of knowing artists already through being in the music industry at 16 years old and helping throw various shows around the DFW area! Read more>>
Isabella Molina
I have always been interested in photography and cameras in general, however I got to learn that there are so many careers I could pursue through my A/V high school class. My teacher, Mr.Robinson, introduced me to sports photography and a possible career in it. Read more>>
Erica Nguyen
I decidely entered documentary field work after college by traveling with a Peruvian collective called DOCUPERU. As a small group of filmmakers, photographers, muralists, sculptors and others, we went from one fishing village to the next offering free audiovisual workshops. Read more>>
Eric Hamilton
I grew up in Michigan, and I’ve always been wired around one idea: learn what works, then do it consistently. I graduated from Western Michigan University with degrees in Computer Information Systems and Black American Studies, and I went straight into sales. Early in my career I learned something that shaped everything for me. Talent helps, but execution wins. Read more>>
Jesse Rivera
I often say that my story didn’t start with me — it started with my mother. In 1995, my mom, Cesy, opened her first salon, New Dimension, with very little but faith, discipline, and an incredible work ethic. She was a woman building something from the ground up, not just to do hair, but to create stability, dignity, and opportunity for our family. Read more>>
Sally Zheng
We are Sally and William. Sombra Nexus did not begin as a fully formed production company. It began inside practical work. We first built our business through equipment and logistics services, solving operational problems, moving quickly, and learning how organizations function from the inside. Read more>>
Alex Dry
I started in the entertainment industry at a young age as a professional dancer and model. Being in that world early on taught me confidence, discipline, and how to show up even when I was still figuring myself out. I grew up understanding that growth happens in real time. As I got older, my interests naturally expanded. Read more>>
CMC COLLECTIVE
I started CMC from a genuine passion for car culture and a frustration with how fragmented the local scene felt. There were incredible builds, talented drivers, and dedicated teams across Cyprus, but no cohesive platform that truly represented the culture as a whole. What began as a small initiative to connect like-minded enthusiasts quickly evolved into something much bigger. Read more>>
Kyle Greer
I packed up my life and drove towards Dallas, everything i owned fit into the back seat and trunk. a couple of suitcases. My tattoo machines and a kind of stubborn belief that if I didn’t bet on myself now, I never would. i wasn’t running from anything. I was running toward something. Read more>>
Kaleb Godwin
Coming from rural Texas, our firm prides itself on stand-out client communication and relationships. We believe that integrity and honesty are cornerstones to build a true “small town” feel with our clients, while we aim to bring them “big law” results. Availability is the most important part of providing stand-out client communication. Our goal is to be available for any Client, anywhere, any time. Read more>>
Quan Diamond
I’m an Army veteran, entrepreneur, life coach, and currently finishing my Master’s degree in Business Leadership, which I’ll complete in May 2026. My journey has really been built on service, resilience, and a desire to uplift others. My foundation started in the Army, where I developed discipline, leadership skills, and a deep understanding of what it means to serve something greater than yourself. Read more>>
Roger Dennis
I have spent most of my life helping folks. It was instilled in me at a young age to help those in need or in trouble. It was the right thing to do. In 1985 I found my calling to serve Jesus Christ. there it led me help different communities in different parts of the world. Read more>>
Bernadette Fiaschetti
Many people do not know the history of the incredible brand…Wingstop. It all started with Pizza Patron actually. I moved to Dallas in 1986 with my former husband, Antonio Swad, we were both very young and, in our 20’s. We met in upstate New York while both working at two Italian restaurants that were side by side in a small town. Read more>>
JR Kitchens
I started in medical IT sales in 1995, working for a large dental dealer. I worked for them until 2010 in sales and as a branch manager. I moved back to DFW in 2010, started DDSComputers in 2012 providing network management, cybersecurity, cabling and hardware to dental and small medical offices throughout North Texas. Currently we serve over 300 offices and have 7 employees. Read more>>
Jack Nelson
Since I was a kid, I spent my time building legos, drawing characters for a video game idea I had, and making duct tape wallets to sell to other kids. I’ve always had a creative and technical brain — I just didn’t know there was a lane for both. And honestly, the world I grew up in taught me there wasn’t, so I created one. Read more>>
Aya Rekik
I’ve always been passionate about beauty, creativity, and helping women feel confident in their own skin. What started as doing makeup for friends and family quickly turned into something much bigger once I realized the impact it had — not just on how someone looked, but how they felt. Read more>>
Brandi Bosserman
I actually started as a flower farmer first. I was growing blooms and learning the rhythms of the seasons before I ever stepped fully into event design. Being in the field taught me patience, seasonality, and how flowers are meant to move naturally — and that foundation still shapes my garden-inspired aesthetic today. Read more>>
Anastasia Flores
Anastasia A. Flores is a professional performer and experienced educator from Arlington, TX. Born with a love for dance, Anastasia has made a career out of a passion that she has crafted since childhood. She specializes in many genres of dance including Ballet Folklorico, Modern/Contemporary dance, Classical Ballet, Hawaiian/Polynesian, Flamenco, and more. Read more>>
Amanda Brown
I’ve always loved dance. My first passion was hip-hop as a young girl. But at 23, I discovered salsa, and it was a turning point, I fell in love with partner dancing. After my first professional class, I was hooked. Read more>>
Debbie Viverito
I’ve had a career rooted in sales, leadership and marketing for as long as I can remember. It truly feels like it’s in my DNA. For the past 13 years, I’ve been deeply involved in real estate. I started as a Realtor and was honored to earn Rookie of the Year, MVP and a Leadership Award during my 11 years with a well-known brokerage. Read more>>
Jennifer Smallwood
I’m a Dallas native and grew up here before heading to Texas A&M, where I studied animal science and later earned my veterinary degree. After graduation, I moved to Lexington, Kentucky, and spent several years working with thoroughbred racehorses at Keeneland. Read more>>
Jennifer Jones
I founded MamaCoach – Jenn Jones, PLLC after realizing that even highly educated, capable parents often feel completely alone during some of the most important seasons of their lives. I’m a nurse with more than 18 years of experience, but my story started long before my career. Read more>>
Cesar Soto
I’ve been shooting for about twelve years, off and on. It started in Hereford, shout out H-Town. I’d take solo backcountry trips into Palo Duro Canyon. Just me and the land. Landscapes were easy…no pressure, no direction. If the light sucked, you waited. If the frame was off, you tried again. No one looking at you wondering if they look weird, no stress. Read more>>
Grace And Grooves
Coming to the U.S. as part of a global NRI family made adaptation easier, though as a solopreneur, every challenge rests on self-reliance. Unlike many who tend to learn by searching or through trials and errors, I was already trained to execute. I had my first successful batch age of 19 in India itself. One batch in 3 genres was an experience on practical grounds, in place like India where challenges are far more manual! Read more>>
Rolanda Cotton-Spell
My dedication and leadership did not go unnoticed, I was soon promoted to Education Specialist, a role I held for approximately nine and a half years. In this position, I supported teachers, ensured program quality, mentored teachers, and helped ensure the children where received quality education as well with preparation for kindergarten. Read more>>
Lisa Lennox
From the beginning of her adult life, Lisa Lennox has honed her skills in hospitality and design — concepting, building, and remodeling resort-like properties around the world. Lisa created Iron Springs Ranch, a 1,600 acre family and corporate resort property in Whitney, Texas, opening in 2025-26 for retreats, weddings, family reunions, and corporate retreats. Read more>>
