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.
Bethany McGough
The first 2 years of schooling was all academics, book work, and I had yet to actually see a baby be born. I continued slowly picking up more photography gigs on the side, ranging from family shoots to weddings & events. By the 3rd year I finally started my midwifery apprenticeship at a birth center and got to start actually attend births. Wow, and I thought just the goat births were amazing. Watching an actual human-being be born was another level of awe- truly a miracle! Read more>>
Maye Knighten
From day one, I’ve specialized in Medicare which is a a govenment health insurance program therefore it is constantly changing. Annual insurance carrier and government Certifications; strict Compliance rules to protect Medicare beneficiaries; changing Commission structures; narrowing Medical/Provider Networks. So yes, lots of ongoing obstacles and challenges yet my GREAT love and understanding of the Medicare Industry makes it all worthwhile. Read more>>
Glen Henderson
Healthcare Staffing Is Not Just a Labor Problem. It Is a Trust Problem. Healthcare staffing is often discussed in terms of shortages, rising labor costs, and operational strain. But after seeing the industry from multiple perspectives, I have come to believe the real issue runs deeper. The challenge facing healthcare today is not simply staffing. It is trust. My perspective comes from lived experience. Read more>>
Melissa Greer
For most of my adult life, I followed a path that made sense on paper. I earned my degree in kinesiology, became a PE teacher, and stayed active through running and fitness while raising my boys. Health and movement were always part of my life, but everything shifted in 2019 when I was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma and had surgery shortly after. Read more>>
Gabrielle Lopez
From a young age, I knew I wanted to own a business. I was always looking for creative ways to earn a few dollars and bring ideas to life. Read more>>
Nithin Thampi
My name is Nithin Thampi. I was born and raised in a traditional South Indian family tradition in NY. My parents immigrated into the US in the late 1980s to join their siblings and give their family a better life and provide the American dream. Growing up, I were raised as oriental orthodox Christians as part of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church. Read more>>
Kaitlyn Clapp
My photography journey actually started during Covid lockdown while bar managing a large sports bar in Dallas. Once it hit, my company started moving people around to keep people with a job as much as they could. Read more>>
Sandi Lewis
I was born and raised in Mississippi and earned my Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology before relocating to Dallas in 2000. For 23 years, I worked as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist in leading medical centers across DFW and throughout the United States. My career was rooted in precision, science, and service;— I was trained to look through a microscope and find answers. Read more>>
Eric Curtis
For most of my life, I followed a very traditional path. I built a successful career in corporate operations, working my way up inside large organizations. It was stable, predictable, and on paper, it looked like exactly where I was supposed to be. But behind the scenes, something different was unfolding. Read more>>
Aalina Morgen
After I graduated high school I was in college, studying aviation and aerospace science and working on getting my pilots license in Colorado. When I moved back to Texas I was still working on getting flight time and working as a bartender and that’s when I met my fiancé AJ Brown, who owns Chop Shop Motorsports in Keller. Read more>>
Jalisa Keyes
I’ve always lived at the intersection of discipline and creativity. Music has been present in my life for as long as I can remember — CDs in the car, the radio always on, music videos playing. It wasn’t vinyl or record crates. It was repetition. It was energy. It was learning how music made you feel by hearing it over and over again. Read more>>
Shaletha Richard
My journey has been rooted in both purpose and calling. I’ve always had a heart for people especially those navigating stress, trauma, and life transitions. That passion led me to pursue my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and become a Licensed Professional Counselor. Read more>>
Ana Rabicoff Lim
I was an independent corporate event organizer for 30 years when the pandemic killed that career, and I had to pivot like everyone else. I knew I wanted to continue being self employed and use all of my corporate event planning expertise, but I didn’t know what that would look like. Read more>>
Preston Johns
I’m a third-generation builder, so I grew up around construction. My dad ran a large homebuilding company for many years, and I saw firsthand what it takes to build at scale. When the market crashed in 2008, his company closed its doors — and that experience had a huge impact on me. It showed me both the opportunity and the volatility in this industry. Read more>>
Brent Clifton
I got started in concert photography back in 2021 when I got my first camera with my stimulus check. I was going into bars and venues around the city with a Nikon D3500, a kit lens, and a dream. I spent the next few years honing in on my craft. I developed a style, really worked on photo composition, and used every gig as growth. Read more>>
Michaela Prieto Taylor
My journey into esthetics began with a genuine fascination for skin and the confidence that comes from feeling comfortable in your own beauty. What started as curiosity grew into a passion strong enough to shape my career. After graduating from esthetics school, I had the opportunity to work for an incredible mentor who had just taken the leap into becoming her own boss. Read more>>
Shalon Morrow
I started Sister2Sister Wellness Spa with a passion for helping women heal, feel confident, and take control of their wellness journeys. My goal was to create a safe space where women, especially those recovering from surgeries like liposuction, tummy tucks, and mommy makeovers, could receive the proper care, support, and education they need during recovery. Read more>>
Adam Tripp
My story is really a tale of two lives. The first 20 years were defined by a relentless cycle of addiction, the kind that takes everything and then asks for more. I experienced the full weight of that through homelessness, prison, and the devastating loss of my family and self-respect. Everything shifted in 2013 when I finally got clean. Read more>>
Marisa Martinez
It was a bit of teasing that gave rise to my business. My spouse – an analyst – was explaining to me in a random conversation the various tax benefits of being self-employed or a 1099 contractor, and I joked that with all those perks, I should go into business for myself. It didn’t take long to ask, ‘Wait … Read more>>
Gillian ThorbourneJessany
Hi, I’m Gillian—but most know me as GiGi. I’m a dual-licensed aesthetician, laser hair removal technician, and founder of GlowXGiGi Skin & Beauty Studio here in Dallas, TX. I was born and raised in Panama City, Panama. After my 12th birthday I moved to Germany with my family. in 2005 we moved to the USA and have called Texas home for the past 20 years. Read more>>
Dru Riess
I have been in North Dallas for 19 years. I started my first company in McKinney on August 1, 2007. I graduated from the University of Cincinnati with my focus in Entrepreneurship. At the time I was 24 years old and had all the odds stacked against me. I had a 500 credit score, $500 in my bank account, no car, and a vision. Read more>>
Andrea Johnson
I had rental properties and when the pandemic hit, I got a bitter taste in renting. People were allowed to stay in my rental properties for over a years and did not have to pay rent and the law stated you could not evict them. I was trying to find a business I could get into. Read more>>
Kasey Hoyt
It’s crazy to think how all of this started. I started out literally just throwing my own themed parties at my house for holidays and birthdays, and I always just went all out. Themed dress-up parties were my jam, and we had a great group of friends that showed up and showed out. Read more>>
Chris Lacquement
About three years ago I purchased Bones & Bows Pet Grooming with a partner. At the time the business was struggling significantly. Annual sales were under $100,000, the client base was inconsistent, and the physical space itself was deteriorating. The building had deferred maintenance issues and the environment did not reflect the level of care or professionalism we wanted associated with the brand. Read more>>
Claret Alcala Collins
I’m a Venezuelan American creative, and my journey in the U.S. began in 2013 when I moved here as an international student to attend the University of Central Arkansas. In 2018, I graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking and a minor in Marketing. Right out of college, I stepped into the world of public television as a TV producer at Arkansas PBS. Read more>>
Lauren Hughes
I was born in Plano, TX and grew up in Terrell, TX with my younger sister. My parents were teens and divorced shortly after my sister was born. We were raised primarily by my mom from that point. As a single mom (who was not receiving child support) although she worked hard, having multiple jobs, we struggled financially for several years. Read more>>
Michael Lynn
I started with one machine in my closet and dream to make 3d printing affordable for people. This grew to 5 machines in the living room to 35 machines in the garage. I since then have had a few locations and different business partnerships over the past years. Mostly creating challenges to over come. Been put into shitty positions by bad business partners multiple times. Read more>>
Dr. Brittany McGeehan
I started my career as a Licensed Psychologist specializing in trauma and relational dynamics. Early in my clinical work, I noticed a consistent pattern: the most high-achieving, capable women were often the most internally disconnected. They were successful, respected, and high-functioning but carrying pressure, perfectionism, and invisible exhaustion. Read more>>
MUSTAFA & ZEREN KADIOGLU
Our story is really about reinvention, culture, and the connection between people and the spaces they inhabit. I was born and raised in Türkiye, where craftsmanship, symbolism, and textiles are deeply embedded in everyday life. Long before launching House of Motifs, I had years of experience in design, materials, and construction. Read more>>
Brittaney Humphrey
I always knew I wanted to work in the nonprofit sector, and that desire was shaped very early in my life. As a young mom in college, I saw firsthand how many other teen mothers didn’t have a village or a support system around them. I did. Read more>>
Ademola Cole
Growing up in a modest household and living in Nigeria and Canada, running my own pediatric dental practice in Texas was never part of the plan — but looking back, every step of the journey made perfect sense. My foundation was built by two extraordinary parents. Read more>>
Mike Bean
I grew up in the Lewisville and Flower Mound area. After High School I joined the military and left the area. After my time in service, I landed in the Nashville, TN area and worked in the corporate world. I worked for a large corporation for over 15 years and had a successful career. Read more>>
Shae Galloway
After seventeen years in the bar industry and a health scare later, I decided to switch careers in 2022. I had an employee mention the permanent makeup industry, which I found fascinating, she also said that tattoo artistry goes as far as 3D realism areolas for breast cancer survivors. What! Helping people complete their journey through breast cancer? Read more>>
Sara Cash
Becoming a Certified Stretch Practitioner lets me to help ease clients out of discomfort and assist them to achieve personal goals. My main passion was elevated by my Certification in Health Coaching through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, a process that taught me so much about myself as well as the skills to truly impact others lives. Read more>>
Bernard Ayala
I started as a dad with a camera, not as a business owner or “professional creative.” When my third kid was born, I became obsessed with freezing every tiny expression and moment, and somewhere in those long nights and busy days, photography shifted from a hobby into a real calling. Read more>>
DJ Dre
My DJ journey started while I was attending Midwestern State University where we had a large number of Caribbean students at the time. After moving to Dallas in 2017, a noticeable need for quality events and music catered towards the Caribbean community here in the DFW area was recognized. Read more>>
Izzy Roscoe
Creativity has been woven into my story for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was found drawing or painting something, dancing, playing music, and when I got my first phone I was the friend who documented EVERYTHING. Read more>>
Briana Wucinski
Being deeply embedded in the Fort Worth startup ecosystem sharpened my perspective in ways traditional agency work never could. For years, I led marketing inside startups and innovation-focused organizations, including serving as Marketing Director at TechFW where I supported startup founders through accelerators and pitch competitions. Read more>>
Houston Rogers
My background is in worship leadership and production. I studied Worship Studies in college and spent years leading teams, building audio and video systems, and running livestream environments. For me, production was never just technical — it was about helping people communicate something meaningful. Read more>>
Tonia Velasquez
After the birth of my first child, and while pregnant with my second, I found myself searching for a different path. I was working full-time for a large corporation, often arriving home late and feeling as though I was missing precious moments in my daughter’s life. I wanted a career that would allow me to be present for my family while still contributing financially. Read more>>
Matt Powell
I’m a Dallas native and a UTA grad. I stumbled into advertising out of college and really have never looked back. After a couple shorter stints at other agencies, I’ve had the opportunity to work at Moroch for the past 25 years. Most of that time, I was on the media team and then leading it. Read more>>
Fawn Bull
I grew up in upstate NY raised partly by my grandparents and in Foster Care. My mother died at the age of 57 from alcoholism. I dated my current husband all through middle school and high school. We met when we were 12. After High School, he went to college and we broke up. Read more>>
Alyssa Hidalgo
When I was little, my mom worked as an accountant at a large corporate firm. One day, she picked me up from daycare and found out I’d been crying alone in a crib for hours and no one had notified her. In that instant, everything shifted. Read more>>
Kaitlyn Jaimes
My love for photography first began as a hobby. A close friend of mine was the one who first sparked my interest, and just before the COVID-19 pandemic began, I bought my very first camera. After lockdown started, I was looking for something to keep myself busy, and I quickly became obsessed with taking photos. Read more>>
Junior Aguaze
I was born in Nigeria and moved to New York City at five years old, eventually growing up in Boston. Watching my parents navigate a new country shaped how I think about risk, opportunity, resilience and perseverance. I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Tufts University and began my career in Seattle at Boeing. Read more>>
Shayla Boles
I graduated from college with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in a field entirely different from insurance. Like many graduates, I had a plan — but life presented a different opportunity. Rather than following the traditional path tied to my degrees, I chose to enter the insurance industry immediately after graduation. Read more>>
Paris Burns
My story isn’t very traditional for an entrepreneur. I didn’t grow up wanting to be a hairstylist. It was just always something I was naturally good at. After graduating high school I went to college at Midwestern State University. There I graduated with a BS in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. I wanted a traditional 9-5. Read more>>
Sandra Deanda
I have been interested in art since I was young. At 13 I discovered the artwork of Frida Kahlo and that inspired me to start painting. When I went to college I started working on a graphic design degree but soon I fell in love with my studio art classes. Read more>>
Mario Haddad
I worked for an auto glass company and became a manager then promoted to district manager. The owners of the company I worked for decided to close the business and start a new company. Then I decided open my own company auto glass General with the knowledge and experience and I took more courses in the business and everything went well. Read more>>
Brandon Watts
The Natural Resource Brand is a company that is dedicated to bringing the humanity back to the human experience. We are focused on creating the conditions for optimal learning in two ways. Develop YOU is a six session self awareness and self actualization curriculum I created for participants to LOVE themselves! Natural Resource Brand Community (NRBC) is the non profit arm of the NRB. Read more>>
Crystal Martinez
I was teaching at Remington College and they certified me to become a CPR instructor. When I got laid off I just kept my certification. And built my business from it! Read more>>
Macey Alexander
I’m Macey, a wife, mom, former teacher, and wedding photographer. I’m entering that fun phase of life where I finally kind of have things figured out, but still growing every day. I have always been a fan of photography. I did it more so as a hobby in 2019, but got serious about it in 2021. At that time I was a high school teacher. Read more>>
Kevin Spencer
My wife, Cindy, and I began our journey as college entertainers, earning recognition as Campus Entertainers of the Year. That early success opened doors we never expected. As the show grew, we transitioned from the college market to the performing arts industry and became one of the most successful independent touring productions in the USA. Read more>>
Carlos Manuel Cadena
I was originally born in Santiago, Chile, but then moved to Guadalajara, Mexico, where I would spend the next 10 years of my life growing and learning many of the values I hold today. My family and I moved to Texas back in 2008. Read more>>
Rebecca Nietert
Reinventing oneself at any stage of life is an act of profound courage, a lesson I learned firsthand after transitioning from a high-stakes career in business development with Hewlett-Packard and World Travel Partners into a successful tenure in real estate. Despite my professional achievements, I found myself yearning for a fresh spark of inspiration that neither corporate strategy nor my personal novel writing could provide. Read more>>
Javier Villalobos
I’ve been taking photographs all my life— point and shoot film cameras and then digi cams at family get togethers. My grand father and my mother were avid picture takers and it was always present in my life. Not until 4-5 years ago did I begin taking photos more seriously or more within the realm of street photography. Read more>>
Daphne Calvin
I started 105 Fever during a season of transition in my life. I was balancing a demanding legal career while navigating major personal changes, and yoga became more than just a workout for me. It became structure, clarity, and resilience. What began as a vision for a hot yoga space quickly grew into something much bigger. I didn’t just want another studio. Read more>>
Christen Talley
I come by my passion for photography honestly. My mom loved capturing those memories between me and my sister growing up on kodak cameras. She’d always print them as little 4×6’s, then stash them away in a shoebox underneath our beds. It wasn’t very often that we got to look through them; life is busy. Read more>>
Josh, Amelia, Zach
Chandlr started officially in January 2025 but prior to that our founders had some experience in traditional candle making and markets. Founders, Josh and Zach, first started a candle business over 10 years ago in upstate New York. Due to life careers in first response and the military, the venture ended. Read more>>
Hannah Davis Guidera
Writers write for many reasons; to understand themselves, to preserve memory, or to wrestle with questions that don’t have easy answers. Some write to escape. Some write to document. Some write because the world feels too loud and the page is the only place that seems to listen back. For me, writing began with imagination. Read more>>
Emmy Potter
Absolutely! So I’ve been teaching yoga for a little over eight years now, and honestly, I started pretty scrappy. I was teaching at any and every studio that would have me. Early mornings, late nights, subbing classes, you name it. I had just exited my corporate career, and for the first time I felt completely aligned with what I was meant to be doing. Read more>>
ChefWain Cannon
I was born and raised in the Lafitte and Treme area of New Orleans, where survival was part of everyday life. At 16 years old, I earned my culinary certification and was learning the discipline and structure of the kitchen, but at the same time I was caught between the streets and my future as a chef. Read more>>
brennen johnson
My journey has never been linear it’s been layered. I started as a creative long before I understood that creativity could be a career. Music was my first language. Through music, I learned storytelling, production, and how emotion connects people. Read more>>
Andrea Olatunji
My journey into wellness didn’t begin as a career — it began as a personal transformation. I was searching for more energy, more clarity, and a deeper connection to myself. Read more>>
Tanisha Marshall
I am Tanisha, an artist based in Dallas, Texas, originally from Illinois. For a big part of my life, I tried to please everyone else. A few years ago, God walked me into a season of healing and self-love, and I realized I had been creating art for other people’s approval instead of from my own heart. Read more>>
Winnie Nyatome
Of course! My story is about a girl who just wanted to sleep in. Yes, you heard me! I started my photography business because I wanted to sleep in and set my own hours. In 2018 beginning of 2019 I borrowed a camera from a friend, asked my husband to model for me and took photos of him. Read more>>
Scott Cooper
My name is Scott Cooper and I’m an artist and graphic designer in the Dallas/DFW area. Over the last 20 years I’ve done a lot, but I initially started my journey more focused on fine art, specifically drawing. Read more>>
Megan Najera
I’ve been creative my entire life, art was always my favorite subject and I was always drawing at home. When people mentioned me, they probably said ‘she can draw!’ But I didn’t truly start taking it seriously until I had my son at 18. Read more>>
Bri McKay
I’ve been a creative entrepreneur for years specializing in music/songwriting/singing and acting/film and theatre. Read more>>
Kayla Sutter
I started my LLC back in 2017 doing freelance and contract work while I was learning the industry from the inside. In 2020, I officially launched my agency and went fully independent after seeing a lot of red flags in the traditional marketing agency world. Read more>>
Chris Lacquement
I didn’t start with a grand plan or resources. I started with a skill, a work ethic, and a belief that I could do things differently. I learned pet grooming through an apprenticeship model rooted in craftsmanship and care, and early on I saw both the beauty of the trade and the gaps in how the industry treated groomers, pets, and clients. Read more>>
Tanu Sehgal
For me Yoga and spiritual path wasn’t a choice I made one day. It was a heritage I stepped into. I grew up in India watching my mother practice yoga and pranayam (breathwork) every single day. That daily ritual became the heartbeat of my own life and for the last 20 years, yoga has been my constant. Read more>>
Jai Brown
I married young, believing that love, loyalty, and perseverance were enough to sustain a family. Over the years, I navigated divorce, remarriage, and divorce again. I experienced domestic violence. I endured seasons of betrayal, instability, and rebuilding. From the outside, I looked strong. Inside, I was barely surviving. My story shifted the moment I made the decision to leave and start over. Read more>>
ELIZABETH CHIRINOS MOLERO
My journey has been one of reinvention, resilience, and faith. I was born and raised in Venezuela, where I built my career as a lawyer and university professor. Life took an unexpected turn when I immigrated to the United States in search of stability and better opportunities for my family. Read more>>
Elizabeth Sanchez
I’m a professional makeup artist and it’s something I absolutely love. I first started getting into makeup when I was sixteen and first applied eyeliner and mascara. I remember before that, my parents would not let me use any type of makeup because they said I was too little and had the rest of my life to use it. Read more>>
Diego Serrano
I’m a Peruvian-American filmmaker, born in San Diego and raised in Peru. I was still in college when I reached out to Fernando Iyo, one of the most respected creatives in Latin American advertising, hoping to secure an internship, even though I didn’t yet have a portfolio. Read more>>
MarQuita (KitaTheHairMD) Erwin
MarQuita Erwin, known professionally as KitaTheHairMD, is the Founder and CEO of HG Studio, a luxury hair wellness brand established on November 19, 2016. The vision for HG Studio was divinely inspired by 1 Corinthians 11:15 “A woman’s hair is her glory,” which led to the original name Hair Glory Studio and the foundation of a purpose-driven brand rooted in faith, excellence, and service. Read more>>
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>>
