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.
Brett Emmers
Freshman year of college I sprained my ACL. Redshirted. The following year, during conditioning for team workouts (flag football), I planted on the same knee and it popped. Ultimately ending my college golf career. Grades began to drop and started to self-medicate. Leading to the loss of my scholarship. Read more>>
Sangita Datta
Today, whether I am mentoring youth, funding scholarships, supporting charities, or helping families build financial security — it is deeply personal. Read more>>
Wanica Nixon
When I look in the mirror today, I thank God that I do not look like what I have been through. Life has required me to show up as the best version of myself during some of its most painful and defining moments. I wrestled with what the “right” thing to say in this article might be, but I kept coming back to one simple truth: no one can tell your story as you can. Read more>>
Logan Williamson
Telling a story that begins at the beginning and encompasses 20 years of professional experience seems like it would be tough to summarize, but over the years I’ve found that it can be best explained through the 3 E’s. Education, Experience, and Emapthy. I hope hearing about my journey helps to reveal how I came to specialize in adult professionals with ADHD and Autism. Read more>>
Markeisha Samuel
My journey with Boss Babe Wig Cleaners began after a lupus diagnosis in 2002 changed my life through hair loss and chronic fatigue. What once felt like a setback became my calling. As I navigated wearing wigs, I saw firsthand how challenging proper wig care could be especially for those already carrying the weight of illness. Read more>>
Patrick Mason
My son Micah was born in 2015 with a sever congenital heart defect known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome or HLHS for short. Effectively he only has the right side of his heart, the left side never grew. Read more>>
Jacovie Burns
My journey to becoming a tax strategist and moving beyond the role of a traditional tax preparer was shaped by being surrounded by brilliant business leaders. They transformed my perspective on how business should be conducted and showed me that the impact a company has on the people it serves is just as important, if not more important, than the profits it generates. Read more>>
Eneida Miranda
My journey into psychiatry was shaped both by professional training and deeply personal experiences. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand how mental health challenges can impact individuals and families and how stigma and limited access to compassionate care can make that journey even harder. Read more>>
Alondra loera
I started my career really focused on just getting good at hair & learning color, perfecting layered cuts, and really understanding consultations. Over time, I realized it’s not just about the technical side. It’s about the connection you build with people. Working in Fort Worth has shaped me a lot because it’s such a relationship-based community. Read more>>
Esther De La Rosa Scott
My journey into counseling really began with a deep curiosity about people and a desire to understand the human experience. I studied both Business Administration and Psychology, which gave me an interesting combination of perspectives—how systems work and how individuals think and feel within those systems. Over time, I realized that my greatest passion was helping people navigate difficult seasons in life and rediscover hope. Read more>>
Siv Lopez
Bella Flan was created through the love of food, culture, and people. My husband and I are of two beautiful, blended cultures: he is Cuban-American, and I am of Chinese descent. I wanted to create a space that is joyful and warm. I love the idea of combining both Asian and Cuban flavors–It is a reflection of who we are. Read more>>
Brittany Lopez
I learned over many failed educational attempts for my neuro-divergent son that there wasn’t a current educational setting where he could thrive. In PK, he was not challenged enough for his advanced cognitive abilities, in Kindergarten they did not believe in his abilities and did not have the support to help him learn. Read more>>
Anupama Jadhav
I completed my Master’s degree in Computer Science in Texas, and after getting married, my husband and I started a catering business that we successfully ran for several years. Once we had children, our priorities shifted, and with increasingly busy schedules, we decided to pause our catering journey. Read more>>
Loren Colman
For years while I was teaching, I kept a running document titled “Future School Ideas.” At first, it was simply a reflection tool. How could I be better next year? How could learning feel more alive? How could I create experiences that reached every student in front of me? I loved school growing up. It challenged me, stretched me, and shaped me. Read more>>
Quinn Ray & Mary Ellen Crow
Quinn and Mary Ellen’s story shows how serendipity and yoga can come together in unexpected and wonderful ways. If you ask them, they’ll tell you that yoga is at the heart of their entire relationship, shaping not only their bond but also their health and well-being. Read more>>
Dekeadra Edwards
About four years ago, I began my journey as a tax professional. The first two years were slow, and I was really trying to find my purpose and confidence in the industry. In my third year, everything changed. I experienced tremendous growth while working alongside Dawn Lee, who guided me every step of the way and truly helped shape my skills and mindset. Read more>>
Jacquelyn MosesButler
I started as a 13 year old sweeping mopping and being a shampoo tech for my mother in her salon called “Lady Arlenes Salon” in Cleveland,Texas. We moved to Duncanville not long after that. My love for hair increased as i went from having to comb my siblings hair to doing friends and family. Read more>>
William ‘Bud’ Humble
Having suffered a soul-sucking, corporate job for far too long, I wanted to work somewhere I’d be surrounded by good people. When I saw that the Burleson Senior Center was hiring, I thought this might be a good fit. It very much was. For five years, I was a coordinator. I enjoyed working with seniors and indeed, being surrounded by good people. Read more>>
Traci Santangelo
I am one of those lucky people that knew what I wanted to do with my life when I was a young girl. Midwifery was always my end goal. But, I had to get a few things under my belt first. So I became a Labor and Delivery nurse. I worked in several different hospitals, in several different states and then went to midwifery school. Read more>>
Kimberly Hansley-Parrish
I’ve always been a woman with a lot of interests and curiosity about people. Even when I was younger, I found myself drawn to conversations that went deeper than surface level. Counseling was always in the back of my mind, I just didn’t fully know what that would look like. In college, I struggled to find something that felt like it fit. Read more>>
Allyssa Minick
Ivory Behavior Group started because I always saw a need to help families. I began as a special education teacher in Dallas ISD, and I just saw such a need to help families and children build communication and navigate behaviors in all different settings. It made me decide to go back to school to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Read more>>
Kimberly Gaudette
My name is Kimberly Gaudette, and I’m the owner and founder of Uplift Dance Education in Aledo, Texas. Dance has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, but my vision for Uplift came from a deeper place than just teaching dance. Read more>>
Neil Katz
Most leaders didn’t start a company to spend their time on HR issues. That’s where we come in. I’m the Founder and CEO of Exceptional HR Solutions, an HR services firm that becomes the HR department for companies with 5 to 500 employees. We don’t just advise—we do the work. Read more>>
Joshua/Brenda Zacharias/Perez
I started the Restaurant shua supper club in my hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada back in 2018 as a way to cook for friends before I had ever even thought of becoming a professional chef. I would host dinners, test recipes, and essentially invite people over to be guinea pigs for these tasting menus that often times made no sense. Read more>>
Gabe Herrera
Man, it’s kind of a trip to look back on it. It started in 2000 when I picked up my dad’s camera and and started playing with Photoshop. There weas something about it, that got me hooked immediately. I didn’t know it then, but that was the beginning of everything. Read more>>
Jason washington
My journey started with a simple decision to believe in myself and commit to the process. I’ve been in this fitness game for over 25 years, and time truly flies when you stay locked in and grinding. Through every season, my faith in God has been my foundation, reminding me that with Him, anything is possible. Read more>>
Hannah Craig
I started hair out of necessity, it was the quickest path out of the 3 I wanted. I started because it would help me be able to work and continue exploring other paths! We’ll I fell in love with it and never moved on to another path. Read more>>
Madison Butler
I started working at Color Me Mine in Plano as an associate while earning my bachelor’s degree at UTD. Over time, I worked my way up to manager and fell in love with the business. Eventually, I began exploring the idea of opening my own location with my family. Read more>>
Marilyn McKay
I’m Marilyn, a Texas-based wedding and lifestyle photographer drawn to meaningful moments, emotional connection, and refined storytelling. My role goes beyond documenting your day. I’m here to guide you, calm you, and create space for you to be fully present. Faith is at the heart of everything I do. Read more>>
Gabriel Araujo
My journey began in construction, but I was always drawn to the surfaces… the layers that give a space its soul. Structure creates form, but finish creates feeling. That realization shaped everything that came next. I became deeply focused on venetian plaster and decorative finishes because they allow for nuance. Texture, movement, subtle tonal shifts. Read more>>
Adam Littmann
Small business has always been a really positive topic in our family. My mom’s side of the family owned a bakery before I was born, so I grew up hearing stories about that, and my own background included working as a line cook for a small business owner. Read more>>
Rebecca Ramirez
My journey into photography started long before I ever called myself a photographer. In high school, I was the girl with a camera taking pictures of landscapes, friends senior pictures and loved ones, just because I loved it. I didn’t know it then, but those small moments were planting seeds. The turning point in my story came during the hardest season of my life. Read more>>
AJ West
I started tattooing in 2022 when I landed an apprenticeship at a small shop in Haslet. I was always interested in learning how to tattoo because I love tattoos myself and have always been an artist. I obtained my masters degree in Fine Arts from the University of Houston in 2016. I have also taught art in public and private schools for the last decade. Read more>>
May Liu
My journey has been shaped by both heritage and purpose. I come from a long lineage connected to the Han Dynasty, and growing up, I was deeply influenced by the values of balance, dignity, responsibility, and respect for cultural legacy. That foundation shaped how I see storytelling—not just as entertainment, but as a way to preserve meaning and communicate philosophy through images and emotion. Read more>>
Maddie Hoelscher
I have always been creative since I was very young. I drew, painted, junk journaling, sewing, photography, everything. In high school I was experimenting with different hobbies. I bought a leather starter kit from Hobby Lobby with a swivel knife, a handful of stamps, and leather. These were the days before Tiktok and Youtube tutorials so there was a lot of trial and error. Read more>>
DJ RP
It basically started in 2012 I was approached to pay someone to do a show on their station and I reached out to a friend to see their thoughts and they told me to start my own I started doing research and hot the station running within 24 hours back then it was only playable on computers and just was playing everything and over these years have a full website www.RPEntRadio.com and on TuneIn and Live365 and multiple playlist and personality shows Read more>>
Joel Sprayberry
I have been a touring musician for many years. I would consider myself a multi instrumentalist – guitar, bass, keys, percussion etc. I have recorded 7 independent albums found on spotify, itunes, apple music, etc. When my first child was born i stepped down from full time travel because family is very important to me. Read more>>
Rachel Scruggs
Radiance Events honestly came from a season I didn’t see coming. I began my career in marketing in 2019, drawn to storytelling and brand building. I loved helping brands find their voice online. While building digital campaigns, I found myself constantly pulled toward designing moments, curating spaces, creating experiences people could feel. Then COVID happened. I got laid off. Read more>>
Irene Yuan
I am one of two co-founders along with Hubert Wong, we created Motorsport Wishes, Inc.- a Texas nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation about a year and a half ago. Read more>>
James Robinson
I enjoy wearing fedora style hats. In 2022 I wanted to start a small business creating hat bands for fedora hats. I thought about creating the products and selling them for $20 each. I had no paid experience in fashion design, however I’ve been complimented on my fashion style and I have over 30 years in graphic design. So I figured it would be easy. Read more>>
Crystal Culpepper
Fun Fact: this is our very 1st cake (Nov. 8,2012). It was NEVER in our plans or even a thought to do custom cakes let alone open a Bakery. We were just celebrating my late brother 30th Birthday. Read more>>
Susana Romo
My journey as a hair and makeup artist began with a deep love for beauty, creativity, and helping women feel confident in their own skin. From the beginning, I was fascinated by how hair and makeup could transform not only someone’s appearance, but also the way they feel about themselves. I started my career with curiosity and passion, constantly learning, practicing, and refining my skills. Read more>>
Precious Robinson
I originally began my journey on the pre-med track with the intention of becoming a physician, specifically a general surgeon. I remained on that path until my junior year of college. Around that time, my father began experiencing several health scares, and I found myself attending many medical appointments with him. It was during those moments that something shifted for me. Read more>>
Isaiah Listenbee
My name is Isaiah Listenbee. I’ve never been just one thing. I take pride in being a multifaceted individual. I was raised in DeSoto, and that sense of community is what built the foundation of who I am. Read more>>
Jordan Berry
Laundromat Resource really started because when I was trying to buy my first laundromat, I couldn’t find clear, practical information anywhere—just scattered advice and a lot of guesswork. So I began documenting what I was learning and talking with real owners who were willing to share their numbers, mistakes, and strategies, which eventually turned into the podcast. Read more>>
Adam Roberts
From Plumber to Business Owner: A Journey Built on Trust and Service For 24 years, I’ve been honing my skills as a plumber, but it was always about more than just the work. Read more>>
John Tatum
Hi there! I’m originally from the Bay Islands of Honduras. My family and I moved to Dallas 33 years ago in order for me to have a better life and education. I started working in banking and lending at the age of 18 right after the high school and I’ve never looked back. Read more>>
Francine Rhinehart
(Please forgive me, im not a writer, super busy so this will be like note taking haha I just wanted to get it done for you) and busy mother of two 
and full time work ughhh life.))). Read more>>
Kimberly Elder
Kim Elder became interested in cooking as a girl, spending time with her grandmother. ‘I remember standing in a chair to use the mixer as my grandmother gave instructions,’ Kim recalled. ‘Afterward, I looked at all the dishes we had to clean. It was a comical, bittersweet moment… Read more>>
Gaby Udabor
My journey in healthcare began as a Registered Nurse. I loved caring for patients, but I often felt limited by a system that focused on managing symptoms instead of asking why they were happening. After becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner, I knew I wanted to do more than short visits and prescription refills. I wanted to help people truly understand their health. Read more>>
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>>
