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.
Walter Sullivan, III
As a child, I loved working math problems that were in textbooks. Numbers made sense to me and I enjoyed it. Growing up, I wanted to be a Nuclear Physicist – primarily because it sounded cool coming out of my mouth. Read more>>
Yvonne Saldivar
I spent over a decade in accounting, and while I was good at it, it never fulfilled me. I’m someone who thrives on connection, emotion, and meaning—and Federal and Multi-State taxes just weren’t giving me that. For a long time, I kept that part of myself on the back burner. Read more>>
Dr. Valerie Bennett
I began my journey as an artist, studying art formally and building a career as a teaching artist that has now spanned over 25 years in art education. Teaching has always been central to my practice as it grounded me in both the creative process and the importance of access, mentorship, and community in the arts. Read more>>
Alexis Arnold
When I was 5 years old I told my mom I wanted to be an actress. In the beginning she didn’t really take me serious, because she works in the medical field and didn’t know much about the entertainment industry. I was persistent though and eventually my dentist was the one who talked my mom into letting me give it a try. Read more>>
Debra Taylor
Lake Cabin Escapes grew out of a life we were already building. We’re Kevin and Debra Taylor, and in 2006 we purchased a rural East Texas property anchored by an abandoned farmhouse. It needed extensive restoration, but it offered something more important to us at the time—space to raise our six children. Read more>>
Felicia Malone
I fell in love with books as a young girl growing up on the west side of Chicago. Books were my Time Machine transporting me to other worlds and time periods. I became a published author in 2014 with the release of Ruth’s Awakening: A Love Story. The feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive with many expressing how a character mirrored their own life experiences. Read more>>
Yvonne & Stephanie Saldivar & Adolff-Zamora
Café con Corazón was born out of a real, honest conversation between two entrepreneurs who knew they were meant to build something together. Stephanie originally had her own officiant business and later joined Blissful & Blessed Unions as a contractor. Read more>>
Latisha Hall
Baking isn’t just a business for me; it’s a legacy. From participating in family recipe debates to mastering my grandmother’s legendary ice cream, I spent my youth learning that the best ingredients are patience and connection. After years of honing my craft for friends and family, I turned my passion into a professional mission. Read more>>
David DeLeon
It all started about a year ago. I had stepped away from the automotive industry multiple times before, going back and forth between working as a chef and a service advisor—doing whatever I could to provide for my family and myself. But this time felt different. Read more>>
Angela Sager
My path into this industry began as a parent who employed nannies, which gave me a clear and practical understanding of what families truly need, what works in a home, and where things often fall apart. I experienced firsthand the gaps in structure, communication, and expectations that can make or break a nanny placement. Read more>>
Renee and Jason Davis
Our story begins in Chicago two sides of the city, one shared passion. One of us grew up on the west side, the other on the south side, but we were both raised in environments where food meant more than just a meal. It meant family, community, and connection. Read more>>
Krystal Henderson
When I was a little girl, I was always the one stopping on hikes to take pictures of flowers and anything in nature that caught my eye. I didn’t realize it then, but that love for capturing the little things would come back around in such a big way later in my life. Read more>>
Ricardo Ruiz
The long story started back in 2008 while still in high school. We had a big career day project where you had listen to real life business, balance a checkbook and have housing. One of the guest was a massage therapy business that I don’t recall. Read more>>
Nicole Banet
From an early age, I’ve always been drawn to photography—capturing moments, emotions, and the beauty in everyday life. Growing up, I was often told I had a natural “eye” for photography, but it wasn’t until high school that that passion truly came to life. Read more>>
Hajrah Javed
Going into undergrad, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in mental health counseling. I come from a South Asian background where mental health and emotional wellness weren’t openly talked about or discussed. Experiencing that gap firsthand really motivated me to be part of changing that narrative and making mental health care more accessible and understood. Read more>>
Shanon Starkey
My name is Shanon, and my journey began in the United States Army, where I served nearly a decade as a 31B — Military Police. My service included a deployment to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, where I also worked inside a prison facility. Those experiences shaped my understanding of trauma, humanity, and leadership in ways that would follow me long after I returned home. Read more>>
Sam O’Bier
PUMPJAXE urban axe throwing opened June 1, 2019 in Tyler, Tx. I am not the original owner. I went there for my birthday to try something new in June of 2020. I was naturally pretty good at throwing axes and decided to join the women’s league. My first season I just barely lost to win the whole league. Read more>>
Antonio Easley
For over 20 years, I have worked in the security industry and learned a great deal along the way. During that time, one thing became very clear to me: the amount of responsibility placed on security officers does not always match the pay they receive. Read more>>
Kirsten Maiwald
Kirsten’s journey began in the classroom, where she was not just a teacher but a visionary, eager to show her students the world beyond the traditional school building. She believed in the transformative power of art and sought to inspire her students by connecting their creative talents with real-world community projects. Read more>>
Chris Storm
My career started when I was at SMU, studying Accounting and Real Estate. I was fortunate to intern with Robert S Folsom Investments and join the company when I graduated. After four years, I was recruited by the Vantage Companies, one of the nations’ largest industrial/office developers. Read more>>
Dan Burcham
Our Story Alpine Construction Co. was founded during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic with a simple mission: to help our local community—friends, family, and neighbors—with reliable, high-quality home repairs and renovations. For our President and Pre-Construction Manager, Dan Burcham, construction isn’t just a business—it’s personal. Read more>>
Angela Harris
I’ve been a therapist for seven years and started my work in substance use residential treatment. While I loved this population and the complexity of the work, I always had an interest in treating eating disorders and started working with eating disorders as soon as I could. Read more>>
Zachary Guerrero
I started New Leaf Wellness Therapy from a really personal place. As I was going through my training and early clinical work, I kept noticing the same pattern so many teens and young adults, especially those navigating trauma, identity, or feeling “different,” didn’t feel fully understood in traditional therapy spaces. There was often a gap between what they needed and what they were getting. Read more>>
Isatu Rogers
Welcome to Weyone Style! I’m Isatu Rogers, the founder behind this brand, and I am honored to bring a piece of my Freetown, Sierra Leone heritage to Arlington, Texas. My journey began in 2014 during a visit back home, where I fell in love with the incredible craftsmanship of local artisans and the vibrant beauty of Ankara fashion. Read more>>
Dominique Jones
My journey started with a passion for creating spaces that bring people together through energy, culture, and experience. That vision became Jam Box, which has grown into two distinct but connected brands. On one side, we have Jam Box Fitness—a high-energy, music-driven fitness experience focused on community, wellness, and empowerment. Read more>>
Rawan Sharaf
For as long as I can remember, photography has always been my passion. From being gifted the old family digital camera before even hitting double digits, to getting my first DSLR camera in middle school to starting my businesses in early college. I was never seen without a camera. Read more>>
Colton Capps
My interest in film started in middle school, where I began creating and editing YouTube videos. That early hands-on experience sparked a passion that I continued developing in high school through TigerVision, my school’s audio-video production program. There, I created multiple award-winning short films with my peers, worked on news broadcasts for my school, and worked professional film-related events. Read more>>
Steven Reyes
How did I get started and how did I get to where I am today? If I am being honest, I don’t see myself as someone who “got somewhere” but I am for sure a lot further than when I first started. And that’s what it took, a start. The easiest past of the whole process somehow becomes the hardest. Read more>>
Drue Pettigrew
I’ve done just about every type of job under the sun. My parents, my sister, and I used to shoot professional firework shows. We shot shows for Lone Star Park, Frisco Roughriders, Round Rock Express, places all over Texas. I’ve worked in retail (Wal-Mart, which is its own adventure), auto shops. Read more>>
Nicklaus Farricy
I have been in the industry of custom swimming pools for over 15 years. When the opportunity came to start my own company, it was simply a chance I couldn’t afford to miss. Read more>>
Donna Taylor
As a child I groomed our horses and pets on a mini farm in Powell, WY. 4-H started me on the path to wanting to show horses. I went through college receiving an associate degree in Business Management. Got married had twin daughters. I continued to want to do an animal-based business. I went back for a year of equestrian studies which ended my marriage. Read more>>
Candace ‘Mahogany’ Warren
Candace “Mahogany TheArtist” Warren is a dynamic musician, vocalist, recording artist, producer, educator, and arts advocate based in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. Renowned for her signature blend of jazz and soul, she captivates audiences with high-energy performances, leading her band with commanding presence and artistry on stages across the country. Read more>>
Cynthia Sone
My journey into aesthetics really started long before I became a nurse. I’ve always had a deep interest in skincare I remember being around age 12, going grocery shopping with my parents and asking if I could spend a few extra minutes in the skincare aisle just to look at products. Read more>>
Mareena Emran
My journey with content creation began in 2020 while working with BuzzFeed, where I built a strong foundation in short-form video. From there, I expanded my experience through freelance work with CapCut, managing creator tutorial content and learning how to structure videos for performance, and later with Meta, where I was deeply immersed in trends and Reels strategy. Read more>>
Heather Keggins-Lewis
From childhood, I’ve had a desire to help others so I believed that I was supposed to be a nurse. When I discovered that nursing was not for me, I began to work in the social services field. I did not understand that there was a deeper desire in my heart for this type of work. Read more>>
Elle Capan
From a young age, I was always drawn to fashion. I was the kid getting dressed up for preschool like it was Fashion Week and sketching outfits during story time. Creativity was never just a hobby, it was how I moved through the world. Read more>>
Belal Kattan
My cooking career started because I simply wanted to make pasta. When I moved to Texas, I was in Plano for a bit, I went door to door with my resume asking chefs to teach me to make pasta but no one would hire me without me working the line too. Back then, I didn’t understand why, but now I get it. Read more>>
Riccardo Paracchini
After attending art high school, at the end of the 1980s I began exhibiting my paintings in several private and public galleries. Over the years, my artistic activity expanded to include many works of video art and environmental installations. Read more>>
Bryan Avalos
Honestly, I feel like my journey has just started. At the time of doing this interview, I’ve only been performing live and been a part of the music industry for a few months. Read more>>
Steven LeFlore
I always had any eye for photography, but never really had the resources until my parents decided to buy me my first camera in 2020. I already knew exactly the kinds or photos I’d take, what they’d look like, and the feelings I’d want them to invoke when people saw them. Read more>>
Tahj Beatty
At a young age, I always loved the media, film, video industry and knew that was something that I wanted to do when I grew up. The movie introducing me to camerawork and directing being ‘Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World’ I watched with my dad when I was nine years old and I knew that I wanted to capture and edit. Read more>>
David Wolstenholm
I started my Texas business in 2016 after moving to the DFW area in 2015. I started with doing handyman work as DW’s Handyman & Home Improvement, but my passion was always in remodeling and additions. I changed my business name to DW’s Remodeling, LLC in 2019 and focused solely on remodeling and let go of the handyman side of my business. Read more>>
Jacquelyn Blaylock
Hello my name is Jacquelyn Blaylock and I’m 33yrs old. I’m from a small town in West Texas called San Angelo. I moved to Dallas when I was 9yrs old and I’ve been here ever since.. I’ve traveled all over experiencing new cultures and ways of life. I lead a healthy lifestyle as a vegan. I absolutely love yoga and meditation. Read more>>
