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.
Richard Fowler
I drove 13 hours from Chicago to Dallas completely by myself during the pandemic, originally planning to move back home once everything settled down. Around that same time, I made the decision to drop out of high school and bet on myself, even though I knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. But God had other plans for me. Read more>>
Emma Camp
I am intrigued by science yet conversely, overtly philosophical, with an ardent passion for art and art-making. In high school, my favorite courses were science, in particular biology, and art, where I created my first 2- and 3-dimensional bodies of work in my Advanced Placement (AP) art courses. Read more>>
Jean-Marc Sattie
My Story is one of restoration, hope, a deep search for purpose and eventually finding it in Jesus Christ. For a long time, I thought fulfillment would come from success, money, accomplishments, or having everything figured out. Like many young people, I was trying to build a future for myself while also trying to understand who I was and why I was here. Read more>>
Nina Simmons
Well I moved to Texas in 2015, I really wanted to get into Real Estate but my background was in Aviation, closing deals on aircrafts. That was something that was not very popular out here at the time so I struggled finding a job in my genre. I had to figure out how to make money.. I ended up selling cable door to door. Read more>>
Kayla Kirk
I have lived in Texas a majority of my life, and after graduating from Texas State University with my master’s degree in social work, I sought new experiences and spending more time outdoors, which led me to accepting a position in California as a clinician for a nonprofit organization that provided in-home therapy services for high-risk adolescents. Read more>>
Trisha Alex
My journey into counseling began with a desire to help people navigate life’s challenges and discover that healing and growth are possible, even during difficult seasons. From early on, I was drawn to understanding people, relationships, and the impact that our experiences can have on our emotional well-being. Read more>>
Marie Temomo
Initially, I built The Tasty Picnic to help me pay for my college tuition, little did I know, it was so much more to me than that. At that point in my life, I did not truly understand the importance of building strong relationships with people, which today is the driving force of my business. Read more>>
Jeremy Brandt
My entrepreneurial journey started at the intersection of technology, marketing, and real estate. Before I started REILeads.com, I was an internet architect building dot-com startups for a large global consulting company. Read more>>
Alberto Herrera
For as long as I can remember, the restaurant industry has been a constant thread in our family’s life. However, my own path took a different route initially. For 20 years, I dedicated myself to the construction industry, building a framing and home-building business from the ground up. Read more>>
Brittney Jackson
I’ve always considered myself a bit of a jack of all trades. I’ve always been creative and loved learning different skills, but two things have always stuck with me—baking and beauty. I started baking when I was around 9 or 10 years old, spending time in the kitchen and learning through trial and error. Read more>>
Angela chambers
My fitness journey was inspired by my own anxiety and how fitness helped me overcome mental blocks in my life. Whenever things would happen, I would go work out, and over time it became a major stress relief for me. Eventually, people started asking me questions about fitness, and I naturally began sharing what I knew. Read more>>
Melissa Garcia
My name is Melissa Garcia, and I was born and raised in the small town of Gainesville, Texas. I am a proud mother of three and happily married. My journey in the beauty industry began in 2018 when I launched my cosmetics brand, Melyva Cosmetics. Read more>>
Jennifer Ramirez
I always knew I wanted to help people throughout my career and specifically went to college wanting to be a cardiac sonographer but gods plans be the best plans & he changed my path fast to massage therapy. Read more>>
Ben Walter
My journey into hospitality wasn’t a straight line. Like many people in this industry, I started with a love of food and community before I understood that hospitality could be a calling. Over the years, I worked my way through kitchens, breweries, and hospitality spaces, learning not just how to cook, but how food and drink can bring people together. Read more>>
Nichole Crites
Like many readers, I’ve always loved books, but I found myself longing for the sense of wonder and discovery that often seems to fade as we grow older. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, many of us stop making space for imagination. We become consumed by responsibilities, schedules, and obligations. Read more>>
Fred Tisdale
The thought process behind leaving corporate America and chasing my dream was Freedom. To no longer have answer to a boss or needing a boss to approve vacation days , andThe Freedom to come and go as I please is what i was seeking. The Freedom to work as hard or as little as I wanted to. Read more>>
Erick Benitez
It all started at the age of 16, when I used to be in High school, living with a family of 7 me and my brothers started working part time jobs after school and after doing sports to help with bills around the house, food amd clothing. Read more>>
Helena & Sarah Carrothers & Hardcastle
Sarah is the owner of Dynamite Dames Photography Studio and Helena was encouraged by friends to book a session after the birth of her child. That was over 12 years ago and we never thought it would have brought us to where we are today. We both have similar interests and found ourselves becoming friends over the course of many years and many photoshoots. Read more>>
Patricia Aro
Event planning has been part of my story for as long as I can remember. When I was eight years old, I would cut photos out of wedding magazines, save inspiration images on my computer, and send my mom what was essentially a weekly newsletter about my future wedding. Read more>>
Meg Hudson
Drive Thru Society began out of a deep love for rock/metal. I always gravitated towards music with heavier themes that talked about difficult topics and rock just resonated with me so much. Read more>>
Carla Cristofori Monica Ossandon
Happy Bubble Yoga Retreats was born from a shared vision between us, Carla and Monica. After decades of teaching and practicing yoga, owning a yoga studio abroad, leading teacher trainings in Texas, and witnessing firsthand the positive impact yoga can have on people’s lives, we felt inspired to create experiences that extend beyond the yoga studio walls. Read more>>
judy griffin
Fifty- three years ago, I had twins with immune deficiencies and not expected to live. The pediatrician told me to find ways I could help every day. I immediately turned to my gardens to help the twins. I began making homemade topical lotions to apply on their legs and arms. Their skin bled constantly. Read more>>
Loren Narro
In high school my school partnered with Navarro college to offer us the cosmetology program. I joined my sophomore year at 15 and didn’t look back. When I learned cosmetology could be my career I knew I wanted to go straight into the field when I graduated high school. Read more>>
The Coffee Crime Club
Sydney and Aireyon first crossed paths about four years ago working at the same company in the tech industry. What started as a professional connection quickly grew into a genuine friendship — the kind where you’re traveling together, pushing each other forward professionally, and showing up for the bigger moments in life. Read more>>
Brianna Najera
I was 16 years old when I first started I used to always love art and loved everything about it. I used to get my nails done very frequently when I was younger and then Covid hit so I thought I’d pick up a brand new skill and from then on, I started doing everyone’s in my high school. Read more>>
Caitlin Knabe
In 2014, my husband and I bought a home. We wanted a headboard but couldn’t find anything we fell in love with. I decided to walk around the neighborhood and pick up scrap wood from the construction sites and made a headboard for ourselves. So proud of what we just built, we did as everyone else would do, and we posted it to Facebook. Read more>>
Jorge Vasquez
Atlas Counseling and Education was created from my own life experiences, my education, and my desire to serve the community in a meaningful way. I was born in Mexico and came to the United States when I was five years old. Growing up, I was connected to both Mexican and American culture, and that helped me understand the importance of language, family, education, and community. Read more>>
Art Vega
I was always the kid with a camera. Long before photography became a profession, I enjoyed documenting moments and finding creative ways to tell stories through images. What began as a hobby eventually grew into something much bigger. Read more>>
Pamela Horowitz
After 20 plus years of being one of the premier off premise caterers in the Philadelphia and Princeton, NJ markets some very powerful and influential clients knew we were looking for a venue and asked us to join them in Texas as their caterer. One was a Senior Executive at M.D. Anderson, and one was the new, head football coach at a Big 12 University. Read more>>
Velma Thomas
I started doing hair at the age of 11. Move to Houston when I was 21 and went to cosmetology school. When I open my 1st salon at 24, I failed tremendously due to lack of business skills. I took a break from becoming a salon owner and worked my craft behind the chair. Read more>>
Paul Lake
I grew up in a law enforcement family having an uncle and an older brother in the FBI. The brother returned from Washington DC to become a State Trooper and eventually moved over to the Sheriff’s Department, so I was exposed to multiple levels of that world and got it into my blood at an early age. Read more>>
Torrey Fox
My love for photography began in an unlikely but fitting place: my parents’ garden. In high school, I signed up for a photography class largely because my older sister had taken it before me—I wanted to try everything she did. For one assignment, I photographed my parents’ English rose garden at golden hour, and something clicked. Read more>>
Jeff Bondy
While working in a cubicle for Southwestern Bell my friends and I would walk at lunch and I would pick up pennies I found mostly at parking meters. I put the pennies on my filing cabinet and my coworkers also started putting their pennies there. I would arrange them into 1 dimensional pictures while holding on calls for work. Read more>>
Saundra Halstead
My journey to becoming the Executive Director of In My Shoes is deeply personal because in many ways, I see pieces of my own story in the women we serve. When I was 19 years old, I became pregnant with my son. Read more>>
Melanie Chaponan
Photography has been a passion of mine since high school. I was always drawn to it, especially since many of my friends were part of the photography magnet program, and I loved watching them create and tell stories through their images. Everything really began when my mom gifted me my first camera as a graduation present. Read more>>
David DeGrand
I’ve been drawing comics ever since I was in the fifth grade. My art teacher assigned the class to write and draw their own comic strip, which I found incredibly fun. The teacher really liked my comic I turned in and I started writing and drawing my own comic strip, mainly inspired by Garfield and Peanuts. Read more>>
Bolton Harris
I grew up in Dallas and was always drawn to athletics. I was a competitive swimmer at SMU, and after college I went to law school then eventually worked as a criminal attorney. While I’m grateful for that experience and everything it taught me, I quickly realized the legal world wasn’t the right long-term fit for me. Read more>>
Chad Makerson Michael
This is my second feature with Voyager, and excitingly so. I’ll skip the origin story and jump straight to when I opened my design studio in 2014. From day one, the sole focus was to develop, design, and break the mold for every beverage client that came through our doors. Package design has always been an incredibly rewarding career for me. Read more>>
Jacob Shaw
Honestly my story starts very modestly, I’m an only child of a mother who wasn’t supposed to live to the age of twenty. Read more>>
Sau Taylor
My names Sau Taylor my stage name is Showtimesau born and raised in Houston Tx I’m a 23 year old serial entrepreneur with a unique eye for fashion and creativity. I’d describe my personal style and form of work/creativity as very PERSONAL, unorthodox, unique and authentic to me if I had to label it as any set style id label it as Showtime. Read more>>
Sheila Stephens
Photography wasn’t originally the career path I expected to take. For years, I worked in the beauty industry, and creativity had always been a huge part of my life. But in 2016, my son introduced me to photography, and something about it instantly clicked for me. What started as curiosity quickly turned into a passion for storytelling through images. Read more>>
Vinson Miller
I grew up in Arlington, Texas, with my mom. I attended a private elementary school called Merryhill, where I met some great childhood friends, and many of us are still friends to this day. After graduating from sixth grade and moving on to seventh grade, I attended Harmony. I had to transfer there because I was being bullied for making the basketball team. Read more>>
Audley Reid
I started playing saxophone in high school(South Shore) in Chicago, Il. I was very fortunate to be around some amazing musicians who let me hang out and learn how to be a musician. I was one of the early musicians performing at the Cotton Club Monday night open mic that was the training ground for a fantastic group of comedians and musicians. Read more>>
Nhi Kieu
I’ve been a licensed esthetician for almost ten years now, and honestly, the journey has looked nothing like I expected — which I think is the best way it could have gone. I started building my career in Houston, where I spent the better part of a decade growing a clientele I truly loved. Read more>>
Joy Aniagu
My journey has never been a straight line, and honestly, that’s what makes it meaningful. Professionally, I spent over a decade in technology, working as a Product Owner and Business Analyst, helping bridge the gap between business needs and technical solutions. While I enjoyed the work, I always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to build something of my own. Read more>>
Joseph Thomas
My name is Joseph Thomas, and I’m originally from the Seventh Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana. My story is one of resilience, relationships, and a deep belief that opportunity can change the trajectory of a person’s life. Growing up, I saw firsthand how much talent existed in my community. Read more>>
Aanchal Bhatia-Mendoza
I came into chiropractic already believing the body is meant to heal as a whole, not in pieces. But it was when I started working with pregnant women that something clicked for me. I kept meeting moms who felt like no one was really listening to them. Read more>>
Callie Rae Floyd
I’ve always believed movement is medicine, even before I had the words to explain why. I grew up dancing in Texas and spent most of my childhood in studios, rehearsals, and performances. Movement quickly became more than a hobby for me; it became how I expressed myself, processed emotions, and felt connected to who I was. Read more>>
Hemerson Souza
My name is Hemerson “Toco” Souza, founder of Black Lion MMA in Texas and a professional MMA athlete. My martial arts journey began in childhood through Capoeira, training with my father, who was an instructor in Brazil. At the age of 12, I transitioned to Muay Thai and quickly fell in love with the sport. Read more>>
Arjun Nagarkar
Cars have always been a huge passion of mine, but I realized early on that the best part of car culture is the community behind it. My friend and I started Driveline Meets in Dallas with the goal of creating a space where people could bring their cars, meet others with similar interests, and enjoy a laid-back, respectful environment. Read more>>
JeMeka Rucker
I’ve always been drawn to creativity. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved color, writing, reading, drawing, fashion, art, and finding unique ways to express myself. I was the kid who gravitated toward bold prints, mixed patterns without fear, and never minded standing out. Read more>>
Kristine Trawick
My story started 10 years ago at the old age of 48! I was working in a job (selling commercial insurance) that just didn’t suit me in any way and I was unfulfilled and unhappy. I saw a sign that asked the GREAT question ‘what are you going to do with your one and only life?’ One of my favorite children’s books is Dr. Read more>>
Kirstyn Colbert
I am a self taught artist. I learned a few tricks from a couple mentors along the way but my skills come from countless hours of practice. I started doing art younger than I can remember. It has always been my favorite thing to do. Read more>>
JasmineLove (stage name) Kimble
My name is Jasmine Love, and I’m a singer, entrepreneur, wife, and mother. My journey has been shaped by faith, family, perseverance, and a passion for helping others. Like many people, I’ve faced challenges and setbacks, but I’ve learned that growth often comes from the seasons that test us the most. Read more>>
Kirsten Maxwell
From a business perspective or personal perspective? Short version re: business. In 2014, I started my first family travel website, Kids Are A Trip (kidsareatrip.com). Over the last 12 years it led to numerous travel opportunities for myself and my family, and as my kids aged, I transitioned from writing about travel with kids to travel with teens. Read more>>
Bola Chinedu
Hi, my name is Bola, and I’m the Creative Director of Events by Caulcrick based in Dallas, Texas. We’ve been creating beautiful event experiences for the past 7 years — officially specializing in weddings for 5 years now. From my experience, a wedding planner is truly there to make the process smoother, less stressful, and more enjoyable for couples. Read more>>
Adele Johnston
My business began with my own experience of very early menopause at 35. I started experiencing symptoms that I knew weren’t normal, but I struggled to get answers. A 2 year journey through the medical system involving countless appointments, tests, scans and referrals between 35-37 was the start of it all. Read more>>
Mars
My story is one of reinvention. I started my journey off in Dallas, Tx in 2020 working in property management. After a few years in the business, I realized I wanted to build something that reflected my creativity and long-term vision. That realization led me to pursue a career that aligned with my passion for beauty and entrepreneurship. Read more>>
AJ Amyx
For most of my life, I was chasing a version of success that I thought would finally make me feel fulfilled and free. Like many men, I was given a map for life: work hard, achieve, provide, protect, and eventually you’ll arrive. I took that map seriously. I built businesses, worked in coaching, led events, wrote books, and spent years helping people transform their lives. Read more>>
nothando chiwanga
Nothando Chiwanga is a Zimbabwean visual artist, photographer, and performance artist born in Harare in 1997. She graduated from the National Gallery School of Visual Arts and Design and has developed a multidisciplinary practice that combines photography, performance, collage, and installation art. Read more>>
Fatima Puente
I arrived in the United States in 2005. Those were very difficult times—extremely difficult. There were moments when I had to choose between putting gas in my car or buying food. It was truly a struggle. At that time, I did not speak English. In fact, I knew almost nothing about the language. Because of that, I faced a great deal of discrimination. Read more>>
Cassey Mapp-Ahmed
I started my journey in this work long before I had a title for it. I’ve always been the person people came to for support, grounding, and care during big life moments—especially around pregnancy, parenting, and emotional overwhelm. Over time, I realized that holding space for others wasn’t just something I naturally did—it was something deeply meaningful and needed in my community. Read more>>
Ashley Calderon
I’m a first-generation Latina born in Los Angeles to parents from El Salvador, but Northwest Arkansas is home and where I was raised. Growing up, I watched my parents work incredibly hard to build a better life for our family, and their sacrifices shaped the way I view education, leadership, and service. Read more>>
Cynthia Villalobos
My path hasn’t been a straight line, and that’s exactly why I call this chapter Beautiful Chaos. Professionally, I began in accounting. Then, I centered my life around family and raising my son, and checking all the boxes of what I thought success was supposed to look like. I’ve always been someone who loves creativity, fashion, movement, travel, and connecting people. Read more>>
Kalisha Harris
I began my jewelry-making journey in 2002 after learning the craft from my cousin’s aunt, who worked for a company called Barse. She introduced me to the basics of jewelry design and creation, which sparked my interest in the art. From there, I continued developing my skills, learning techniques such as wire wrapping and gaining a deeper understanding of jewelry design. Read more>>
MUSE
I was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in Luton, a town about 30 miles north of London. In 2018, I moved to the United States, first settling in Washington, D.C., before eventually making my way to Dallas, Texas. Living across different countries and cultures has had a huge influence on who I am and the music I play today. Read more>>
Aaisha Adeel Polani
Hi, I’m Aaisha Adeel Polani, founder of ChaChaCup. Honestly, when this all started, I was terrified. I never imagined this business would turn into something real. The thought of putting myself out there, building a brand from scratch, and hoping people would genuinely connect with it felt overwhelming. Read more>>
Felicia Graham
I am originally from Monroe, Louisiana, and when I look back, I can see that every chapter of my life was quietly preparing me for the work I do now, long before Brushes & Bonds ever existed. I have always been the person who loves gathering people, checking on them, and creating spaces where others feel safe to exhale. Read more>>
Moriah Jacobs
I think a lot of people expect a founder story to start with the product. Mine really starts with exhaustion. I spent nearly a decade in sports, three years at ESPN and then six at the NBA, working in marketing partnerships. From the outside it looked like the dream, and in a lot of ways it was. Read more>>
Jacque Keil
Jai Kai Botanics was born from a deeply personal journey. For years, I struggled with sensitive skin, acne, and autoimmune-related skin challenges that made finding products I could trust difficult. Like many people, I spent countless hours searching for solutions that were both effective and gentle, only to discover that many products contained ingredients that irritated my skin rather than helped it. Read more>>
Jacqueline Smith
I’ve been writing for fun my entire life but I didn’t realize it was something I wanted to try professionally until my junior year of college. This is probably TMI, but I had a really bad sinus infection so I had spent my entire spring break lying on the couch, sneezing, and reading romance novels. Read more>>
Gianna Sgambelluri
My story, like many others, is marked by both celebration and hardship. What makes it unique is the way Jesus met me in one of the darkest seasons of my life and completely transformed who I am and my understanding of who He is. Read more>>
Jody McGrath
As far as I can remember I was never without pencil or pen. From scratching on walls to school books and desks. I grew up in the north of Ireland during what is euphemistically known as “ The Troubles.” A convenient term to describe a war on one’s doorstep. Gable walls were adorned with all sorts of drawings paintings and graffiti. Read more>>
Carlo Gattini
I am a third-generation gelatiere. I grew up in Italy and moved to Dallas in 1986, when my parents opened an Italian restaurant. Although I spent years working in other fields, I always had the desire to open a gelateria and give Dallasites a taste of the authentic gelato I grew up with. Read more>>
Reem Ramadan
I’m Reem Ramadan, a Dallas-Fort Worth based makeup artist, business owner, and retail leader. My journey started with a love for beauty and helping people feel confident, but it quickly grew into something much bigger. While working my way through different leadership roles, I built a career in the beauty industry and eventually became a Store Manager for MAC Cosmetics. Read more>>
Juli Mae Munro
When I purchased my first home, I was enthralled by the possibilities I had to build a garden. So much space, and I thought I could make it the most perfect Pinterest-worthy garden ever. That is when it hit me, I know absolutely nothing about gardening or plants. I think I had a Lily in my hand and thought, ‘I wonder if this does anything? Read more>>
Ally Garcia
I graduated from cosmetology school in 2013, but my love for hair started long before that ever since I was a little girl cutting all my Barbie dolls’ hair. After school, I worked in salons specializing in blonding and extensions. About two years ago, a client came into the salon and started talking to me about the bridal hair industry. Read more>>
Thomas Lee
I was named Güero through Hospitality. My name is Thomas Lee, and 5 years ago I started in service. I’ve always been a hard worker, and the restaurant and bar industry was one that always intrigued me. I started in a small local authentic Mexican restaurant, where I learned the basics of spirits, service, and was introduced to the bar. Read more>>
Brandon Lee
Growing up, I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare. I loved the complexity of the human body and how healthcare offers a mix of problem-solving and opportunities to help people. On a fundamental level, healthcare is something we all need and experience at some point in our lives. The question for me was: what did I want to do within healthcare? Read more>>
Kate Wood
My path to astrology was a calling that developed through my innate connection to art and mathematics. I studied fine art with a focus on drawing and painting that represent mathematical theory and natural patterns, and I’ve taught art at the college and secondary level for years, currently at St. Mark’s School of Texas. Read more>>
Nikki Purcell
My husband Brian was a full time firefighter when we started the company in 1998, I was pregnant with our first son and we both did not want to have to put our child in daycare, So being a firefighter and already doing side jobs on his days off he came up with moving as he had customers asking about moving stuff. Read more>>
Patience Baity
My journey to Golden Cadence Consulting began more than two decades ago, when I entered the healthcare field as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). Like many healthcare professionals, I started at the bedside, focused on caring for patients and learning everything I could about the profession. Read more>>
Josh Jordan
My journey into this work started once i had recovered from alcoholism and heroin addiction. In 2014, I entered treatment and was fortunate to experience a profound transformation that changed the trajectory of my life. Through that process, I developed a deep appreciation for the role that community, accountability, and purpose play in long-term healing. Read more>>
Stephanie Goff
My path has been anything but linear — and I think that’s what makes it meaningful. I started my career in corporate operations, where I specialized in process improvement, operational strategy, and organizational efficiency. Read more>>
Jason Brown
My story really started with a simple belief: that taking care of your body shouldn’t be complicated or out of reach. I spent a lot of time around athletes and active people, and I kept seeing the same gap: recovery was treated like an afterthought, something you only thought about after you were already hurting. I wanted to change that. Read more>>
David Tripp
Art was the only skill I possessed growing up, and talent got me to the university. Academics became my love then, and after graduate school I resumed my art and discovered that scholarship added so much more to my presentation. My love now blends serious study of art history and philosophy to the issues of developing my skill set. Read more>>
Maria Suaves
My name is Maria Suaves, and I am the owner of Sculpture Body Center. I have been part of the beauty and wellness industry for almost 15 years, specializing in body contouring treatments and skincare. I believe that every person deserves to look in the mirror and love what they see. Read more>>
Chloe Vondutch
I started my journey simply by being unapologetically myself. Before the platforms, the podcasts, the reality TV moments, and the recognition, I was just someone with a voice, a vision, and a deep passion for community, culture, and storytelling. I’ve always been drawn to spaces where people could feel seen, heard, and celebrated — especially within ballroom culture and the LGBTQ+ community. Read more>>
