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.
Haggai Goudeau
My journey in the beauty industry began in 2018 in Louisiana, where I started as a hairstylist. While I enjoyed being in the beauty industry, I realized my true passion was nails. In 2020, I decided to pursue nails more seriously and fully committed to mastering the craft. Read more>>
Jessica Russell
My journey into private practice began after several years working in inpatient psychiatry, where I had the privilege of supporting individuals and families through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. That experience shaped not only the kind of therapist I wanted to become, but also the kind of practice I hoped to build one day. Read more>>
Anthony Catchings
Three years ago, I decided to moved to Dallas Texas. Little did I know, that was the start of my new chapter in life. It was my first time away from home, my family and everything I once knew. Out of all places Ive traveled, why was Dallas a fixated point for me? Read more>>
Ray Webb
I started out managing a machine shop and then purchased the same shop. I changed the shop into a job shop that catered to inventors who had ideas they needed to bring into reality. While working in the machine shop I attended ASU and studied under a double major of electronic and mechanical engineering. Read more>>
Hexel Colorado
I was born and raised in Dallas, and I’ve lived and worked in various corners of the Metroplex all my life. Almost five years ago, in November 2021, I flew to Paris, France, to visit an old friend. Read more>>
Bassam Khalaf
My background is in marketing and branding, I run a creative agency called Rubik Creative. I used to work out of coffee shops around the area, and somewhere along the way coffee became more than just a drink for me. Read more>>
Beverley Alridge Wright
My journey has been a series of challenges that became opportunities. I spent 38 years with IBM, beginning in customer-facing and administrative roles and eventually serving as an executive responsible for sales, marketing, operations, talent development, and leadership coaching. I did not begin my career with a plan to become an executive or an entrepreneur. Read more>>
Suen Gavindane
I first found art when I was about five years old. I would watch my older brother draw, and I became completely obsessed. But when my mom left and I went to live with my grandmother, that passion was strongly discouraged. I was told that creating was a waste of time and that I needed to focus on schoolwork and more practical things. Read more>>
Mileah Lorenz
I grew up sketching here and there, but I wouldn’t say it was impressive work, and it wasn’t something I particularly enjoyed either. I was never satisfied with the final result and frustrated that whatever the project was, it never went according to plan. Read more>>
Adanna Bernard
My journey began with a traumatic childhood. I experienced abuse from my mother and stepfather, especially when I spoke the truth about what was happening around me. Later in life, I found myself facing similar attempts to silence, control, and break me down within my marriage. Eventually, I made the difficult decision to disconnect from everyone involved. Read more>>
Rachel Hicks
I started my photography business at 15 right here in Dallas, TX, and for the next fifteen years, I built a life around documenting weddings, families, and the stories people trusted me to preserve. I’ve traveled all over the world with a camera in my hand for work, and have never been more grateful to say that. Read more>>
Kyliah Baird
Bella Bee-Tique was born from my love of fashion and my desire to help women feel confident, beautiful, and seen. I’ve always believed that style is more than clothing. It’s a form of self expression and a way to show up boldly in the world. Read more>>
Brittani Fields
For nearly 10 years, I worked in the hospitality industry, and for a long time, I believed that was where I would build my career. But as the years went on, I began to feel burned out. My son was still young, and the demands of hospitality meant that I was missing games, school activities, holidays, and other moments that I could never get back. Read more>>
Mycah Smith
I was born in New Orleans and moved to Dallas when I was very little. I spent all of my education years in Frisco, TX. I did undergrad at UNT and my master’s during COVID at Amberton University. Read more>>
Nancy Gamez
Boho Ranch Shop started with a love for western style, genuine leather, and creating products that people could truly connect with. What began as a small dream quickly grew into something much bigger than I ever imagined. I started by selling online, packing every order myself, answering customer messages, and learning every part of the business along the way. Read more>>
Whitnee Shine
If you asked me to describe my journey in one word, it would be resilience. I’m a mother of four, an artist, entrepreneur, psychology student, and someone who has learned that life can completely change in a single moment. My path hasn’t been traditional, but every chapter has shaped the woman I am today. Growing up, creativity was always my first language. Read more>>
Nathan Barbosa
I have been in the training and rehab world for about 15 years in total. About 13 years as a certified professional and self employed since 2017. My journeys started as a troubled kid that needed an outlet and I was fortunate enough to find that when I was in seventh grade. Read more>>
Anthony Adams
I graduated from Texas Tech in 2006 and worked for IBM out of college doing software sales. I got laid off in 2009 at the height of the financial crisis. I was already fairly disenfranchised with the corporate world and decided to start my own business selling a hangover prevention dietary supplement called THC – The Hangover Cure. Read more>>
Yazmine Ismile
Graphics found me when I was a kid. 1999. Bootleg Photoshop and a BlackPlanet account. BlackPlanet was one of the original social media platforms, way before Facebook or MySpace. I started customizing my page, which pulled me into HTML, which pulled me into spending hours on other people’s sites just figuring out how they worked. Nobody taught me. I just kept going. Read more>>
Vantonio BeGreat OnPurpose Fraley
My name is Vantonio Fraley, and my story has never been about having the perfect plan—it has been about refusing to give up when life kept telling me to quit. I grew up facing challenges that many young people experience today. Read more>>
Patrick Ramos
About two years ago, after spending time living abroad, I came back to the U.S. and walked into one of the toughest job markets I’d ever seen. I was 34 years old, had to move back in with my parents, and took a warehouse job just to pay the bills. It was a humbling experience, especially because I felt like I had to start over. Read more>>
Kris Chrisp
My journey into human performance started with a simple belief: the best ability is availability. Early on, I realized that talent alone isn’t enough. Athletes need a system that allows them to stay healthy, recover efficiently, and perform consistently throughout their careers. That realization led me to dedicate my life to studying every aspect of human performance. After serving eight years in the U.S. Read more>>
Rashad Frizzell
I served in the U.S. Navy as an avionics technician, where I learned discipline, problem-solving, and how to perform under pressure. After my military service, I spent years in transportation, entrepreneurship, and sales, building businesses and developing a passion for helping people achieve their goals. Read more>>
Sherell Adams
Yes, I first got started DJing back in 2015 at UNT in Denton. At the time I was a Promoter throwing events and promoting artist and DJs in the city. One of the DJs I was promoting was named Kal Banx, he was an amazing DJ and producer who inspired me to Dj. Read more>>
Tyson Pete
I’d introduce my journey with one simple sentence: There wasn’t a lane for someone like me, so I built one. When I first started writing, I searched for books that reflected my experience as a gay father. I wanted stories, guidance, and resources that understood the unique joys and challenges of raising children as an LGBTQ+ parent. What I found was silence. Read more>>
Gregory Mouton
I am Gregory Mouton, professionally known as Gregory Jaé. I grew up in Louisiana before taking a leap of faith and moving to Dallas, Texas, to pursue bigger opportunities. My career has evolved in ways I never imagined—from working as a hairstylist, where I discovered my passion for serving and connecting with people, to building businesses focused on financial empowerment and entrepreneurship. Read more>>
Taquilla Burns
Honestly, when I look back at my journey, I realize I was being prepared for who I am today way before I even knew what that looked like. I grew up in a household with strong women. My mom and my granny were the women who held things together. They supported, provided, and led our family. Read more>>
Roger Lugo
What sparked my interest at the beginning was being around my father and his friends. Growing up I saw my dad be a part of the gang life and low rider culture. Read more>>
Funmi; Oluwasetemipe Okanlawon; Ojo
Fun & Sweet Bites started as an idea I (Funmi) wanted to do for my birthday in November 2025, and it was meant to only be for that day and remain a party trick to do for friends’ parties as well. However, over time, I gave it some thought and realized there was a market for mini pancakes here in DFW. Read more>>
MiKayla Celeste
When I first became an esthetician in 17′ I didn’t have the money for all the equipment that I needed, fortunately my aunt found a $1000 spa setup listed on Craigslist and bought it for me so I could get started. I paid her back the only way I could at the time: by giving her facials. Read more>>
Breana Belgard
Growing up, I spent a lot of time at the salon with my uncle, who was a hairstylist. I remember loving the atmosphere and watching him transform people’s confidence through beauty. From an early age, I knew I wanted to work in the beauty industry. Read more>>
Kevin Giles
I started barbecuing at the early age of 5 years old. My parents taught me all about the barbecue game, they also had a barbecue restaurant called Dave’s BBQ where I was working most of my life. So as you can see barbecue is rooted in me. I eventually invested with my Aunt into the food truck that we have now. Read more>>
All I Hear is Static
We started the band in July 2016 as an electronic duo, with Ryan Fairbanks and Jacob Fitts writing music and playing small venues throughout Deep Ellum, including The Door and Curtain Club. About two years later, the lineup expanded with Dalton Reed joining on bass and Chase Buesing on drums, helping us grow both our live sound and our creative direction. Read more>>
Destiny Kallay
Seven years ago, I moved to Dallas with a vision and a passion for helping people feel confident in their own skin. I built my esthetics business entirely through word-of-mouth, something I’m incredibly proud of because every client has come from trust, relationships, and genuine results. As my journey evolved, so did my purpose. Read more>>
Joela Tate-Derks
I started my business right in the middle of my small kitchen. Creating sweet desserts for my family and friends changed my life. Read more>>
Kashenia Browne
B’Luxe Style began from my passion for helping women look and feel confident through fashion. After spending more than 30 years in the beauty and hair industry, I saw firsthand how the right style could transform not only a woman’s appearance but also her confidence. Read more>>
Suzanne Adkisson
The inspiration for this endeavor was our beloved dog, Libbey. She experienced a distressing seizure, followed by a second one shortly thereafter. We consulted with veterinarians to understand her condition. We were informed that her seizures were idiopathic, meaning without a known cause. However, we began to investigate her diet, including her food and treats, and observed some imbalances. Read more>>
Stephany Ficut
I discovered my passion for photography when I was 18 years old in Romania. What began as a creative hobby quickly became a calling, and I spent the next several years learning everything I could about the craft while building my first photography business. In 2014, I moved to the United States and had to start over completely. Read more>>
Leti Costa
I first started creating content on YouTube during the good ol’ beauty guru days; focusing on cruelty-free lifestyle and beauty as I transitioned to a mostly plant based lifestyle. As an immigrant from Brazil (and also part Peruvian), this was a bit unheard of in my culture, so it was a cool way to find community. Read more>>
Denver Tracy
I’ve spent my career at the intersection of design, branding, marketing, and technology. I started as a graphic designer and gradually expanded into creative direction, UI and UX design, web experiences, and digital marketing. Read more>>
Lisa and Lisa Guerra and Smith
Lisa G. moved to Dallas in 1987 to begin her teaching career and is the proud mom of three daughters. Lisa S. is a Dallas native and the proud mom of two boys. Together, we spent years teaching first- and third-grade together, where our shared passion for education, creativity, and teaching through meaningful learning experiences inspired us to create Zanyfun Trunks. Read more>>
Tomik Mansoori
I started my career in Los Angeles and have spent more than 20 years working across film, television, live events, and experiential production. I have always been drawn to the intersection of creativity and execution—helping take an idea that exists on paper and turning it into something real, whether that is a feature film or a large-scale brand experience. Read more>>
Guru
I often joke that poetry found me before I realized I was looking for it. Growing up in Detroit, I was captivated by shows like *Def Poetry Jam*. I didn’t know it then, but watching those poets plant pieces of themselves on stage planted something in me too. Read more>>
Johnny Rip
The reason I started dj’ing is because of my love/infatuation for chopped & screwed music. I was so engulfed with the style I taught myself how to mimic it. Once I learned how to slow music down I picked up the basics of dj’ing. I’ve also had loses turnt lessons, great mentors, and people that have believed in my career till this present day. Read more>>
Nadirah Shakir
Storytelling has always been a part of who I am. I started acting when I was just two years old, performing speeches and participating in school productions. Being on stage felt natural, and from an early age, I knew I loved entertaining people and bringing stories to life. Read more>>
Lisa Dee Nelson
I would have to say I got my love for cooking from my great-grandmother, Mama Lee. She was from Mississippi, and her down-home Southern recipes were absolutely off the chain! My mom often shares a story about walking into Mama Lee’s kitchen and being horrified to find me, at just four years old, standing on a stool cooking bacon. Read more>>
Craig Watson
My name is Craig Watson but I go by the moniker Dr. Real or Dr. Real says. Dr. Real is a creation born out of frustration, disappointment, and overall need to change the man I was to the man I was created to be. My purpose is to assist other people in healing, accountability and establishing standards. Read more>>
Charla Corn Barrett
My story starts in music and radio. I spent years on-air at 95.9 The Ranch in Fort Worth and worked in television, including CMT, so I’ve always understood presence, voice, and how someone comes across on camera long before I ever called it ‘branding.’ After that, I spent a decade building a career in network marketing. Read more>>
Marisa Miller
Casi Cielo Coffee started with a very personal problem that became a much larger product philosophy. I’ve always loved coffee, but I live with severe gluten sensitivity, lactose intolerance, fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy, and a Red 40 allergy, so I learned quickly that ingredients are not just details to ignore, they can completely change someone’s experience. Read more>>
Susan Wechsler
I have a BFA & MFA but I am a self-taught mosaic artist, my work redefines the boundaries of the medium. What began with a few broken pieces of my grandmother’s china has grown into a career of recognition and respect, celebrated for its originality, craftsmanship, and vision. Read more>>
Erika Mitchell
I never set out to work in the plant industry, but I found myself helping build something that has grown far beyond what we ever imagined. As my husband, Tanner’s, audience grew, I naturally stepped into the business side of things, building systems, creating operations, managing our team, and helping turn a passion project into a sustainable company. Read more>>
Courtney Aspelund
Minced started in 2016 as merely a hobby while I was staying at home with kids. It began with me (Courtney) making weekly meals for my husband, sister in law, and my husband’s colleagues at work. Read more>>
Stacy Smith
I started out in animal welfare in 1992 as a dog foster. I was woefully ignorant about what was happening in shelters; like many people I think I assumed that animals in shelters must have something wrong with them. I quickly learned that the vast majority of them were social, friendly, and perfectly capable of being wonderful companions. Read more>>
Mary Allyson Martin
I started my Youtube journey in 2019. I grew up performing and entertaining throughout my whole life and also loved social media. My husband encouraged me to start a Youtube channel when we got married and even offered to help film and edit the videos. Read more>>
Sebastian & Sidney Sanchez/ Monghate
Our Story: Ghost Mammoth Pickleball Club In 2016, my life changed forever when I became a father to a beautiful little girl. We made the bold move to downtown Dallas, unsure of what the future held, but knowing that as long as we had each other, we could face anything. Read more>>
Trina Hooker
My journey has been anything but linear, but it has always been about partnership. My husband, Cahill, and I began building businesses together in 2017. People often ask how I can work with my husband. Read more>>
Kazzim Daniels
It’s funny because I never actually planned to become a cinematographer. Back in university, I was a music producer. I made beats for artists, and I genuinely thought that was the path I was going to follow. Even before music, I’d always been a creative person. Read more>>
Yesenia Leos Wells
A Dallas native raised in East Dallas, I’m a product of DISD schools and a graduate of the University of North Texas. My professional path began in the service industry, where I spent a decade learning the value of connection, resilience, and reading people; skills that would later shape every chapter that followed. Read more>>
Shaundra Tolbert Range
Doing hair has been my passion since I was about 13 years old I grew up in the house where my mom my grandmother and my Godsister did hair so honestly it was rooted in me. I started doing my friends hair they was like my model my passion for hair grew because I loved the outcome and how it made a person feel . Read more>>
Jamie Holder
I started my business in college out of my one-bedroom apartment. At that time there was no Facebook, Instagram or tic toc. I was self-taught and did a ton of trial-and-error baking after classes and having friends come over to sample different desserts. It slowly evolved to doing wedding cakes for friends and the finally made the move to go full time in 2000. Read more>>
Faith McKinstry
I am an actor and model from Texas. I developed my love of performing through my hobby as a cosplayer and began acting and modeling in March of 2023. I started acting by working as a stand-in and background actor on projects in Dallas-Fort Worth and have progressed to short films, feature films, and commercials. Read more>>
Nancy Carter
As the daughter of a career army officer, I grew up on military bases in Japan during the Vietnam war. The military has always been near and dear to my heart, so when our son was accepted into the US Merchant Marine Academy in 2008, I knew that he would, one day, serve either actively or in the reserves. Read more>>
