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.
Laura Haley
My artistic journey has been a constant my whole life. As a child, I would enter art contests in elementary school, then always painting and selling t-shirts, sweatshirts, megaphones etc. in high school and college. I majored in art at Ouachita Baptist University and graduated with a BA in art knowing full well any career I chose would be in the art field. Read more>>
Desiree Rios
My story begins in Texas, about eight generations before I did. Those roots gave me such a deep love for this state and the land we call ‘home.’ It carries stories, legacy, and the memories of people that came before us. My Dallas story begins with my grandma who came here from Corsicana. Read more>>
Sonia Gulley
I am a married mother of six and proudly grew up as an Army Brat. I have worked in the customer service field for over 40 years, gaining a wealth of experience in helping and serving others. I have also been actively involved in my church, where I have had the opportunity to serve and support my church family in various ways. Read more>>
Savannah Carter
Like many of us out there, my mom and I love to visit art galleries when on vacations. For many years I remember my mom, the owner of Gallery say ‘I want to start a gallery for these incredible local artists’ The dream stayed alive until a new cabin office was needed. Read more>>
Chanel Blackmore
Black Pearl Doula Collective was born out of a profound awakening and a vital necessity to protect and uplift Black women against systemic medical biases in maternal healthcare. The Catalyst: Lessons from Ghana The vision for Black Pearl truly took root between 2020 and 2023 while living in Ghana for three years. Read more>>
Erika Draper
Ever since I was a kid, everyone told me I was bossy and wanted to be in control of everything. Well, yes. But I learned that with compassion, a few years under my belt, and team building, it could be a recipe for success. Read more>>
Christy Pennington
My story is not a straight line, and it is certainly not one I could have scripted for myself. Today, I am a commercial real estate attorney and Member with Clark Hill, where I represent clients in complex real estate transactions across the country. Read more>>
Nicky Drake
My background is in photography—it’s what I went to school for, I eventually got into video as well —and I’ve always loved travel, food, and drink. As I traveled across my territory for work, I started bringing my camera into new bars and restaurants along the way. I’ve always had a strong connection to the hospitality industry and deep respect for the people in it. Read more>>
Haley Bowman
I started serving in the food industry as a freshman in college at a little coffee/sandwhich shop called Pressroom in my hometown of Bentonville, AR. While attending the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR as a full time music business major, I began making connections in the food industry and falling in love with the art of hospitality. Read more>>
Julian Blake
I think sometimes life will show you yourself before you’re even sure how to interpret the image. I was in the fifth grade the first time something I wrote was published. It was a poem in a Dallas newspaper. I didn’t understand that moment as some grand introduction to a career. Read more>>
Aaron Helm
I took the long way into this work, and every detour along the way turned out to matter. For years I worked in finance and operations at a Dallas-area college, eventually as Director of Alumni and Operational Efficiency. Read more>>
Zorric Sia
I didn’t start out thinking I’d be a podcast producer. I started out as an engineer. For over 20 years, I built and managed enterprise networks the kind of infrastructure that keeps large organizations running without anyone noticing. It was technical, demanding work, and I was good at it. I still do it today as a Network Manager at a publicly traded company. Read more>>
Willis Wright
My brother is the reason I started art, he was an exceptional artist and as a child I didn’t really understand art I just saw him putting lines together and figured if he could do it I could too if I just imitated what he was doing. Read more>>
Kesha Austin
Bomb Studios is a vintage content studio in Mesquite, Texas, created for photographers, artists, models, brands & content creators. The studio is basically an extension of everything I love. Vintage fashion, vintage furniture, bold color & styling spaces. I wanted to create something that felt different from your typical blank photography studio. Read more>>
Rochelle Bailey
My background is in radio and fashion, specifically runway and commercial modeling, which prepared me for my role as communications manager and assistant director of modeling for a local nonprofit arts and culture organization. We provided resources, model coaching and runway training, and education for local creatives through fundraising events like Northwest Arkansas Fashion Week. Read more>>
Rachel Innerarity
I became a therapist because I love people, and I love their stories. The coursework came easily to me, too, so the path felt less like a decision and more like a gravitational pull. But of all the stories people carry, love stories are my favorite — I’m a hopeless romantic to my core. Read more>>
Arsenio aka Bli$$
It has rarely been a smooth road. Being an independent artist means building your own vehicle, paving the route yourself, and fixing the engine while you are already driving it. Read more>>
Sophia Aste
The greatest struggle is re-learning that your relationship with money is your relationship with self-worth >> it takes envisioning of a better life before it comes true and that is a very brave place to stand in when so much is out of our control. Read more>>
Brittani Newman
Savoy Beauty started as Savoy Cosmetics. I was freelancing for MAC Cosmetics back in 2012-2014. January 2014, I was told they would no longer be using my services and it was then that I realized that I could be doing makeup on my own. So, I started taking clients out of my mom’s kitchen in February 2014. Read more>>
Deleah Tishay
When I was a little girl, I wanted to do a little bit of everything. I wanted to write. I wanted to create. I wanted to give back. I even wanted to act. And when I look at my life now, I realize that in some way, I’ve found a way to do all of those things. Read more>>
Miwako Urasugi
I grew up surrounded by tea fields in Kyoto, Japan, and began my career as a hairstylist more than 21 years ago. My work eventually took me from Kyoto to Tokyo, London, and then New York, where I moved in 2019. Read more>>
Lexia Crawford
I began my real estate career in 2006, and by 2008, I had expanded my path into entrepreneurship and business consulting. Over the years, I have worn many hats: business analyst, project manager, entrepreneur, consultant, and real estate professional. Each role brought its own challenges, opportunities, successes, and lessons. And through it all, my family has been on this journey with me. Read more>>
KAI BENNETT
My journey began as a single mother of five, rebuilding my life after leaving an abusive marriage and experiencing homelessness. Despite those challenges, I refused to give up. On October 26, I will celebrate seven years in business. I started my tax company by preparing returns for family and friends, and today I proudly serve more than 300 clients. Read more>>
Adaobi Alston
My journey with Signature Glam began with a genuine love for beauty and the way makeup can transform not only how a woman looks, but also how she feels. For me, makeup has never been about covering someone up or turning her into a different person. Read more>>
Rhydian Amy
I was a young kid from Waco Tx. Growing up my family played sports and video games! no matter what it came to I always ended up dancing! Whether it was th Micheal Jackson experience on the Wii or the HipHop game on Xbox Kinect even making little routines with my siblings it was something I was always attracted to! Read more>>
Lyndsay Smith
I’ve always loved being creative and bringing people together. I started by planning and decorating events for friends and family, and eventually decided to turn that passion into a business. Events were my first love, but when I was given the opportunity to begin offering wedding coordination alongside a photographer, that side of my business quickly took off. Read more>>
Stephanie Chairez
My story with food actually began long before I ever became a content creator. I grew up watching my dad work incredibly hard to provide for our family. He often worked two or three jobs, so while we loved having him home, I also remember how much of his life was spent working and providing for us. Read more>>
Madison C. Marie
I’ve been a professional actor for over 20 years, and storytelling has always been at the heart of everything I do. I earned my master’s degree in acting and have had the opportunity to work professionally on stage, in commercials, and in voice-over. Interestingly, my journey into audiobook narration happened almost unexpectedly. Read more>>
leighton stone
my music career started off back in highschool. doing freestyles during lunch or having a laugh with friends making diss tracks. eventually i started to fall in love with the process and started to find my lane, bringing me to where i am now Read more>>
Kitan
I’ve always been a cocktail enthusiast, but my interest in creating Sip Bistro really came from my own experiences at events and bars. I would often be disappointed by the same watered-down margaritas and other standard drinks being served at events. Read more>>
victoria Ribeiro
I didn’t always have a clear picture of where I was going. What I did know from an early age was that I was creative, ambitious, and never really interested in fitting into just one box. I was drawn to acting, and I loved making videos, whether it was in front of the camera or behind. Read more>>
Kailie Davis
I started out by taking a cosmetology course through my high school in 2017. I was doing friends and family members hair for really cheap and eventually ventured of into taking clients. I graduated high school with my cosmetology license in 2019 and moved to frisco. Read more>>
Niyati Kataria
I create jewelry as wearable ritual—where my Indian heritage and Sanskrit roots meet the living energy of Gaia, the Earth as spirit. My name, Niyati, means “destiny,” and my work is grounded in the belief that what we wear can carry intention, story, and energy. Read more>>
Lauren Schuller
I was born and raised in Dallas and left to attend the University of Texas at Austin after graduating from Hillcrest High School. I spent my 20s trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. College was a time of self-exploration, multiple major changes, developing my identity, and finding purpose and meaning. Read more>>
THE ABYSS
Well I’ve been playing a lil too long. My fingers hurt rn. Well a basically I play music to get by; and now I play for others to get by. Read more>>
Kassandra Rodriguez
I grew up in San Luis, Arizona, a small border town where I never really saw “brand strategist” as a career option. I actually discovered branding almost by accident. I started my career as a marketing intern for a company in Arizona and was offered a full-time position after graduating. Read more>>
Greg Rector
I grew up in a very ‘blue collar’ town called Barberton in NE Ohio. I developed a love for drawing in elementary school and won my first art award when I was in the sixth grade – second place in the City Art Show. I was in high school from 1969 until 1972 and really had a opportunity to excel artistically. Read more>>
Alina Wong
I started off my content creation journey during the pandemic in 2020, and it was honestly just another creative outlet for me outside of my 9-to-5. Read more>>
Derrion (Juice) Miller
I am the host of Cognac Conversations. The podcast that highlights the success stories of organic people through authentic dialogue. The crafted this concept many years ago but only introduced it to the world in 2023. Our sub name is mixing yac with the hustle. Life’s journey is a marathon and we feel our guests will and determination to succeed can help someone else. Read more>>
Jennifer Buitureira
This is going to be a bit emotional! But I find that the heart of any business is built off of the toughest moments in life and turning it into something made from the heart, sleeves rolled up and ready to tackle anything! My story begins in the throes of motherhood. I had just given birth to my first child. Read more>>
Arianne Thomas
I’m a native New Orleanian, so my Creole culture, storytelling, and making something beautiful from what nature gives us are all deeply personal to me. That connection is really at the heart of WhoFly Crafts & Culture. I started by experimenting with oyster shells and quickly realized I wanted to take them beyond the traditional jewelry dish. Read more>>
Chloe Johnson
I graduated from college and lost myself in my new full-time job. It wasn’t until I took a job in Australia that I finally realized what I had to do to make friends. When I came back to America, I wanted to create a group specifically for all the events I would be throwing. Read more>>
Natasha Zoryk
I started my career with what we jokingly call “The Ottawa Dream”: a secure Government of Canada job, a $61K salary lined up before I had even graduated university, and a very sensible career ahead of me. The only problem? I was 21 and already knew it wasn’t the life I wanted. Read more>>
Kevin E. Taylor
My story is quite detailed. I am a pastor and a creative writer, who also writes grants for social support service agencies. Read more>>
Rebekah Walker
My story begins just after graduating from Sam Houston State University in December 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Shortly after graduating, I began working with clients in rehabilitation centers while also teaching English remotely to students around the world. That experience became a pivotal part of my professional journey. Read more>>
Justin Harmon
I didn’t grow up around entrepreneurs (like, at all). My family worked traditional 9 to 5 jobs. When I got married, my wife’s family was the same way. Both dads worked hard labor jobs, and every sibling punched a clock. I still wanted to become my own boss, I just didn’t believe I had the guts to do it. Read more>>
Megan Buzza
Three years ago, I moved to North Texas and started over. At the time, I had spent years building an established career and golf coaching business on the East Coast. I had loyal students, strong relationships, and a reputation I had worked hard to earn. Then I moved to Texas, and suddenly, I was the new person again. Read more>>
Sian Hill
Hello! My name is Sian (pronounced like Ryan with an S) and I am an independent creator known as Uphill_Builds on instagram, youtube, and Tik Tok! What I create can be described as fictional gadgets, and characters brought to life through 3d modeling, printing, software and electrical engineering. I got my start about four years ago during my time away at University. Read more>>
Shinobu Yogo
PLEASE NOTE: This is the exact copy from my website’s “About” section. I would appreciate it if you could edit, condense, and arrange the content as needed to best fit the magazine’s style and format. I was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Read more>>
Jessica ‘Jase’ Smith-Martinez
I’m a Texas-wide girl all around—born in West Texas, bred in North Texas, now rooted in Central Texas, and I love visiting the South. Different parts of this state have shaped different parts of me. Creativity found me early. I started with poetry and multimedia art in middle school, explored photography, sang in school choir, danced in college, and eventually went from poet to singer-songwriter. Read more>>
Stephen Simmons
I was born and raised in the DFW area, and I’ve loved every part of the journey that has brought me to where I am today. I grew up in a Christian household and have been in church for as long as I can remember. However, ministry and church leadership were never really part of my plan. Growing up, my world revolved around sports. Read more>>
Riccardo Sabetti
I started making music many years ago, driven mainly by the need to create something that felt personal and honest. I’ve always been attracted to darkwave, post-punk, industrial and electronic music, and over the years I’ve been involved in different projects, including Spiral69, before starting This Eternal Decay. Read more>>
Traci Wilkes
Traci Wilkes is a multifaceted entrepreneur, community advocate, and civic leader in Athens, Texas. With a background in the energy sector and a passion for gemology, she has built a successful jewelry business while dedicating significant time to local economic development, cultural events, and nonprofit initiatives. Read more>>
Keita Ogawa
Im a full time musician playing Drums and Percussion. Im from Sasebo city, Nagasaki, Japan. When I was 11 years old I was watching Jazz performance on local TV program. There was drum solo moment that caught me and make me want to play drums. but none of my family are musician so I didnt start music at the moment. Read more>>
Lauren Bell
A little over a decade ago, I took a leap into something I never could have imagined would grow into such an important part of my life. At the time, my then spouse and I decided to start a small residential remodeling company. We began with a simple goal: do excellent work, treat people honestly, and build something we could be proud of. Read more>>
Tiffany Williams
My story has really been built on faith, determination, and refusing to let the hard seasons of life define where I was going. I’m a wife, a homeschool mom of three girls, a business owner, and a completely self-taught tattoo artist. Art has always been a part of me, but tattooing became something much bigger than I ever expected. Read more>>
Aluminé Lecuona
My story is one with many turns. Read more>>
Naomi Green
The COVID-19 pandemic made me realize just how important it was to have multiple streams of income, multiple gigs, and multiple hustles. Then, after unexpectedly losing my full-time employment in 2025, that lesson became very real for me. Read more>>
Wahab Ibrahim
My journey into hairstyling started with my love for creativity and the excitement I got from turning an idea into something real. What began as an interest eventually became something I wanted to take seriously, so I started learning, practicing, experimenting, and constantly challenging myself to improve. As I grew, I realized that hairstyling was more than just creating beautiful hairstyles for me. Read more>>
Booda
Im from a small town of Texarkana Texas right over by Arkansas and im so glad my mom and grandma moved us up to Dallas because it’s NOTHING for me down there but my family. Read more>>
Dylan Kuester
I grew up playing baseball, and it was really the game that shaped my early life- travel ball, high school ball, and eventually playing at the college level. Along the way, I started picking up a camera here and there in high school, just messing around, but it wasn’t until I got to the collegiate level that something clicked. Read more>>
Suraj Swaminathan
MedMinds Education began in August of 2024 when my friend and I realized how difficult it was becoming to distinguish between health advice that was actually backed by science and information that was simply going viral online. Read more>>
Cynthia Uzoukwu Hammonds
My name is Cynthia Uzoukwu Hammonds. I am a general dentist treating families at my practice, Keller Modern Dentistry, for over 2 years which I co-own with my business partners. I’ve been practicing dentistry for over five years, and it has its ups and downs, but I honestly couldn’t see myself doing anything else. Read more>>
Kimberlee Lumar
Body Essentials By K LLC started with a conversation. A friend invited me to a pop-up event and while I was there, I noticed a woman selling natural products after the crowd died down. I walked over to her table and started talking with her. I was genuinely curious about what she was selling and how she started. Read more>>
Juliana Eversole
I started my career in tax in 2008 and have spent most of my professional life working in different areas of tax compliance, preparation, and representation. Early in my career, I worked for the IRS for more than eight years, including as a Revenue Agent and Customer Service Representative. Read more>>
Houston Stray
I was an undiagnosed autistic kid from Houston. I was bullied so bad that I wasnt allowed to go outside for 10 years. I have been dragged, beaten, and way more. When I was 15 I started living with my dad and went to high school in Lubbock. Read more>>
Lydia Nguyen
During COVID, Happy Lemon became one of my favorite boba shops. It was something small that brought me happiness during such an uncertain time, and I genuinely loved the drinks, the energy of the brand, and the experience of going there. I never imagined at the time that something I enjoyed so much would eventually become such a meaningful part of my own journey. Read more>>
Ryan Fontenot
My story really begins when I became a follower of Jesus at 18 years old. The Gospel completely changed the direction of my life and gave me a purpose bigger than anything I had imagined for myself. Not long after that, I sensed God calling me into ministry—especially to reach young people with the same message that had transformed me. Read more>>
Kevin Anthony
Technology Executive • Entrepreneur • Music Executive • Community Leader • Philanthropist Born and raised in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Kevin Anthony discovered his passion for computers at an early age. His mother, Lacy Speed, recognized and encouraged his natural curiosity for technology, enrolling him in computer classes during his formative educational years. Read more>>
Kelly Foreman
MopTop started with a two-year-old’s hair. My middle daughter’s fine baby hair changed almost overnight into the tiniest, most beautiful teeny-weeny afro. And I’ll be honest, my first feeling wasn’t delight. It was fear. Because I didn’t just see curls. I saw what the world does to people who look a little different, and I knew it was coming for her. Read more>>
Christy Freddo
In 2013, I was coming out of a long career in corporate America where I had spent years working in international marketing and traveling extensively. I was also a single mom, and I knew I wanted my next chapter to look very different. Read more>>
Sam Eddings
I took over Foster’s Art Installation about a year and a half ago after spending 12 years running an interior design studio in Austin with my wife. We went to UT Austin together, and I always had an appreciation for art. Read more>>
