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.
Kelly Crabb
I spent nearly twenty years as a photographer, so I’ve always been a vocational creative. When I married my husband and became a stepmom in my late thirties, I found myself spending more time outside while the boys played — pulling weeds, planting things, trying to make our yard feel like home. I had never gardened before and honestly had no idea what I was doing. That turned out to be part of the magic. Read more>>
Antonia Andrews
That’s how Zenful Sparks evolved from a personal practice into a dedicated studio and collective space. I wanted to create a vessel not just for my own work, but for other practitioners like Julie Larson (Jules), whose herbalism and shadow-work complement the energy clearing I do. Read more>>
Lindsay Torres aka Ruby Red
I have been creative most of my life. I was always in my room modeling in front of my mirror, being artistic,& singing karaoke out loud. My mom and Dad always told me I could do anything I set my mind to, and fostered my creativity from a very young age. School growing up was difficult for me, because I was bullied relentlessly for my weight and picked on regularly by my peers, but art and music kept me going. Read more>>
Jan Kraybill
I’m proud to be a very active Kansas City-based musician! Here in KC I’m the organ conservator at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and organist-in-residence at the international headquarters of Community of Christ in Independence, Missouri. Read more>>
Lindsey Bodamer
My path to starting Wild Marketing has really grown out of real life. As a wife, mom, and small business owner, I understand what it’s like to juggle responsibilities while trying to build something meaningful. Read more>>
Amy Sharp
Season 7 really grew out of my love for fashion and my love for people. I’m a mom of four adult kids and now a grandma, so I’ve been through a lot of different seasons of life myself. Somewhere along the way I started noticing that so many women feel like fashion isn’t “for them” anymore once they reach a certain age. Read more>>
Sky & Eden Thoennes
We’ve actually known each other since middle school—what feels like a lifetime ago—but we were always just friends. After college we reconnected, and the rest unfolded pretty naturally from there. Sky grew up in the production world, and Eden’s background is a mix of theater, education, and design, so creativity has always been part of our DNA. Read more>>
Arriel Houston
I’ve always wanted to be my own boss. So I started praying to God and asking for signs on my next career steps. I kept getting signs to do nails, so I tried it. And I was good at it! I would’ve never known I would be doing nails full time, but you never know what you’re good at until you try. Read more>>
John Dixon
I grew up here in the Kansas City area and went to Rockhurst High School. One of the ideas that really stayed with me from my time there was the Jesuit concept of being “Men for Others.” That phrase stuck with me long after graduation and shaped how I thought about the kind of work I wanted to do. Read more>>
Tyler Suter
The act of creation has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents would take my sister and I to art museums and encourage us to paint and draw at home. Growing up in a family of trade workers, we were also encourages to build things, mostly ramps to skate or tree houses. Read more>>
Zheng Shao
I began studying piano at a young age and eventually pursued professional training in classical music, focusing on piano performance and composition. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work in many different musical roles – as a pianist, composer, choir director, voice teacher, and church organist. Read more>>
Danielle Haldeman
My husband, Jordan, and I have had long standing careers in education and government service. We have been searching for opportunities to create more flexibility with our time and family the past few years. A year ago, my husband starting pitching the idea of starting up a small business in the home services industry. Read more>>
Elizabeth Kathryn
When I reflect on my journey, I can actually see the seeds of what I do today going all the way back to childhood. As a kid, you’d often find me wandering through the adult section of the library reading books on intuition, magic, tarot, ESP, and metaphysics. I was fascinated by ancient Egypt, mythology, and stories of gods and goddesses. Read more>>
Carody Franklin Captured by Carody
When my husband and I got engaged, I completely fell in love with the bridal world. From pinning dream dresses to experiencing the process myself, I was all in. Read more>>
Stephanie Swanson
I’m a life and career coach who primarily works with people navigating chronic illness and disability. Before this work, my career started in engineering and grew into project management and leadership roles in an academic medical center. I spent years helping organizations improve systems and solve complex problems. My path into coaching came through my own life upheaval. Read more>>
Phillip Wolff
Jingle Bros started in 2020 while I was coming out of the tech world working in startups. That first year was very small—we decorated just a handful of homes as a way to make some extra money during the holidays. What started as a simple seasonal side project quickly showed us there was much bigger potential. Read more>>
Fahteema Parrish
My story really begins in Kansas City, where I grew up in a small business household watching my father run his HVAC company. As a young girl, I was often helping with paperwork and learning how important it was to make sure things were structured correctly and done with integrity. Read more>>
Mandy Maples
Like a lot of entrepreneurs, my journey didn’t start with a perfectly mapped out plan. It really grew out of life experiences and paying attention to problems that needed better solutions. My husband and I spent years working in the industry from the back office to the field and eventually starting our own roofing and sheet metal business. Read more>>
Fernando Castano
Established in 1995, Optima Beauty Supply was one of the first all-purpose beauty businesses to open in Lower Manhattan. Shop from over 500 brands for your beauty essentials and hair care needs. Optima Beauty Supply has been in the hair care business for years, specializing in wig styles, weave styles, hairstyles, and more. Read more>>
Jessica & Justin Parr
We have been in e-commerce for quite some time, largely working on third party platforms like eBay and Amazon, but also dabbling in standalone sites. Around eleven years ago, we had the opportunity to purchase an existing online business from Jessica’s parents, who had a small boutique in Joplin. Read more>>
Kendri Burkett
I was studying to become a registered dietitian when I got on a plane to San Diego to throw a surprise bridal shower for my sister and I pulled the Southwest Airlines magazine out of the seat pocket. Read more>>
Makala Towner
Towner Studios began in 2017 as something very personal for Makala. After stepping into motherhood, she was looking for a way to get out of the house, reconnect with herself, and rediscover a part of her identity outside of being “mom.” Photography started as a small creative outlet—something that was just for her—but it quickly became so much more. Read more>>
Kelsey Keever
Honestly, taking photos was just an interest. Growing up, all the girlfriends would get together and do our little photoshoots. Come my high school graduation, 11 years ago, I was gifted my step-father’s camera and somehow never gave it up. Summer of 2021 I decided to really turn this passion into a business and it has continued to grow since then. Read more>>
Jennifer Apelt
About 6 years ago, someone told me that painting is good for stress relief, and I should try it. I said I didn’t even know how to paint. I’ve never had any training except for middle school art class. It didn’t matter. I was told to get a canvas, a brush, and some paint. Then paint whatever I wanted. So, I did. Read more>>
Hannah Ostrander
For nearly twenty years, ballet was my entire world. I trained and performed at a professional level, and for most of my life, that was the identity I carried- disciplined, driven, and completely devoted to the art form. When I developed health issues that forced me to stop dancing abruptly, it shook me to my core. Read more>>
Anna Derzapf
I’m not entirely sure where to start my story, so I’ll take you back to the beginning, Houston, Texas. God, I love being a Texan. Rodeos, Buc-ee’s, and brisket run in my veins. When it came time to choose colleges, I was hell-bent on going to a fancy East Coast university. Read more>>
Alea Kelley
I began my career in sales in 2021, educating seniors about what retirement would look like from a healthcare perspective. I quickly realized that many people felt overwhelmed trying to understand Medicare and the options available to them. What started as a job became a calling. I developed a true passion for helping seniors navigate complex decisions with clarity and confidence. Read more>>
Sharmila Sadarangani
I started out as an elementary school teacher. Soon after I had a child, and then another child 15 months later. I decided to take off a few years of teaching and stay home with my young children. During that time, my husband decided to leave and I was left raising two little boys on my own. Read more>>
Jayme Wright
The 304 Venue started as part of a larger vision to make better use of the spaces owned by Tonganoxie United Methodist Church. Like many churches, we had beautiful spaces that were only used a few days a week. Instead of letting them sit empty, we saw an opportunity to create a welcoming space the community could gather in. Read more>>
Debbie Tangen
I never thought I would be a dog trainer – I grew up with cats so why would I start training dogs? Well… … in 2008, my family begged me to get a dog after I completed years of allergy shots. Read more>>
Stephanie Olson
I started Adulting Financial about seven years ago to help people feel less overwhelmed by their money. I kept meeting smart, capable adults who felt embarrassed or intimidated by finances because they were never actually taught how things like budgeting, investing, or taxes work. Read more>>
Ursula Tizon
Ever since I could remember, I’ve always been a ‘maker.’ I hauled my crayons and markers everywhere as a child and I was always drawn to beautiful colorful art. In high school the art wing was my safe haven, and I spent hours and hours there. Read more>>
Todd Sandler
I started Naturally Wired at only 22 years old in 1995, doing mostly speaker and satellite installations, and have evolved it into a full service home technology company providing smart home systems, audio/video, security, motorized window coverings, lighting systems, and more. I was always good at school, but after a couple semesters of college, I decided it wasn’t for me. Read more>>
Steve and Dorthy Halley
The Family Peace Initiative (FPI) is a certified battering intervention program operated by Halley Counseling Services, P.A. Presently, FPI operates more than 25+ groups in communities throughout the state of Kansas. Along with direct service, the staff of the FPI conducts training through workshops and conferences focusing on battering intervention facilitation, battering motivation, working with justice-involved youth, and understanding trauma and victimization. Read more>>
Jessica James
My story definitely didn’t start with a business plan. It started with curiosity and a desire for more. After college, I followed the traditional path, working in corporate roles and doing what I thought I was ‘supposed’ to do. On paper I was checking all the boxes but deep down something was missing. I wanted more freedom. More creativity. Read more>>
Marilee Rose
If we are talking about my current endeavor – Superposition Stays (short-term rental company) then what had happened was…I bought a house in my hometown of Iola, KS back in January of 2022. I lived in Kansas City at the time, but wanted a relaxing home away from the city and a place to stay when visiting family and friends. Read more>>
Sarah Voth
My name is Sarah, and I’m 19 years old. When I was a senior in high school, I made the decision to pursue my passion for helping women feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin by attending esthetician school at Entourage Institute of Beauty. While I was still in high school, I worked multiple jobs and even purchased my first home. Read more>>
WOOFS play & stay Lee’s Summit
Woof’s Play & Stay started years ago with one location and a simple idea: dogs deserve a place where they can play, stay, and be cared for like family. As more pet parents began searching for a safe and fun place they could trust with their dogs, Woof’s quickly grew into something special. Read more>>
Matt Smithmier
As a lifelong musician, I grew up playing piano, later the trumpet through college, then mandolin and guitar in various bands. While clearing out my old band’s practice space, I couldn’t bear to throw out that abandoned century-old piano and lose the gorgeous wood under all that dust. Read more>>
Jacob Gaytan
The story of GTN starts in Mexico. I grew up in a small town called Nava, Coahuila, and was studying Software Engineering at university when I started working at a print shop called Impresos Monterrey. I spent a few years there learning about design and digital printing. In 2022, I had the opportunity to move to Kansas. Read more>>
