Kansas City’s Most Inspiring Stories

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.

Dustin Delaney

I started as a high school weight training instructor and football coach. Made transition to real estate 5 years ago. Still coached last couple years. recently took position in brokerage leadership at KW in PV. Still actively selling as well. Read More>>

Artesha F

I started out with literally a dream and took a leap on executing my vision. I register my LLC which is Tea With Teash, LLC so that I could have multiple businesses under that umbrella. I researched the equipment I needed, discovered how to create my Podcast on Spotify and how to get it to automatically populate to Apple Podcasts, Iheartpodcast and YouTube Music. Looked for Guests to interview on audio and also bought plenty notebooks to write down questions following my research about whomever I was going to interview. Reached out to them with the idea that a “Yes” was already in the bag, we scheduled a time and date then the rest of history!! Read More>>

Iosha Landry

One day, when I was low on funds I came across a 5min DIY video on YouTube of them making food candles from home. Immediately I fell in love with the concept so once I got paid again I started ordering molds and Yoshi’s Wax Works LLC was born. I have been selling on Etsy, Amazon, and locally at pop up shows ever since. I have branched out from just dessert candles to pop culture molded and hand painted candles and wax melts. This has been a unique talent I never knew I had and I hope to be able to scale the business further on 2025. Read More>>

Gwen Delaney

I finished up my degree in vocal performance this fall and venturing am full time into the world of performance. I’ve been lucky enough to work professionally as a musician for the last two years here – I sing with The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Cardinalis, KC VITAS, Heartland Opera Theater, Opera on Tap KC, and several other local arts organizations. I’m looking forward to seeing what the next few years bring as I keep auditioning and working on projects that I am passionate about. Read More>>

Jack & Karen Cunningham

Since we are not a franchise, we have had to research and learn how to do everything ourselves. The create your own candle concept is not well know, so getting our name out there in a way that people can understand what we do has been tough. We have also had to figure out all the procedures on how to run a create your own candle shop. Setting up the layout, the methods, and even how and where to put the candles to set has been an ongoing process for us. Read More>>

Lafonte Brown

This took a huge toll on me and my business i tried to keep my hopes high and used this time at home to work on my business and do the things I never had time to do before! As soon as I could get back in my community and do more in person events I was so excited and even more ready for what was to come! As the years pass my business got more recognition and grew way more than I ever imagined, I was truly excited and thankful for how much it has grown.. In 2024 I made the biggest decision and moved myself and my business across country to Kansas City, Missouri. It was a very scary decision but I desperately wanted to be closer to my family. These past 7 months have been filled with so much trials and tribulations but with that I always go back to my business and what I truly love. I love what I have built and hope that my business can help so many other communities. With time and hard work I know I will accomplish all my dreams! Read More>>

Edward Ecklund

Starting my own business came with its own struggles, too. Learning how to run an online print shop from scratch wasn’t easy, and I had to figure out everything from production to automation. The pandemic was tough, but it also pushed me to learn software and web development to stay afloat. Opening Retro Games KC was another leap, turning unused space into a retail store and trusting that my passion for retro games would resonate with customers. Each step has had its challenges, but they’ve all taught me resilience and adaptability. Read More>>

Meagan Dowell

We are devoted to dogs by providing a custom experience tailored to each individual need. We offer engaging daycare, comfortable overnight boarding and experienced grooming for our pups! Our community has been very supportive since day 1. The past 6 years have not been without challenges, from navigating COVID to our changing economy. However, our mission remains the same, our dog’s happiness and care comes first! We look forward to many more years caring for the dogs in our community. Read More>>

Haley Grayless, Msod

The organization I worked for had a toxic culture that was making it hard on myself and many other people on the team. There was a lack of psychological safety (a term used to explain when a team can take risks, be vulnerable with each other, and bring their full selves to work; without fear of humiliation, retaliations, and opportunities being taken from them). For a while, I was so anxious because of this culture that my hair was falling out, I cried all the time, and I barely had an appetite (which had never been an issue before). Read More>>

Ashley Williams

When I first started injecting 10 years ago, the appointments were very sporadic. I definitely wasn’t doing Botox or filler each day, or even each week. I lacked the confidence I have now and wasn’t always setting reasonable expectations for patients. Once I came to Monarch and injecting became my primary focus, my outcomes became better and my patients were happier. I tried to soak up as much knowledge as I could, and I still attend lots of trainings and conferences each year. Aesthetics is always evolving, and it’s important to stay up to date on new products and techniques. Read More>>

Jesica Williams

I grew up in south florida playing competitive soccer, then eventually gave up soccer to pursue volleyball fully, and that gave me the opportunity to play in college at Rutgers University. I’ve been interested in peak performance for as long as I can remember; I ran to school in high school (didn’t get my license until age 24), and was often training outside of school and practice, as well as seeking healthy ways to fuel my body. Read More>>

Kathy Shen

We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished, but for us, real estate is about more than just transactions. It’s about connecting with people and truly caring for our clients and putting their interest above all else. When we moved to Kansas City, we didn’t know a single soul, but over the years we were fortunate to have built so many meaningful relationships with many of the families we serve and also a lot of people in the real estate industry. Read More>>

Hayley Witte

In 2022 the network marketing business that had previously been supporting our family had started to crumble as a company, but I was also postpartum at that time and had a 3 year old. In April of 2022 my dad got diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and he passed away in May of 2022, just one month later. I knew then that I couldn’t continue to show up on social media and work a business that required me to be plugged in constantly. It was a really big pivotal moment for our family because I got really clear on what I wanted (freedom) and what I didn’t want which was working from my phone constantly. Read More>>

Amanda Lacey

The journey hasn’t always been smooth but the reward after the struggle makes it all worth it. I had to learn not everyone sees the value in handcrafted pieces and that’s ok because you’ll eventually find your audience. Remembering that only you dictate your worth and the value of your products, the price one person wont pay another will with no issues. Read More>>

Christy Vincent

The company started due to the lack of more masculine body wash scents available for women and nonbinary folx. Tired of being forced to choose between smelling like flowers, fruit, or candy, or shopping in the men’s section for more desired scents, but then experiencing skin breakouts, Christy decided to start making MOC BOD body wash. The word spread quickly. Within months, the body wash had been shipped to nearly every US state and three other countries. Read More>>

 John Cutler, Paul Krowas, Jimmy Kegin and Jason Meier.

We’d all known each other around the Lawrence/KC scene for years, crossing paths either playing together in past bands or on shared bills. During the summer of 2019, John and Jason started talking over a few months about the current lack of punk rock and roll bands in the area. When they both wound up not playing in any current bands they decided to try putting their idea together. That fall and one phone call later to Paul, White Line Nightmares were off and running. Speed ahead about 2 years and the band started talking to Jimmy about coming to the fold on 2nd guitar. The current lineup was in place and we’ve been running solid for over 4 years. Read More>>

Lee Ann Mahoney

That transferred over into my business and provided a niche for me to focus my efforts in. My customers and I wanted to personalize items so In 2019 I got a cricut machine and started using heat transfer vinyl. This lead into onesies, then family/mommy & me matching sets. I started doing my own tye dying. In 2021 I branched out and got into a few local boutiques in the area. With my love of sewing and other crafty things my business keeps evolving and is currently centered around handmade and/or embellished apparel and other crafty things. Read More>>

Raye Jonas

Plus, there are a lot of tools and equipment that go into stained glass, and I needed to get all of it. After my heart and head were aligned, I wanted to prove to myself that I could be dedicated to doing an art full time. I spent a month cross-stitching pieces, because if I could spend a month doing such a tedious thing for 8 hour days, then I knew I could do stained glass full time. After that month I proved to myself that one, I could do it, and two, I really wanted to pursue stained glass. After selling those cross-stitched pieces I bought everything I needed and jumped straight in. Read More>>

Mari Charlson

When I got into high school, my love for photography blossomed. I was gifted my first camera when I was 17 from my dad, who always supported my artistic vision. Before he gifted me a camera of my own, I would use his. My friends and I taking photos of each other for hours and hours, as we explored downtown Kansas City. So after he gifted me a camera of my own, I decided I would start photographing other people. Not even in the hopes of starting a business, I just thought it was incredibly fun. I started photographing fellow high school seniors and peers of mine, as well as some models who thought it was cool to do TFP shoots with a younger photographer! Read More>>

Dejah Winters

I called my Big Sister who also does nails in the Kansas City area and that next day we got busy. I knew nails would open so many doors toward the kind of lifestyle I imagine for myself and my daughter. Being present as a parent is a priority to me. So starting my business allows me the time, & flexibility to do my job as a mother. From there I’ve been on a mission. To perfect my craft. To create a life that will result in financial freedom. My plans for the future is to expand the business In multiple ways. Starting off with Merch, Courses, & shhhh theirs more! Read More>>

Tiana Thompson

I would say the biggest hurdle along the journey so far has been taking the initial risk. Leaving my previous job was a hard thing to do because it partially felt like I was leaving a family! Everything I learned and gained from my career at Supplement Superstores definitely helped to equip me in starting my own businesses. There was also the partial fear of leaving something I had mostly known to do something new again, which I like to say is “navigating uncharted territories.” Stepping out of a moment of fear and leaning into my trust & faith in God’s timing for me was the saving grace in making my decision to leave. The people pleaser in me felt like i was letting people down, but the intuition in me was aligning my life in the direction where I feel the most called and drawn to. Read More>>

Jess Azar

My journey to creating The Sundry has been deeply personal, rooted in my own experiences with healing and self-discovery. I vividly recall an early stage in my recovery from Complex PTSD when I realized I had no true understanding of what self-care really meant. One thing was certain: my regular pedicures, while enjoyable, weren’t cutting it. As I delved deeper into healing my nervous system, it became increasingly clear that, as a society, we often overlook what it truly means to care for our emotional and mental well-being. Read More>>

Rebecca Coppage

In November of 2023, one of my best friends, Meredith, was telling me that her daughter Lily wanted to get her ears pierced. Lily was 8 years old. Meredith didn’t want to take her to Claire’s or a store in the mall. She also didn’t really want to take Lily to a piercing parlor. I offered to pierce Lily’s ears. Some background information that’s important to know is that I have been a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for over 12 years and about 11 years ago, I was trained on how to medically pierce ears. So, a few days later, Lily came over to my house and I pierced her ears! It was an easy, relaxed, and happy experience. Read More>>

Angela Vandegrift

I developed an early interest in health and anatomy while training for fitness competitions in high school. This practice in discipline was invaluable for life; however, the results felt shallow and the diet wreaked havoc on my body. This ultimately led me down a holistic path. After taking some business classes at Butler County Community College in my hometown of Wichita, I was still searching for my true passion. That search led me to the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics, where I learned about Food & Herbs as Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Cranial Sacral Therapy.  Read More>>

Sarah Pierrelee

I’ve grown-up doing my friends makeup as long as I can remember, and as I got older, it became a talent that I felt other people may want to utilize. Through all the wonderful people I’ve met in our community, I have been able to build a network of people who love to look their best, but also want to feel like they look like themselves. I think that is kind of my niche and I’m so grateful that I have been able to turn my passion into a business. It has become something that I feel so blessed to share with people because the power of makeup and how it makes you feel can never be denied. Read More>>

Alice Delbosque

Angel Hearts Rescue Inc is are a tiny group with a few volunteers that focus on getting dogs & cats to the vet for spay & neuter, vaccinations and sometime emergency vet care. We rely on donations to pay for vet care & emergencies that go into the thousands if a puppy has parvo or injured. Angel Hearts Rescue goes into these camps and deliver dog/cat food, leashes and collars. We also educate the homeless community why it is important to spay & neuter their dogs and cats, vaccinations, heartworm preventive for the dogs and flea and ticks for both dogs and cats. Angel Hearts Rescue networks with other groups that feed the homeless people by giving them dog & cat food to take out with them. Read More>>

Alison Montecinos-johnson

Coming from a conceptual graphic design background I wanted a name for my business that reflected a new phase equating to the new phase a couple would enter into as they began their life together, and so Solstice Floral Studio was born. Summer solstice was also historically a time of the year to celebrate harvests and many people would chose to marry during this celebratory time. I began building my business and started creating floral for many beautiful weddings. I then took a step back when I became pregnant with my son and went back to working in a floral shop a few hours a week while taking on less clients in my business. Read More>>

Brenda Cortes

What sets me apart is my focus on spotlighting diverse, lesser-known spots in Kansas City, giving them the recognition they deserve. I also create monthly Kansas City event calendars with live links, making it effortless for people to find out what’s happening in the city. Beyond KC, I showcase incredible travel destinations, offering a mix of local gems and global adventures. Read More>>

Kylee Reynolds

Thankfully, pretty darn smooth. There are always challenges with running your own business; learning the legalities, how to be profitable, finding your style, etc. I have felt so much support from my friends, family, and clients over the last decade. It wouldn’t have been nearly as smooth without their love. Read More>>

Sid Quade

Eventually I went to the Kansas City Art Institute and ended up studying animation. After graduation, I started working part-time jobs while trying to build up a portfolio and get my name out there as a freelance illustrator/designer. After a while, I finally started to get work. Most of my first clients were from hobby game companies. Even while still maintaining the work established with game companies, I also tried expanding my potential client base out to local businesses, ad agencies, and other industries. Read More>>

Friendly Thieves

Their first find was Sam Wells, whose commanding stage presence and velvety vocals paved the way for the band’s unmistakable brand and lyrical style. Next came saxophonist Ben Baker, whose funk and jazz influences, enriched by electronic effects and a masters degree from the UMKC Conservatory added the perfect foundational layer to their music. Rounding out the ensemble, they sought drummer Matthew Chipman, whose robust band experience in Metal, Gospel and Indie Rock genres have solidified their ever evolving sound. Each member brings their unique talents to the table and makes the band infinitely greater than the sum of its parts. Read More>>

Shannan Conner

I immediately dove into the planning process around February of 2023. In June of 2023 we signed a lease and we opened our doors 60 days later in August! We have now been open over a year and I love the space we have created for families in the Northland. We host weekly classes including Music Makers, Workable Wednesday and Explorative Dough Play. Through our first year we have stayed true to our values of having a clean, welcoming and educational space! I am excited to see what this next year brings for us as we have BIG and NEW events in the works! Read More>>

Ronnie Oswald

I’ve been experimenting with bbq for about 14 years. I would cook for gym parties a lot and everyone would demolish it! Right around 2020 I built my first offset smoker and started cooking and selling meat by the pound to my neighborhood foodie group and friends. During this time I wasn’t very happy doing what I’d been doing the last 13 years and decided to go all in on bbq. Bought a food truck trailer in 2023, built a few smokers and just went for it. Looking forward to 2025 and have a lot of plans in the works. Read More>>

Brittany White

I started posting on social media, and traction started building, but I still wanted more. I reached out to a local boutique (Love Letters in Liberty, MO) and asked them if I could do a pop-up for the Super Bowl, and the business just started to boom. Many other moms were looking for the same thing I had been, and word spread, which brings us to today! I am packing and shipping packages all over the world and loving every minute of it! Read More>>

Amy Balentine

We made a deliberate decision to celebrate that day after Simon’s diagnosis with balloons and cupcakes – solidifying that we would rejoice in this child’s life, even when the world and doctors tell us his body is broken and it would be potentially easier to run from the pain and end the suffering – end Simon’s life. The doctors explained Simon might die in utero, die during labor or breathe for a small period of time. Read More>>

Kelly Burns

When the pandemic hit in 2020, I began dealing with anxiety and it really caused me to step back and evaluate how my life was structured – what was working for me and what honestly wasn’t. I began making some changes, and as I did so, I asked myself what I would want to do – really want to do – moving forward. I love the creative outlet of graphic design, and I enjoy being a helpful resource for others, so out of that, Plucky Poppy Creative was born. Now I offer affordable graphic design services to support other entrepreneurs, small business owners, and go-getters in achieving their goals! Read More>>

Brenda Aguilar

I started my business a little after my car accident last year, January 17 to be in fact. I have an extreme passion for animals. I was going to school for Vet Tech as well, but school just was never for me, specifically math and science. I have a huge heart for all dog owners who care so much for their precious babies that they worry who they can entrust with them, I mean, I am the exact same way! After many conversations with my sister she was the push I needed to start my business after such a heartfelt conversation. Read More>>

Tippi Shorter

Growing up just south of LA, I was always interested in the creative arts, I completed my studies and became a licensed stylist in 1993. I moved to nY in 1995 and began to work with celebrities. the first celeb was Lauren Hill. I then opened my own salon NY and became a haircolor educator. In 2005, I started working with Rihanna and decided to sell my salon to travel the world with her. I then added many other clients like Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson and even Beyonce. Read More>>

Kiara Howard

I oversee day-to-day office activities, business accounting and manage marketing. I wear a lot of hats at my company, but that’s what makes working in this industry so interesting. I specialize in customer relations and innovative marketing. I’m most proud of being an inspiration to women and my commitment to my community. I would say the number one thing that sets me apart is my passion and commitment to a male dominated industry! Read More>>