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.

Brooks Brown

Hey there–I’m Brooks. I’m 27 years old and I’m a musician, DJ and producer based in Leawood, KS. I was born in Tulsa, OK, grew up in the Kansas City area after we moved to KC area around age 4. I fell in love with music @ age 10 when my grandpa showed me a simple lick on his acoustic guitar–continuing to learn guitar led me to playing in bands + as a solo act all through middle and high school and leading worship at my church for 8+ years. Read more>>

Amy Becker

Throughout the time I would see families struggle to make it to appointments and kids not quite themselves in a clinic setting and frequently had families tell me that they wished I could see them at home. After 18 years of working for the hospital I felt called to start my own business and offer home visits. This allowed me more flexibility with both my treatment and personal time and allowed for a more personal relationship with kids and their families. I have seen so much difference in outcomes being able to treat kids in their on familiar surroundings of home and loved being able to incorporate things in their home to make home exercises more successful. It really has been such a game changer! Read more>>

Brian Matthys

Do you remember Show and Tell? Still one of the finest moment for a kid. I distinctly remember 1976. My turn to bring something to wow the class. I wanted tor bring something that seemed different. Even then, I wanted to show something to someone that maybe they hadn’t seen. It seemed obvious to me, even as a young child what to do. My brother had just been born, the last of 5, and he was now home. The choice was clear. I brought my brothers umbilical cord to show and tell; in a baby food container and water. Looking back, I have an odd thought. Is the umbilical cord the original wearable technology? Like putting on eye glasses for the first time, I like showing and learning things that people can’t always see. Read more>>

Rylie Beck Austin Goldberg

Rylie: The story of how I got to where I am today has been a winding road of pivots and synchronicities. For as long as I can remember, I have been enamored with all things home and design. While most kids were watching Nickelodeon, I was glued to the Home and Garden Network. Like a sponge, I would soak up every detail of a home transformation. I kept up to date on when Rachel Ray or Martha Stewart released a new line of home goods and would play real estate agent, complete with powerpoint presentations and all. While this was a huge passion of mine growing up, I never thought seriously of it as a career path. Read more>>

Sharonne McGee

I’ve earned a reputation as a trusted advisor who listens, informs, and fiercely advocates for my clients’ best interests. First-time buyers often feel overwhelmed, and my goal is to empower them with knowledge and support every step of the way. The joy on their faces when they receive the keys to their first home never gets old. Read more>>

Skyler Luster

Being the oldest of eight siblings, I always felt the responsibility to lead by example, and I think that drive pushed me creatively as well. At first, Instagram was just a hobby, posting daily, sharing my hair looks, my outfits, and just little pieces of my life. In 2015, everything changed when a photo of my hair unexpectedly went viral on Instagram and Pinterest. My notifications were non-stop, and companies would start reaching out to me about collaborations. That’s when I realized there might be something bigger here. Read more>>

Wanda Gomez

My journey began back in high school when I needed an extra credit class, and the only option left was photography. That unexpected choice sparked something in me. By senior year, I knew this would be my career. My first job was at a photography studio in a local mall, where I learned so much about the art and business of photography. In 2008, my dad gifted me my very first camera — a moment I’ll never forget. Read more>>

Kimberly McCombs

After about a year, I was offered equity in the company, and continued growing CNVS Nails behind the scenes. In late 2024, my partner stepped away and gave me the chance to take over. I said yes—and on January 1, 2025, I officially became the sole owner. Since then, I’ve taken the business full time, opened our own warehouse, brought fulfillment in-house, and continued to run everything from marketing to operations. It’s been a wild ride, but I’m more driven than ever to build something impactful and beautiful. Read more>>

Ginny Rossi

I was drawn to color. To texture. To anything expressive. I remember my friend dyeing my hair in my bathroom in college, not because I wanted to be rebellious—but because I wanted to see myself more clearly. I wanted my outside to match the bold, emotional, artistic person I felt like on the inside. Hair became this outlet for me— I went down hundreds of youtube rabbit holes about curly hair (instead of working on my music history homework trying to finish out my last semester of college.) I was watching video after video trying to figure out which curly styling technique would be right for me. I started playing with my curls. People started asking me what I was doing even though I barely knew. Read more>>

Keliah Smith

It was then, that I began to draw again after not having drawn for almost 20 years. Drawing became a sense of peace and serenity I hadn’t felt in a long time. It became my therapy and, in a sense, saving me from the world that was collapsing around me. It was a light in what felt like an unfamiliar dark alley. So, I had an urge to draw what I wanted so badly to feel, but didn’t: brown skinned women who were beautiful, adorned in crowns. Royalty. Divine…. with big fros and curls, because I had just gone natural myself and felt hideous due to years of verbal abuse from my previous relationship. Read more>>

Lindsey Hankins

Our bodies have an intricate relationship with our emotional, physical, mental and spiritual life. Learning how to integrate all of them so that they work together to bring healing and full expression of who we are has been no less than extraordinary for me. We are learning new things every day about the amazing creatures we are as humans. I am excited to assist those who are struggling to heal and walk into the greatness God put within them. Read more>>

Kara Hettinger

Moving into Arts Administration gave me personal financial security but the non-profit arts sector involves a lot of fundraising and you have to constantly reinvent your strategies and adjust programming when grants do or don’t come through. The Covid shutdown was also a bumpy time, not being able to gather in large public spaces brought our industry to a halt and we were suddenly faced with doing virtual programming or nothing at all. After years of convincing people that live performance was essential and that it could not be replaced by television, we were suddenly embracing streaming our events so that we would still be able to reach our audiences. We are seeing our numbers return to pre pandemic levels and yet more challenges are ahead as Arts Organizations face significant cuts to their federal and state funding. Read more>>

Dr Mark And Tandi Hechler

We met in 2016 on a medical mission trip in Gulu, Uganda and got engaged the following year on the same trip. It was during that time we realized our shared calling: to blend compassionate care with deeper medical understanding. My healing journey became our mission. Together, we decided to fill the gaps we saw in traditional medicine, combining my background in surgery and Tandi’s in nursing with the insights of integrative care. Read more>>

Nat Bjerke-Harvey

No I am kidding. There has been very little “smooth road” about the ride of building our small farm out here in the Flint Hills. As I mentioned, we are first generation farmers, so we started this business with no existing infrastructure, and it was only through incredible will-power, endless reinvestment, a commitment to our values, and a willingness to work 100+ hour weeks that our farm was able to get itself off the ground and propelled to where we are now. Alot of the struggles for us along the way fit broadly into typical agricultural dilemmas – learning how to grow vegetables organically in the unbalanced agricutural ecosystems of Kansas, discovering how attractive pastured poultry is to all the predators of the Flint Hills, and learning how to farm in a way where you also allocate time for being a good partner, a good parent, and good to yourself. Read more>>

Allison May Jensen

I don’t think running a small business is ever completely smooth! My background is in restaurant management and corporate training, so I came in with some helpful experience—but doing it without the structure and support of a larger company was definitely a challenge. We’ve been learning and growing ever since, always adapting to be what we need to be for our artsy families. There are no set rules for how we build our business or our team, and while that can be scary, it’s also incredibly exciting. Read more>>

Randy Tran

I was born in Connecticut & I grew up moving back and forth from California & Illinois. After what seemed like constant movement and instability in the early years of my life, I’ve solidified my main network of connections in the Chicagoland area & parts of the US by attending University of IL. After graduating with my Bachelors in Psychology and Masters in HR, I had the opportunity to move to KC and explore a new communities and build strong relationships especially within the skateboarding community. Read more>>

Robyn Tunley

My sister and I both work full-time in corporate America, while also balancing life as full-time moms and wives. What fuels us most is the desire to pave a path for our children and future generations—showing them what’s possible when you pursue your passion with purpose. What makes us stand out is our shared drive and independence; we each show up 100%, not just when it’s required, but even when it’s not. That commitment carries over into every detail of our business and is the heart behind what we do. Read more>>

LaToya Ebony Sirls

Consumer packaged goods are expensive to produce, especially when you’re committed to clean, high-quality, hand-crafted products. The upfront costs add up quickly, not just with wholesale, but also with vendor events that require early commitments, increasing raw material prices due to tariffs, and the complexities of figuring out how to scale. I’m actively exploring what manufacturing could look like in the future, but it’s a big leap that requires the right timing and capital. Read more>>

Luke Stivers

I was about to graduate seminary during the 2008 financial crisis and found that churches could not hire because of funding shortfalls. I fell in with a little non-profit in Lee’s Summit, a half-way house for the homeless to get back on their feet. I served this non-profit for 9 years while also assisting a couple of church plants in town. In 2023, my family and I began attending New Hope Presbyterian Church. In the fall I learned that the pantry was looking for a director. This opportunity was a clear and natural fit. I was excited to return to the non-profit world and thrilled with what had been built since the pantry opened in 2011. Read more>>

Brady Knutson

I actually discovered from my senior photographer, Katelyn Frier, a website called Pixieset, which I ended up using for client galleries, and still happily use to this day. Over the course of senior year, I ended up taking senior pictures for six of my friends, and I was really inspired to start building a website to show off my portfolio, and expand the audience that would be familiar with my services. It definitely took a good amount of time, since I was balancing doing that with many other responsibilities for school, but I ended up launching the site near the end of May in 2024. Shout-out to my friend Elizabeth as well for dedicating her time and taking lots of wonderful photos of me to put on the site. It would not have been possible without her! Read more>>

Leslie Jones

I started off decorating, making centerpieces, balloon arches and party favors for my friends’ birthday parties and other events. I’ve always enjoyed creating things but after a while I wanted to change my creative outlet, so I started making t-shirts, keychains, badge reels among other things. I’ve been doing this about five years now but, I definitely had my share of feeling the fear of making that jump to get started like most people. The fear of opening a website, the branding etc. are hard decisions to make but here I am, and I absolutely love what I do! It makes me so happy to see people enjoy my products. This is my stress reliever and outlet from my 9 to 5. I truly enjoy this entire process and making cute things! Read more>>

Wren Quinn

This led me into the heavy woods of somatics and trauma resolution. I steadfastly pursued the teachings of such pioneers as Bessel van der Kolk and Peter Levine, under the lamb-like and misguided idea that if I could learn enough, I could help my then-husband and heal us both. It will be no surprise to you that that was not the course my story forged, but it was a surprise to me that this novice inception into learning about and experiencing my body’s physical responses would lead me to both a newly enlivened existence, and a career I could believe in. Read more>>

Shayna Strahm

Near the end of my college career, I had a local photographer reach out to shoot with me. I had been told I could model before but took it with a grain of salt because of how critical I was or my appearance. I had grown up shy, awkward, and somewhat reserved and often leaned on how I presented myself to connect with others. (It actually came across as pretty polarizing in hindsight). My love of fashion began as early as middle school and I would often wear jeans and wake up to do my hair and makeup before school. It was the first time of many times I felt like i didn’t belong. Read more>>

Richie Hoz

I always had a natural draw to anything that granted self expression. Anything that had to do with pencils or music has been my outlet for compartmentalizing my life. When I think of my formative years, I was unaware that I was using art as a means to keep me stable. I looked up to my favorite artists as muses and comfort figures. I’ve recently been reflecting on why I draw, do music, or anything in the creative field, and decided it must have served as meditation. It was something I could teach myself, the one thing I could control- creation is sort of sacred in that way. Read more>>

Melinda Pregont

There was on encounter with a new mother who was having chronic headaches who I had been seeing for a few visits and by that time, her pain should have progressed, but it wasn’t. I could tell that something was off that day, so I asked her simply “Are you alright?” and she just started crying. No one had asked her that since having her baby and no, she wasn’t alright. And I knew then that I wanted these women to be the focus of my multi-disciplinary clinic. Read more>>