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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.

Jamie Hasenyager

I started my own unique mobile pet care services business to meet the needs of those who struggle to get their pets to the care they need. My approach for high-anxiety pets has proven to be extremely beneficial for both them and their owners. I custom-outfitted multiple mobile units capable of suspending and harnessing pets of all sizes to keep them safely contained for services, right in their own driveway. Many pets that previously required heavy medications or full sedation for nail trimming, ear cleaning, teeth brushing, and other routine care services no longer struggle at all. Read more>>

Mark Messner

Rendezvous opened 6/27/24 and we are celebrating our one-year anniversary at the end of this week. I decided to pursue the plan to open a bouldering gym after spending 15 years teaching elementary school. I love the way that climbing provides so many positive ways for people to connect with each other, improve their physical health as well as their mental health. We designed our space to be ideal for new climbers to learn to climb as well as provide a great climbing experience for advanced climbers. We Incorporate social spaces and games to make sure every trip to the gym is a great workout as well as a fun social outing. Read more>>

Tyler Campbell

I was always good with my hands and for some reason i loved biology, So chiropractic made sense to me. Little did i know i had to get a doctorate to become a chiropractor. After completing the Chiropractic program at Cleveland Chiropractic College, I returned to my home town of Lawrence, Kansas. I grew up being very close to my immediate and extended family. The Doctor that my chiropractor shared office space with was looking to rent a room out to another chiropractor when i graduated, so i jumped at the space and it was like I came full circle. I returned to my home-town, returned the office where i always got adjusted, it felt like it was meant to be. Read more>>

William Dworzan

It’s always been very fun and rewarding. It’s always the biggest draw for photo opportunities even beating out the wedding cake. I cannot say that it’s been a bed of roses the whole time. Covid really knocked us on our bottom. Every event we had canceled. And there was no parties for almost a year. It was a sad time for our world. With us being the only Ice sculpting company in Kansas City now there are many times when we have to turn clients away because we just cannot keep up. Also finding people to work in the ice sculpting industry is very challenging mostly everyone that works for us and helps us out we have had to train from the ground up. Read more>>

Brett McQueen

In 2020, after a lot of encouragement from friends and family, I opened a brick-and-mortar location built on a direct pay or cash based model allowing me to provide top-level care without the limitations of insurance-driven systems. My goal has always been to serve athletes better: with individualized care, a deep understanding of their performance goals, and a commitment to both their physical and mental well-being. Read more>>

Britani Harrelson

Our company started with a simple idea: crafting beautiful, custom candles and wax melts. It was more than just a business; it was a platform for Larin to shine. As he learned about pouring wax, selecting scents, and engaging with customers, I saw his confidence grow. He loved going to community markets, sharing his creations, and connecting with people. Each sale became a victory, each smile a reminder of his remarkable spirit. Read more>>

Kaidy Smith

I’ve shifted my perspective from a zoomed-out global lens to something more local and relational. I’ve found myself drawn to behind-the-scenes roles that require a mix of emotional intelligence and logistical coordination. Today, I support mental health practices and grassroots organizations in operational roles. Much of the daily work involves scheduling, conducting intakes, and connecting people. In the long term, I focus on how people work together, where communication breaks down, and how systems can be redesigned to reduce burnout and foster sustainability. Read more>>

Jeff Pavalone

Jessie, who has a background in design, immediately saw the creative potential and ran with the idea—bringing elegance and thoughtful curation to wedding lounges in a way that felt fresh and elevated. We started small, but the business took off quickly. Jeff was loading furniture into the bed of his truck, covering it with tarps, and handling deliveries on his own while Jessie stayed home with our newborn, working on marketing and growing the Yours Truly offerings. Read more>>

Patricia DeJaynes

My great dane ate my wedding cake. At the end of the day, I was still married and got to start my happily ever after. I love capturing the little moments the bride doesn’t get to experience. The things that happen that she doesn’t see or is too busy to enjoy at the time. I love immortalizing the shenanigans the groom and his friends get into that the bride will never witness without pictures and that they both can pull out and relive 50 years down the road. For me, a wedding is about the memories. And we strive to capture each memory. It is why I love the business. You get to give something to someone that they can’t get back. It has a lasting meaning to the client and gives my art purpose. Read more>>

Shea Swinford

I struggled when my clients thought they wanted the perfect posed images and yet I wanted to capture their true essence. I said no to Color when I only would do Black and White. I struggled to hire the right staff…..when my clients only wanted to work with me. I struggled with all the changing technology when everything went digital and I wanted to produce raw Black and White with all the shades of gray and not what digital had to offer. In the end, I love serving my clients but with direction and what I believed to be the best for them at that time. I have learned to have the confidence to serve with boundaries for what I wanted to create and ultimately what I think they needed. Read more>>

Alyssa O’Connor

I grew up in a small town in Iowa and began my career as a nurse after attending ICCC. I loved nursing, especially hospice care, but being surrounded by end-stage disease every day shifted my perspective. I started reading about holistic approaches to chronic illness and realized that many symptoms and conditions could be significantly improved—or even prevented—by addressing their root causes and supporting the body’s ability to heal itself. Read more>>

Darron Green

Oh no, it’s been one of the biggest learning experiences ever. From the Landlord changing the address to employees deleting my entire calendar. There’s so many things we have gone through to get to where we are, we started as minimal as I think you could, I’ve had to redo the floors in the shop 4 times in 6 years. I feel like we are just now getting to where things are getting easier, but there will always be struggles and we will figure out how to get through it. Read more>>

Meg Barber

Magpie has been very lucky that the road has been generally smooth with very few speed bumps… but I also believe that was something we prepared for. When assembling our Executive Board and Advisory Council, we were very choiceful with who we wanted to fill those positions. Each member provides a unique set of experiences and skills to help make Magpie successful. This includes anything from small business owners to accounting to grant writing to product design. Ultimately, all members are passionate about environmental sustainability and supporting innovative approaches to the environmental problem of material waste. Read more>>

Antoinette Redmond

When our son was diagnosed with autism, I expected guidance instead, I got a packet of resources and was left to figure it out alone. Four years later, when our daughter was diagnosed, nothing had changed parents are still handed information and expected to navigate a complex system on their own. That’s why I created Neuru, a platform that centralizes essential resources, giving families the support they need without the endless searching. It’s time for change, and Neuru is here to lead the way. Neuru to be the change I needed and so many others do, too. Read more>>

Jaynell (KK) Assmann

The founder had been a registered nurse for nearly 20 years at that time, was in school to become a Family Nurse Practitioner, and realized the need for medical care for those seeking assistance at Micah Ministries. CBB originally collaborated with another non-profit healthcare facility in the metro, with them serving as the fiduciary agent. This allowed CBB to develop a base, a routine, and utilize the electronic health record (EHR). For six months CBB held a clinic in conjunction with Micah Ministries to build up a relationship and grow more familiar with the patients. Read more>>

Sara Dunham

It was a scary and uncertain time, but also a moment of reflection. My husband encouraged me to take a leap and start something of my own—something I had never seriously considered before. With his unwavering support, I took that first step, and five years later, I’m proud to say my business is thriving. I never would have had the courage to walk away from a steady job without a clear reason or push. While I would never wish a global pandemic on the world, I can recognize that out of that difficult season came an unexpected opportunity. It gave me the chance to build something meaningful on my own terms. And for that, I’m deeply grateful. Read more>>

Matthew Hicks

Photography and storytelling is all I have ever wanted to do in my life. Aside from the years, wanting to be a rockstar or a major league baseball player I don’t ever recall a time in my life when I wanted to do anything other than use a camera to tell stories. My passion started when I was 14 continued through high school and into college, where I studied communications with an emphasis and journalism and a specialization in photography Read more>>

Kelsey Beaver

I began creating tools at my kitchen table—mixing dough, curating textures, testing everything with my son at my side. I didn’t have a business plan—I had a mission. And that mission has now grown into a thriving small business that brings calm, confidence, and creativity to families, classrooms, and therapy spaces all across Missouri and beyond.  Read more>>

Christopher Wilhite, DVM

We had to gather ideas from colleagues and contractors from equine hospitals and universities around the nation and obsess on every detail to hope we had gotten it right. In a real “Field of Dreams” scenario, we built it and hoped the work would come. Luckily, it did. From the grand opening in 2006 the practice has grown to 7 equine veterinarians, 7 veterinary technicians and assistants, and 2 office administrators. Ambulatory and hospital appointments are available Monday through Friday, but emergency coverage is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The practice accommodates every horse- from foals to seniors, companions to athletes; whether it is an emergency surgery or routine vaccinations. Read more>>

Letitia Edwards

I’ve always had a passion for cooking. Growing up, I was the one who cooked most of the meals for my family. I didn’t like eating the same thing over and over, so I started looking up new recipes and studying all the tips and tricks that came with them. With each meal, my confidence grew. The more I cooked, the more I developed my own style and preferences. I wanted to be known as a good cook. Read more>>

Kay Spinello

I’ve had so much support, an overwhelming amount. My biggest challenge I’ve faced is that we don’t wear exposing clothing so we’re not always what is desired. As the newest of several bike wash businesses we are still working to make a name and gain traction in the motorcycle communities. Read more>>

Monique Lewis

Mo’ Sophisticated Events started as a dream fueled by passion, community, and creativity. I’ve always had a heart for bringing people together, curating experiences that feel elevated yet approachable, and giving small businesses the spotlight they deserve. What started as helping friends with pop-ups and parties quickly turned into a full-blown vision to create memorable, purpose-driven events under my own brand. Read more>>

Krishna Lee

The Kansas City Glory competes in the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC) with 16 other teams nation wide. After playing for 7 years and earning many awards/recognitions (listed below), I capped my football playing career with a World Championship Gold Medal as a member of the US Women’s National Tackle Football team. After retiring from playing in fall of 2022, I took the position of General Manager of the Glory. Since fall of 2022 we have increase metrics across the board. Larger roster size, increased attendance at home games, more community involvement and increased following on all social media. The players and the admin team alike have helped create the tremendous growth we have seen over the last 3 seasons. Read more>>

Ray Tuimauga

Moving to the US meant I had to leave my DJ gear behind and put my dream on hold. After Uma and I were married, I saved up and bought pieces of gear one by one. So, I started out in our spare bedroom, then moved to the garage, and next thing you know we were throwing neighborhood parties every week. Surprisingly, a referral from the neighbors landed me my first paid gig, which was a Sweet 14 party (yeah that was a first for me too) and that’s when I knew this could be more than a hobby. Read more>>

Jaime Esler

The heat of the kettle combined with the heat of summer was getting to be too much for me to handle. Soooo, I started looking around for shaved ice trailers for sale. We tossed around the idea for probably a couple of years before deciding to actually do it. We purchased our trailer in 2023 and started to make it our own. Chillin’ Shaved Ice hit the streets in 2024 and we have had so much fun with it. My daughter has always helped us with kettle corn and now she helps me with the shaved ice. It is a lot of work, but for me it is so much fun serving treats to customers. I love to get to talk to people and see them smile when I hand them out their shaved ice. Read more>>

Victoria Crowder

It was an exciting time in Kansas City as the Free Speech Coalition was actively growing and local artists were opening up the West Bottoms for cool gallery venues and a thriving coffee house culture. I had already been teaching writing for several years through various organizations including the UMKC Communiversity program where I helped young poets who were struggling to prepare their work for spoken word performance. Read more>>

Megan Hammerschmidt

My grandmother had a son, Patrick, who was born with Down Syndrome and had a heart condition. My Uncle Pat brought so much joy into my life. He was on oxygen, and was in and out of the hospital. Whenever I would go visit him, the nurses took such great care of him. I watched and admired as they cared so deeply for him. They made sure he felt comfortable, gave him all of his medications and went above and beyond for all of his needs I thought they were angels on earth for everything they did for my family and my Uncle, and I knew that one day I wanted to do the same. Read more>>

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