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.
Koreyon Robinson
it has not been a smooth ride at all plenty of dark days plenty of trying days plenty of blood sweat and tears behind this journey.. I’ve had people doubt me. I’ve had people try to sabotage me, and I’ve even doubted myself sometimes along the way or question my purpose along this journey. I wouldn’t say I’ve ever lost my faith because I’ve always had my faith if I had nothing else, but I will say my faith has been tested definitely. My business has tanked several times and a lot of the times not even from my own faults, but from people I’ve actually hired. Nonetheless has not been a smooth road, but I’ve always persevered. Read more>>
Ashlyn Quinly
I joined the Naturelles my freshman year at the University of Missouri – Columbia. I was walking through speaker’s circle when I saw a girl, who later turned into one of my really good friends, handing out posters for an a cappella group on campus. I have been involved in choir since 6th grade, so this peaked my interest and I decided to try out. I went and auditioned against about 40 other girls and was one of 5 selected that year to join The Naturelles. I have had an amazing experience and being a part of this organization has truly given so many cherished friendships and some of my favorite memories throughout college. During sophomore year, I was elected to be Vice President and held that role until the end of junior year when I was elected to be Co-Presidents with my amazing friend Emma for our senior year. Read more>>
Julie Robbins
I’m a professional organizer. I specialize in creating simplified, functional and stylish spaces in homes and offices. I am most proud of all the clients I have been fortunate to help get organized over the years. What sets me apart from others is my relentless drive for perfection on every project, my formidable work ethic and my sincere desire to understand the needs of my clients and then create customized organizational systems that work best for their lifestyle. Read more>>
Darrell Robinson
Starting off, I was unsure of the exact path I wanted to take, so I chose business as my major. It felt broad, practical, and universal, and since I was pretty good at math, it seemed like a natural fit. However, after taking accounting, I quickly realized that the subject didn’t spark my interest or curiosity. Around that time, I happened to take a general psychology class that captured my attention in a way business never had—it made me curious, engaged, and deeply connected. That class ultimately inspired me to switch my major to psychology. Read more>>
Andrea Petersburg
I had a pinched nerve in the summer of 2019. I meditated a lot because the pain was so debilitating. And the idea for a store that sells local art and locally made goods just came to me! I knew where I wanted it to be, which was occupied at the time. I didn’t act on the idea until a whole year later during the late summer of 2020. I chose a name. I secured my location. I opened the doors in October 2020 with a really short lease as a “seasonal pop-up.” Here I am today. Still going and about to turn 5 years old. Read more>>
Darrell Walker Jr
In the midst of this, I got the opportunity to work in a private engineering firm (HNTB) as a CAD Technician. Making design plans for roads and highways. A great change versus being out in the field and in the elements every day. I believe that my field experience is what got me the job because I didn’t have my degree. Technically, I needed a bachelors degree in civil engineering or cad design, as well as the field experience that I already had. So I thought that was cool that I got in without having my degree.. Read more>>
Laurence Hogg
This has been an interesting journey of ups and downs. My first stab at entrepreneurship and I have learned a lot about myself and business along the way. The small business development center located on the campus of Lincoln University has been very instrumental of setting my foundation to build on. The SBDC is a grant funded office who will assist prospective business owners in all aspects of set up. I would tell anyone looking to go for it and ask for the Director Ms. Carter. Read more>>
Sierra Cook
I’ve known since high school that I wanted to be a therapist. Right after completing my undergraduate degree, I immediately enrolled in the master’s program at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. That experience deepened my passion for helping people, and during my internship, I was blessed with the kind of autonomy that allowed me to truly learn what it would take to run my own practice. Read more>>
Allison Davis
My journey has been a relatively smooth one, thankfully. I’ve been fortunate enough in my career that when I’ve set a goal, I’ve been lucky enough to achieve it. However, deciding to start my own business was a big risk that definitely came with challenges (like where to be located, what equipment did I need, what relationships did I need to grow in order to be successful at helping people). My biggest challenge now is making sure that people understand that I exist and that I’m here to help. Read more>>
Ashlee Hess
I opened PS Wellness + Aesthetics because I wanted to create a space that blended wellness, aesthetics, and real results. We quickly grew because people were craving personalized, elevated care that made them feel seen. From peptides and hormone therapy to IV hydration, skin treatments to weight loss programs—everything we offer is designed to optimize how you feel from the inside out. Read more>>
Bret Bullock
I started out working in the oilfields for about a decade before moving into residential construction, where I gained firsthand experience with how homes are built from the ground up. That background gave me a unique perspective when I decided to pursue real estate. I’ve now been a licensed agent for four years, and my focus has been on helping people, especially first-time buyers, navigate the process with confidence. Read more>>
Rachel Long
Twenty-three years ago, I had the amazing opportunity to work at my first event venue in South Lake Tahoe, CA—and to say I fell in love would be an understatement. From the very beginning, I knew helping people plan life’s most meaningful celebrations was my calling. Even cleaning bathrooms, working long hours, and managing high-stress situations couldn’t sway me—I loved every single part of it. That’s when the dream of one day owning my own venue was born. Read more>>
Dustin Yantzi
I actually started out training athletes and a few adults while in college. Then I worked in the collegiate setting for a while, and honestly, I loved it. But the big downside is you kind of have to be willing to move around wherever the job takes you. And for me, I’ve been with my wife since we were 16, and our hearts was in Kansas City. We wanted to be close to our family and have our future kids grow up around their grandparents. The other thing I realized when I worked in the collegiate setting is that I missed working with adults. Read more>>
Shelby Campbell
I got connected with my Medical Director now, Dr. Gaumer, who introduced me to the world of Functional Medicine. I trained with her starting in 2020, where I saw patients for a variety of functional medicine needs. In 2021, we launched the aesthetic side of our business, where I helped to grow that. I am now Executive Director of Aesthetics at Regain Functional Medicine, where I spend most of my day using my creative and artistic side to bring my patients’ aesthetic goals to life. I love what I do. It is truly a dream career for me. Read more>>
Jennifer Surface
From as young as age 10, I knew that interior design was my calling.However, I grew up in a small town and had no idea Interior Designers existed-even as a high school senior. When my school counselor pointed out my strong SAT scores, he suggested I pursue nursing or teaching. I enrolled in nursing school, but soon realized that while my heart was in it, my weak stomach would hold me back. To this day I praise nurses! Read more>>
Megan Karson
I was born and raised in the Kansas City area. From the moment I stepped into a darkroom in high school, I knew analog photography would be my lifelong companion. I never wavered from my desire to have my hands in every step of the process. Learning to make tintypes was equal parts a fascination with the historical significance and a love for tangible handmade objects. For over a decade, I have crisscrossed the country, living out of whatever vehicle I owned at the time. Hundreds of rolls of film have turned into solitary successful images made over the span of several days, a lesson in letting go of control and trusting in my intuition and skills. Read more>>
Marc Shaffe
Early on, I leaned into the idea that growth happens outside your comfort zone. Joining organizations like the Financial Planning Association and Rotary gave me a network of mentors, peers, and friends who pushed me to become a stronger leader. I was fortunate to be mentored by people such as Dr. Bill Meredith and Mike Searcy, who encouraged me to explore the world, invest in relationships, and always strive to grow both personally and professionally. Read more>>
Alan
At Terra Morphic Crafts, our journey began with a simple love for filling our home with plants. The only problem? We couldn’t find planters that felt fun, cute, or unique enough to match our style. So, we decided to start creating our own planters from scratch. What began as a personal project quickly grew into something more: friends and family loved them, and soon the idea of turning our hobby into a business took root. Read more>>
Asiyah Lites- Rasheed
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, and I think that’s true for most entrepreneurs. One of the biggest struggles early on was building awareness and trust as a new, small, Black woman–owned business in the skincare industry. I had to work hard to educate people on why natural, ethical ingredients matter and how our products are different from what’s already on the shelves. Read more>>
Barry Lee
I produced a series of tribute concerts as benefits for KKFI involving close to 75 KC and Lawrence musicians. I did six or seven Beatles tributes, a tribute to Pete Seeger held at Unity Temple, a Cosmic American Music concert at Knuckleheads with members of Gene Clark’s family in attendance. Gene was a founding member of the Byrds and a KC resident before that time. I also participated in poetry readings with poets Jose Faus, Mary Silwance, Frank Higgins and Maria Vasquez Boyd. I started writing prose and poetry at UMKC in the early ’70s. In recent years, I mostly devote myself to audio restoration, my radio show, and traveling. If asked, I will perform solo concerts these days, or duos with friends. Read more>>
Branden Hunter
Like I tell everyone the store is growing. It grew so much it got smaller lol. As it grew we started to get more inventory and more accommodations, what was once a spacious store is now filled with stylish inventory to better serve our growing customer base. The main struggles were just continuing to believe that this will work and the right people will find us and we will find them. Sales fluctuate and so when they go down we as a team have to keep our spirits up. Read more>>
Phantom Pesos
Hello, my name is phantom pesos, I am a Musician, producer, Talent Scout & Manager, I’ve been doing music my whole life, I started my artist development program to help all upcoming artists get educated about the music game. My program consists of vocal training, informational packets, free feature from myself & many more resources. I started music when I young going through a hard time mentally In life, I always wanted to change life for myself & others. Read more>>
