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.
el Anderson
I received my Master of Arts in Counseling in 2014 and have been in private practice for nearly 12 years. I work from a psychodynamic perspective—a depth-oriented approach that looks beyond symptoms and conscious thought into the rich, often unseen terrain of the unconscious. This is where long-held truths, emotional patterns, and untold stories live. This work is nonlinear and exploratory, and it often unfolds in ways neither my clients nor I could have predicted—an experience I continue to find both humbling and deeply meaningful. Read more>>
Carrie Soppe
I’ve been in the Kansas City area for the past three years and loving it! I’m a hairstylist of nearly 19 years and a Reiki Master for 4. My work has always been about more than hair—I love to help women feel like their most favorite version of themselves. That means thoughtful cuts and color that work with your lifestyle and features, not just trends. Read more>>
Jenny Alexander
What started as a small creative experiment quickly grew into something bigger. We outgrew that first space in less than a year and moved into another location on the Square that was twice the size. Before our second year was even finished, we took another leap and opened a booth in the West Bottoms. Experiencing that community, that energy, and that historic, industrial setting changed everything. I fell in love with the large wood timbers, the bricks and the creaky floors. Read more>>
MICHAEL SCOTT
I grew up in Independence, the oldest of five in a home where money was scarce and uncertainty was familiar. We experienced homelessness twice before I graduated high school. Those years were hard—marked by both violence and kindness—and they shaped me in ways I’m grateful for today. Read more>>
Phyllis Bitner
II grew up as an only child in a home with very little money, raised by parents who had only a grade-school education but possessed something far more valuable: an unwavering work ethic, generosity, and a deep belief in responsibility to others. It was a time before women were considered “liberated,” yet I never felt limited—largely because my parents never suggested that I should be. Read more>>
Kaci Parker-Scott
I stepped into my first dance studio at six years old and immediately fell in love — with the discipline, the friendships, and the magic that only performing on stage can create. Dance quickly became the center of my world, and by sixteen I was living my dream, touring with a professional company and fully immersed in the industry. Read more>>
Kayla Harrelson Smith
It all started about 10 years ago when I was deep into show choir in college. I had always loved everything beauty-related, so I asked if I could do the makeup for our show choir performances—and that’s where my love for makeup truly began. Read more>>
Melissa Feris
My journey as an artist truly began in my DNA. Growing up in a family where creativity was a shared heritage, I realized early on that my passion for art was as much a part of me as my own reflection. This innate spark eventually grew into a deep-seated conviction as I began to hone my craft and recognize the impact of my work. Read more>>
Katherine Williams
As a young girl, I loved capturing the precious and fleeting moments in my life through photography. My photographs preserved the raw emotions I felt at a moment in time; and as a sentimental person, these photographs are one of the closest things to reliving those emotions that I had. Read more>>
Lindsay O’Reilly
I’ve been a dietitian for over 20 years starting my career in community nutrition. I always wanted to do something in the medical field helping others. Back in 2017, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at an annual appointment with my primary care provider. Read more>>
Tanner Hockenbury
I got here the long way, by falling in love with hospitality and sticking with it. I started in restaurants young, doing a little bit of everything, and quickly realized I was drawn less to the food itself and more to the feeling a good restaurant creates. Read more>>
Jennifer Lee
My professional journey has been an interesting one. Prior to becoming a licensed professional counselor, I taught French at a couple of high schools for a total of 12 years. I always loved learning French and had a passion for teaching. As the career changed over time (as most careers do), I found I was enjoying some aspects of the job more than others. Read more>>
Michaela Krueger
Dolce Caffè isn’t just a coffee shop — it’s a love story. Owners, Michaela Krueger and Luka Pivk, fell in love in a European Cafe. Our journey began across the ocean, where two people connected through their shared passion for coffee and culture. Read more>>
MacKenzie Kidd
Photography is a beautiful form of storytelling. For years, it was just for me. My own way to keep the people and places I love most from fading into the background of a memory. Read more>>
Jaime Sweeney
My journey into photography is one I’m incredibly grateful for. I received my first camera at 15 years old as a Christmas gift after becoming deeply involved in the photography project through 4-H. I was active in several projects within the organization, but photography quickly became my favorite. Read more>>
Mandy Aspey
[Okay, David. I get a little preachy here so feel free to take what is important! I discussed my business as well as my involvement in Penny Luck Pole Dance. 
I got passionate. Read more>>
Kristin Cook
I’ve always loved stationery. As a kid, I was obsessed with all the neat paper, Trapper Keepers, pencil boxes, and those little coordinating accessories that made everything feel so organized and special. Read more>>
Ashley Veurink
Hi, Voyage KC! I am an esthetician with a skincare studio in Brookside, but my career began in marketing. After a post-college move to Kansas City, I spent 12 years in marketing and business development in the architecture industry. I loved the work and never really planned to leave. And this is where you can insert every cliché about all of life’s twists and turns. Read more>>
Roger Wilder
I grew up in a musical family in Rochester, NY and started standard classical piano lessons at age 8. My big brother Chris started bringing home jazz albums a few years later, and I got more and more drawn to jazz starting around age 11. Read more>>
Melinda Clark-Sann and Kristine Shilt
The Founding of Right Side Law Right Side Law was born from a shared commitment to defending individual rights during an unprecedented time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we discovered we were the only attorneys in our area willing to stand up for medical providers facing termination over vaccine mandates. Read more>>
Ricky Ogden
Agua Viva International is a non-profit organization that began in 2011 in Kansas City. Agua Viva’s mission is to Create Partnerships to Provide Purified Water to Communities in need and supporting gender empowerment. Agua Viva has always been 100% volunteer supported and relies on donations for all operating funds. From 20011-2019, Agua Viva was averaging 1-2 installations per calendar year. Read more>>
Sally Vee
My career in music started back when I was working on my undergraduate degree in Music Performance. I was, of course, enrolled in all the required courses needed to earn a degree, but there were many additional performance opportunities to join ensembles which allowed me to play various instruments. Read more>>
Dawn Buehler
Friends of the Kaw (FOK) serves the Kansas River, known locally as the Kaw. The Kansas River is the largest prairie-based river system in the world. The river originates at the junction of the Smoky Hill and Republican Rivers and runs 173 miles to meet the Missouri River at Kaw Point in Kansas City, Kansas. Read more>>
Maryfrances Wagner
I am the granddaughter of four Italian immigrants, and English was both of parents’ second language. At the time I was growing up, being Italian came with some hardship and prejudice from others, and I’ve written poems that reflect some of those experiences. From the time I was a child, my mother and father both loved poetry. Read more>>
Whitney Hoefer
In 2019, as a young mom of one daughter at the time, I was working in corporate marketing and craving more flexibility, freedom and fulfillment in my career. I vividly remember secretly writing down a ‘wish list’ on a piece of paper in my cubicle of what a dream career could look like for me. Read more>>
Sarah Dal Porto
I started baking, as more than a hobby, about 15 years ago when a coworker asked me to make surprise bridal shower cookies. The cookies were such a hit, she told me I should make baking cookies into a business. I’m a registered nurse by profession and have been for the last 35 years, but life had different plans. Read more>>https://voyagekc.com/interview/check-out-sarah-dal-portos-story
Taneka Brazier
My journey began with a deep desire to help people feel confident and empowered when it comes to their finances. Over the years, I saw how many individuals and families were working hard but still struggling due to a lack of financial education, credit knowledge, and access to the right resources. I realized that so many people weren’t failing — they were simply never taught. Read more>>
Kyle Spencer
I was the kid who could never afford a dirt bike or a four-wheeler. Motors, speed, racing, fixing things—those things fascinated me growing up, but they felt just out of reach. I watched from the sidelines, learned how things worked, and dreamed quietly. In fact, I didn’t own my first bike until 2019—the same year my wife, Maegan, and I acquired Dell’s Powersports. Read more>>
Tanya Hessong
I am a Clinical Social Worker, licensed in Kansas and Missouri. I attended Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS for my undergraduate degree, and I subsequently earned my Master’s Degree from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, TX. Since moving to the Kansas City area in 1999, I’ve worked primarily in community mental health and private practice settings. Read more>>
Tosha Jackson
I have been “involved” for as long as I can remember. Despite not playing sports, I was in numerous organizations and extra curricular activities throughout high school. Read more>>
Raquel Pacheco
New beginnings are often challenging, yet profoundly encouraging. At 47 years old, I found myself standing at a crossroads, choosing between staying comfortable and starting over with courage, humility, and clarity about what truly mattered to me. After a long career in the financial sector and in human resources, where I spent many years working closely with people, structure, and responsibility, that decision changed everything. Read more>>
Dominique Pierce
Pete’s Pest Control was originally founded by Pete, who built a strong local reputation by doing things the right way- showing up, being honest, and genuinely helping people solve pest problems. In 2022, we had the opportunity to acquire the company because we believed deeply in the foundation Pete had created and saw the potential to thoughtfully grow it without losing what made it special. Read more>>
LaToya Rozof
My journey started with a simple but powerful realization: style shouldn’t have a size limit. I founded 79Roze as a body-positive brand because I wanted to create a space where women could find fashion that made them feel seen and celebrated, exactly as they are. For a long time, the focus was on the clothes—providing the outer ‘armor’ for women to face the world. Read more>>
Michelle Webb
I’ve been a physical therapist for 14 years and have worked in almost every setting. Five years into my career, a colleague suggested that I should look into specializing in pelvic health. At first, I was hesitant, as it felt like a big change from the orthopedic/neurology setting I was comfortable in. Read more>>
Avremi Baron
Growing up, I had a close friend who had a cousin with Down syndrome. Going to camp as staff for the first time, my friend asked me if we could have his cousin join us as counselors. Initially I was hesitant, but agreed. Read more>>
Alex Clark
I bought my first house about 12 years ago and, like a lot of people, I didn’t really know what I didn’t know. I hired an inspector online and later found out they missed quite a few big-ticket items that cost me quite a bit. Read more>>
Daniel Kent
Starting my own business has always been a goal of mine, even if I didn’t always know exactly what that business would be. Before founding Homefront Inspection Services, I was working in sales for a local uniform manufacturing company. While the role gave me professional experience, it was ultimately unfulfilling due to a toxic work environment and limited opportunities for advancement. Read more>>
Lynn Cutsforth Makenzie Murphy
In 2021 I bought a building on the town square in Paola, KS. I updated the second level, turning the old space into six new apartments. The ground level has four storefronts, one of which is being partially rented by a hairstylist. After several months online only, we have taken the lobby area of that space and transformed it to be the brick-and-mortar for Albert & Ida Co. Read more>>
Ann Burchett
However, even with all the challenges, long hours, learning, and ups & downs, it’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. I get to work with other business owners and work hard alongside them to help their businesses thrive. As a former nurse, I LOVE helping people. Getting to do that now, in a way that supports what matters most to them, while also benefiting their families, is incredibly special. Read more>>
Sarah Watson
They would refer their co-workers, family and friends and then their friends would tell their family. I went from doing one to maybe three clients a week to being booked out 3 to 4 months in advance. I went from renting one room office spaces to a 900 square foot brick and mortar. I know God is not through with me yet, so there is more to come. After all, this is His provision. I am just the vessel. Read more>>
Ryan Morris
This persuaded me to go out and start my own practice, MindBody Physical Therapy & Pain Reprocessing, that specializes to help those suffering from chronic pain recover and get back to living the life they deserve to live. This is often an underserved population with little hope and healthcare providers feel stuck and don’t know what to do to help them. That is why I am here doing this work, to provide light when hope had faded because people are now fully recovering from years of chronic symptoms using these mind-body therapies. Read more>>
