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.
Tragik
2025 has been the hardest year of my life. My wife, who I’ve been with for almost 15 years, passed away suddenly back in May. Her name was Felicia, she was 38 years young & It crushed my entire fucking world. Everything stopped. Eating, taking care of myself, and the music. It’s been almost 8 months since she passed, and im starting to pick up the pen. Writing and creating is one of the few things keeping me going. Read more>>
Cassie Anderson
I also had to unlearn the idea that struggle meant failure (thanks, perfectionism). Becoming a therapist required me to face my own wounds, including my own birth trauma, my own anxiety, and the generational patterns that were affecting my parenting and self-esteem. Doing that while learning how to sit compassionately with others in their journeys made my determination that much stronger. Read more>>
Chelsea Anderson
Entrepreneurship can beat you up and build you up in a way unlike anything else…kind of like parenthood in some ways. You put your most vulnerable self out there hoping that someone will just like the idea you came up with or trust you to serve them or use your product… and then you expect to get paid for it! Of course, duh, that’s business right?! But if you have ever done it yourself, you know what it’s like the first time you get paid for an original idea or a service you decided to provide when someone could have chose to pay someone else…its exhilarating, and humbling and scary all at once. Read more>>
Stacey Beilman
Photography has always been a part of my life. I remember I worked at Dillons in high school and I would go to the polaroid film and stare at it, wishing I could always buy more. When I was in college, a friend of mine shaved her head for $1000 and I was there to capture the moment her family saw her for the first time…. with my film camera. I was just always with a camera. Read more>>
Jon Edlin
In 2020, my family was hit by an EF3 tornado. My kids were 5 and 7 years old, and we were living in Nashville in a home with no basement. When the tornado hit, we huddled in the hallway as it passed directly over us, violently pulling us back and forth. Read more>>
Tee Christian
My journey into the beauty industry truly began in childhood. As a little girl, I was always fascinated with hair — experimenting on my dolls and recreating trending styles using yarn, beads, and anything I could get my hands on. What started as play quickly turned into passion when I began braiding my dad’s hair. Read more>>
Stan Archie
My story begins in a context of adversity. I grew up in an abusive and unstable environment that shaped how I viewed myself, relationships, and the world around me. Like many who come from similar circumstances, I learned early how to survive, but not necessarily how to heal. Read more>>
Jill DeCoursey
I’m a Kansas City native, raised in Prairie Village, and attended Bishop Miege High School and The University of Kansas. I’ve always been more of the creative type. I was drawn to bright colors over black and white and gravitated toward anything that challenged my imagination. That instinct showed up early, especially through my love of decorating. Read more>>
Mark Muller II
My story starts the way any good story should: right here in Kansas City, Missouri. I grew up here and have called this area my home for my entire life. I am a life long Chiefs, Royals, and Mizzou fan! I went to The Barstow School right off of Stateline road and made many life long friends and connections. Read more>>
Sarah Gunalp Abraham Hanoglu
NINE is the culmination of two distinct professional journeys. Before we joined forces, Sarah built a reputation for high-end, handmade leather goods in New York, while Abraham operated as a watchmaker in Kansas alongside running a digital marketing agency. Beyond our shared family heritage, we eventually married and decided to merge our expertise into a single, unified brand. Read more>>
Gayle Potter
I often joke that I didn’t set out to build a career in chamber leadership—I sort of fell in love with it along the way. I started at the Liberty Chamber as an administrative temp in the fall of 1998. At the time, I honestly didn’t even know what a chamber of commerce was. But very quickly, the organization intrigued me. Read more>>
Lindy Goetzmann
I am originally from Wichita, Kansas, and attended the University of Arkansas, where I studied communication disorders. While in Fayetteville, I fell in love with a wedding venue concept and had the opportunity to connect with its owners and hear their journey! Read more>>
Nicole Rash
I was raised in Excelsior Springs, a community that has always felt like home. The Elms Hotel and Spa has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I began my career there at a young age, working my way through different roles and learning the spa experience from the ground up from an amazing Director. Read more>>
Tim Sanders
Here’s an article below that has our story and some additional info. While folks who live in Kansas City know how amazing Kansas City is, people who have never been here don’t always get it. Kansas City might be great, but for outsiders, it can have connotations of cows, flyover country, and temperamental Midwestern weather. Read more>>
Levi Cox
I got started when I was approximately 3 years old. I was at a swap meet with my parents, my mom sold antiques and my dad sold car parts from his salvage business. I collected hotwheels and sometimes I’d sell some to get new ones. Read more>>
Melissa & Steven Asper
A little about us… For the love of music Steven and Melissa met 7/11 2008 working at a steakhouse together in Winfield, KS. They quickly became close friends when they realized they had a shared passion: music. While their backgrounds were different (Steven was into metal, punk rock, etc. Read more>>
Brody Sanson
I am a third generation electrician. My father and grandfather both owned their own electric companies, so I learned the electrical trade from an early age. I tagged along with them, helping assemble ceiling fans, install receptacles, switches, etc. As I got older, going through school, I always had a part-time job available working with the two of them. Read more>>
Casey Mcbain
My husband and I are transplants to Kansas City, originally from Northern California. We left CA during the pandemic in search for a place that was more affordable and had a slower pace of life. We spent 1.5 years traveling the country in an RV, came to Kansas City to visit my brother, and never left. Read more>>
Adrienne McChesney
I’ve been a Registered Dietitian for many years, but my passion for nutrition started early on as an athlete growing up, combined with curiosity about how food and diet can impact the body. My career in performance nutrition began in 2015 when I served as a Project Manager and Research Dietitian for the Department of Defense. Read more>>
Emily Kitchens
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been entrepreneurial at heart, with the long-term goal of eventually working for myself. When I was around six or seven, I came up with an idea for a hotel chain called Cheap Sleep. I remember sitting down with my dad and working through age-appropriate questions about pricing, design, and how the whole thing would actually function. Read more>>
Samantha Bray
I grew up in a rural community in northeast Missouri called Ethel (then, population 100, now, probably about half that). There were 15 people in my graduating class from a K-12 public school in neighboring New Cambria. My family goes back generations in Ethel and surrounding communities. Read more>>
Richard Holman
We decided to try our hand as business owners. We bought the equipment from a closing garment decorating shop in 2018. I like most business owners thought we could make this work purely on hard work. I can’t remember the last time I was so wrong. Hard work was the easy part. Building relationships, being in the right place at the right time were huge. Read more>>
Korie Coyazo
My story began in traditional healthcare, where I spent over 15 years as a Registered Nurse. I learned a great deal during that time, but I also felt a growing disconnect. I watched people cycle through appointments, prescriptions, and temporary fixes without ever being taught how to truly heal or understand their bodies. Read more>>
Kevin Pike
My journey in digital marketing began in 2004, a time when the industry was still a ‘wild west.’ Fresh out of college and working for a local agency, I entered the field when Yahoo was still the dominant force and Google Ads was an untapped frontier for most businesses. Read more>>
Gretchen McKenzie
McKenzie Photo + Film began seven years ago with a camera, a big dream, and a whole lot of heart. While building my photography business, I was also pursuing my nursing degree—graduating in 2022 and beginning my career at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City. Read more>>
Glenna Nance and Rob Nance NA
We both retired from our professions in 2014 (Rob) and 2017 (Glenna). Rob from 30 years as Nurse Anesthesist and myself from 20 years of teaching H.S. Family Consumer Science. Both employed in Overland Park, KS. It was soon apparent to me that I could not take retirement sitting down. Read more>>
Haylea Reed
I’ve been primarily cutting men’s hair for 11 years. For 6 of them I worked on & off at different shops in Topeka. I decided to move to Overland Park 4 years ago where I worked at a corporate shop until I could find a salon to build my clientele. Read more>>
Kirsten Conrad
I have spent the past 18 years working in preschool settings, which helped me discover my passion for early childhood development and build a strong foundation in supporting young learners. I earned my degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Early Childhood Development from the University of Kansas, where my interest in child development truly began. Read more>>
Jill Freeland
My husband, Mike, had gone to Harrisonville, MO for an estate sale. While there they had told them there were several buildings on the historic square for sale. He went over to take a look at them and found the building that is now the Davis Event Space. Having been a wedding photographer for 20+ years, he knew it would make a great wedding venue. Read more>>
Mindy & Lilly Stedem
We are a mother-daughter, faith-based team, living out our dream, born in our basement in 2021! This idea began from the lack of access our small town had to our favorite hobby, clothes shopping! We are shopping fanatics and after moving from the KC area, we were in shock of the lack of shopping that was available to us and all the towns surrounding us. Read more>>
Meghan Masten
I started Moonlit Management out of a desire for flexibility and autonomy over my time. As a single mom raising two young children largely on my own, the traditional corporate structure often lacked understanding or compassion for the realities of parenthood. Read more>>
Brynn Kent Karen Hankins
Willow Hill was started the way most good things do; with kids, friendship, and a whole lot of heart. We found something we loved doing and knew we had to share it in our own way with the most amazing families and children you’ll ever meet. We met when our oldest kids were in Pre-K together and we both attended their field trip. Read more>>
Cardon Bolen
Cardon Bolen is a singer/musician in the Kansas City area. He brings an impressive vocal range and power honed in church, singing in the choir throughout elementary and middle school. Cardon began entering singing competitions with the choir in high school, winning him accolades for his solo performances. He lent his vocal talents to Jazz, Concert, and Vocal Ensemble choirs in college. Read more>>
Grant Lewton
I grew up in southwest Missouri in a rural community called Wheatland before going to college at University of Missouri in Columbia. After graduating college, I was left with joining many friends I had made in St. Louis or move to Kansas City. Luckily, I chose the unknown of Kansas City. Read more>>
Tamicka Monson
I’m Tamicka Monson, a licensed clinical professional counselor and the founder of a private practice I’ve been growing for nearly four years. Before becoming a therapist, I spent over 15 years working in schools and behavioral health settings supporting youth, families, and adults. Read more>>
Amber Underwood
I grew up in a household of educators, so teaching, mentoring, and community have always been part of my foundation. Both my mother and father were educators, and watching the impact they had on their students deeply shaped how I see the world. Read more>>
Tommy McGee
I was born in Kansas City, MO. My father was on crack, both stepfathers manufactured meth, and I got high with all three. My mom was a good woman. I spent over 20 years using drugs, in jails, prisons, and homelessness. I have lost both of my brothers. One of them died in 2023 due to a fentanyl overdose. Read more>>
Jewel 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>>
