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.
Sonja & Frankie Beal
I was Nine in a Half years Old, And I can Home and Ask my Mother I want become an Entrepreneur and that I would like To start my Own Business ,” She Stated Cool let me see What I can do, I have Less than $100 ” I can Spare … I told him Let Me Figure out Something, He Stated Cookies, My Mom And I Work on Several Different Desserts Ideas An One Day we Went out An Cold Sell At a Parade in The Kansas City Area in March of 2019 Just Bf The Pandemic. Read more>>
Sara Kelly
My path into skincare was deeply personal. I struggled with persistent acne from my early teens into my mid-20s, and like many people, I tried everything—dermatology treatments, prescriptions, and countless products—but nothing created lasting change. It was not only frustrating, but it also affected my confidence in a real way. At the time, I was on a completely different career path. Read more>>
Phillip Pavek
I had been an avid follower of the heady glass movement for a few years before I got into glass blowing. Mesmerized by the colors and creativity in form and function, I became a glass collector and enthusiast. Soon after moving into Kansas City I met a likeminded community and eventually met my first mentor, Dozer glass. Read more>>
Kristin McLaughlin
I learned how to play American Mahjong with a group of mom friends while living in Dallas. I quickly fell in love with the aesthetic, strategy and camaraderie it created, When my family moved back to Kansas City (I grew up here) I realized I knew very few people who knew how to play. Read more>>
Cryptic Seal
Cryptic Seal was founded by Jackson Ewing and D.R. Davis in a bedroom in 2017. Created as an outlet to showcase Jackson’s art. Using hand printed t-shirts and apparel to display his art. Throughout the years we noticed the difficulty to make progress as artists in Kansas City. With that we began offering our screen-printing services as well as the creation of Cryptic Seal Magazine. Read more>>
Devynn Cooper
Kansas City will always be home for me. It’s where my roots are, where my friendships were built, and where my sense of community really began. In August of 2021, my life took a big turn when my now husband and I made the decision to move to the East Coast, settling in Massachusetts. Read more>>
Anna Butler
I fell in love with photography at a very young age. For Christmas I got a camcorder from my parents. I remember taking a picture of my great grandmother and thinking ‘wow, now I can remember her like this forever.’ That is why photography is so important to me. Read more>>
Dr. Drew Wagner
I know what it feels like being in chronic pain and you do everything to get relief. Sadly enough I was an injury prone athlete with multiple joint, back, and concussion injuries. Pain and I are on very familiar with each other. Read more>>
Lee Anne Jester
In 1995, at the age of 23, I suffered a serious traumatic brain injury and concussion in a car accident in Kansas City. The wreck left me unable to walk, affected my speaking and vision, and brought on a wave of emotional ups and downs. Read more>>
Kyle Kimura
I grew up in a family of physicians. My mother was an oncologist, my father an allergist, and my grandfather a pediatrician. So, from an early age I was drawn to medicine and the special relationships they built with their patients over time. That sense of trust was something I always knew I wanted to be a part of. Read more>>
Bryan Holdener
When I was in college at KU, I was the social chair for my fraternity. For our formal, I needed to rent a bus for transportation and decided a party bus would be fun. After doing some research I found out that they aren’t necessarily cheap to rent. Prices were a lot higher than expected (I understand why now). Read more>>
Mackenzie Markley
Linked By Love started from a mix of creativity and connection. As a pediatric nurse, I’ve always been drawn to meaningful moments and the relationships that shape our lives. I discovered permanent jewelry and instantly fell in love with how it could turn those moments into something tangible and lasting. Read more>>
Jeremi Howell
I got unstuck and got sober! Honestly, that changed everything. I’ve been a social worker for over twenty years and spent most of that career advocating for seniors and their families through assisted living, home health, and hospice care. I loved that work and, at age 14 washing dishes in a nursing home, I thought it was my life’s work. Read more>>
Heidi Carroll
I’m a board-certified nurse practitioner, and my clinical background is rooted in cardiology and geriatrics. Those experiences gave me a deep appreciation for preventative care, patient relationships, and truly listening to what people need to feel their best. Read more>>
Amy Hartgrove
I’m Amy Hargrove, and my path to founding The Good Life wasn’t a straight line — it was more like a series of unexpected turns that slowly revealed a calling I didn’t know I was walking into. I started my career in public education, armed with a Master’s in Curriculum & Instruction from Northwest Missouri State University and a deep love for kids and families. Read more>>
Betsy Reynolds
I graduated from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Pharmacy in 2008. Following graduation, I stepped into a leadership role managing a pharmacy in Kearney, Missouri, which was part of a family-owned chain. That experience gave me a strong foundation in both clinical practice and operations, as well as an appreciation for the impact of community-based care. Read more>>
Laurie Kennedy
I started my business in October after a season of a lot of change. I had just had my youngest in May and spent the summer home with my kids after leaving a job I once loved. The company had been acquired, and over time it shifted away from the core values that mattered most to me—people and quality service. Read more>>
Rachelle Morlok
I didn’t set out to start a nonprofit—I simply said yes to what God placed in front of me. Fourteen years ago, I said yes and went to serve in a small, remote village of about 200 people in Senegal, West Africa. What started as short-term mission work quickly became something much deeper. Read more>>
Haley Hennier
I’ve always been an artist, and yet, when you’re 18 and planning for your future it’s a a tough sell to lay all your eggs in the ‘career as an artist’ basket. Especially when you don’t know what that future really even looks like. Read more>>
Dayna Lee
My name is Dayna Lee. I am a visionary entrepreneur who redirected my passion for leadership into the business Earthbound Elements For Earthwork LLC®. I am driven to have authority and control over my life experiences, spiritual experiences that continue to tell my story. Read more>>
Kyle Cranston
I’ve been drawn to the metaphysical world for as long as I can remember. When I was 16, a close family friend, someone who was like a second mom, gave me my first tarot deck, and it opened an entirely new world for me. I started reading for friends in high school, and that naturally carried into college and graduate school. Read more>>
Connie Gable
I came to Tarot in what really feels like a full-circle moment in my life. I spent many years working as an ICU nurse and then Family Nurse Practitioner, caring for people in a traditional medical setting. But my story actually starts much earlier. Read more>>
Alicia Carrier
I have been an artist since I was old enough to pick up a pencil. I began to take paid custom orders for canvas paintings during my college years to make a little extra money. After graduating with a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice, I picked up a new hobby becoming a custom shoe artist and it took off faster than I ever imagined. Read more>>
Chloe Knoblauch
I grew up in a household where resources were limited, and from a young age I understood that if I wanted a different life, I would need to stay determined and work hard for it. That experience shaped me early. I developed a strong work ethic, a lot of discipline, and a deep appreciation for stability and opportunity. Read more>>
Todd Kurpil
My story really begins in childhood. I grew up in an environment that shaped me deeply and also created a lot of inner struggle. Like many people, I learned early how stress, tension, and emotional pain can live inside the body and mind for years if they are not understood or processed. Read more>>
Adam Greeno
Backroad Barbells didn’t start in a big gym – it started with a decision. After spending five years working as a Registered Dietitian in the clinical field, I realized I wanted more. I wanted to be hands-on, in the community, making a different kind of impact. That led me to become a Firefighter/EMT with Lee’s Summit Fire Department – Serving others when it matters most. Read more>>
Sara Burdett
Horsemanship started very early in life, as early as 3yrs. Old sitting on the back of my dad’s horses. But the Horse gene came long before me, on my mother’s side. She had horses and her mother before that rode trick riding. I have my grandmother’s saddles to this day. Which, I am proud to own from the 1900’s. Read more>>
Jodie Maddox
I didn’t set out to become a parent coach or education consultant—this work grew out of the life I was already living in schools, homes, and conversations with families who were trying their best to support their children. I am a retired school principal, special education teacher, author, education consultant, and certified Parent Coach. Read more>>
Mike Kenny
I graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1993 and served in the US Army as an infantry and special forces officer until 2015. Upon my retirement from the military I assumed the role of executive director for Warriors’ Ascent, a 501(c)(3) organization that that helps veterans and first responders with post-traumatic stress to take ownership of their lives and healing. Read more>>
Cortney Frazon
I wanted to start a toy store towards the end of 2024 specializing in puzzles and building toys. Whenever I started looking into competitors, I found Bricks & Minifigs in Springfield, MO. I learned it was a franchise and thought it might actually be easier joining with a franchise instead of starting from scratch. Read more>>
Tamara Muzrall
When I was younger, I moved a lot. Elementary and Middle school days it was every 6 months. I learned to self sooth and establish an inner dialog. I was also born with cleft pallet which created hearing issues at the time, which only amplified my inner world. Read more>>
Lacey and Jeremy Bravard
Jeremy and I have three wonderful kids and a whole house of pets. One child in college, one graduating high school, and one in 10th grade. A couple of years ago we wanted to do something we enjoyed in our free time. We also love socializing with people, smiling and laughing with them. Read more>>
