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.
Jennie Snapp
Revival started as something much more personal than a business; it was rooted in a season of rebuilding and rediscovery in my own life. I actually began my career in fashion in my hometown of Lexington, Missouri, working every weekend of high school at a local boutique when I wasn’t playing sports. Read more>>
Jessica Pointer
I’ve been in the beauty industry for 17 years, and for most of that time I did what many stylists do — traditional hair color and constant exposure to chemicals I didn’t think twice about. Until my body did. Read more>>
Lisa Barber Jennipher Walters
Both of us were lovers of wine before we’d even met, and we decided to make studying for WSET certification (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) our COVID hobby. Our classes were held online as the fly-over state mentality of the Midwest extended to wine education as well. The closest in-person classes were 8+ hours away. Read more>>
Mary Harrison
Kirby’s Beer Store first came onto my radar long before I was old enough to get inside its famous sticker and poster-laded walls. Read more>>
Anna Nicholaides
I started Philadelphia Couples Therapy as a couples therapy practice of doctoral-level clinicians offering couples, individual, and adult family therapy in addition to couples and individual psychological assessments. I started as a solo practitioner and found that it was rare to find experts in couples therapy that I could confidently refer to. Read more>>
Lizz Whitacre
My journey with animal welfare started before I even had the words for it. I grew up severely allergic to pets, and we weren’t allowed to have dogs or cats in the house, but when I was five or six, I checked out a library book about shelter animals and read the word ‘euthanasia’ for the first time. Read more>>
Jason Douglas
I started out as a comedian who wanted to get myself more bookings. Thus the Comedian Company was born. Since those early days in 2004 we have grown to a national booking agency for comedians. We now have a staff of 4 and work with almost 2,000 comedians nationally. We’re proud to work with great comedians and love bringing laughter to all kinds of events. Read more>>
Tyoni LeGrair
In 2010, Sleepyhead Beds was born out of a powerful act of community support. Inspired by Monica Starr, who was helping a family navigate the foster care system, we saw how something as simple as a bed could be the barrier to keeping a family together. Read more>>
Chelsi Heselton
I have always found interest in photographs, especially of my ancestors because it helps me appreciate their history. One photograph can tell you so much about a person’s life & understand where they came from. My Great Aunt would always take pictures of nature & create her own cards. It gave me a sense of peace when observing them. God’s creation is breathtaking. Read more>>
Jennifer Elpert
I began my wedding officiant career as an assistant to my mother, who was also an officiant. This is a family business that was started in 2014. I was active in the business for a couple of years but then pursued my studies to become a Registered Nurse. Read more>>
David Kuluva
I joined my current business partner, Eric Schroeder, in the very early stages of My HeartCheck. The concept was already there, but the business was still in its infancy. We both believed there was a real need for families to have easier access to more complete heart testing for their kids. Read more>>
Staci Brucks
I worked in the medical field for almost five years as an exercise physiologist in cardiac rehab. I have both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in exercise science, and for a long time I never viewed myself as a creative person or artist at all. Read more>>
Ashley Pardee
I actually started photography as a mom wanting to document my own children better. At the time, I never imagined it would turn into a business, let alone something that would become such a big part of my identity and purpose. What began as simply wanting to preserve memories slowly grew into people asking me to photograph their families, pregnancies, and babies too. Read more>>
Jerry Cao
Chef Jerry’s journey is built on over 15 years of dedication to the art of omakase—a craft rooted in trust, precision, and connection. He began in New York City, co-founding Zen Sushi Omakase with his brothers, where he developed not only his technique but his philosophy of hospitality. Read more>>
Vincent Spriggs
In all honesty, I think the thing that got me started in the film industry was the song, Time, by Hans Zimmer. Read more>>
Jamie Spence
In 2017 I became pregnant for the first time with a set of di/di male twins. While I am a twin and so is my mother, the news still came as a little bit of a shock, and then immediate overwhelm as their father and I started adding up all of the ‘double’ items we would need, including a more kid-friendly vehicle. Read more>>
Allie McGehee
Honestly, my story has been messy as hell, but that’s kind of the whole point of what I do now. I grew up around trauma, chaos, addiction, and abuse, and for a long time I was just surviving. Read more>>
Craig Mason
Myndset started as a coffee meet-up between Craig and Jeff and their shared passion for building mental strength upstream. Mental Health has it’s crisis prevention and coping model at one end and the other end is training mental strength as a competitive advantage for the highest performers in the world. Read more>>
Katherine Raynor
I started hair school right out of high school not having much direction in life and just wanting to make art. Only Then did I found my love of hair and extensions. For my fist year of work I assisted under an extension artist and started my training. Read more>>
Stuart Sullivan
I was raised in a Christian home, but had hidden wounds. I was in the Navy for 4 years. I got out. 9/11 happened. I went back into the military (USAF). I flew the T-38 and B-2 Stealth. I’ve been married for 30 years with two grown children. I have a book and a non-profit called All-In Ministries. Read more>>
Kraig Keesaman
In 2009 I started Windy Wine Company on my family’s Missouri Century Farm. Today, the winery has expanded its distribution further throughout the state, and is planning on distribution outside the state. In 2022we opened a distillery at the winery, Long Line Distillery. Read more>>
Mia Ramsey
I don’t really know HOW I got started, but I know that I did! Becoming the Executive Director of this amazing choir was not on my bucket list, although I had spent time throughout the years working with them in workshops, performances, etc. I juggle quite a bit. Read more>>
Paul and Rachel Crabtree
We were first introduced to sound healing through a close friend who was completing practitioner training with The Sound Healing Academy. During her certification process, we had the opportunity to experience several sound baths ourselves, and those experiences had a profound impact on us. Rachel immediately felt called to pursue certification and share the benefits of sound healing with others. Read more>>
Pam Schmidt
I’m Pam, a mom, a wife, and the very devoted human to two dogs who think they run the household (they do). I’m also the founder of HerHaven Home Services, and like a lot of small business stories, mine started with a gap I just couldn’t stop seeing. HerHaven Home Services started with a problem I kept noticing from the inside. Read more>>
Michelle Lascon
KC PAWS, which stands for Kansas City Protective Animal Welfare Society, was founded in 2007 with a simple but powerful mission: to give dogs a second chance, no matter how difficult their situation. What started as a small, grassroots rescue effort has grown into a vital part of the Kansas City animal welfare community. Read more>>
Frank Ramirez
**Title: Built Through Failure, Sustained by Faith** Frank Ramirez’s story doesn’t follow a traditional blueprint—and that’s exactly the point. Before he was advising leaders, building organizations, and operating across business and public service, he was a student struggling to find direction. He was expelled from multiple schools, labeled as unfocused, and pushed into an alternative education path that few would associate with future success. Read more>>
Bill Quasa
I am a second generation Santa, My father portrayed Santa in the late 80’s and Early 90’s, somewhere in the 2000’s i started wearing the suit. Read more>>
Viktoriya Stoycheva
My husband and I both have full time careers that we love. We have always had a dream of owning a coffee shop. Opening Smiley’s Coffee Bar fulfills this dream and allows us to be flexible with when we operate. Read more>>
Adriane Ritchie
My story really starts with my own skin. Growing up, I struggled with severe acne, and that emotional journey — the impact it had on my self-esteem and confidence — became the foundation for everything I’ve built. It wasn’t just a skin problem; it shaped who I am. Read more>>
Jessica Powell
I’m Jessica Powell, owner of Social Balances, Managing Director of Back2KC and my story has always centered around people. I was born and raised in Kansas City, went to Shawnee Mission East, and studied psychology at KU because I’ve always been fascinated by people, what they need, how they think, and how the right connection can change everything. Read more>>
Gregg Katz
I started doing income tax preparation back in 1995, originally helping friends and family and learning as I went. Over time, it naturally grew into something more consistent as people referred others to me, and I built my business almost entirely through word-of-mouth. For many years, I averaged around 50 returns annually, working with a loyal group of clients who came back year after year. Read more>>
Rachel Shiffrin
I’m an escape room junkie, plain and simple. I’ve played hundreds (maybe thousands) of rooms, including many by myself! Apparently after four back-to-back escape rooms, some people are ready to do something else. Don’t understand that mentality, but it’s true! I’ve tried a lot of the scavenger hunt activities out there, but none of them quite hit the mark. Read more>>
Laurie McElroy-Peavler
In November of 2018, I came to Hermann looking for commercial property to probably open a retail store. The realtor showed me one last property that wasn’t zoned commercial but could be turned into a Bed and Breakfast. It needed lots of work, the outside was purple. Inside had bright red walls, it needed bathrooms, no living quarters for the owners. Read more>>
Stephen Preyer
I originally planned to become a personal trainer. I’ve always been drawn to exercise science, anatomy, and overall wellness. I was staying very active—competing in the Highland Games and getting into bodybuilding. With these interests, I figured I would look into becoming a personal trainer. So in 2016, I decided to tour Wellsprings School of Allied Health to learn more about their program. Read more>>
Dena Johnston
My path to where I am today hasn’t been a straight line, but every step has shaped the work I’m so passionate about now. I grew up in Holton, Kansas, and attended Kansas State University, where I earned my degree in exercise physiology and nursing. Read more>>
Chasadee Davis
I started my career in real estate on the operational side of transactions and quickly realized I genuinely enjoyed the organization, systems, communication, and problem-solving that happen behind the scenes. I love making sure all the moving pieces come together smoothly and creating a better experience for both agents and clients throughout the process. Read more>>
Jessica Hong
When I was younger, while I would visit art museums regularly, I never understood that the arts could be a profession. My high school in Cambridge, MA, was very socially engaged and I decided to explore a career in diplomacy. After interning with an organization at the United Nations in college, I quickly realized this was not the path I wanted to take. Read more>>
Kelly Cannova
Nothing could have been further from my mind when I heard the news. My mom had always been the picture of health. She went to the doctor for what she thought was a bladder infection, and within 48 hours, a diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer had turned our worlds upside down. Read more>>
Hamsa Mghamed
I started Peaubuhamsa from a genuine passion and love for helping people feel beautiful, confident and most importantly, cared for. Becoming an esthetician gave me the opportunity to connect with people in such personal way, and i quickly realized I wanted yo create an experience that went beyond skincare. Read more>>
Russ Hill
I want to talk about Lavender Studios. Lavender Studios is Kansas City’s favorite DIY Art and Music Living Room. Lavender was built from the idea that when we feel safe and connected we can be creative, vulnerable and expressive. I took that idea and decided to explore it more. Read more>>
Michelle McNeil
Hello I advocate for Mental Health Awareness and for any child or adult who needs therapeutic support. Read more>>
Chuck Klingsick
Chuck was born in the St. Louis area before moving to Indiana where he met his wife and started a family: he eventually made his way to Kansas City where he now resides. Chuck grew up with pets and always felt that they brought a family closer together. Read more>>
