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.
Orion ‘Bad Karma’ Mata
I am a U.S. Army Military Policeman Veteran and 30-year law enforcement professional. I spent my entire adult life on the front lines of public safety as a Patrolman, School Resource Officer, Detective, Federal Task Force Officer, federal court-recognized drug trafficking expert, NRA Certified firearms instructor, SRT Operator, Police Sniper, and Defensive Tactics instructor. Read More>>
Cristina Popovic
My American Dream My name is Cristina Popovic, and I am originally from the Republic of Moldova, a small country located between Romania and Ukraine. Growing up, I never imagined that one day I would build a life, raise a family, and create several businesses in the United States. Read More>>
Sha-Leah Jeannyne
Working in early childhood for 16 years, and as a single mom of 2 girls, I always knew that I wanted to teach my girls about self care and to show them how to live a healthy life in all aspects. In 2020, I was able to put these lessons into practice. Read More>>
Iqbal Singh
My journey into photography and videography started from a genuine passion for storytelling and capturing meaningful moments. What began as a creative hobby in high school quickly turned into something much bigger as I realized how much I enjoyed creating. Read More>>
Denzelle Simmons
It all started with a radio with a microphone, a keyboard, and some blank cassette tapes in 2002 , 24 years later I’m still recording, performing and writing music Consistency got me here in this moment in my music career that I’m in right now Read More>>
Leslie Newsam
I started out working in restaurants when I was 14 bussing and hosting at a restaurant where my parents were regulars. I just could not get the industry out of my system every time I tried to do something else. At 21, I started serving and completely fell in love with the guest aspect of it. Read More>>
Raquel Ayers
I didn’t start my culinary journey in a traditional way—it really started at home. I grew up in the kitchen cooking alongside my dad and my grandmother, and over time, I naturally became the primary cook in my household. Feeding people has always been a part of who I am—it’s in my DNA. Read More>>
Tobi Jeurink
Dr. Tobi Jeurink opened her chiropractic clinic in Gardner, KS in 2001 and quickly realized that many of her patients needed more than adjustments. They were tired, inflamed, struggling with digestion, hormones, and conditions that no one could explain. So she went deeper. Read More>>
Lacey Binns
I’m Lacey, a Midwest girl with a love of shopping and styling both my wardrobe and my home. When my 9 to 5 wasn’t giving me the creative outlet I craved, I started Life Without Louboutins as a space for sharing ideas with others who want to cultivate a stylish life on a budget. Read More>>
Colin Curtis
I’m Colin ‘ADG’ Curtis, I was born and raised in Kansas City, KS and I have had an interest in music as back as I can remember. Read More>>
Karis Ens
In 2027, I will celebrate ten years of my two core businesses. I officially established Karis Ens Piano Studio and Sewin’ in 2017. I’m also celebrating my ten year anniversary of being a published author at the end of 2026. I started my Karis Ens Piano Studio soon after I graduated from Friends University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Read More>>
Kayla Arthur
My favorite people were tried of experiencing chronic pain. So, i’ve spent the last 10 years learning how to help them. I started as a massage therapist to focus on the physical care but have pivoted my practice to focus on getting to the root of the pain through energetic techniques. I have been a reiki teacher since 2019 and breathwork facilitator since 2021. Read More>>
Bhroovi Gupta
I grew up in Mumbai, India, and from a young age I was fascinated by the power of storytelling and design. I loved the idea that something visual could make people feel excited, curious, understood, or inspired. That curiosity and some luck eventually led me to pursue Graphic Design and Entrepreneurship at the University of Kansas. Read More>>
Brianna France
Sure! I was always into photography and cameras growing up, but I didn’t start being serious about it until high school. After graduating high school, I majored in photography in college to further grow my skillset. Since then, I’ve been continuously learning from and networking with other photographers in the area. Read More>>
Nassir Criss
I actually didn’t grow up in Kansas City — I moved there in 2020. But it’s the first place I truly found my stride, both as an adult and as a businessperson, executive, and entrepreneur. The roughly four years I spent there shaped who I am. Read More>>
Kevin Cacy
My wife and I have both had a big heart for inner city youth for many years, extending back to our single days. In 1999 we began working for Freedom Fire Ministries, leading many activities for youth and young adults, including Friday Night youth groups, after school tutoring, Bible Clubs, and summer camps. We also have had many kids live with us over the years. Read More>>
Kecia Newton
The story of Kecia Newton is a masterclass in defying the odds and redefining the boundaries of a male-dominated industry. Rising from an impoverished upbringing and overcoming the lack of traditional support systems, Kecia has transformed herself into a first-generation graduate, an accomplished author, and a powerhouse in the construction sector. Read More>>
Maih Rivers
I’ve always been passionate about helping women feel confident, beautiful, and comfortable in their own skin. What started as a simple idea eventually grew into two businesses that I am incredibly proud of today: Divine Beauty and Kittyology. My journey began with a love for beauty services and a desire to create a safe, welcoming space where women could invest in themselves. Read More>>
Paty Figtree
Moved from omaha NE right before Covid. Wasn’t the plan to take time off when I just relocated my business of a decade to a new town…. But it gave me my first REAL downtown to reflect on what I wanted from this career in a new space. Read More>>
Mary Shannon
When I was preparing for retirement after 25 years with a multi-billion-dollar corporation, I asked myself a simple question: “Now what?” I was proud of the work I’d done and grateful for the chance to slow down, travel, volunteer, and lead worship at my church. There was no pressure to chase the next big thing—until there was. Some moments felt like a nudge from fate. Read More>>
Neko Lynn
I grew up in the Kansas City area surrounded by creativity, craftsmanship, and community. Some of my earliest artistic memories are sitting with my grandad while he drew little characters for me. Watching simple pencil marks become personalities sparked my imagination and taught me that all you need is a surface and something to make a mark with to bring ideas to life. Read More>>
Madison Nicole
Most things for me happened in 2020. That’s when I first started circus arts and when I started writing my first book. Like many people, COVID was incredible difficult. I lost my job and felt purpose less. I began reading a lot and then writing about my own mental health journey through the lens of a fantasy romance. Additionally, I began taking aerial arts classes. Read More>>
Dylan Flanner
I stand on the shoulders of giants when it comes to residential construction. Growing up I watched my Dad and my Uncle build a lot of houses. To be honest, for the longest time it was just a job. I got to work in the family business and didn’t have to go out and get a ‘real job’. Read More>>
Magical katrina Kroetch
I started performing when I was pretty young I was actually a princess performer first, doing birthday parties and kids events, and eventually that turned into magic shows as a princess . I kind of fell in love with the way magic lets you connect with people immediately. Read More>>
Andrea Konovalske
I never set out to own an event business. Like a lot of great stories, it started by accident. What began as creating a special celebration for my own daughter quickly turned into friends asking for help, then referrals, and eventually a business that grew faster than I ever imagined. Read More>>
Kathryn Sloan
I began my real estate career as a rental property investor. Having my license allowed me to buy and sell my own properties, and I occasionally had the chance to help friends and family along the way. For about 15 years, though, I wasn’t doing any public-facing sales — that changed when my neighbor, Cami Jones, suggested I join her team. Read More>>
Jennifer Harvey
I graduated from the University of Kansas and began my career in sales, first selling copiers and later moving into medical sales. While I enjoyed the work, it required a significant amount of travel. After having my second child, I started looking for a career that would give me more flexibility and allow me to spend more time with my family. Read More>>
Alexandra (Xandra) Adkins
At a very young age, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I stayed extremely motivated and got my first professional performing job at the age of five! I have performed in musical theater, radio Disney, on tour with Simon malls while also modeling and dancing across the country. Read More>>
EleveN2wenty2
We began singing in church like most notable R&B vocalists. That’s where we began shaping and nurturing our on-stage chemistry. Each of us went away to college to sharpen our skills and gain degrees in music and communication. Read More>>
Nate Evans
Nate Evans is a Kansas City–based electronic music artist, performer, fashion designer, and visual artist known for delivering high-energy, crowd-driven experiences that blend festival-scale EDM with a bold pop aesthetic. His sound fuses progressive house, electro pop, and modern dance music, creating immersive performances designed for peak-hour moments, emotional connection, and packed dance floors. Read more>>
Joanna and Anthony Freeman
It started as a passion for nerdy stuff that grew into a family who loved nerdy stuff. Joanna got sick and was not able to work a traditional job. She found that doing things like building lego sets and playing games helped her on her road to recovery and we loved it. Read more>>
