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.
Samantha Chang
When I was about to graduate high school and it was time to figure out what I wanted to be, I decided that if I had to pick a career, I’d rather do something I actually loved. That’s what led me to cosmetology school. Read more>>
Leslie Casas
It started as something fun I did with friends — bringing a camera along on our outings and adventures, just capturing moments because I loved doing it. I never set out to make it a business. Read more>>
Melissa Reed
Hildebrand Farms Dairy is first and foremost a dairy farm. Taking care of our girls and producing the best living and care conditions for our cows is our number 1 priority. We then take the delicious milk they provide us and process it in our on-site bottling facility in our signature glass bottles. Read more>>
Jackie Gill
A little over a year ago, I left a 15-year career in personal training in order to create a children’s mindfulness brand called The Enchanted Forest. I got certified in yoga over Covid and it was incredibly transformative. It not only changed how I approached workouts and goals with clients, but it also taught me tools to regulate my own nervous system. Read more>>
Emily Burrows
Even as a little girl I had a deep connection with animals, and I knew I wanted to open my home to fosters from the moment I heard that it was something shelters/rescues did. In early 2017, I began volunteering with The Rescue Project, a small, volunteer-run animal rescue. Read more>>
Tim Stone
I was always drawing, and interpreting images through drawing but I didn’t get fully hooked to my core until I was 17 and experienced visual art at the Nelson Atkins Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago within months of each other. I really solidified by decision to go to art school and I haven’t looked back. Read more>>
Maurice Melson
I had a friend who started doing music and I didn’t wanna be in his music video so I took it upon myself to start shooting his music videos and I did it for like a year shooting his videos only and I start liking it and went from there and started evolving and learning more from YouTube all self taught Read more>>
Caleb Adegoke
Where to begin. My story is one of resilience in the face of uncertainty. I was originally headed to law school. Pre-law felt like the right path to help people who looked like me, sounded like me, came from where I came from. But then I walked into my first Psychology 101 class at Johnson County Community College, and something clicked. Read more>>
Jeremiah Lewis
I originally started getting invested into music because of my dad. I have memories of him playing melodies on the piano and recording tracks into the Fl Studio and even recording songs with me. Since then I’ve made it my own and decided to finish the mission he started. Read more>>
Ammon Dorsey
I’m a husband and a dad before I’m anything else. Our daughter, Sephora, has significant disabilities and requires a high level of care. Life revolves around doctor appointments, therapies, and the unexpected. Raising her has changed the way I see people, the way I solve problems, and the way I show up when someone needs help. Read more>>
Astros _here
Hi! My name is astro, I go by Astros_here online! I started cosplay in around 2014 when I was 12 years old! I started out with a terrible fnaf cosplay using acrylic paint on my face (dont do that) and kept going ever since! I started making and crafting my own cosplays around 2023 and started booking guesting work at conventions shortly after! Read more>>
Toni Reed
My journey into content creation started from simply wanting to share real parts of my life and connect with people who could relate. Over the years, I’ve experienced many different seasons—balancing motherhood, my career, personal growth, fitness, relationships, and learning how to prioritize myself along the way. Read more>>
Sarah Uhler
In 2014 I decided on a whim to leave my job and go to cosmetology school. I fell in love and never looked back! My path has led me to beauty bars, commission, booth rent, and I currently work for myself. Read more>>
Bailie Land, CPM
I became a Homebirth Midwife in February 2026. My journey to becoming a midwife began with a deep passion for supporting women and families through one of life’s most transformative experiences. That passion grew into a calling to provide personalized, evidence-based care that honors informed choice while building meaningful relationships with each family I serve. Read more>>
Taylor Morrison
I first started photography when I was around 15 years old. I loved having ‘photoshoots’ with my little sisters and friends. I would take their photos on my iPod or the family camera. Taken By Tay was born to an 8th grade girl with a big idea. Read more>>
Dr. Kaylea Cantrell
I’m Dr. Kaylea Cantrell, owner of Catalyst Chiropractic. My journey started with a passion for helping people live healthier, fuller lives through natural healthcare. Just three months after graduating chiropractic school, I opened my first practice with a vision of creating a space where families could feel supported, empowered, and truly cared for. Read more>>
Nathan Hall
My story does not start with a business plan. It starts in a whole lot of hospital rooms. I want it on the record that I am not some naturally brave guy. Most days I am an adolescent hot mess who learned to crack jokes in scary rooms because the alternative was falling apart. Read more>>
Robert Taylor
Originally, my brand was called Certified Styling, and Better Off Friends was supposed to be the luxury line under it. The name Better Off Friends came from a personal experience in 2020. During the shutdown, I was talking to someone, and with all the time apart, I realized how much I was growing and how much work I was able to get done on myself. Read more>>
Beth King
I’ve known about color analysis since I was a child. My grandmother had her colors done back in the 80’s when it was popular, and I used to read the ‘Color Me Beautiful’ book she had at her home. Growing up, I always loved fashion. Read more>>
Olivia Williams
Butter started with a simple idea: I wanted to make hosting feel easier and a little more beautiful. I’ve always believed that some of life’s best conversations happen around a table, so I set out to create catering that felt less like a transaction and more like an experience. Read more>>
Hosea2Hollow
My name is Hosea2Hollow, an independent artist from Kansas City, Missouri. I started making music as a way to process life experiences, loss, relationships, and personal struggles that were difficult to express any other way. Over time, what began as an outlet turned into a passion and a purpose. As Hosea2Hollow, I’ve built a platform by being honest about pain, growth, mistakes, and perseverance. Read more>>
Kathy Hale
My career began with a diagnosis. I was 38 years old with 4 kids at home when doctors discovered I had sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease. At that time, the only treatment was heavy doses of steroids for an extended period of time. I read the side effects and rejected the treatment. I decided instead to find my way out of the disease. Read more>>
Ali K-Reza
Besides running my music recording studio, Brudas Recording and Publishing. I had another calling, one that will last until the end of time. Eternal Messages: Preserving Voices, Stories, and Love for Future Generations Eternal Messages is a compassionate service dedicated to preserving the voices, stories, and heartfelt messages of individuals facing life-limiting illnesses. Read more>>
Jennifer Thomas
I opened Lucky Dog Pet Grocery & Bakery in 2012 in Lawrence, Kansas. The idea for Lucky Dog was born the day I adopted Salvador, a Boston Terrier rescue pup who completely changed my world. While attending puppy training classes with him, I realized something was missing — quality training tools, durable American-made toys, and reliable information about pet nutrition were surprisingly hard to find. Read more>>
Elizabeth Messina
I started my photography career in high school while on the school paper, photographing mainly football games. My first set of portraits were for my sisters senior photos! I took my first two years of photos on a point and shoot Olympus. My parents gifted me a Canon Rebel T3i for Christmas my junior year. I attended William Jewell College on a partial journalism scholarship. Read more>>
Brittani Arnold
Greetings! My name is Brittani also known as Aya, I am a holistic womb keeper, steward of the land, herbalist, divine educator at a private nature based homeschool and a home baker. Read more>>
Jessica Wood
My husband and I moved back to Kansas City from NYC in March of 2020. During that time, we were gifted a vintage ice cream machine and what started as a COVID hobby became an obsession. We immediately decided to start popping up around town to sell our scratch made French ice cream and eventually opened a brick and mortar in 2023. Read more>>
Rhonda Freeman
My journey into fitness didn’t begin with an athletic background. I didn’t play sports growing up, and for much of my life I was simply trying to survive difficult circumstances while raising my family and building a career. In my late 30s, I walked into a gym looking to improve my health, never imagining it would completely change the direction of my life. Read more>>
Lindsay Crockett
I graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Interior Architecture and started my career in the commercial architecture and construction industry, where I spent about three years gaining experience in design and project execution. After that, I transitioned into residential design and construction, joining a design-build firm in Kansas City as a project manager. Read more>>
Anthony Anthem
Well I moved to the Kansas City, Missouri area when I nine years old. I grew up in the Independence, Missouri area in a single parent household. So, it was myself , My sibling, and My mother. My mom worked a lot so I took the reigns of the household when she was away. Read more>>
Aliya Harris
Looking at my personality while growing up, I was always going to be around the beauty industry. From braiding friend’s hair in class, to doing the hair and makeup for my friend group on special occasions, I’ve been spreading glam since day 1. Read more>>
Saranya Hubbard
I’m from Bangkok, Thailand. I learnt how to bartend in Japanese bartending style in Bangkok since 2017. Moved to Kansas City in 2020. Me and my husband want to open a Japanese bartending style in Kansas City. We shared a dream of bringing the Japanese bartending experience to Kansas City where we are living. Read more>>
Celeste Gill
My journey has never been about simply becoming a chef—it has been about using food to bring people together, create opportunities, and leave a lasting impact. I discovered my love for Louisiana cuisine as a child and later pursued formal training in culinary arts and food science. Read more>>
Michael Drone
I’ve always been drawn to storytelling, but I didn’t take the traditional path into filmmaking. I started as a comic book artist, learning how to draw, write and tell a story with my imagination. Over time, that naturally evolved into an appreciation for film, where I realized I could tell much broader stories through moving frames, sound, and video editing. Read more>>
Magnificent T
I started doing Music in Upstate NY where I grew up, Then later moved to Kansas City, MO where I continued making strides and steps on my music. As of today I just released my New EP ‘New Beginnings’ On All Platforms on June 5th 2026 where it is my First Rap Rock project. Read more>>
Coach Cheeks
I’ve always been a baseball junkie, having played and watched my whole life and continue to do so. I consider myself a baseball hardo. There’s so much to love about the life lessons and challenges that come with this great game. Read more>>
Destiny Deal
I earned my degree in Fashion Merchandising and spent many years working in retail, where I gained experience in merchandising, customer service, and the day-to-day operations of the industry. Over time, I realized I wanted to build something of my own that reflected my personal style and vision. Read more>>
KC FLASH
I’m a South Side Chicago artist, entrepreneur, and creator whose journey started with music at a young age. I discovered my gift for singing as a kid, learned piano from my family, and eventually started writing and recording my own music through local youth programs. Read more>>
Gisselle Diaz
My path to be becoming real estate agent wasn’t a straight line. I went to college and earned degrees in fields completely different from real estate, but I always found myself drawn to it. Read more>>
Courtney Beasley
My grandfather passed down his old camcorder to me when I was seven years old. I was ecstatic and immediately started dreaming up things to film. My friends on the other hand, were not so ecstatic. Read more>>
Wood Nissan KC
Nobody teaches you how to buy a car. You’re expected to make one of the biggest financial decisions of your life without ever learning how financing works, what features actually matter, or how to avoid expensive mistakes. Too often, people leave dealerships feeling overwhelmed instead of empowered. We believe that should change. At Wood Nissan, we’ve built our approach around education before sales. Read more>>
Poe Edwards
I’m a big advocate for self-love and growth. I struggled a lot in my past with both, so being able to find art, writing, and my own voice have helped me develop a passion for voicing the voiceless overtime! Read more>>
Melanie Buchanan
Growing up I was always taught the importance of reading. My mother was a librarian and some of my earliest memories were sitting on her bed while she practiced my letters and reading with me. I joined the library’s reading program every summer, joined the reading club in elementary school, and crushed those Pizza Hut “Book It” challenges every year. Read more>>
jason piggie
Photographer/Filmmaker/Curator My artistic journey began in August 1986 when I took my first photography class in high school. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I loved both the creative process and the artistry of photography. From that point on, I stuck with it, continuing to study photography throughout high school and into college. Read more>>
Blaqout
Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started producing electronic music as a teenager because I was fascinated by the idea that one person could create an entire world of sound from a computer. What started as a hobby quickly turned into an obsession. Read more>>
