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.
Toni Vaughn
I began my career in mental health over 18 years ago after earning my degree in Psychology from Langston University and my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Webster University. Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor allowed me to combine my passion for serving others with evidence-based practices that help individuals, couples, families, and communities navigate life’s most difficult moments. Read more>>
Jonathan Mills
I first started my artistic journey at a very young age and have developed my style through many years of exploration, hard work, and determination. I started out using primarily graphite and paper as my medium of choice but have focused more on digital illustrations within the past few years. I am well versed in realism, but I mostly focus on stylized illustration. Read more>>
Lauren Uberroth
Photography has always been something I loved, but I never imagined turning it into an actual business. My husband and my mother were the ones who really believed in me before I believed in myself. They encouraged me to start offering sessions, and I’m so thankful they pushed me to take that leap. Read more>>
Gia Garrett
What started as a passionate creative hobby at home has grown into one of Kansas City’s favorite gifting brands. I handcraft each arrangement with meticulous attention, ensuring every ribbon is tied to perfection and every treat is selected with care. My design philosophy focuses on custom, themed storytelling — crafting boxes that reflect the unique personality of the recipient, for any occasion. Read more>>
Christy Ervin
I like to joke that I’ve been seeing a chiropractor since before I was born. My mom is a huge believer in chiropractic care—she was adjusted throughout her pregnancy with me, and I had my first chiropractic visit shortly after birth. Read more>>
L’Nayah Cole
I feel like I got started like most stylists that you know – they were obsessed with beauty in their early years. I’m sure we were all told “this isn’t a beauty salon or a runway” by their math teacher some point. Read more>>
Jared Anders
I started andersvisual in 2016, originally as a place to share drone photography and video. Consumer drones still felt new at the time, and I was fascinated by the different perspectives a flying camera could capture. That interest eventually carried over to shooting urban environments with my phone. I began focusing on architecture, graffiti, public art, reflections, and old buildings. Read more>>
Lonnie Fisher
My story, some would say, could be a book, but here is the condensed version. Read more>>
David Forlu
I was born Bamenda, Cameroon, and music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started playing the piano at four years old, and much of my early development happened in church. That environment taught me that music could be more than entertainment, it could encourage people, bring healing, and create space for them to encounter God. Read more>>
Alexa García Laínez
Started dancing folklorico at 4 years old because my older sister was in dance. I thought it was fun to get to wear makeup and big dresses. I even got to hang out with my sister’s older friends, but then I made my own friends, and the challenge of learning something new and presenting it on stage was always exciting. Read more>>
Jeffrey Guzman
KC Mobility Scooter Rentals LLC was founded with a simple mission: to make it easier for people with limited mobility to enjoy life without unnecessary barriers. We recognized that many individuals recovering from surgery, managing a disability, or simply needing extra assistance for a vacation or special event struggled to find affordable, reliable mobility equipment when they needed it most. Read more>>
Eva Staronova
I’ve come to believe that life isn’t about following a predetermined path—it’s about discovering the thread that quietly connects everything you do. Looking back, my journey through business, diplomacy, fashion, philanthropy, and the arts may seem unconventional, but each chapter has been guided by the same purpose: bringing people together. Read more>>
Claire Tadokoro
My career has been a bit of a fun hodge podge. In 2018, my first job out of college was for an insurance brokerage on the Plaza. Besides navigating an industry I knew nothing about, I had a lot more free time without the responsibilities and extracurriculars that occupied my time when I was a student at UMKC. Read more>>
Alneishia Wright
My name is Alneishia Wright, and I’m honored to share my story as a licensed hairstylist and the owner of Wright Beauty Co. My love for hair began at a young age. I spent a lot of time styling mannequins and dolls before moving on to my own hair, my family’s hair, and eventually my classmates’. Read more>>
Emma Tanguma
I’ve worked in the beauty industry 20+ years, my (handsome) husband has been tattooing 20+ years, we put the two together and here we are 8 years later! Read more>>
Joe Dimino
It all began in 1972 in Kansas City, MO. From there, it was a childhood spent in Liberty, Missouri. During those years, I was knee deep in sports and making forts. I was only 4′ 11” in high school, thus running was the thing I picked. I ran cross country and some track my whole high school career. Read more>>
Angie Vasquez
Weston Bend candle company is a family collaboration. We bought our business from the original owner in 2014 and began to make it our own. Our mission has always been to create the highest quality candle available. We utilize the best raw materials the industry provides, study fragrances trends, explore our own ideas for new scents then test, test, test! Read more>>
Lolita Pulce -Williams
I’ve spent more than 20 years in mortgage banking, real estate, and financial services, but my journey has never been just about closing loans. It has always been about helping people build stability, create wealth through homeownership, and believe that a setback doesn’t have to define their future. Read more>>
Hadiya Hill
I started baking when i was younger… watching my mom create every birthday cake for me and my brother. As i grew a little older i started watching How to Cake It on youtube which is where a lot of my inspiration comes for content and cake decorating. Read more>>
Easton Koch
DIVINE LAYERS launched in the Fall of 2025, however the project really began over a decade ago. My best friend, Dominic Fabiano, and I began re-selling street wear apparel and other high end clothing in high-school, both to our friends, and online through applications like eBay and Grailed. We’ve continued to this day. Read more>>
Dustin Swartz
I’ve always had a love of art and antiques/ history. We started small, then in 2020 started importing from Europe. We opened our current location in 2023 and added our other love of wine. We are now almost completely importers and slowly building our wine program to feature interesting varietals and styles from around the world. Read more>>
Manny De Los Santos
It all started on a Friday night walking into Bestbuy with my father to look at electronics. We would mostly head into the T.V section but this time I decided to walk down the center of the store and stumbled upon the camera section. I glanced at each camera and decided to pick one up and look through the viewfinder. Read more>>
Tobias Sommer
I started Advanced Electrical Services in Omaha in January 2003. At the time, I was working as an electrician on a large industrial project. When that project ended, my choices were to travel out of state for work or return home and take a significant pay cut. Read more>>
Blanca Esthela Mayorga Sandoval
Starting our journey was never easy. In fact, our journey began long before I knew what it meant to create a path. First I was a daughter, that’s when my journey really began. My own mother at a young age showed me everything I know and have today. Read more>>
Jennifer McGuire
I started The Parlor while I was working corporate retail. I wanted to open something that I couldn’t find, a visually interesting boutique with affordable options for people like me. Shopping is FUN, and I was so ready to stretch myself to see what I could bring to life. Read more>>
Lacee Hunt
I’ve been dancing since I could walk, and grew up doing competitive dance. 5 years I attended an open call audition to perform at worlds of fun and the rest is history. This is my first summer dancing for them in 3 years, and I’ve performed for them during the haunt season consistently over the past four years with this season being my 5th. Read more>>
Serena Chan
I’m Rinicake (@rinicakez), an artist with a vision of bringing my original characters “to life” as physical toys, and creating a world for them. My art style is cutesy, has a lot of pastel color schemes, and includes many cute animals such as alpacas and cats. I have been drawing my whole life and got my first drawing tablet when I was in middle school. Read more>>
Jesse Austin
It all started back when I was a kid. I used to go to my grandma’s house & look at old pictures, it didn’t matter if I knew them or not, I was so fascinated by photos. As I got older, I would always take random pictures & record everything. It got to a point where people wanted me to take their pictures. Read more>>
Viktoriia Tesalova
Once I found my footing, I focused on what I care about most in this work: paramedical tattooing, and specifically scar and stretch mark camouflage — a niche that isn’t taught nearly as thoroughly as it should be. I developed my own methods for it, TSCP and TCMS, built from years of hands-on experience with clients whose skin and history are never quite textbook. Read more>>
Stephanie McIntosh
My journey into fashion didn’t start in a traditional way. I grew up in Kansas City and learned how to sew at a young age. My grandmother first taught me, and my dad reinforced it. He would set up the sewing machine in our living room, and I would spend hours creating random pillows and doll clothing. Read more>>
Madison Kaiser
I’ve never been able to pinpoint exactly where my love for filmmaking began – it feels less like something I discovered and more like something that has always been part of me. I’ve always followed my heart and intuition, and looking back, I can see God’s hand gently guiding me back to this work time and time again. Read more>>
Kelsey Barnes
I graduated hair school in 2011 from House of Heavilin in Blue Springs, Missouri. From there I worked at a Sports Clips for a very short time, until I found out I was going to have my now 13 year old. Read more>>
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>>
