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.
Denetra Taylor
In 2019 during the pandemic I realized just how precious life is and I took a chance and wrote my very first script called The Feast, with no formal screenwriter training. In 2020 Crimson Vibez Production was officially born. The Feast evolved from a film to a series at that time and by 2021 I started working on my second script called Ani-Mom, which was filmed in 2023 and is available on RM Entertainment streaming platform. Read more>>
AHAJANAY BOLDEN
On October 31, 2021, the same day I graduated from esthetics school, I made the decision to continue my education and enrolled in massage therapy school. A year later, I graduated from The Soma Institute for Massage Therapy in Chicago as my class valedictorian and was named to the President’s Honors List. Read more>>
Nandni Patel
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had a deep love for art and the intricate beauty of henna. I remember the excitement of first picking up a cone and practicing on my own hands, watching the patterns come to life on my skin. Read more>>
Pam Cloer
Tam developed an interest in winemaking as a young man when he befriended an elderly neighbor with a love for home winemaking. For years, Tam visited his neighbor’s basement winery and worked by his side learning the basics. After his neighbor passed away and left all of his winemaking equipment to Tam, he officially adopted the art as a hobby. Read more>>
Anna Pupo
When I came to the United States from Ukraine, I had an MA in Marketing and professional experience, but I had to start completely from scratch. No clients, no network, no local recognition — just my skills, determination, and vision. Read more>>
Brenda Hayes
Today, I consider myself a creative strategist, with ongoing learning in UI/UX design and web development, while graphic design remains at the core of everything I do. I focus on transforming vision into something tangible, intentional, and impactful for the communities it serves. Read more>>
Kerry Brandewie
Today, I am a personal trainer, certified Pilates instructor, certified yoga teacher, and group fitness instructor. I have nearly 20 clients who I work with privately at my home studio. I teach classes at UNC Wellness Centers at Meadowmont and Club Pilates in Chapel Hill and Durham. My fitness career began 25 years ago. Read more>>
Katelyn Gage
I’ve been in love with photography my entire life. From having a disposable camera in my hand for every family road trip (hello early 2000’s & a screen free past time) to winning competitions in my town as a kid for the photos I took, it was a huge part of my childhood. Read more>>
Ben Harris
When we bought this property, it was dominated by invasive and undesirable plants — tons of wisteria, kudzu, green briar, bermuda grass, and poison ivy. Pigs are little bulldozers — they ate and uprooted the undesirable plants and fertilized the soil with their manure and urine. Read more>>
Caroline Rutledge
If you had asked me years ago where I’d end up, I don’t know that I could have named “private practice owner” or “doctoral candidate.” What I did know, even early on, was that I was drawn to people’s stories — especially the ones they felt afraid to tell. Read more>>
LaTrese Gilkey
Gold Seal Document Services was born out of both necessity and clarity. I’ve always been someone who naturally takes ownership—of details, of systems, of making sure things are done correctly. Over time, I realized that navigating official paperwork can be overwhelming for most people. Apostilles, notarizations, document authentication—these processes feel intimidating if you don’t understand them. Read more>>
Kenita Matthews-White
Our Story – Grace Given While volunteering at a local soup kitchen, I began to see a deeper need within our community. Beyond food, people needed access to showers, clean clothing, job resources, and assistance with housing. I saw individuals who wanted a fresh start but lacked the basic resources to take that next step. Read more>>
Jerome John
Growing up, I was trained as a mechanic by my father. We spent most of our time working on cars before transitioning to motorcycles, eventually opening a small business to fix and build them. In between, I also played football—though, in hindsight, I was terrible. Read more>>
Chrystal Flowers
My journey into education and entrepreneurship was born out of both passion and lived experience. I’ve always believed that every child deserves to feel confident, capable, and seen in the learning process. Over time, I began to notice how traditional systems often move at a pace that doesn’t honor the individual learner — and I knew there had to be another way. Read more>>
Kaylee Meyers
My vision for Fresh Breath Therapy was born out of a desire to bridge a gap I saw in the mental health industry. My roots are in community mental health, working closely with at-risk youth, followed by time spent in the Raleigh private practice sector. Read more>>
Tian Garcia
Born and raised in Guatemala city . Started in music , playing classical guitar in my teens and the piano and vocals for my local church. After that i was part of one of the biggest churches in latin america , traveling extensively as musician in countries like Mexico , Ecuador ,costa rica , Venezuela etc. Read more>>
Lakiesha Williams
I began my story as a mother at 19 trying to figure out what I was going to do being a young mother, and not quite knowing what I wanted to do with my life yet. Read more>>
Fen Rascoe
Like most artists, I grew up drawing all the time. In high school, I took art classes too young and immature to take it seriously. In college, I took several oil painting and watercolor classes mainly to keep my gpa above water – again not giving art any processional or serous consideration. Read more>>
Lindsay Reynolds
I have always enjoyed connecting with others, allowing for space to process and reflect. In a world where mental health stigma still exists, there is value in being able to name the hard things, to be together and hold space for others in the midst of their hard. I received my graduate degree from NC A&T and UNC-G’s Joint Master of Social Work program. Read more>>
Abby Judd
Our journey started in November of 2024 with a shared love of service and a mission to support and uplift the women in our community. What we found was that while services existed in North Carolina, there appeared to be a large gap in southern Wake County. Read more>>
Alexandria Johnson
I founded The Dog Athletic Club in Charlotte to solve a problem I lived firsthand – wanting to stay fit while also meeting my dog’s training and enrichment needs. We created structured human-and-dog bootcamp classes that blend strength training, agility work, and impulse control. It’s fitness with purpose – building healthier bodies and more obedient, confident dogs at the same time. Read more>>
Nesha Davis
In 2022 I became a licensed realtor, specializing in helping out-of-state professionals, and growing families relocate to North Carolina to secure more space and long-term homeownership. With a background in mixed-income property management, I saw firsthand how access, education, and guidance can shift the trajectory of entire bloodlines. In 2023, I became a commissioned notary, continuing my mission to be a trusted guide during life’s most important decisions. Read more>>
Ava N. Simmons
I was diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia in 2021. School was really hard for me. Reading and writing was really difficult super frustrating. Sometimes I felt different from other kids. But then I learned about something really special that helped me change my mind and discover my passion for STEM-STEAM and youth entrepreneurship. Read more>>
Anne Derby
I’ve been knitting since I was eight years old, and it has always been part of my life, through good times and bad. When my youngest daughter entered her senior year of college, I was finally able to follow my passion and open a yarn shop. I held onto my “day job” as a biomedical engineer while I looked for the right space. Read more>>
Liza Hondros
I did not set out to build what is now Liza Hondros Creative Studios. Almost fifteen years ago, when my son was born, I walked into a big box store to buy a camera so I could document his life. That was it. No master plan, just a new mom who did not want to miss a moment. Read more>>
Deb Mitchell
I believe every creative has a truth about their work that deserves to be clearly seen and confidently spoken. But finding the right words isn’t always easy to do for themselves. Early in my career as a copywriter, an editor gave me advice that has never left me. Read more>>
Jin Pak
My name is Jin Pak, PA C, and I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. I came to the United States as an international student and began my medical career in emergency and family medicine. Over the past 15 plus years, I have also built a strong foundation in laser medicine, which has become an integral part of my work today. Read more>>
David Williams
Our journey to farming began in 2012. My family was seeking healing through food, due to some health concerns. So we started growing a nice sized garden in our backyard at our old house. This led us to visit multiple, local vegetable farms in our area. And one stood out to us. Read more>>
Candice Scales
Guilford County Youth Academy was born from a conversation I once had with my late mother. At the time, I was a young parent. I had my first child at 15 and by my early twenties, I was working hard to build stability for my family. Like many parents, I relied on childcare programs, but I began to notice something was missing. Read more>>
Carson Clark
MY START I began my career at a company with annual revenue of $20B After swimming through bureaucracy, I transitioned to a smaller firm and learned that I love the pace and personal touch of entrepreneurial organizations. Read more>>
Sara Wilson
I fell in love with women’s health a few years into my PA career; I transitioned to women’s health in 2021 and had the privledge of working alongside and learning from some incredible OBGYN providers. Read more>>
Kevin Andrew
I followed the “right path” for many years before questioning it. After earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in Civil Engineering, years working in IT Corporate America, and a successful Entrepreneur Business Exit, I now paint abstract artwork full time with an intention to find my self. My work explores how proximity and connection (once cultivated in my previous business), now unfold within the canvas. Read more>>
Heather Eck
I didn’t set out to become an intuitive artist or create a business around color. I actually started in corporate HR. On paper, everything looked good. I had the job, the stability, the titles. But inside, something felt off. There was a moment where I got everything I thought I wanted professionally… and ended up in urgent care thinking I was having a heart attack. Read more>>
Danielle Pennington
Born and raised in Princeton, West Virginia, I began my professional journey in cosmetology, managing a beauty supply store from ages 18 to 20 while still in school. At 21, I transitioned into the insurance industry, starting as an agent aspirant in West Virginia. In February 2017, I officially became an insurance agent with State Farm, marking the beginning of my dedicated career in insurance. Read more>>
Rachel McNellie
Years ago, I loved watching cookie decorating videos on social media and/or YouTube. It was fascinating to watch each design take shape and flow together with others to create something magical for someone’s birthday or wedding. One day, I decided to try it, and I fell in love with cookie decorating. Read more>>
Kevin Dunlap
I started to write a book back when I was mainly doing lease option real estate while living in Las Vegas. I never thought I would write another book until 2016 when I wrote my 2nd book, and 3rd in 2019, and finally in 2021 where I put 10 years of building a business in the ultimate book. Read more>>
Darnette Putney
Our story began with hard work and a willingness to start small. In 2008, my husband and I started Absolute & Total Construction, Inc. with the goal to build something meaningful that would support our family and serve our community. In the early years, we didn’t have a team or big resources. Read more>>
Christelle Wilson
I didn’t start this journey just wanting to “do hair.” I started because I understood what it felt like to struggle with confidence — and I realized how deeply connected our crown is to how we see ourselves. I began my career working in traditional salon settings, learning the craft, mastering technique, and serving clients from all walks of life. Read more>>
RJ Reyes
We watched our close communities struggle with the technology the world moved to. Doctor’s offices went to patient portals. Banks went mobile. Scammers got smarter. And the people who never needed this technology were now expected to figure it out on their own. We couldn’t just watch it happen. We kept asking the same question: why is nobody teaching these people? Read more>>
Carolyn Cash
After retiring from the US Navy in 2011. I was looking for comradery and stumbled upon the DAV Wake County Chapter #1 members at the Golden Corral in Garner 2014. In 2014, I joined DAV Wake County Chapter 1 with a simple heart to serve. Read more>>
Maggie Weaver
I grew up in Atlanta, GA. All the way through elementary, middle, and high school I thought I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. However, that changed the summer before my freshman year in college. Read more>>
Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice
The Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray was a twentieth-century human rights activist, legal scholar, author, labor organizer, poet, Episcopal priest, multiracial Black, LGBTQ+ Durhamite who lived one of the most remarkable lives of the 20th century. Read more>>
Bailey Warren Mayer
Our story really began with a simple but important concern – the health and comfort of babies. As a mother-daughter team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, we kept noticing how common skin issues like rashes and eczema were, and how hard it was to find clothing that was truly gentle, free from harmful chemicals, and still beautifully made. Read more>>
Adam Bennett
Henry David Thoreau once said, ‘It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.’ I didn’t really know what that meant until one day I snapped a picture for some friends of mine using their camera and it clicked. I handed the camera back to them and they told me I had an eye for photography and that I should consider it. Read more>>
Glynis Hall
I’m one of thirteen children, so I grew up understanding hard work, sacrifice, and the importance of family. Cooking wasn’t something I always dreamed of doing, and I wouldn’t say it was a lifelong passion of mine. But one day, I found myself in the kitchen with a simple prayer — I asked the Holy Spirit to guide my hands. Read more>>
