Raleigh’s Most Inspiring Stories

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.

Jaime Paiton

I began slinging clay in my garage in the summer of 2020 with my friend Tiana, and we had NO idea what we were doing, though it was a lot of laughs. The wheel was a gift from my husband and when I finally decided to take a class and start creating pottery, we created a little studio in a room in our house that was never used. It was fun to slowly put things together and by August of 2023, I was already phased out of my career and ready to work for myself. JPP Pottery was created, not without mistakes! Read More>>

Olashaun Parker

No. There were struggles with doubt, fear and strategy. The real estate course teaches you what you are selling but it does not teach you HOW. I had to figure out how to attract clients. That was really hard. I was new to this career. Who would trust me? I lost friends, family and had to accept that this journey was for me and certain people couldn’t come. Read More>>

Rob Flores

I started TeamFlo Photography with a simple mission: to provide high-quality, storytelling-driven photography that stands out. My work spans sports, events, and real estate photography, along with painterly-style portraits and artistic composites that bring a creative touch to traditional imagery. As an FAA-licensed drone pilot, I also offer aerial photography, 360-degree property tours, and virtual walkthroughs to help businesses and realtors showcase their spaces with professional visuals. Read More>>

Stephanie Jenkins

The biggest challenge I have is work-life balance. My family has always been my number 1 priority, and so to take time away from them to build something for me has felt unnatural at times. However, I have learned that when running your own business there can be silver linings if you look closely. These challenges have pushed me to think outside of the box and to look around for talented individuals to add to my team so that I can stay on top of my personal brand AND all of my social media clients. Read More>>

Sunita Singh & Binithi Gamage

We were so grateful for them and our meetings contain so much more hands-on volunteering, which we are very proud of. Additionally, gaining traction and spreading the news about who we are proved to be a bit difficult at first, but with networking and social media connections, we have grown. Lastly, registering for official status proved to be a challenge, and we are still working on federal recognition so our members, who are seniors in high school now, may open up chapters of the Purple Triangle Project around the country. In order to make sense of all of this paperwork, we used our networking connections to utilize others’ experience in order to help us. Read More>>

Sara Fitzpatrick

I started researching, planning, dreaming up recipes and a business plan “just because” and then on a winter visit home I saw the space for lease on Glenwood Avenue with it’s two big, beautiful windows in a part of the city that was just beginning to “wake up” if you will with residents, and some small businesses daring to move in. I took it as a sign to jump right in! I could “see it” all from the paint on the walls to the glass bakery case filled with scratch baked goodies calling to the people in the surrounding neighborhoods. This was important to me because I wanted to bring the experience of so many European cafes and dessert spots where people linger over a latte and savor a sweet dessert with friends on a sunny afternoon on the sidewalk to NC. Read More>>

Eli Cruz

Another obstacle I faced was finding a mentor or someone who could help coach me in the photography business world. I remember reaching out to different photographers and a lot of them ignored me, some said they would love to help me but turned around and cut me off and no longer wanted to help after seeing my portfolio. I even had a guy wanting to charge me $1,000 per session just to show me the basics of how to use a camera. I remember he said that would be the cost per session to go over lighting, editing, etc. plus charging me to find models to practice on. Read More>>

Ramona Cox

Starting Notes Coffee House presented its own set of challenges, particularly with the space. Originally a lounge area for parents and students, I had to transform it into a fully functioning coffee shop. Since opening in October 2022, the biggest hurdle has been visibility, as it’s tucked inside Rock ‘n Roll High School. However, as more people discover it—especially through Google and word of mouth—Notes Coffee House continues to grow steadily. Read More>>

Carsten Grandy-Richardson

Growing up in Raleigh, NC, I developed a deep appreciation for creativity, culture, and community. My father’s legacy and early exposure to art, music, and sports shaped my perspective. These influences instilled in me a relentless work ethic and a passion for meaningful storytelling. While studying Management (Entrepreneurship & Innovation) at North Carolina A&T, I built Grandyworldwide from the ground up, drawing inspiration from personal experiences, historical narratives, and the culture around me. Read More>>

Lawrence Bullock Ii

My road has been filtered with doubt, disappointment and heartbreak. It’s natural for anyone attempting to do what we do as dreamers to fight doubt all the way through. Doubt of if we’re worthy of being the stages we touch; doubtful if anyone cares about what we offer. Doubtful if our portfolio will be appreciated or simply overlooked. I know too well how much doubt can slow us down. Read More>>

Jordan G Estabrook

As I previously mentioned, I had to learn many of these skills without today’s plethora of information. I would spend hours figuring out a concept, doing countless shoots, and experience numerous failures. For example, learning flash and studio photography brought me to tears. I’ll never forget the moment, but failure has made my successes more sweet. Read More>>

Amber Williams

With a background in Human Resources and business, I understood the importance of creating something that wasn’t just about products but about an experience. I wanted ScentsXchange to stand out as an exclusive lifestyle brand where indulgence meets environmental responsibility. Each candle is crafted with high-quality ingredients, thoughtful design, and a deep understanding of how scent can enhance well-being. Read More>>

Lauren Huffman

As my parents navigated therapeutic interventions and medical care for my mom, my eyes were opened to the other side of what I do as a professional. What the day to day looks like when the professionals aren’t there. The stress that weighs on the mind of the caregivers. The toll that it takes on the family as a whole. In 2023, my boys were back in school full time after the pandemic and I was looking for something more for me. After lots of thinking, I decided to move forward with starting my own private practice. Something I said I would never do knowing the day to day operations can be quite stressful in the healthcare field. Read More>>

Betsy Sauls

We were doing a little bit of everything and also trying to build a name for ourselves in the wedding world. We realized that we both really enjoyed doing wedding cakes and dessert bars but the everyday birthday cakes weren’t something we really loved doing anymore. So we really focused on building our wedding brand. We now are exclusively in the wedding market and average about 150 weddings per year. We travel north, south, east and west delivering cakes on most Saturdays. We typically divide and conquer and my mom helps deliver as well so we can take another delivery or two on a Saturday when she is able to help! Read More>>

Kelly Cain

I’ve always believed that small businesses are the heartbeat of a community. Whether it was a hidden gem of a coffee shop, a local boutique, or a family-owned restaurant, I saw firsthand how these businesses brought people together. I also saw how many of them struggled with marketing—how they had incredible products and services but didn’t always have the tools or time to showcase them in a way that would bring in more customers. Read More>>

Megan Smith

However, things changed when a planner friend asked me to cover some rehearsal dinners (shout out to Events by Summer). They soon asked me to photograph an actual wedding. I was so reluctant but a photographer friend turned mentor (shout out to Ellie) convinced me and hired me to work a few weddings with her to learn the ins and outs. After that wedding, I quickly fell in love with telling couple’s love stories. There is something so special about being the one to document it and create their first family heirloom, their wedding gallery. Read More>>

Jenny Gesk

I had been working in real estate since 2016, and through my personal adventures, I had been blogging and vlogging about my travel experiences. Over time, many people—especially my real estate clients—began reaching out to me for travel advice. I realized how much I enjoyed helping others plan their trips and turning their dreams into reality, whether that meant finding their perfect home or creating their ideal vacation. Read More>>

Harvey Street

We’d mostly play fraternity/sorority events but we soon realized we wanted to play our own shows playing our own originals. The next step was releasing original music and months later we released singles like “Irish Goodbye” and “Betty” and put out our “Gone For a While” EP, cementing our alternative, indie-rock sound. After riding off the buzz of our releases and playing various shows alongside the Futurebirds, The Stews, Arcy Drive, and more, we were offered the chance to embark on our first every Southeastern tour in January of 2024. After a year of touring, we’ve released our latest EP “Great Escape” and got to play amazing shows expanding our reach out as far as Colorado. Read More>>

Kelly Fisher

From the moment he could walk, Gibson was a runner, jumper, climber, and an unstoppable sensory seeker. Like many parents, we dreamed of the day we’d sign him up for sports, picturing joyful moments on the field. But when he first tried soccer at 3, reality looked a little different. The large class sizes were overwhelming, the rigid rules and complex uniforms felt unnecessary, and what should have been a fun experience quickly turned into a stressful one. I often felt the stares from other parents when Gibson would suddenly dart away from the group (eloping) or lie down mid-game, taking the sensory break his little body needed. Read More>>

Derek Griffin

We actually did very good last year for the first year here in North Carolina. We established our catering company and we had nine events last year and they were all word-of-mouth so that was really good but social media was also a challenge because again we wasn’t established here so I was still getting orders for our baked goods, but it was all my New York clients and I had to shut that down for a little bit and reestablish that here so it’s definitely a work in progress. Read More>>

Michael Cole

With COVID hitting 3 weeks after opening, there were definitely struggles of trying to keep the business afloat during such unsure times. BUT Loud Music Company made it out! With the band, most venues and bars are expecting an all cover song band, and it can be a challenge to play all originals at venues, but so far we’ve been successful!! Loud Music Company the band was the first original Wilmington based band to play Thalian hall for over 20 years, and first to play Greenfield Lake in 10 years, so that was a challenge to try and succeed in getting on those stages, and taking the risks that other bands don’t dare to do. Read More>>

E. Lynn McKoy

As I did the work, I began to see how many people around me were struggling in silence too, just like I had been. That realization ignited something in me. I started sharing my story—first in small conversations, then in larger spaces. What began as a personal journey evolved into a mission: to help others break their silence, to normalize these conversations, and to show that strength isn’t about suffering in silence—it’s about finding the courage to heal. Read More>>

Chastity Sullivan

Two years ago, while still trying everything under the sun to help restore my hair, I stumbled upon an article about essential oils and how they can help combat hair loss. At that moment I dove in, researching natural oils, which I learned could detoxify my scalp, strengthen follicles, and promote regrowth. As I experimented with individual organic oils, nothing had a noticeable effect, and no blends on the market spoke to me. Read More>>

Ashley Sponsky

It hasn’t been a smooth ride along the way, there are always challenges as a business owner! I would say working with insurance companies and being at the mercy of each company’s fee schedule, payments, and application process has been the most challenging in setting up my practice. Also, a business owner, you find yourself working on things around the clock. There is always something to work on or fix. Once I had my kids, I struggled with work/life balance. Read More>>

Zeb Jewell-Alibhai

We went to the Essentially Ellington festival in New York most years and seeing the level of ability and talent at that competition really inspired me to keep growing as a musician. Since then I’ve toured with several different professional level bands and am very fortunate to have played at many incredible venues around the globe, such as Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. I’m currently a sophomore at Harvard University where I study Government and Music as a double major, and maintain a high level of music through a joint program offered between Harvard and Berklee College of Music. Read More>>

Veronica Sanchez

There were moments when I doubted myself or struggled to find the right words, and honestly, that’s why it’s taken me a while to get this page off the ground. We’re still at the beginning stages, having just published our first post in December 2024, but despite the challenges, Raleigh Spotlight has become a labor of love. I’m committed to making it a trusted source for anyone looking to experience the best Raleigh has to offer. It’s a testament to the fact that even when things aren’t perfect, passion and persistence can lead to something special. Read More>>

Jason Sam, Jr

In November of 2024, my Digital PR position was bucketed into a major industry layoff, in which, I quickly decided to make my business my top priority and decided to rebrand and legitimize; prompting the name change to Clear Media Solutions, LLC and the addition of my content specialist, Jasmine Gardner. We launched the rebrand January 3rd, now have 9 clients providing the following services: Organic Social Media Management, Graphic Design, Video Production, and Website Development + Revamps. Overall, I was quite bumped to be laid off but very much grateful for the tools I’ve gained along the way in which I am now able to implement with my digital media agency. Read More>>

Alejandra Montoya

I’ve always had a deep love for celebrating birthdays and cherishing life’s special moments. When I became a mother, I really wanted to go above and beyond to make my daughter’s birthdays unique and memorable. However, when I searched for ideas and products in the market, I realized that most of what was available didn’t fully meet my expectations or capture the essence of what I wanted for those celebrations. So, I took matters into my own hands and started planning and creating these special moments for my family myself. Read More>>

Chanel Woodson

I make dog treats and custom cakes for pups to enjoy. What sets Pup Pastry apart is that we only use ingredients that support a health benefit in your pup and any coloring we use is strictly fruit, veggie, or plant based. I’m definitely proud of Pup Pastry as a whole, but the cakes are amazing to be able to look back on how much I’ve grown. Read More>>

Lindsey Lochner

It depends on your region and which varieties grow the best for your zone. It also matters what you plan to use the lavender for, which will depend on what variety to grow. We have Spanish, English, and French as they are known by their common names growing on our farm. The end goal is to be able to grow enough lavender to harvest the plants and distill the oil. We would love to have classes and workshops on distillation and farming in general. We also have honeybee, sheep, and chicken. Read More>>

Evelyn Hinojosa

The support from our community spoke volumes. Hearing from multiple “it was just what we needed in our area” and “this is perfect for toddlers who are still too small for jumbo inflatables”. Our first year was hard and you truly get as much as you put into it, just like with anything else. However, with lots of hard work, trusting god’s plan for our business and the tremendous support from our community, we are now heading into year 3 of business as a full one stop party business. We have since added on chiara wall rentals, organic balloon decor, ball pits and have expanded our selection of inflatables. Read More>>

Kim Stewart

Thankfully we were able to secure a farm loan through our local branch of AgCarolina and we were off to the races. Hurdle one. Working with family in a family owned business brings about its own issues as well. I’ll just leave it at that! Occasionally hurdle two! At the end of the day, we all know our strengths and weaknesses while striving to realize this wonderful opportunity and gift we’ve been given. To bring and share joy, excitement, laughter and education to a small rural area of the county and surrounding areas. Read More>>

Najara Clark

As I watched my mom fight a battle no one should have to face, I realized that I wanted to have a direct, positive impact on people’s lives in a way that went beyond fashion. Inspired by my mother’s strength and the care she received, I decided to change careers and pursue a nursing degree. This shift was not only a professional transformation but also a deeply personal one, as I yearned to contribute to others’ well-being in the same way I wished for my mom. Read More>>

Kristen Cox

The most profound lesson i didn’t expect to learn while working in the socially responsible, community investing sector for 8 years was that land is an asset class – an important investment, rare, depleting, meant to be protected, yet also at the heart and soul of racial disruption, power and wealth inequality in this country. Read More>>

The Hardcore Painter

I became serious about my art around the age of 17 and have been creating ever since. In 2022, I secured my first permanent spot to showcase my work at ArtMongerz Art Gallery. From the start, I went beyond just displaying my art—I actively helped with the gallery. When the owner decided to step away, I stepped up and took over as one of the owners. Read More>>