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.
Kenneth Bridges
The struggle was I needed patience because it was not easy. My biggest struggle came with removing convertible tops and putting new ones on After much practice I perfected the gift. Also when I started taking seats apart and remembering how to put them back together. Read more>>
Coach Martez & Dr. Woodrina Layton
Our story is one of grace, grit, and divine purpose. We didn’t begin from perfection, we began from pain, prayer, and perseverance. More than 34 years ago, our marriage went through seasons that could have broken us. But through faith, dedication to family, godly purpose and a shared commitment to keep growing together, we learned that what tried to destroy us was actually developing us. Read more>>
Tokishia Dockery-Ragland
Relentless Church is a gospel-centered, forever-focused, multiethnic church in the Garner/Raleigh area. I’ve been a part of multiethnic churches for the past 23 years and have volunteered and been employed in ministry for just as long! I was invited to attend Relentless Church in 2019 and have made it my church home since then. Read more>>
Sabine Farer-Buers
When I moved to the United States 18 years ago, I couldn’t work in my profession as a nurse without going back to school. I then worked in integrative health coaching, clinical trial work, and other occupations. However, I found the most joy picking up some shifts in the restaurant industry and ended up managing places. Read more>>
Meg Schroeder
I worked for a small family flower shop called Dunbar Floral in Duluth, MN in my early 20’s, learning the ins-&-outs of traditional floral design. After moving away from Duluth, it became very helpful to have a florist in the family as all 3 of my sisters & countless friends got married, and the first iteration of Meg’s Flowers was born in 2006. Read more>>
Kathleen Fee
My journey actually began as a postpartum doula in New Jersey. For years, I worked as a nanny for military families at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. I’ve always had a passion for working with babies and making meaningful connections with their families. Eventually, I decided to become a postpartum doula throughout New Jersey, with plans to move back to Charlotte, where I’d lived before. Read more>>
Genesis Taylor
I started with nothing but a toolbox, determination, and a belief that people deserved honesty and convenience when it came to caring for their vehicles. After seeing too many hardworking folks overcharged and taken advantage of by unethical mechanics, I decided to do things differently. I began on my own—driving from driveway to driveway, bringing quality maintenance straight to people’s doors. Read more>>
Luke Schofield
My wife Hope and I have been playing music together in one for another since meeting in our high school marching band in 2000. We have been in bands together through high school and college, church worship leaders and now music teachers and local performers. Read more>>
Fernando Linares
I was born in Cuba, and my passion for plants and gardens has been part of me since childhood. I grew up in a farming family, surrounded by agriculture and engineering. In 2017, I graduated as an Agronomical Engineer in Cuba, completing my studies in agricultural sciences and biology. Read more>>
Madison Bonaventure
I actually began my journey in bridal back in my college years in New Orleans. I worked as a bridal stylist for two of the city’s most iconic boutiques: Town and Country Bridal and Yvonne LaFleur. Those early years taught me everything about the beauty and emotion behind helping a bride find her dress. Read more>>
Julian Harrison
Coach Julian “Jewel” Harrison — Jewel Jiu Jitsu Academy, Fayetteville NC My journey in Jiu Jitsu started like many others — with a desire to challenge myself and grow. Over the years, that challenge evolved into a lifelong passion for learning, competing, and teaching. Read more>>
Odessa Bates
In 2009, I was pregnant with my son, and I hired a Birth Doula. When my water broke, meconium was present, and that meant I would have to transfer from my birth center to a hospital for a higher need of care. During the hospital transfer, my Midwife whispered in my ear, “Your Birth Doula does not support hospital births. Read more>>
Prophet Clint & Pastor Rosa Burwell
Our story is one of grace, redemption, and divine purpose. Upon This Rock Ministries was birthed out of a season of transformation in our lives — a time when God’s hand was clearly guiding us toward something greater than ourselves. Prophet Clint’s journey began with powerful personal encounters with God that completely changed the course of his life. Read more>>
Joel McFadden
When I was young, I would often be sitting at my grandfather’s workbench making toy models. Grandpa decided if I was going to sit there and use his tools, I was going to learn how to use them correctly. So he taught me to set diamonds at the age of twelve. It’s not surprising that I got such an early start in the jewelry business. Read more>>
Charity Handley
It all started when I was 16 years old. I began working at a sign shop in Wilson, NC just to get some extra spending money. I knew the owner and some people who worked there and I was very excited to begin my first real job, When I began working, I realized it was more than just some extra spending money that was receiving. Read more>>
Steve & Kristen Gibbs
Fermental opened in 2013, as Wilmington’s first bottle shop and beer garden, with a small budget and a lofty goal to offer the most diverse and exclusive selection of beer and wine. Steve has a lengthy history in the industry from sales, distribution, bar business, musician, writer, etc. Read more>>
Teritha Ballard
I started my entrepreneur journey back in 2017 . During that time and prior to that time I was living paycheck to pay check struggling to make ends meet at the time . Married with three kids at that time was very hard trying to make ends meets while raising three kids and raising a husband(sound crazy right) but that was my story. Read more>>
Nira Johnson
Absolutely! My journey has been anything but linear — but it’s been full of creativity, curiosity, and color. I actually started out as a genetic counselor, drawn to the science of what makes us who we are and the human stories behind it. For over a decade, I worked in healthcare, helping patients and providers make sense of complex information. Read more>>
Philip Deluca
When I graduated in 1977 in Clinical Social Work, I decided to specialize in marriage counseling. When a marriage breaks up the pain ripples out and negatively affects a lot of people. The children are traumatized, sometimes for life. All parties are poorer. People turn to alcohol, promiscuity. get depressed and even suicide, to name a few. Read more>>
Mario Kroll
I’m a first-generation immigrant, who arrived here from Germany at the age of 11, speaking very little English at that time. Fast forward a couple of years and I was fluent. I struggled a bit with traditional school, dropping out in 10th grate, but ended up joining the Army in 1990 during Desert Shield, as a paralegal. Read more>>
Patricia Crisp
I was sexually , emotionally and verbally abused as a child. After several suicide attempts didn’t work I told The Creator evidently you want me here you’re going to have to show me why. I had a day care pre-school at that time. It was open 24/7 365 days a year for 15 years the last 10 years it was a holistic center. Read more>>
Grafton Perry
I began my digital marketing journey right as my college years started. I took two internships in the gap between high school and college with a local Private Equity company and a Self-Storage company; at the end of those 4 months the Self-Storage company offered to fire the agency they were working with and offered me the job if I wanted it…. Read more>>
Anthony Davis
My name is Anthony Davis, My journey started in a little town many know but haven’t been to called High Point, North Carolina. My childhood was a lively and filled with unforgettable memories, close friendships, and a love for sports. Every day brought new adventures—from racing through the neighborhood to playing basketball, football, or any creative game we can invent. Read more>>
Nicole Quarto
Antonio Quarto has been working with tile since childhood. Originally from Calabria, Italy, where marble and tile craftsmanship run deep in his family roots, the trade is truly in his DNA. At 18, he joined Local 7 in New York and quickly advanced to foreman, leading teams of over 100 union workers on major projects such as Hudson Yards. Read more>>
Samantha Ewashko
At 8 years old I started ‘Sam’s Sitting Service’, and since then I have been working with dogs to some degree in the veterinary, dogsledding, dog show, dogsitting & walking, and training worlds. After going through a mental health crises at 19 years old, I dove into healing myself and my nervous system. Read more>>
Tiffany Baker
I moved to North Carolina when I was 18 and one day happened to drive past a pole dancing studio. Something about it caught my attention instantly — I really just wanted to feel sexy, confident, and do something fun for myself. So I signed up for my very first class, and from that moment, I was completely obsessed. Read more>>
Avauntee Andrepoint
I started as a teen mom who didn’t have a roadmap, just relentless determination and a belief that I was meant for more. I built my first business from nothing but faith, grit, and a laptop, often working late nights after my kids went to bed. Read more>>
Maurice Robinson
I was born in Yuma, Arizona, but I moved up and down the East Coast for most of my childhood before finally settling in Houston, Texas. Every city taught me something different about people, culture, and struggle—and those lessons became the foundation of my music. I started writing raps in 2004 as a way to express what I was seeing and feeling. Read more>>
Megan Zechman
Starting Boone’s Bakery in 2023 was a leap of faith. I call it that because the future was completely unpredictable, but I knew in my heart that there was something there – something that I believed in heavily. I knew I was being called to help people experiencing homelessness, but I just wasn’t sure exactly how. Read more>>
Amy Campbell
For more than a decade, our family has cherished this beautiful piece of land. Over the years, it’s been the backdrop for countless memories—weddings by the pond, birthday celebrations, and special gatherings filled with laughter and love. Each event made me realize what a truly special place this was and how wonderful it would be to share it with others in our community. Read more>>
Scot Schwichow
Hi, I’m Scot Schwichow, founder and owner of Revolution Modern Martial Arts. Back in 2009, I made the leap from corporate America to pursue my lifelong dream — owning my own martial arts school. I did it because I know firsthand how powerful martial arts can be in changing someone’s life for the better. Read more>>
Emilie Sheridan
My journey to becoming an acupuncturist and opening my own practice has been exciting, challenging, and more than anything, fulfilling. After leaving the Army National Guard, I knew I wanted to pursue graduate school in a health-related field and give back to the veteran community. Read more>>
Emily Jamison
My Story I am a certified Transaction Coordinator and the proud owner of Perfect Transaction Partners, a company built from the heart to help real estate agents stay focused on their clients while I take care of the details. I proudly serve agents across the Triad and Triangle regions of North Carolina, making the process from contract to close smooth, stress-free, and handled with care. Read more>>
Rawan Espeah
CrownsUp Hijabs started from my living room — and from a feeling deep in my heart that hijab deserved to be seen differently. I wanted to show that modesty can be powerful, elegant, and full of identity. As a proud Palestinian woman living in Raleigh, I often struggled to find hijabs that matched both my values and my sense of style. Read more>>
Lilly Ruan
I grew up in a small town as the child of hardworking immigrant parents who poured their hearts into building a better life. I spent most of my childhood in my parents’ restaurant not just helping, but taking on real responsibility at a young age. Read more>>
Jessie Hathcock
I started out as a middle school teacher, transitioned into the nonprofit space, and when I decided I wanted to go into the business world, I knew I couldnt be a cog in a wheel – I wanted to be a part of a company making a difference and one that was purpose driven. Read more>>
Eric Henry
Eric Henry is on a mission to revolutionize the apparel industry for the good of people and the planet. As CEO of TS Designs in Burlington, NC, he leads a company dedicated to producing high-quality printed apparel made through a transparent, trackable, and entirely domestic supply chain. Read more>>
Axel Pieraldi
Wen covid hit my music career was destroyed, addicted to heroin, I quit cold turkey and started tattooing. I now own my own shop and have 32 convention awards. Tattooing for 5 years now. Read more>>
Na-Tasha Denson
Growing up I experienced a lot of trauma. From experiencing poverty, abuse, and having to grow up early by taking care of myself as a teenager. I was in a lot of emotional pain. At the age of 30 I attempted suicide for the first time in my life. I was tired. Read more>>
Gabriella Drouillard-Moser
My name is Gabriella and I am the owner and sole practitioner at Hope, Growth & Chaos Coordination Therapy Services PLLC. I attended the University on NC at Greensboro and received two Bachelors degrees from there and then years later, after a corporate career returned for Graduate school at Boston College and there completed a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling and a second Masters degree in Theology. I currently am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist in North Carolina and Professional Counselor Telehealth Provider in South Carolina. Read more>>
Paige Sayles
Growing up, I was always interested in looking at an issue or problem and searching for a solution. From a young age, I was fascinated with problem-solving. In college, I was drawn to Social Work; I appreciated that there were so many avenues for work in this broad field of study. Read more>>
Kevin Smith
I started Training in Okinawa Karate and Weapons shortly before my 14 birthday. 1992? I am not sure of the date due to all my belongings being lost in a house fire (in my early 20s) after Hurricane Bertha. We had lost everything. I never stopped training however; and was promoted to nidan (second degree Black Belt) in 2006. Read more>>
