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.
Tim Coleman
I got into music at 14, mostly because I wanted to be in a band. The problem is, my first band was bad. Genuinely bad. But that band introduced me to my best friend Dave, and the two of us eventually started Antihero Productions which is really where all of this began. For a few years I was doing everything. Read more>>
David Burgess
As a child, I loved helping others in my home, church, and community. My love for Christ and passion for serving and helping others thrive led me here. I joined the U.S. Army after graduating from high school, where I spent time advising and counseling junior enlisted soldiers in navigating various life stressors. Read more>>
Katherine Greene
I have always loved doing hair and make-up in general. I used to work as an esthetician and still love being in the spa/salon environment. I started doing Fairy Hair in 2017 for friends and family. As the demand for Fairy Hair increased, I started popping up at local farmers markets and eventually made my way into (air conditioned!) local businesses. Read more>>
Valerie Creager
My work is shaped by connection and driven by a desire to create meaningful impact. While my professional path began in education, it quickly became clear that my strengths were creativity, strategy, and a deep understanding of human behavior. What followed was a natural evolution into a career defined by artistry and entrepreneurship. Read more>>
Daniel Roberts
My journey is rooted in over 30 years of service in the U.S. Army, where I eventually achieved the rank of Sergeant Major—the highest enlisted rank possible. My first decade was spent in the trenches as a paratrooper and infantryman, leading soldiers through the pressures of both war and peace. Read more>>
Chauntel Graves
My professional background began in public accounting and has evolved over more than 20 years into corporate finance, where I worked across areas like financial analysis, treasury operations, M&A, supply chain, and strategic planning. Those experiences gave me a strong foundation in how financial data drives decision-making at a high level. Read more>>
David Rudie
I started working at Starbucks right out of college as a part time job in Greenville, SC. Little did I know I would transfer that job out to CO, to supplement my youth pastor salary. I learned a lot about coffee through Starbucks, and really fell in love with quality roasted coffee. Read more>>
Dean Lassiter
Aussie Island Surf Shop has been proudly servicing Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach and the surrounding areas since 1990. We pride ourselves on our excellent customer service, and strive to do anything we can to help our customers. Read more>>
Julie Levenson
I moved to North Carolina in 1993 to attend Elon at 17, and from the beginning, I knew I would have to work for everything I wanted. I wasn’t the typical college student—I was waiting tables full time while in school and doing anything I could to gain experience, whether that was in physical therapy clinics, a prosthetics and orthotics practice or personal training. Read more>>
Doug Hamerski
I first learned about makerspaces in 2018. A place where people can gather to share what they know, collaborate on projects, and pool their resources to obtain equipment for making cool things sounded like just what Wilmington needed. So I toured a few makerspaces across the region and became convinced that someone needed to make one here. Read more>>
Michael West
Started in 2006 by the Wests with the property purchase, planted the fist vines in 2007, bottled the first wine in 2009. Opened the tasting room in Spring 2009. Owned by two families (Michael and Patricia West) and (Leslie Messick and Paul Baumbach). 16 acres of vines (VSP and Open Lyre), Eleven varietals. Total of 91 acres. Currently make 15 wines. Read more>>
Chris Dunn
My brother Steve Dunn and myself opened our pawn shop in January 2024. We had some experience in the business from when our uncle owned a pawn shop in the same building when we were younger. Eventually, we got an opportunity to open in the same building, so we did. We started posting social media content, skits specifically, during our slow times. Read more>>
Steve Stroud
I was asked by my good friend Bobby Mault to serve on the board of Directors of the Price of Freedom Museum Inc. he founded to museum in his service station, Mault’s Texaco around 1965. His health was declining and he wanted me to help make sure the museum went forward. That was about three years ago. Read more>>
Maurice Middleton
My journey started with a simple love for dogs and a desire to create a safe, peaceful space for them. Before I ever had a facility, I started my business right from my home. I would care for dogs for friends, family, and referrals, making sure they felt comfortable, loved, and at ease while their owners were away. Read more>>
Steven Bailey
Josh’s Hope Foundation was established as a living memorial to Josh Bailey who was murdered in 2008 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Josh was 20 years old at the time of his death and had struggled with mental health issues. At Josh’s Hope, we believe that all young people with mental health challenges deserve the support and resources they need to build a rewarding life. Read more>>
Haley Kenyon
My name is Haley and I am the owner/service provider of Drop Dead Beauty LLC. I am 30 years old, originally from upstate New York and I’ve spent most of my life in North Carolina. I dreamt of becoming a beauty professional from a very early age and always aspired to one day own my own salon. Read more>>
Jaquaya Harvey
I started my journey in healthcare as a Registered Nurse, where I quickly realized caring for people was more than just a job for me, it was personal. Being in different care settings opened my eyes to what was missing. I saw how easy it was for people to feel overlooked in larger facilities, and I knew I wanted to create something different. Read more>>
STACEY McINTYRE
Aaron Paul and Stacey McIntyre moved to Lexington in the summer of 2022 to launch the business. The couple had been in Austin, Texas, and enjoyed visiting wineries in the Hill Country, but there were already tour operators there, and the rapidly growing area has become increasingly expensive. Read more>>
Irene Im
We’re a family owned Asian bakery. I handle our market setup, branding, and social media, while my parents focus on the production side, baking everything from scratch. Our story began in 2020 in Chicago. Around that time, my mom, our main baker Logie Park, tried baking scones for the first time by following a YouTube video. Read more>>
Vanjaya Johnson
Growing up in New York City, I always knew I wanted to work in the beauty industry. From a very young age, I was drawn to anything involving hair and beauty. I started by braiding my baby dolls’ hair, which eventually turned into doing my friends’ hair as I got older. What began as a childhood hobby quickly became a real passion. Read more>>
Mallory Kendall
I’ve always had a love of fashion and decorating that started as a young girl playing dress up and rearranging my childhood bedroom. That innate passion morphed into drawing house plans (for fun), and helping my friends with their outfits and makeup over the years. In college, I had a job at a local boutique while working towards my degree in Apparel Merchandising. Read more>>
Terri Ramsey
A Special Blend began as a dream inside of one of our founding members, Deedee Ungetheim’s head following a visit to her daughter at UNC -Wilmington. They stopped into Bitty and Beau’s coffee shop one afternoon, not knowing that a dream would be born that day and turn into the happiest place in Greensboro. Read more>>
Tommy Davis
Because of a high stress job, my doctor recommended a hobby. I had alwaays been intrigued by the making of pottery so I took a class. I found out quickly that I was blessed with the capability of being able to make pottery. Read more>>
Lorri Gifford
It started with my grandfather. I was 10 when my parents divorced, and he stepped in. He was an equal mixture of Yoda and Archie Bunker, wrapped in a brown cardigan sweater. He complained and groused about everything, but he never stopped showing up for me. Read more>>
Deborah Rodenhizer
I moved to North Carolina in the summer of 1997 with my three sons. I was ‘starting life over’ after a divorce. I had family here for support and connections. One of those connections was a Board Member with the then ‘Pregnancy Care Center of High Point’ who told me about a job opening for Client Services. Read more>>
Edwin Powali
I come from a middle-class family of 5 with two older sisters and mother & father who are still together after 54 years. I was born in Cleveland and was moved to Tampa FL at the age of 4. This is where I tell people I am from since I do not remember anything about Cleveland. Read more>>
Amber Andresen
I’ve always wanted to be in the beauty industry. But life happened and I ended up an accountant. A few years ago my husband said to me “tell me something I don’t know about you” I said I don’t like my job. I need to do something else. I couldn’t quit my job so I started a side hustle selling makeup online. Read more>>
Elena Williamson
My name is Elena, I am a licensed esthetician in Raleigh, and my journey into esthetics started from a very personal place. I have always been drawn to skincare, wellness, and helping people feel more confident, but my path to building my business was far from simple. I originally became licensed in Ukraine, where I built my foundation in skincare and facial treatments. Read more>>
Colin Wells
I was born in Plano, Texas, but I primarily grew up in Timberlake, North Carolina, a small rural town in Person County just north of Durham. Growing up in a smaller community really shaped a lot of who I am and gave me an appreciation for relationships, community, and serving people in practical ways. Read more>>
Brandon and Luisa Scott
When Brandon and I became new parents to our daughter, we quickly realized that keeping her safe was our top priority. As we started baby-proofing our home, Brandon discovered just how overwhelming and complicated the process could be for families. Read more>>
Nathalia Uribe
Five years ago, after spending over a decade working as an esthetician in a spa setting, I took a leap of faith and opened my own studio. But my path into the beauty industry wasn’t the original plan. My dream had actually been to become a journalist. I studied speech and communications in college for about two years.. Read more>>
Dana & Tracy Horne
Twisted Vines Vineyard was founded by two high school sweethearts with little money, but plenty of love, faith, determination, and ambition. Back in 2009, we planted our vineyard with absolutely no experience growing grapes. Looking back now, it almost sounds crazy. We simply had a dream, a willingness to work hard, and faith that somehow it would all come together. Read more>>
Sherrissa Becton
Born and raised in North Carolina, I’ve always been a true Southern girl with a heart for hospitality, creativity, and bringing people together. My passion for design and event planning began at an early age through my love for beautiful celebrations, meaningful gatherings, and creating memorable experiences for family and friends. Read more>>
Alisha Browne
After graduating business school, I worked in the marketing field for over 12 years. During this time, I knew deep down I wanted to be a business owner and that working in the ‘corporate grind’ was not truly for me. Read more>>
Chris Gristle
Charismatic yet no nonsense rapper Chris Gristle (fka Imthefatboy) is a creative soul that has loved hip hop since the 90s, and an inquiring mind that has studied the music business independently for decades. Read more>>
Ashlee White
My grandmother was a tax preparer when I was in high school so I decided to take the tax class that HR Block had to offer when I was still in High School. I passed the class and began doing taxes when I turned 18. I had worked for HR Block seasonal while in school and beginning my family. Read more>>
Christine Ringuette
My calling to help others began in 1983 when, at age 15, I traveled to China shortly after the death of Mao. We were among the first groups allowed into the country after it reopened to outsiders. It was my first international trip, and I was deeply impacted by the poverty I witnessed. Read more>>
Necolle Winstead
Whew! Where do I begin? What started as a simple desire to create connection has grown into a purpose driven movement rooted in healing, advocacy, and community. Read more>>
Stacey Price
This is a story about about a mother-daughter duo, Stacey Price and Irish Dickerson. It has been my dream for a long time to be a business owner, so when a family friend and owner of the boutique decided to retire, my mother and I knew this was our moment. Read more>>
Rebekah (the Ghost Guide) Carmichael
Being a professional full-time psychic medium with a unique specialization in ghosts was never something I dreamed of doing – let alone actually achieving this with international virility and nearly a million collective followers across my social platforms. Until 2020, I was a professional producer, performer, and playwright. I had worked in many different positions both on stage, back stage, and for the small screen. Read more>>
Anita and Mia (daughter) Pease
Hello, my name is Anita Pease and I am the Founder and the Executive Director of Small Hands Big Hearts United. Our nonprofit believes every child is born instinctively compassionate and it is our responsisbility to provide an environment to nurture that compassion when a child or teen shows any compassionate spark. Neuroscientists at both Princeton and Emory University also found this to be true. Read more>>
Kevin Walker
I’m Kevin Walker, owner of The Winchester Pub and Bottleshop. Not sure exactly where to start…I’m a soccer player that has played sinc e around 8 years old. Am also a huge fan of the sport, especially the English Premier League. That hasn’t always been the case as we didn’t have coverage when I was young. Read more>>
Jenni Sells
I started Cora’s Canine Collective because of my dogs – first Loki, then Cora and Delilah, along with the foster dogs that came through my life over the years. When I got Loki as a puppy, I was searching for collars and leashes that were strong, waterproof, durable, and still beautiful. Read more>>
Julia Winstead
I am a licensed cosmetologist who began my career shortly after graduating high school. From a young age, I was drawn to the energy of the salon environment — it always felt like such a positive, creative, and inspiring place to be. Read more>>
Courtney Hall
My journey started with a deep passion for helping people and advocating for families, especially mothers during pregnancy and postpartum. I began my career in social work over 14 years ago, serving in several areas including school social work, community mental health, dialysis social work, and leadership roles within mental health services. Read more>>
Thana Lucksanapirak
In late 2024, we’ve moved from Thailand to Cary, North Carolina. We never thought we would be restaurant owners but we met Chef John who helped and still is, leading our kitchen. At first we thought to do the “normal” sushi spot. Tips, Rolls, and a lot of sauces. However we said to ourselves, why are we doing this? Read more>>
Jason Kogok
Wasn’t sure if you wanted 1st or 3rd person: Jason Kogok didn’t set out to build a typical real estate career—and over the past 25 years, he’s made sure of that. Starting in 2002, Jason entered the business like many others, focused on learning the mechanics of buying and selling homes. But early on, he realized something important: most real estate advice was surface-level. Read more>>
