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.
Stephanie Huynh
In 2001 Shoto opened it’s doors, a long time dream of then owners Chi and Tien Huynh. After coming to the US from war-torn Vietnam, falling in love, and starting a family in Charlotte, they chose to create a legacy here on Main Street in Lexington, passing the business on to the next generation, their sons Jimmy and Daniel, in 2008. Read more>>
Kelly Davis
I’m Kelly. I’m a Baltimore baby through and through, but I live in Cary, NC now with my husband Keith and our kids. Most people who find me online know me through my beauty brand, Seventh Reign Lux but the truth is, the brand came out of something a lot harder than a business plan. Read more>>
Suki Garrison
When I came to America in 2015, I spoke almost no English and was trying to navigate life in a completely unfamiliar country. Everything felt intimidating — the language, the culture, and the uncertainty of starting over. Like many immigrants, I was simply trying to survive while hoping to build a better future for myself. Read more>>
Michelle Branson
My husband walked out on me and my girls 2014. Really went through a tough time. Being a single mom and trying to figure things out. God provided. I was able to get good job and even to buy a house on my own. In 2017, I met Scott and we were married in 2018. God has blessed. Read more>>
Angela Lange
As a military spouse, frequent moves have always been a part of our life, so I knew I wanted a career that could move with us wherever we went. At the same time, I wanted to build something that truly aligned with who I am and what I enjoy most. I’ve always loved travel, planning, and helping people create meaningful memories together. Read more>>
Alvely Alcantara
I was 6 years old when I migrated to the U.S., and I was used to challenges in life. Becoming a therapist in private practice was another challenge I knew I could get through. And it was one that started early in my life. Read more>>
Jenna Najjar
It all started in 2013, after graduating from a small Jesuit University in Philadelphia, I decided to commit to a year of service as part of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. A yearlong program whose participants worked full time based on the values of community living and social justice work. Read more>>
Beverly Kegley
Born in the hills of eastern Kentucky, Beverly’s story began in a close-knit mountain community where family, faith, and hard work shaped everyday life. Her parents later moved the family to Ohio before returning to Kentucky when they became home missionaries. The mountains remained home throughout her childhood and school years, grounding her in values that would guide her for decades to come. Read more>>
Kristen Allred
I actually have a few different businesses to talk about. You can include info in the article about whatever businesses you think would be interesting to your readers. My first business is as a piano teacher. My degree is in Piano Pedagogy and I have taught piano lessons for over 30 years. I was awarded the Teacher of the Year from Utah State University. Read more>>
Sam Lesher
I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school, did four years, and then got out and started going to school mostly because I figured that was what you were supposed to do. But it never really held my interest. It felt more like a placeholder than something I was truly invested in. Read more>>
Wendy, Thomas, Josh, Sarah Michelle Belt
Our story started with something simple: family and ice cream. Growing up, some of our favorite memories were made sitting together over a cone or sundae, laughing, talking, and enjoying time with the people we love most. When we decided to open JT’s Creamery, we wanted to create that same feeling for other families in our community. Read more>>
PoisonIvey Green
My journey began with a deep love for music and storytelling from an early age. Growing up, I was always surrounded by creativity, whether it was singing in community choirs, writing poetry, or experimenting with my first recording software. These early passions inspired me to pursue music production and film more seriously. Read more>>
Jennie Kowaleski
I have been a Physician Assistant since 2002. First worked in Internal medicine for 7 years and now aesthetic for 17 years. I am the owner of Azura Skin Care Center and we opened in 2016. Just had our 10 year anniversary. Read more>>
Anna Hinson
My story with the Arts Council of Wayne County didn’t begin in a boardroom but it began in a quiet, sunlit studio on our second floor. At the time, I had been a teacher for about a decade. Like many educators, I had poured so much of my energy into my students that I’d tucked my own creative life away on a shelf. Read more>>
Cecelia Butler
My mother died in September 2001, the same week as 9/11. That kind of loss changes you, and it changed me in ways I never expected. I was a librarian who was practical, logical, and grounded in facts. But after she passed, things started happening that I couldn’t explain. I was sensing things, feeling things, and I couldn’t ignore it. Read more>>
Teal Rainey
I began my esthetics career in late 2019, initially drawn to lash extensions and the dream of entrepreneurship. After discovering the licensing requirements in Florida, I enrolled in esthetics school, where I quickly fell in love with skincare and helping others. Read more>>
Mariela Siwarqinti
My story really begins with lived experience, not just curiosity or training, but my own healing journey through some of the most overwhelming and emotionally intense chapters of my life. There were times when I felt completely broken open by life experiences, especially heartbreak and deep emotional pain where I genuinely didn’t know how I was going to put myself back together. Read more>>
Emily Jolley
I’m the owner of Triangle Health Advisors, an independent health insurance brokerage based in Durham, North Carolina. I primarily help individuals and families under 65 navigate health insurance, especially people who are self-employed or going through major life transitions like leaving a job, turning 26, moving, or losing coverage unexpectedly. Read more>>
Pamela Fortier
Cat, our mall manager, began as a seller on eBay and Marketplace after inheriting her father’s collections after he passed. This led to a deep passion for all things old and second hand and a desire to want to preserve and save them from ending up in landfills especially after a family tragedy. Read more>>
Chris Loschiavo
Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, I have always had a love and passion for barbecue. Before retiring from the Army in 2025, I decided that I would continue serving others by opening a food truck. I actually began the company in 2021, selling my housemade sauces and dry rubs online to family and friends. Read more>>
Huijin Oh
I first met my husband, Soobok Jeong, in Raleigh in 2007 while working at a Taekwondo school which was right after we moved from South Korea. He was a kind and shy business guy, and I was wild martial artist. Read more>>
Dr Eunice Sanders
When I reflect on the last 20 years of Crayons2Calculators (C2C), I am always amazed by how a relatively simple idea has grown into a system that can benefit every Durham Public School (DPS) classroom. In 2025-26, we provided over $201,000 in school supplies to 2400+ DPS educators and support staff. Read more>>
Kara Salerno
For me, movement and performing was innate. When I was 5 years old, I knew that I wanted to perform on stage whether it was singing, dancing, or acting. I trained in all styles of dance as a competitive dancer, then moved towards classical ballet with the dream of making it into a ballet company, and then on Broadway. Read more>>
Jessica Hale
From the time I was young, books were more than just stories or required schoolwork, they were comfort, adventure, and home. A lifelong reader, I have always found solace between the pages of a good book. Read more>>
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>>
