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.
Anna Hussey
My Story: The Journey Behind Little Oaks Child & Family Collective Some people know what they want to do from a young age. I was one of them. As a child and teenager, I was always drawn to caring for others—especially babies and young children. There was something so special about their innocence, joy, curiosity, and unconditional love. Read more>>
Miguel Adrover
Chapter I: Educator I was born into a working class, tight-knit family; raised between Trujillo Alto and Carolina, Puerto Rico. I attended Elementary, Middle and High at a Catholic School near the SJ area — a town of money, aspirations, politics and power. Read more>>
Rachel Campbell
I was a creative child from the beginning. I was always out making a mess, creating things, or writing plays, or drawing. I had a lot of freedom as a child and spent a lot of time alone. It was a special time, lost in my ideas. So I have always been an artist. Read more>>
Tracy Crockett
Tracy is the owner and founder of Sweet Dreams Doula. Her extensive 20+ year background working in Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care and Labor & Delivery launched her career as a Postpartum Doula. Tracy’s experience and education have set her apart as a highly sought-after authority in the field. Read more>>
Nikol Murphy
Before I started my family, I worked in event and hotel management an unpredictable, exciting, and fast-paced world where organization, efficiency, and attention to detail really mattered. That experience naturally shaped how I think about systems, timelines, and making things run smoothly. Read more>>
Jeremy Rennick
Growing up in Jersey City, Nj always been a sneaker head and into fashion. Standing in lines trying to get the newest releases and finding outfits to match. Decided to turn my passion into in a business. Wanted to bring city fashion to the south. Read more>>
Traci Arney
Photography is how I move through the world. It gives me a way to look closely at things I’m trying to understand, particularly the things that aren’t always easy to put into words. My work has explored our relationship with food and disappearing traditions, the experience of abuse, and the instability of memory. Read more>>
Kimberly McGhee
My story has never followed a straight line. It has been shaped by service, entrepreneurship, leadership, creativity, motherhood, and a deep belief that the work we do should leave people and communities stronger than we found them. Read more>>
Devra Thomas
I’ve been involved in the local theater community in the Triangle since 1996, starting with the Carrboro ArtsCenter’s Community Theater production of ‘Falsettos.’ Although, really, my love of the arts started when I saw the local touring opera performance from ‘Marriage of Figaro’ at Cary Elementary, thanks to the (now) United Arts Artists in Schools program. Read more>>
Dan Campbell
In 2013 my life changed and I began a remarkable journey. I had lost a business consulting gig and it got me thinking introspectively. At 56 years old I began to review my life and what I wanted to accomplish and leave behind. After 30+ years in the business world, I returned to the passion that once moved me as a young person. Read more>>
Radhika McDiarmid
Radian Photography started somewhat accidentally. My husband, Ian, and I met while we were both working in education, and photography was something we loved long before we ever thought of it as a business. Read more>>
Vincent Alessi
6 Story Pyramid is an alternative rock band out of Charlotte, NC. Forming in April of 2021, the band released their first single in March of 2023, but were quick to find their true sound. The bands current lineup consisting of Vincent Alessi (Songwriter/Frontman/Guitarist) and Jakob Ferrell (Drums), the duo defines horizons with a unique touch to a traditional two piece band. Read more>>
Allison Reynolds
My name is Allison Reynolds, and I’m a successful full-time content creator and the owner of Raleighwanderlust on socials and I am the CEO of Wanderlust Productions, a full-service production company specializing in professional photography, videography, drone content, marketing, and visual storytelling. My journey into this industry was built through passion, persistence, and an incredible amount of hard work. Read more>>
Jennifer Ball
My journey into the event industry happened almost by accident. During my senior year at UNCG, I changed my degree, took one Event Management class, and was immediately hooked. The full-circle moment? I later returned to teach that exact class—and continued teaching future hospitality and event professionals for more than a decade. Read more>>
Chris Chism
I was born and raised in east central Indiana. I moved to North Carolina with my now wife, Flora, in 2017. WE now live in Burlington, NC but I play most frequently in the triangle area. I’ve been playing music since I was around 15. I’m 31 now. I started with guitar, playing in metal and punk bands. Read more>>
Martha Brown
Struggled with life goals and direction, not sure what to do and if I did have an idea what to do, no idea how to get there. Family never stopped trying to guide and push but I was not a willing recipient at times. Read more>>
Tamika Riley
Sincerely Yours Gifts & Treats started with a social media post of a salad suggested by my oldest daughter. It drew attention and locals requested to purchase with delivery. From that day forward the menu increased to full plate sales for family & friends. New followers began asking for dessert options. Dessert options blew up to event setups & decorations. Read more>>
Flor Celeste Rafferty
I am a photographer specializing in food, fashion, and interiors, a marketing professional, and the owner of Edible Photography OBX. I also direct and co-produce Outer Banks Raw with Chef Wes Stepp and work as a Senior Account Executive at Outer Banks This Week. But before any of those titles, I am a mother and a grandmother to three very cool little people. Read more>>
Kiana Rempfer
Where to begin first I was a cheerleader dancer meaning I did cheerleading and they had a dance team so to me it wasn’t considered street dance. It was considered cheer dance. I started that at five years old at a place that was called Elite Cheer and Dance. Read more>>
Yuly Foley
Photography started very naturally for me. I was taking photos of my children, then friends started asking me to photograph theirs, and somehow that little hobby kept opening doors. When VoyageRaleigh first interviewed me in 2021, I was still rebuilding my life and business after moving to North Carolina. Five years later, so much has changed. Read more>>
Breana Ruelas
Our story has definitely evolved since the last time we were featured! At that time, we were operating as Short & Sweet, a mobile food trailer specializing in craft beverages and Coffee. Read more>>
Eddie Douglas
I’m originally from Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, and I’ve always been drawn to music, creativity, and finding different ways to express ideas. Hip-hop eventually became my main outlet because it allowed me to combine storytelling, wordplay, philosophy, and real-life experiences. In 2019, I moved to Bali, Indonesia, which became a major turning point in both my life and my music. Read more>>
Bonnie Monteleone
I never intended to become an ocean researcher. I returned to graduate school at UNCW planning to become a scientific writer to tell the stories of other scientists. Then I learned about Captain Charles Moore’s discovery of plastic accumulating thousands of miles from land in the North Pacific Gyre. Read more>>
Patrisha Terry
My journey in the beauty industry started in 2015 when I enrolled at Marinello School of Beauty in California to pursue cosmetology. Just three days before I was scheduled to complete the program, the school unexpectedly closed. I was determined not to let that stop me, so I completed my remaining requirements at California School of Barbering and Cosmetology and graduated in 2016. Read more>>
Heather Murray
My journey as a physician associate began in primary care, where I developed a strong foundation in caring for the whole person and understanding how different aspects of health are interconnected. Over the past six years, I have found my passion in dermatology, where I am able to combine my expertise and keen attention to detail to care for patients. Read more>>
Tylar Brannon
Growing up, I thought I wanted to go to medical school, but then I ended up going to law school. Going into law school, I knew I wanted to be on the business side of things, but I did not really know what that meant at the time. Read more>>
Judy Budd
I am extremely blessed. When I moved to North Carolina from California in 2004, I was fortunate to have met a number of people through networking. One of these people introduced me to the owner of the Greater Wilmington Business Journal and Wilma Magazine. He was looking to hire a sales manager and the introduction sealed the deal after about 7 interviews. Read more>>
Xero Sanders
My handyman journey started with a simple hammer and screwdriver. I used to be the default family furniture assembler and one day I saw an ad on Facebook for making money assembling furniture. Naturally I was curious and signed up for Handy for Pros (now called Angi Services) and started assembling furniture for other people. Read more>>
Pooja Aggarwal
Hi All, My artistic journey began in the **Bay Area, California**, where I started exploring a simple question: whenever I saw an ordinary object, what else could it become? A discarded bottle could turn into décor, a flower could be preserved forever in resin, and an overlooked corner of a home could become a space with personality. That curiosity gradually grew into **The Creative Pankh**. Read more>>
Bryle Henderson Hatch
I am a proud North Carolina native. I attended college at North Carolina A&T State University and never thought NC would be my long-term home after graduation. Read more>>
Grace Jones
Earning a real estate license in July of 2002, I started my career as a REALTOR as a dual career agent, quickly learning this is what I wanted to do as a career. Read more>>
Rachel Aughtry
I had always been an ‘arts and crafts’ kid, and my mom taught me to sew when I was 10. I went to the University of North Texas to pursue a degree and career in a creative field and fell in love with Fiber Art. In 2008, while I was still in school, I started selling bags on Etsy and at the local coffee shop. Read more>>
Caleb Smith
I didn’t take the traditional path to getting where I am today. School was never my strong suit, and college wasn’t on the table for me. Instead, I focused on my core strengths: a drive to build, direct leadership, and a deep interest in business strategy. Read more>>
Ty Brueilly
I’ll keep focus strong on the film festival that I founded and how that particular aspect of my career started and how I got there today. Read more>>
Andy Egogo-Stanley
My story starts in a middle-class Nigerian household, where my parents made sacrifices to get me through school. It is one of determination for excellence and resilience. My dad was a land surveyor, so naturally, I followed in his footsteps. Along the way, my path branched further than I expected. Read more>>
Rebecca Rechkemmer
My family took a Spring Break trip to Germany in April 2023, and I absolutely loved planning every part of it. My husband and I had been there 23 years earlier and had always wanted to go back. This time we were able to take our two teenage children and retrace many of the places we had visited before. Read more>>
