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.
Vama Shah
Growing up in America as a young Indian girl, I was always conscious of how little South Asian representation I saw in fashion and entertainment. I was fascinated by both industries from the age of five, but I rarely saw women who shared my background occupying those spaces. Read more>>
Tyrone Norman
My introduction to the cleaning industry goes back to my Uncle Bruce, who started Norman’s Janitorial in Norfolk, Virginia, in the 80s. After he passed in 1997, my Uncle Steve took over the business. I later had the opportunity to work side by side with Uncle Steve, where I learned firsthand how to properly clean and care for commercial spaces. Read more>>
Noah Anderson
I was a Music Business major in college at UNCP Pembroke, trying to be a music producer, and my mentor was the resident DJ for the university/town. After he moved to Atlanta in 2018, all the DJs the university would hire were barely even DJing. They just sat down in a chair and switched the song when it ended. No energy, no direction. Read more>>
Kimberly Hines
It’s hard to pinpoint the beginning of my obsession with cake decorating. I remember being in awe of the fondant cakes popular when I was a kid. When I got married, the cake was the first part we planned. Unfortunately, it was less than impressive looking, and I wondered if maybe I could create it myself one day. Read more>>
Autumn Venters
I grew up in a small town in North Carolina as an only child, and from a young age I always had this huge need to express myself. I was naturally drawn to movement, poetry, music, creativity, and anything that gave me a way to communicate without necessarily having to put everything into words. Read more>>
Ashleigh Ratchford
I always say I’m just happy to be here, and I still mean it every single time. Baking has saved me more times than I can count. It started about seventeen years ago with a Nestlé chocolate chip recipe that came out absolutely terrible, but making it gave me a kind of peace I didn’t know I needed. I kept experimenting for years. Read more>>
Olivia Perryman
My name is Olivia, but most people know me as Liv. I’ve always been someone who explored different jobs, hobbies, and creative outlets until I found something that truly felt like mine: tattooing. I started tattooing right after graduating high school, beginning with tiny tattoos and permanent makeup before transitioning into body art about two years later. Read more>>
Allison Grady
I started as a secretary for a guy named Antonio ‘Dee’ Sharp back in 2004, and finally made the decision to actually get my bonding license in 2013. After leaving his office in 2015, I worked as a secretary for another agency for a few years and eventually branched out on my own. Read more>>
DJ Problem
My journey started with a genuine love for music and the way it brings people together. What began as a passion eventually grew into a career that I’ve been building for more than 14 years. I’m originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and today I’m based in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Read more>>
Sara Martin
It started at a dog park. I had been working in construction for three years when a woman approached me about a small landscape project. She wanted to hire me, she said, because I was a woman in construction – I told her that was not a good reason. At the time, gardening was simply something I loved. Read more>>
Poonam Verma
My journey into photography began unexpectedly after the birth of my son. Before becoming a photographer, I worked in the IT industry and had never imagined that photography would become my career. After my son was born, I began taking photos of him to capture those early moments and memories. Read more>>
Elegance Adams
My journey in the beauty industry began after graduating from Durham Technical Community College as a licensed esthetician. At the time, I wasn’t exactly sure how I wanted to use my license, so I focused on gaining as much hands-on experience as possible. Read more>>
Diego Olivares
AlienFix began in 2017, but my passion for technology started much earlier. From the time I can remember, I was drawn to computers. By the age of seven, I was already highly proficient with Windows 98. I witnessed the early days of widespread internet access and watched how that technology transformed everyday life. That experience deepened my love for computers, programming, and networking. Read more>>
Wendy Olson
So a lot of things have changed for me over the last few years. I started out doing working in the counter trafficking field, ended up working with survivors and curating retreats and healing experiences for them. This was all while I lived in Texas. Read more>>
Bernice Isley
My journey into photography really began with a love for capturing the little moments that seem to pass by far too quickly. Over the past 10 years, that love has grown into Mess Of A Dreamer Photography and a career that I genuinely feel so lucky to have. As my business evolved, I found myself especially drawn to newborn photography. Read more>>
Brittany Snyder
I grew up in Colorado, and eventually made my way to New York City, where I earned my BFA from the New York School of Interior Design. I graduated second in my class and received the Ana Blanc Verna Award for Excellence in Interior Design, an award given to a student who showed excellence in design and creativity throughout their entire body of work. Read more>>
Carnela Hill
I am on a new, yet well-orchestrated journey in my life—one that, looking back, I realize I have been preparing for all along. My journey has never followed a straight line. It has taken me through technology, entrepreneurship, interior design, higher education, missions and ministry, coaching, chaplaincy, spiritual direction, nonprofit leadership, and international speaking. Read more>>
Jeff Thomas
I’m a native North Carolinian, and growing up here in the 80s and 90s, with the beaches and mountains, was about as good as it gets. I’m a xennial, so I got the best of both worlds: the independence of a Gen X childhood combined with the technology boom that hit right as I became a teenager. Read more>>
Jason Damico
My journey into the entertainment industry started at a very young age. I began as a baby model, which eventually led to opportunities in commercials, television, film, and other areas of performance. Looking back on it now, those early experiences introduced me to the world of entertainment and storytelling long before I fully understood where the road would lead. Read more>>
Deborah Bledsoe
In 2011 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. During some time off recovering from surgery, I was bored. I told my youngest daughter, Jennifer , who at the time was taking care of me, I wanted to teach her something my mom taught me growing up on a farm. Read more>>
Suzanne Lee
I found myself *finally* pregnant at 34 years old. I was living and working with my husband in Durham and still feeling relatively new to the area. At my age, the people around me had already older children, none by choice or grown children. So I didn’t feel like I had anyone to lean on for support during this time. Read more>>
Terry Grimble
Started skateboarding at age 7, 1978. As a teenager I became a sponsored skateboarder. Started retailing skateboards in 1988. Started my first skatepark project & nonprofit organization in 1990 at age 18. Read more>>
Chris Kyng
My name is Christopher King, and my journey has been shaped by resilience, creativity, and a passion for helping people feel confident in themselves. I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and in 2019 I made the decision to relocate to North Carolina in search of new opportunities, personal growth, and a fresh start. Read more>>
Kristopher Cox
Your Story KIKI started in 2019 as a little hobby, something I never imagined would grow into what it is today. When the pandemic hit, what began as a creative outlet quickly became so much more. During quarantine, jewelry became a way for me to express myself, stay creative, and find a little joy during such an uncertain time. Read more>>
Abdullah Zalzala
Ever since I was a child I’ve always known I wanted to get into aviation in any sort of degree so knowing that I went through my entire middle and high school degree wanting to figure out what sort of pilot I wanted to be until I decided to take the Drone technology course offered by Jack Britt High School and in that course I’ve received my commercial drone license which is also known as the part 107 and from there it started from a single football team Read more>>
Jeremy Johnson
Long before I became J. The Artist, I was learning how to command a space with my voice. Read more>>
Wrenn Smith
The story started when talking with a property manager who had over 100 properties in his portfolio and the constant headache he had with the very small recurring upkeep on the properties. Some of the owners wanted to handle it themselves while others didn’t want to have to even think about keeping their property rent-ready. Read more>>
Dr. Ronda Taylor Bullock
When I tell the story of WE ARE, it doesn’t begin with the organization. It starts with me growing up as a little Black girl in Goldston, a small rural town in Chatham County, North Carolina. I’m the middle child, an athlete, an avid reader. And even before I had the language for it, a disruptor. Read more>>
Andy Harrell
My journey into real estate began after spending several years in the hospitality industry, including serving as the general manager of a hotel. That experience taught me the importance of communication, problem-solving, and making people feel genuinely cared for. After leaving hospitality, I became a stay-at-home dad for several years. Read more>>
Jade Griffin
My name is Jade Griffin, and I am the founder of Queen Productions, a beauty company I started in 2013 while attending North Carolina A&T State University. What began as a passion for makeup and artistry during college has grown into a full-service beauty business offering professional makeup artistry, bridal beauty, skincare, waxing, brows, and other beauty services. Read more>>
hanna rain krueger
Photography has been a part of my life for years, but my path to building Hanna Rain Photo & Film wasn’t completely linear. I originally studied wildlife rehabilitation and veterinary medicine before realizing that storytelling and creating meaningful imagery were what I felt most drawn to. Read more>>
kenna ehman
I’ve loved hair since I was little. I moved from Michigan to Charlotte in 2009 to attend cosmetology school, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to learn from some amazing mentors along the way. Today, I’m proud to co-own an 18-chair salon in Charlotte with hair, spa, and wellness services all under one roof. Read more>>
