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.
Daria Beddard 
I started working at a veterinary clinic as a senior in high school and worked my way up to Office Manager and then to Practice Manager. It wasn’t in my original plan to manage, but I started to truly enjoy it. Throughout the journey I was faced with a lot of battles and opportunities for growth. Read more>>
James Luker 
I started to sing, write, and play when I was 6 years old. I grew up on a farm. I begin posting videos in 2016 of me playing and singing on Instagram. I got a lot of hate for years until I was 19 when I met my producer/ best friend Jay Bales Of 7 days away in the Richmond Indiana mall. Read more>>
Aurora Breeze 
My journey into makeup began in 2016, when beauty started gaining major attention on YouTube and Instagram. I remember purchasing my very first products: Maybelline Fit Me powder, foundation, and a cheap, drugstore mascara. What started as a personal interest quickly grew into a passion. Throughout high school, I continued learning, experimenting, and developing my skills as beauty trends evolved. Read more>>
Megan Crean 
I accepted a job at a bank working in the Special Assets department (default/high risk loans) and worked my way up to REO manager in 2007. 2008 the recession hit and my job became extremely important to the shareholders and a lot bigger than originally anticipated. Read more>>
Brandi McCarn Gerew, CAE, CMP 
I was raised by a very philanthropic and helpful to others family in Lexington, NC. Thanks mom and dad! <3 After high school graduation, where I took advantage of many extracurricular activities (sports, clubs, camps), I moved to Raleigh, NC to attend North Carolina State University where I graduated a year early. Read more>>
Caroline Tunney 
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. I started out doodling cartoon characters as a little kid, and over time, that grew into creating my own characters and painting portraits of animals and people. Today, I still paint portraits, but I also love challenging myself to learn new skills and explore different forms of art. Read more>>
Todd Lake 
I have lived in the Fayetteville area for more than twenty years. My family moved here like many do with the military and we were fortunate enough to not have to move around as much as most. I have spent my entire career in the service industry and really connected with the Group Therapy Pub and Playground team. Read more>>
Jaime Richman 
Can you briefly walk us through your story—how you started and how you got to where you are today? Disability has always been part of my family’s story. In the 1980s and 1990s, my parents helped people leave institutions and move into their communities. My father’s younger brother had been institutionalized as a child, and my dad thought he had died. Read more>>
Mark Graves 
Growing up in his family home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Mom’s homemade toffee was always a special treat for Mark Graves. In 2006, after years of perfecting her secret family recipe, Mark’s mother, Karen Graves, turned her favorite hobby into her own home-based business. Read more>>
Lehxy West 
I’m Lehxy — American rapper. I invented DemFunk. Hip hop raised me; it’s in my blood. But I never stayed in one box — my records pull from Trap, Drill, AfroBeats, Dembow and Brazilian Funk, with bars in English and Spanish. I’ve been building out of North Carolina since day one. Read more>>
John Mitchell 
Back in 2020 I was researching sauna companies as I was interested in having one built for our home. I had been in technology sales for 20+ years and suddenly I was laid off during the pandemic. I took it as an opportunity to look for something completely different than what I had been doing. Read more>>
Pauly Scott 
Killian and Pauly were both attending App State in Boone when they met in the local music scene. Both had been in other bands and started jamming at a friends house with the original bass player, who also brought up Will from Raleigh and the jamming blossomed in to a group. With this, they formed Jacoozy in 2021 and got their start playing house shows. Read more>>
Sha’Queelah Chantal 
My journey into beauty began in high school, when I chose to study cosmetology and discovered that beauty was much more than a skill; it was a form of creative expression. I was drawn to fashion, styling and the ability to transform and idea into something people could see and feel. Read more>>
DeShaunJay
DeShaunJay is a rising Hip-Hop/R&B artist originally from Bolton, North Carolina, now based in Raleigh. With a sound often compared to the thoughtful storytelling and melodic edge of artists like J. Cole, DeShaunJay blends lyricism, emotion, and real-life perspective into music that connects with listeners on a deeper level. Read more>>
Anthony Centore 
It started with a belief that most people were being left out of the watch conversation. Fred Amos, our founder, thought that quality watchmaking and an exceptional buying experience should not be reserved for those with deep pockets or the right connections. So in 2005, he set out to change that. Read more>>
Joe Levitin 
I started teaching myself guitar while I was in college. I progressed enough to play in the dorm or on the quad, nothing too fancy. After college I moved to San Antonio. I kept at it, and I would go to an occasional open mic while soaking in the local music scene. If you’re in San Antonio, go find Ruben V. Read more>>
TONIO ARMANI 
My story started in Columbus, Georgia. Growing up, I always had a love for music. I used to listen to artists like Joe, Al Green, Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, and the Isley Brothers. I studied those guys because I loved how their music made people feel. They could tell a whole story through a song, and that’s what I wanted to do. Read more>>
Celina Skrtich 
My journey to becoming a speech-language pathologist and opening Highland Horizon Therapy began when I was a special education teacher and experienced firsthand the challenges families face when trying to access therapy services. When my own child needed speech therapy, I realized how limited local resources could be and how difficult it was for families to find the support their children needed. Read more>>
Stacy Smith 
For more than forty years, Stacy Smith has inspired people to move with purpose, discover their inner strength, and believe in the incredible resilience of the human body. Read more>>
Julius-Pierre Cofield 
I would say my start began as a child being influenced by the adults in my life who first showed me what taste is through fashion, style, craftsmanship and discipline. From my grandfather I was taught how you do one thing is how you do everything, through my grandmother I was taught to dream through clothing. Read more>>
Corey Hillman 
My path to starting Gate City Physio is pretty personal. I’m a physical therapist, but I’m also someone who has experienced headaches myself. That experience changed the way I looked at the people I was treating and, eventually, the kind of practice I wanted to build. Early in my career, I worked with a lot of different orthopedic and neurologic conditions. Read more>>
Valeria Holloway
I am currently the Director of Student Ministries (ages 0-17) at the rapidly growing Friendship Chapel Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC. I started working in youth ministry as a young adult, new believer, who was just looking to volunteer where needed. Read more>>
Sue Meier 
I’m from Midland, MI and was fortunate that the Arts are supported there. Growing up, I studied ballet, jazz and musical theatre. I lived abroad my senior year of high school and continued my training. I took my first modern dance class at Michigan State University. I danced with the MSU Repertory Dance Company for four years and choreographed my first works there. Read more>>
Robert Carl Swann 
I always struggle to tell my story because it feels like I’m insisting upon myself, but to keep it brief I grew up in DC in very poor neighborhood and didn’t really have much besides my immediate family and the arts. Read more>>
Dr. Amber Wiggins 
My journey into optometry began with working in numerous roles in the field and seeing firsthand how access to care can shape someone’s life. I saw patients in underserved and low-income communities face barriers that went beyond simply needing an eye exam—from traveling long distances to finding appointments that worked around school and work. Read more>>
Ashlee Hagerty 
The Portable Party Pourer started with something pretty simple: **I realized how much I loved making people happy through bartending.** I started bartending at a local watering hole, and the more I learned, the more I fell in love with creating drinks for people. Read more>>
Kristle Manning 
My name is Kristle Manning, and I’m a licensed Natural Hair Care Specialist, entrepreneur, published author, and proud mother of three. I’m the woman behind Blazyn Styles and the creator of Blazyn Drip Edge Control. My journey in the beauty industry began at just 13 years old when I discovered my passion for braiding hair. Read more>>
Heather Connor 
I was always athletic growing up, developing a love for sports from spending countless hours with my dad as he coached on the field and the court. That early exposure shaped my passion for competition and fueled my drive to push my limits. Read more>>
Dr Bianca Ramosdelrio Elliott 
My journey has grown far beyond what I originally imagined. Today, I wear several hats: clinician, clinical supervisor, entrepreneur, business owner, wife, and mother. I am also the founder of The Conversation Location, PLLC; Practice Ready Solutions, LLC; and Be Still Co LLC. Read more>>
Jasmin Clay 
I have always been deeply immersed in fashion and have designed across various mediums. My goal is to express fashion through detail, maximalism, and craftsmanship, empowering women as we step into spaces where we were previously underrepresented. I believe clothes should reflect unique personality and style without limits. Read more>>
Brad Morris 
I wrestled since I was 5 years old, I trained and achieved a Black Belt in Karate until 1993 when I rented a video (that’s how old I am) and watched UFC 1. Read more>>
Melodie Hand 
I’ve always believed that a simple cup of tea can do much more than quench your thirst; it can create connection, encourage conversation, and provide a moment to slow down in an increasingly busy world. Long before opening Steep Right Up, I spent decades studying herbs, natural wellness, and the history and traditions surrounding tea. I’m an herbalist, certified aromatherapist, educator, and lifelong creative. Read more>>
Cassidy Burel 
Cassidy Burel is a Custom Apparel Designer and the founder and owner of CassB by Design. A fashion designer, entrepreneur, and social media influencer, Cassidy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, UNCG with a BS in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies, CARS. Her concentration was in Apparel Design. Read more>>
Marina Fela-Castillo 
I have always loved art and considered myself creative. Growing up, I turned to different mediums (painting, sketching, clay, digital illustrations, etc.) and felt at most at peace when I was making something. However, I did not believe in the possibility of art as a career. Read more>>
Kendall Williams 
My journey has always been driven by curiosity, a passion for engineering, and a desire to understand how things work. I’ve been fortunate to build a career in technology and engineering, but motorcycles and motorsports have always held a special place in my life. Over time, those two worlds began to complement each other in ways I never could have imagined. Read more>>
Todd Malloy 
I grew up in a low-income housing project in New England, raised by my mother, a single parent with a ninth-grade education. My father left when I was five, and I took on responsibilities before I fully understood what they meant. Some people expected little from a skinny, dark-skinned boy like me. Read more>>
Diallo & Janessa Smith 
Sanctuary Wellness Center was born from a shared passion between us, as a married couple, to create a space where faith, mental health, and culture could exist together without people feeling like they had to separate parts of who they are to experience healing. Read more>>
Kelly Moore 
When I was little I would collect holiday cards and cut them up and make collages. Over time, I experimented with all sorts of art mediums (painting, clay, resin, crocheting, you name it). I could never stay with one medium which has lead me to have a whole art store in my closet. Read more>>
Deja Monet 
My journey as a professional cosmetologist and creative director began approximately four to five years ago, but my relationship with artistry started long before I entered the beauty industry. Growing up, I was immersed in various forms of artistic expression, including modeling, African dance, tap, ballet, and dance within the church. Read more>>
Alexander Devenish (NATURAL!) 
My name is NATURAL!, and I’m an independent recording artist, music producer, and audio engineer from Fayetteville, North Carolina. My journey with music started when I was a freshman in high school. I was young, curious, and fascinated by the process of creating music, so I began teaching myself how to make beats. Read more>>
Viktoriia Komarova 
My name is Viktoriia , and I am a licensed makeup artist and sugaring specialist with eight years of experience. My journey in the beauty industry began with a genuine love for helping women feel confident and beautiful. Read more>>
Erin Wheeler 
Martin and I dreamed of opening a bar since the day we met in 2014. While we were planning one, the chance to keep Neptunes alive landed in our laps. After the pandemic, opening anything felt wildly risky, but we knew deep down it was worth figuring out. The thought of Neptunes disappearing from our community was devastating. Read more>>
Jaime Warkonyi 
My story has grown along two connected paths: education and yoga. I began practicing Hatha yoga while attending Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. What started as a physical practice gradually became something much deeper—a way to understand myself, navigate change, and reconnect with what matters. I’ve now spent more than two decades in education, and I serve as an assistant principal at Oakview Elementary. Read more>>
Tosha Davis 
Sheatopia was born after my former fiancè, Chris Thigpen, (known as “The Soapman”) passed away in a tragic farming accident in 2023. He taught me everything about his business, Pure Shea Store, since 2013 so after his passing, I couldn’t let the knowledge he left behind not be used. Read more>>
Kiersa Stricklen 
I’m a North Carolina girl through and through. I was born and raised in Raleigh but grew up in Garner. A lot of what I do today is rooted in the communities and people who shaped me growing up. My professional journey has taken a few different turns. Read more>>
Sandi Wilson 
Thank you so much for having me! The story of Buzzy Blossoms Garden really belongs to my mother and our original Queen Bee, Sheri Rosen. Her journey as an herbalist started all the way back in her own mom’s backyard garden in Florida, where she was taught the fundamentals of growing plants that aren’t just beautiful, but deeply healing too. Read more>>
Patrick Williams 
I’d been out of music a long time, having been pulled away by a demanding career. When the COVID lockdowns came I started writing and recording original songs again. I’d recently lost my father and my middle sister, and I wanted to channel the tremendous grief I was feeling and grow it into something new. Read more>>
Ellen Barber 
My path to Holding Space Healing began with my own healing journey about 15 years ago. I started attending retreats with Jenny Aiello, where I had the opportunity to slow down and do some deep self-discovery. That experience opened something in me and eventually led me to take an energy course with her. Energy work was already a familiar part of my life. Read more>>
Teryn Hatley
I started my content creating journey around the age of 13 when I posted silly little videos on YouTube. Now I post on long and short form YouTube and TikTok videos as a hobby. Up until the last few years, I truly didn’t take posting content seriously so a lot of my videos from the past can be pretty all over the place. Read more>>
