Nashville’s Most Inspiring Stories

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.

Darlene Fowler

I have been in Music, the biggest majority of my life. I started singing in church at four years old started singing with my family around age 10 always knew I wanted to be a singer, play piano love Jesus first and be in music for the rest of my life. We came off the road in 1983. My son was born in 1984 and after that, I just sang in church and with various groups. I worked in the childcare industry for a few years and travel as a sales coordinator hair and Make Up Artist in the 90sin 2000.  Read More>>

Boyice James

The pandemic allowed me to understand the importance of funeral service practitioners. During that time, funeral homes across the country was faced with unexpected challenges to care for families, while battling a new “service norm”. Read More>>

Rebecca Correia

Music and the arts can be an extremely challenging, yet rewarding path. For many of us, the craft chooses us. I was fortunate to know at an early age that music would define my journey. I could never have dreamed of the experiences I’ve had today looking back at that little girl from Rochester, MA, who decided to follow her dreams many years ago. Read More>>

Jennie Angel

My musical journey began with deep passion for songwriting and performing, inspired by life experiences and love for country music. Balancing roles as a teacher and mother, I pursued dreams by writing heartfelt songs and performing at local venues. Over time, talent and dedication led to share the stage with national acts and play at major festivals, establishing presence in the country music scene. Read More>>

Caleb Gaw

Lakeland Building Partners is a licensed and insured general contracting firm locally owned and operated. The Founders, Caleb Gaw and Bryan Morales, grew up in Nashville and call this city home as true locals. Lakeland expresses its passion for this city through building a better Nashville one project at a a time. The founders combined their knowledge for constructions and real estate to found the company from scratch and are building the organization one project and one referral at a time. Read More>>

John Sanders

I started from buying merchandise and having my friend’s neighbor print on and design my clothing based off my ideas and techniques. I put a couple designs out and started going up from there ! I then started expanding to manufacturers from across the world making my clothing for cheaper and better quality . I came in the game with so little but I’m making a good impact on the world with my creations I made come to reality ! Read More>>

Clemmie Greenlee

I CAME FROM A POOR FAMILY AND TWO ALCOHOLIC PARENTS THAT LOVED ME BUT DIDNT KNOW HOW TO GUILD ME SO I FELL INTO AN EARLY PREGNANCY AND DRUGS. AT TWELVE I WAS SNATCHED INTO SEX TRAFFICKING AND MY LIFE SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL. I START GOING IN AND OUT OF JUVENILE AND JAIL I CAUGHT AN AGGRAVATED ASSUALT CASE FACING 20 YRS DID NINE MONTH AND AT AGE 42 YRS OLD I WENT INTO REHAB AND CHANGED MY LIFE Read More>>

Ashley Smith

Being from a small town where sports were often valued more than the arts—and sometimes even education—pursuing a career in entertainment wasn’t exactly encouraged. Back then, breaking into the industry felt nearly impossible, but the rise of popular hip-hop labels at the time inspired many of us. For a lot of young people, the “cool” thing to do was to form a group of friends and try to start your own label. My friends and I were no different. Read More>>

Isaac Unciano

After a few years of going to community college and 1 semester at a 4 year college, i decided to stop attending school and open up my own business as a videographer and photographer. At the time this was during the rise of instagram and social media marketing. It all started for me with a GoPro and a dream. I had some talented roommates I was able to film daily to sharpen my skills behind the lens. Over the years I have captured anything from corporate events in DC to weddings and my latest venture, The Spadez Table, where we interview guests over a game of Spadez and no we are not a podcast; we are a production. Read More>>

Aubrey Bagley

I have always been an artist! I was raised by two artists in upstate New York. I was homeschooled by my mom until 6th grade. After that, I attended the same school my dad did when he was my age. I have always had an active imagination, and have channeled that through painting, singing, theatre, dancing, synchronized swimming, poetry or wherever my heart is calling me. As a result of being passionate in so many different vocations, I like to call myself “Aubrey the Octopus.” This is because I am weird, curious, beautiful, and have so many arms reaching toward so many artistic adventures! Read More>>

Hugo Medina

After finding that out i thought to myself that i needed something that i could repeat and didn’t require too much investment, which was cleaning the cars. I started doing some research and saw that people would make businesses out of cleaning cars, so i decided to start my own. I bought my equipment, did a bunch of research, created a website, and started actively trying to get customers. after my first 7 customers i decided that this was profitable enough to go fully mobile since i had saved money from being a musician and working at burger king, so i bought a van. And now I’m mobile car detailing business, trying to collaborate with other local businesses, and looking to grow my clientele even further. Read More>>

Tyler King

Now, six years in, the business is thriving, but I’m also evolving. My goal isn’t just to cook; it’s to build something sustainable, empower chefs, and refine a model that works. I’m shifting more into leadership and strategy, working on scaling our offerings, and finding ways to keep the quality high while making things more efficient. Read More>>

Julie Walton Garland

There’s a delicate balance between honoring the legacy of those who came before you and pushing forward with necessary evolution. Whether it’s updating technology, embracing digital marketing, or shifting customer experiences, implementing change while respecting tradition requires patience, communication, and a shared vision. Read More>>

Jimi Anderson

When I first decided to pursue photography, I was convinced that wildlife photography could be a full-time career. I poured time, energy, and money into it, but I quickly realized that making a sustainable living from it—especially in Nashville—was going to be an uphill battle. I didn’t have the following to sell enough prints, and there wasn’t a strong local market for guided wildlife photography trips. Read More>>

Zack Grady

My journey as a full time creative professional began three years ago at Soho House Nashville, where I started as the U27 Membership Manager. In that role, I focused on engaging and recruiting young creatives in the Nashville community, curating events like dinner parties, my signature “U27 Showcase” for emerging artists, game nights, and more. Alongside my team, I also worked on community outreach, building partnerships, and managing day-to-day operations. Read More>>

Tatiana ‘Tajci’ Cameron

‘Tajci’ Cameron is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and performer who blends music, storytelling, and coaching to inspire and uplift. A celebrated European pop icon, she creates fun and transformative experiences through concerts, retreats, and her wellness & music cruise in Croatia. As a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach, ICF certified life coach, author, and mentor, she helps others find healing and connection. Tajci also serves on the boards of Better Decisions and Nashville Peacemakers, using her platform to empower and uplift communities. Read More>>

Deborah Wiggins

When Steven passed away in 2022, a friend said to go look at his store. This was an opportunity to continue his legacy, as Steven also worked with pageant clothing. I went to look at the store, unsure if this was the right move, and on the back wall there was a picture of a tree. It was the original tree logo that my grandmother started The Clothes Tree with 60 years ago. It became evident in that moment that God wanted The Clothes Tree to serve the Greater Nashville community. Some of Steven’s previous employees and customers actually work for us now. It is the most rewarding feeling to know that I am carrying out both Steven and my grandmother’s legacy here in Brentwood. Read More>>

Andy Judd

It’s been a continuous road! Being a hairstylist who works behind the chair in itself provides struggles. Physically, you’re on your feet consistently for long hours, typically, without breaks. Add in trying to market to clients, and to the industry as a whole and that provides challenges. You have to share so much of yourself, while also not succumbing to self-doubt. However, that’s the journey! I view the industry as a giant puzzle and once I spend time on a portion and feel confident about it, it’s time to move to the next. Read More>>

Chymia Baker

By that October I was in a better shop, May 15, 2020 I became a licensed artist. I had a conversation with an artist and he told me to “believe in myself” and I was already on a journey of learning to trust and believe in myself…betting on me. 2 weeks later I quit my job, and I was tattooing at home but someone threatened to call the health department, I called my girl, Charlene Holland, she told Terentez Vestal about me. He introduced me to his space and team. I was afraid at first because I didn’t know how I was going to make everything happen, especially bills. I talked to his mom and him, and I decided to bet on myself, been tattooing full time for 5 years now. Read More>>

Cindy Sims

Those changes seem to be the obstacles/challenges I have faced. Relearning things you thought you knew, looking at things through a different lens, and using your experiences differently than you ever imagined hasn’t always been easy. You can have ideas of what you think about things, but it isn’t until it really affects you that you know how you would respond or exactly what you would do. I like to say ‘things don’t affect you until the affect you’. Read More>>

Cris Ross-francis

This pivotal moment marked the beginning of my journey as a brand management. As our collaboration flourished, it provided me with invaluable exposure and experience, allowing me to expand my network and skill set significantly. Through this initial partnership, I was fortunate work with players in Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and various high-profile influencers. Read More>>

Rachel Carter

In October of 2020, we opened our doors as one of the few retail locations in Nashville that carried size inclusive clothing (XS-3X) for women. Since opening we have carried men’s clothing, women’s accessories, funny gifts and as of 2024 kids clothing. After over 3 years, we have relocated to the recently opened Old Hickory Social- where we are one of seventy vendor booths to shop from! Retail has drastically shifted since the pandemic and we continue to explore new business models that serve both the community and our team in the best ways possible. Read More>>

Rodney Mitchell

I’m Rodney Mitchell–the owner of the Rodney Mitchel Salon. In the past three decades, I have opened six successful salons through Middle Tennessee. In that time, I have had the good fortune to work with some of country music’s hottest stars, leading fashion designers, national political leaders and award winning actors. And while I take an enormous amount of pride in my professional accomplishments, I am also equally proud of of the millions of dollars my team and i have raised for various Tennessee charities. Read More>>

William Demarest Jr

My interest grew quickly, I was eager to work with the other employees as I already had a friendly relationship with each of them. The small team of 7-8 employees was responsible for working with high-performance concrete. A start to finish process which included mixing and pouring premium concrete into large molds, demolding, cleaning and polishing, packaging, and preparing shipping labels. The process demonstrated handling raw materials, precise measurements, and attention to detail towards crafting a premium quality product. Read More>>

Dr. Dawn Menge

Queen Vernita’s Visitors include adventures in New Orleans, Alaska, Baja Mexico, Kona, Hawaii, a Paddleboat trip, Astronomy, Tucson desert, and Wyoming. I also created another series based on a king and queen and a dragon. Queen Giggles and King Teddy Bear raise a baby dragon named Precious. Precious will have many more adventures as she travels around to other kingdoms looking for a family. Read More>>

Shannon Mclaughlin

I first got started with wedding photography during February 2020! The world was about to shut down due to COVID but amazingly, I had just started working for some incredible photographers- Brand and Jen- as their creative admin. Little by little I started learning more from them, shooting from them, and then they were gracious enough to encourage me to go off on my own! Read More>>

Anna-vija Mccloud

Using what I knew about marketing and the power of referral leads, I put together an email blast announcing my new venture and sent it to everyone in my CRM (maybe 2,000 people?). I got several immediate responses, and within the first 6 months, I had 17 new clients. It was growing so quickly that I had to hire part-time help. Our initial clients paid small fees, but we’re so happy with the work that I was able to increase my services and pricing over time. There’s such a huge market for outsourced marketing in Nashville, that we have grown steadily ever since! Read More>>

Cassie Savage

Nothing in life worth doing is easy and cookies have been no exception! I had to have a lot of grace with myself as I learned a new skill and figure out what works for me and my business. Along the road I have had day job changes, the pandemic, my mom having a heart attack (she’s doing wonderful now!), a divorce, and a move from central Florida to Nashville. All the while, cookies have been there to help me not just financially but mentally too. Read More>>

Michelle Smith

Before we even thought about starting a business, my sister-in-law and I were planning a party during COVID-19. With most businesses shut down, we decided to try our hand at balloons and décor ourselves. After sharing our work on Facebook, we were surprised by the positive response—people loved it and started requesting balloon décor for their own events! I gained experience by creating balloon setups for family and close friends, and from there, things just took off!” Read More>>

Rebecca Peden

To say I am always up for a challenge is an understatement. My competitive nature goes back to sports. I ran track and swam most of my life. When I was 17, I was in a devastating car wreck. We were teenagers going too fast down a back road. We weren’t drinking or doing drugs. We were simply speeding. The road dipped and curved. We didn’t. The driver turned the steering wheel to the left to avoid the phone pole. We hit the pole on my side (passenger side). The pole broke in half and landed on my side causing severe head/brain trauma. Read More>>

Erika Pareja

I’ve been interested and focusing on photography, primarily pet and portrait photography. There’s just something about it that excites me and I love working with dogs. It started back in 2020 during Covid lockdown. I purchased a camera on Amazon and would photograph my dog and take self portraits. It was something to kill the time and occupy myself. Fast forward 4 years later, I began photographing foster dogs to promote on social media and taking photos of friends and their furry babies. I love it, it brings me so much joy! It’s definitely a work in progress but I’m determined to make a career from it. Read More>>

Sara Baskerville

I was able to apply my newfound skill to my growing business and my clients responded! The community responded! Social media allowed me to connect with my new community and “word-of-mouth’ did the rest. My business was growing! This growth allowed me to move into my own studio within a year! I named the business in honor of my late cousin Taylor Woodson. Who was tragically killed in a murder/suicide in 2010. Fast forward to 2025, God has blessed my business to see 5 years! I recently moved into an even larger space and have expanded into makeup! This year I’m looking forward to traveling to more shows, competing, and teaching. Read More>>

Frances Mei Hardin, Md

I am an ENT surgeon and physician-writer, and I’ve been in medicine for the past decade. I have created the brand Rethinking Residency to provide resources and support for those in medical training and the long-running weekly podcast Promising Young Surgeon. I am a passionate advocate for healthcare worker professional development and wellness and moving into the physician media and marketing world with my new company, the Hippocratic Collective. Read More>>

Jay Putty

Not really honestly. I went from leaving and being kicked out of bands to struggling to get anyone to listen to my music. To giving up being an artist altogether for a few years and just being a songwriter. It honestly took losing my dad to find that spark to have something to say again. To feel like the music I was writing for myself actually meant something. Read More>>

Sam Pizzuto

By the age of 13 Geoff Emerick had become a hero of mine, and I wanted to record music no matter how primitive my setup was. Fast forward to 2018, and my high school band had put out our first single that would go on to reach a million streams all recorded in my parents basement. Following the release of that song the band moved to Tennessee so that I could study audio engineering. In 2022 I began working on a studio space in my home and 3 years later I’m open and looking for artists ready to record! Read More>>

Lajuan Ransom Jr

Not even close to be a smooth road. Being a legit business owner is not for the weak. The trials and tribulations had me second guess the business aplenty of times but I knew the city needed me to keep pushing to provide a service the city always wanted and needed. As I made those mistakes it enhanced my skills on repairing shoes. Repairing shoes can be easy but it can also have some challenges especially meeting people expectation’s Read More>>

Dana (cara-mel) Holmes

That’s why I founded Manifest Now Coaching, LLC—a company dedicated to providing wellness programs for both corporate organizations and individuals globally. Whether it’s developing a tailored wellness program for staff at a specific organization or offering live, virtual classes and one-on-one health coaching for that person that feels lost, my team and I are here to support you with just the click of a button no matter an individual’s location. Read More>>

David Weflen

I’ve always been fascinated by people, and specifically, how they interact when unprompted. Humans are actually fascinating creatures when left to their own devices and weddings are the ultimate place to observe. Once I realized that weddings bring together people of different places, ages, cultures, socioeconomic statuses etc. for one a single reason, every thing changed. Weddings are so much more than a pretty dress, some flowers and a party afterwards. Where you find celebration and euphoria from a community coming together, you might also find grief and sorrow for those who might’ve passed. There may be excitement and hope in a future together for a bride and groom, but there’s loss and mourning for the parents who must say goodbye to their children. Read More>>

Sara Wigal

Sara Wigal is a tenured Associate Professor and Director of Publishing at Belmont University, a unique undergraduate degree that equips students with necessary skills and knowledge to enter the book world. As part of this role, she is the Editor of Belmont Story Review (www.thebelmontstoryreview.com) a literary journal. Read More>>

Mesifus

In the same month Sevan left the band due to time management and to pursue other avenues in music. The band carried on writing more music before playing their first show at The Cobra on July 31st, 2024. From there they have played multiple shows throughout the Nashville scene and have played a festival in Tallahassee Florida. Our debut EP, Lost and Empty, released on January 24th, 2025, and since then we’ve been working on writing for future projects and gigging at more venues around the Nashville scene. Read More>>

Alex Alicia

Sure! I’m Alex. I was born and raised in South Yorkshire, England UK. I started like I’m sure many creatives in this industry do – obsessed and in love with music—specifically rock and roll, but also country and pop. My passion for music has led me to where I am today, working as an independent Music Journalist, interviewing bands and artists from all over the world including Nashville, and presenting my show ‘The New Rock Show with Alex Alicia’ on Saturday nights from 10 pm GMT on a radio station called TotalRock. Read More>>

Alex Sumner

I grew up an only child, so I had a lot of time to escape inside my mind. In a world without smart phones, tablets, and even instant streaming services, I was gratefully left with books, art, and a twinge of imagination to entertain me. Curiosity drove me to explore different ways to express myself and by the time I’d reached college I decided to add an additional minor for Photography – not to necessarily do anything with, just to learn. My main path was to become an English teacher, but I often found myself spending my free hours in the darkroom developing print after print. Therapy. Assignments didn’t feel like work. Grades didn’t feel daunting. The “schoolwork” felt freeing to me. Read More>>

Gabriel Page

In early 2023, I found some of my first regular Nashville gigs on lower Broadway and made some amazing friends along the way. One of the biggest turning points for me came when I started subbing in on gigs with my friends in Hippies & Cowboys. They really helped me to get some visibility downtown and connect with lots of other passionate people around Nashville. I’m very thankful for everything they’ve done to help me! Read More>>

Kiana Iman

Back in 2015, when YouTube was at its peak, so was my obsession with becoming a content creator. I had ZERO idea what I was doing or where this path would take me – I just knew I loved making videos and had a stubborn belief that I could make something out of it. Read More>>

Kendall Eugene

I always say that I didn’t choose country music but country music chose me! Shortly after my divorce I decided to make a musician Instagram and see if I could get any traction. Just a month later The Voice reached out to me and asked me to audition! I thought it was spam at first but I’m glad I answered because it was real! That really gave me the confidence I needed to start truly pursuing music. I spent the summer in LA recording the show and made it halfway through the season on Reba’s team. Since appearing on the voice I have had the opportunity to gig and most importantly got connected with a studio to start working on my originals. I still have so long to go before I get where I want to be but I feel like the last year has really given me the foundation I needed to keep going. Read More>>

Gorsha Jolly

All of us were homeschooled growing up, and music was a huge part of our education. We started with classical music at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, and as we got older, we kept sharpening our classical skills while also branching out into more diverse, mainstream styles. The four of us organically formed a string quartet, and with our parents’ continued guidance and encouragement, we began playing at nursing homes and family gatherings. Eventually, the four of us transitioned the quartet into a professional-level band and ministry, with a busy touring schedule—playing all kinds of music and sharing our story of God’s redemption in our lives. Read More>>

Nicole Fedorchek

From there, I found a location, bought land, and got our plans approved by the city. Unfortunately, my husband passed away unexpectedly in August 2021, just as we were securing financing. This was our vision to open together, and I decided to carry on with the project. After securing new financing, I started construction in March 2022, and opened in January 2023. We have our brick-n-mortar store in Hendersonville, which features a drive-thru and dog-friendly patio. We also operate 3 Catering Trucks for events, such as schools, churches, weddings, private parties, and community festivals. Read More>>

Evan Opitz

When I was 9 growing up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, IL, I started taking guitar lessons and drum lessons simultaneously. I would get home from school, rush down to the basement and spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours bouncing around from guitar to drums. I was in virtually all of the various instrumental and choral ensembles in high school. My love for music became serious when I attended college at University of Illinois and studied jazz guitar. Since then I’ve been chasing my love for writing and recording creative music and performing.  Read More>>

Zan Phillips

I don’t think that anything worth doing well is easy. Being a small business owner and nurse injector is a challenge. From learning all of the latest procedures and ensuring each client has the most beautiful results, this business is tough. There are many challenges but none I haven’t been able to handle, not always with grace, but always with determination. Read More>>

Shavonne Westerfield

With the help of Corner to Corner, I was able to write a business plan and launch Your Signature Sips in June 2023. Even though the business is fairly new, I have over 20 years of bartending experience. I have utilized everything I’ve learned to help cultivate a one of a kind experience for every customer that I serve. The tagline, “Let us help you find your signature,” embodies my commitment to personalizing each customer experience with cocktails that reflect their style and story to create memorable moments that leave a lasting impression. Read More>>

Madison Slandzicki

I started the beginning of Kailey Cakes out of my parents dining room in Nashville when I was in high school, after falling in love with baking as a young girl watching my neighbor bake beautiful cakes. I would bake cakes and treats in the evening and bring them to school the next day for my friends to sample. Fast forward to 2019 after college, I went to UT Knoxville and the Art Institute of Nashville for culinary school, I began dreaming of owning my own business.  Read More>>

Matt Lynch

started the business in 2021. We our first job was a small 12×16 pavilion. From our initial success we moved to covered bridges and less than year later we were building our first large pavilion. A year after that we were building upscale party barns and event venue locations – specializing in supplying the heavy timber elements. Read More>>

Naturally Nesh

But as I grew, I realized I wasn’t just a personality—I was building something bigger. I’ve navigated the ups and downs of branding, rejection, turning my passion into a profitable business, and finding my true lane in media. I’ve covered events, interviewed incredible creatives, and created a platform that allows me to highlight and uplift others. That’s what led me to develop “Creative Minds Collective”, a project that dives deeper into the artistry and process behind creative individuals, giving them a space to share their journey in a dynamic, engaging way. Read More>>

Ruth Bailey

When I was little I always dreamed of having a gift shoppe like my mom and grandmother did. My. mom helped me bring that dream to reality with Hostess & Home. With the help of family, friends and a great team of women, we opened our brick and mortar after hosting monthly pop ups for a year. I will forever be grateful to the early supporters of Hostess & Home that helped us get where we are today! Read More>>

Natasha Hazlett

5 years later, I moved from full-time law practice to serving as an Of Counsel attorney to my firm in Boise, Idaho. This allowed me to build my estate planning practice on my own time while working full-time in business with my husband, Richard. My husband and worked together and successfully built a thriving online business and marketing consulting business, where we coached women to define, build and monetize their brand online. Read More>>

Cade Ortego

I am a songwriter and artist. I’m the lead singer for my band Cade Ortego & The Mood Swings. I can’t say for sure, but I think I am known for catchy songs and good stage presence. I think one thing that sets my band apart is the songs. We are very proud of them and feel that we are accomplishing a sound that is unique. We also put on a great live show, and I think other people can hopefully attest to that! Lastly, we have a very mature sound, considering that we are all young college students. Anytime we play a show in Nashville, we always surprise people when they realize we are all practically kids. Read More>>