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.
Chelbie Engle
What I didn’t know was that my name had circulated around middle Tennessee and when I announced full time availability I wasn’t able to keep up with the messages for people to schedule! Since that time I’ve expanded clientele into both Kentucky and Alabama, also traveling to other states for work when requested. I’ve also added PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Frequency) to my business for both horse and rider, but also find myself doing dogs, sheep, etc as well. My personal animals (especially my dog) LOVES it! Read more>>
Morgan Lima
I have been a nurse for nearly a decade, but I still had to go through the official steps to become certified to teach. I even reached out to another nurse who had walked this journey, but did not receive support. I spent a majority of free time during my maternity leave researching the process of how to become certified, consulting with a business attorney, watching training videos, and building my clientele. Over the course of a year, I went from having zero clue how to start a business to a fully formed LLC, a couple of clients, and my first investor. Read more>>
Alexandria Musgrove
My path to law school and business ownership probably looks a little different from most, but it’s proof that you can break out of the mold cast by those who came before you, break cycles, and break records. A lot of early experiences in my family and personal life drew me toward the law. Read more>>
Mattie Coffey
I was born and raised in Franklin, Tennessee and had a childhood of Titans football, Radnor hikes, and Sweet Cece’s in Downtown Franklin. After high school (go Centennial cougars!), I moved to Orlando, Florida to work for the Walt Disney Company. Read more>>
Carolyn Snell
My journey into the music industry and live events started when I was 15 years old at a New Kids on the Block concert in my hometown of Omaha. Somewhere between the lights, the sound, the shared energy (and the five cute boys!), I knew I wanted to help create that kind of magic. Read more>>
Jae Huff
I grew up acting and loved watching performances on the big and little screen. When I started raising a family I needed something for my creative outlet, I couldn’t just run off with a acting troupe for summer stock! Luckily, I discovered voiceover and for the last almost 2 decades I’ve been recording commercials and audiobooks in my home studio. Read more>>
Wayne & Mitchell Horton
***Wayne Horton is a seasoned professional with over 33 years of experience in the drywall industry. He founded Horton Drywall, which quickly became the premier drywall service provider in the Belle Meade and Brentwood areas. Under Wayne’s leadership, the company earned a reputation for excellence, understanding the critical role that high-quality drywall plays in both the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of homes. Read more>>
Nance England
Turning Pain into Purpose: Our Journey with Penn I’m a wife, a mom of four, and a nurse practitioner who’s passionate about making a difference. Our home is full — and full of life. We have Dutch (13, Penn’s best friend), Ford (11, Penn’s biggest fan), and Bo (8, his favorite playmate). Read more>>
Nicole Ahima
I’m a Nashville-based salsa instructor, community leader, and co-owner of Dance Nashville, a hub for diverse adult dance programs. As the founder of Nashville Salsa Dancing, I’ve built one of the city’s most vibrant Latin dance communities—creating spaces where people connect through culture, rhythm, and movement. My teaching style blends technique, musicality, and self-expression, helping dancers find confidence and joy on and off the floor. Read more>>
Ana Sofia Hernandez
When I was four years old my dad enrolled me in piano lessons, partly because I was always humming and singing the songs he would play. He’s a musician, too, so for him it was like a rite of passage that I learn an instrument. At first, I remember being so excited to learn. Read more>>
Jake Sanders
I’ve always been into performing whether on stage or in front of the camera. I grew up doing theatre in school and then later in the community after I graduated high school. Read more>>
Sara Way
I grew up in MI and when I moved to TX I had no idea what a kolache was. Living in Houston for 17 years and then moving to Nashville, I realized there wasn’t anywhere to get authentic kolaches. I started making them at home and sharing with friends and for a couple of years they all kept telling me that I should sell them. Read more>>
Lindsey Cox
I’ve always been driven. I’m a three enneagram, if that tells you anything? And if we’re speaking in entrepreneurial terms — you could say that I have a bit of a bootstrap story. Read more>>
College Grove Strings
We are four sisters— Charis, Cana, Christa and Carmel— that make up a string quartet! We are four of six children that grew up in the Nashville area, in a musical family. Our mom, Jan, was (and still is!) a church organist and pianist and our dad, Fred, a songwriter. Read more>>
Timmy Kelley
In 2018 I moved to Nashville to play guitar in a band called ‘Evan Castle and the Southern Tier’. Had a hot thing going on before covid then everything got shut down. Been hanging around writing music with my guys. This year I recorded seven of my songs at Sienna Studios and I think they turned out great. Read more>>
Lacey Steih
After dedicating many years to raising my children, I found myself at a point where I could finally pursue a longtime passion—skincare and aesthetics. I’d always been drawn to the world of beauty and wellness, and with my kids growing more independent, I saw the perfect opportunity to go back to school and become a licensed aesthetician. Entering the industry felt like a natural fit. Read more>>
Raven Goller-Brown
Raven’s passion for dog training began in high school when she rescued a dog named Chico and taught him to sit, shake, lie down, and roll over—all in under a week. After winning local dog trick shows, she was hooked. Since then, she’s spent over 15 years in animal care, including including a B.S. Read more>>
Grace Hall
I’m a multidisciplinary artist in Nashville TN, who studied at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I experiment with concepts and aesthetic optics. I’m a professional painter for a living, as the art director of a hospitality group that owns 4 restaurants in Nashville. Restaurants such as, Treehouse, The Row, Nash House and one that’s opening in Franklin. Read more>>
Dionne Stokley
I’ve shown creative tendencies from a young age. By the age of four, I was already drawing detailed portraits of women adorned with boots and earrings an early glimpse into my fascination with style and expression. I never quite fit into the traditional school environment and often felt like the odd one out. Read more>>
Jonathan Joel Violin
Music found me early. I picked up the violin at age four and never really put it down. My classical foundations come from incredible mentors like Joy Brown Wiener in Memphis, TN, and later at Belmont University, SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, and under the guidance of Calin Lupanu. Read more>>
Joe Garrido
I’ve been a practicing physician in the Nashville area for nearly 10 years. In 2024, I sold my condo in The Gulch and made a healthy profit. Instead of using that money as a down payment, I decided to launch my own real estate development company. Read more>>
Angela Beale
I am the only child of two remarkable human beings—John W. Beale, Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force, a protector and defender of his nation and family; and Roberta Beale, a force of nature whose courage and strength, tested by illness, were defined by love and grace. Read more>>
Noah Cordell
I’ve always had a passion for filmmaking. In high school, I spent most of my free time making sketch comedy videos with friends, which sparked my love for storytelling and filmmaking. That passion led me to major in Film at Western Kentucky University. Read more>>
Chelsea Burwell
If you told 15-year-old me that making Thanksgiving dinner for my family would spark a lifelong passion, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. But that’s where it all began. I’m originally from Pittsburgh, PA, and I moved to Nashville around 2014. Read more>>
Patrick Reidy
I have always loved movies since a young age but was never outgoing enough to try it. Read more>>
Carlos Lopez
My name is Carlos Lopez, and I’m proud to be the first-ever Spanish voice of the Tennessee Volunteers. I was born in Venezuela, and my journey to where I am today has been one of faith, perseverance, and purpose. After coming to the United States, I earned my B.A. from Carson-Newman University, my M.S. from Middle Tennessee State University, and my M.Ed. Read more>>
Tyrus Rice
I joined band after middle school and became a percussionist that learned to play mallet instruments and auxillary percussion. After I graduated in 2015, fast forward to 2018, I started going to SAE in Nashville to begin my music career. This is where I met J. Joy and the rest was history.I moved back home to be a care taker in my family in 2020. Read more>>
Lauren Oakes
I’ve loved fashion since I was a child. By fourth grade, I already had sketchbooks filled with designs and dreamed of becoming a fashion designer one day. But life took me in a different direction. I grew up in foster care until I was 18, and right out of high school I worked three jobs to support myself. Read more>>
Dawn VanderLee
For as long as I can remember, I have been around creative people. Whether it be making custom Christmas stockings, stringing jewelry beads or painting murals on walls, there was always something creative being done. My parents and grandparents always had projects going on and they welcomed an extra hand. When life gets slow, I find myself creating projects. Read more>>
Audrey Lindsey
I began Apiphany 7 years ago, which started as just a hobby. Within my first year I participated in many local shops and pop up events across Memphis. Quickly Apiphany grew, I was solely online based. But Covid came and I lost my job and was forced to go full force in candle making. I started door to door deliveries with my clients. Read more>>
Drew Taylor Cohen
A teacher once told me to think of my career as a wide path, not a winding one. I’ve taken many unpredictable steps that might’ve looked directionless, but I was always guided by curiosity and intuition. I earned a degree in music business and spent four years after college in my dream job at a live music company. Read more>>
Ian Mort
If you told me ten years ago I’d be running my own dental practice in a small Tennessee town, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. I grew up in western New York and went to dental school at the University at Buffalo, finishing in 2016 before heading out to Denver for a one-year residency. Read more>>
Sheri Alimonda
I began studying Old Master oil painting techniques at 12 in Brooklyn—layering translucent color over and over again until the skin seems to glow from within. Some of my paintings have dozens of layers, creating an ethereal patina. I paint museum-quality portraits for everyday people—paintings that don’t just look alive, but truly feel alive. Read more>>
Julie Carpenter
In 2006 I decided to join my husband’s general contracting business as a designer for his spec homes so I could spend more time with our children. As life and his company evolved I continued designing and managing small remodeling jobs but mostly raised our kids, especially since our youngest became legally blind at 8 years old. Read more>>
Nick Clayton
I have a personal training studio here in Mt Juliet where I see clients 1-1 and semi-private (groups of 2-3). Long version of the story… Read more>>
Sara Tanguay
In 1995, when I was about 13, I watched the movie Toy Story. During the scene where Woody figures out he can use the reflection of the sun in Buzz’s helmet to light the rocket on his back, I knew I wanted absolutely nothing more than to be an artist and work for Disney. Read more>>
Ann Catherine Warta
Welcome to ACEC — Ann Catherine Events and Calligraphy! I’m Ann Catherine — a College Grove native, Belmont Golf alum, and someone who’s always been drawn to creating meaningful experiences through events. I’ve been in the event industry since graduating in 2021, working at two wedding venues and a country club, where I’ve helped execute over 200 events. Read more>>
Jeff Lysyczyn
I worked on Music Row for many years, mostly as an artist manager. I also taught as an adjunct professor at Belmont University from 2015-2019. My primary management client, country star Joe Diffie, passed away from COVID in 2020. Read more>>
Montagne ‘Mont’ McDonald
I started in ministry in 1995 when I accepted my call to preach. I learned early on, I had a love for teaching the word of God and encouraging others. Through years of serving as an associate minister, I was called to pastor in 2001. I founded Seed of Abraham Ministries. I served as Senior Pastor until my grandfather, the late Rev. Dr. Read more>>
Jyoti Agarwal
My journey has been one of service, balance, and inner discovery. By profession, I lead teams in the pharmaceutical industry, a field grounded in science, structure, and precision. Yet, alongside that professional path, my heart has always been drawn toward something deeper to understand life’s purpose and to help others find peace amid life’s noise. Read more>>
Showtime Studios
Showtime Studios is a National Performing Arts Dance Company located in Nashville Tn founded in the year 2012 . We are known for our high energy comp majorette team 615 Platinum Showstoppers who has performed all over the United States and won multiple dance comps across the Nation Read more>>
Cody Uhls
I have been a photographer for almost 10 years. During the pandemic, I worked for a music tech company called KIT Plugins, creating all of their photo, video, and graphic design content. We contracted a 3D artist to create all our products in 3D, and that was the first time I realized it could be a career option. Read more>>
Chef Thomas Tuggle
My parents brought me along for their anniversary when I was probably 10 years old. It was at a newly opened French-inspired restaurant. I recall the chef/owner asking what I wanted from the kids’ menu, but I had my heart set on trying the frog’s legs. The chef was impressed and gave us a tour of the kitchen. When we left that evening, I remember him running across the street to come shake my dad’s hand, being proud a youngster was interested in food. Read more>>
Stacy Harris
However, the promise of a job opportunity at Nashville’s WSM Radio, the home of the Grand Ole Opry, led to a change in career plans and relocation; a move that increasingly made sense to me as I learned that there was enough politics in the music business to keep me intrigued. Read more>>
