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.
Kelsey Fritz
My journey into wedding photography began with a deep love for storytelling. I studied fine art photography, where I learned to see the world through light, emotion, and composition—but more importantly, I discovered how powerful photographs can be in preserving people, culture, and connection. While in school, I found myself most drawn to photographing people and the stories they carry. Read more>>
Laura Knapp
I started graduate school and got pregnant with my son a month in. Read more>>
Priscilla Claude
My journey into fitness did not start with a brand or a business plan. It started with necessity. As a mother of three, an Army officer, and a working professional, I was constantly navigating competing demands while trying to take care of my own health. Read more>>
Tracy Tindell
I started my blog when my second child left for college. The house got quieter, and I wanted a place to share my empty-nest life and connect with other women in the same season. At first, I focused on beauty and fashion… and honestly, it was going slow. Like really slow. One day, for no real reason at all, I posted a recipe. Read more>>
Keniya Love
I began modeling at just six years old, participating in countless pageants that helped shape my confidence and love for fashion. Growing up in Chattanooga, I noticed how often local talent was overlooked and how unsafe or limited the opportunities could be — and that’s what inspired me to create Queen Love Modeling & Talent Agency. Read more>>
Devereaux Cannon
I moved back to Nashville in 2015 after getting out of the Army. I had an interest in aviation and went to a few airport events over the years. When the Commemorative Air Force presented the idea of starting a unit in Lebanon after Covid, it presented an excellent way for me to get into that world. Read more>>
Rachel Mays
I’ve always moved a little differently. People used to ask if I was a dancer just watching me move through a room, and for a long time I was. Figure skating, swim team, soccer, track. Lots of motion, lots of discipline. Creative energy with nowhere obvious to land. I grew up in an environment that didn’t exactly nurture creative expression, so some things went quiet. Read more>>
Minh Le
After a while of being a nail technician, I realized that beautiful nails do not solely determine whether customers will choose you and stay with you. A beautiful, clean space with over 2200 different colors available contributes significantly to the overall customer experience, but it extends far beyond just the aesthetic appeal. Read more>>
Sherry Anderson
I didn’t start out planning to work in tech at all. I was a corporate travel agent for thirteen years, and I could see where things were heading. Airlines, hotels, and car rental companies stopped paying commissions, and at the same time they were pushing everyone toward online booking tools. Clients started booking their own travel, and the industry I was in was slowly disappearing. Read more>>
Larry DeRossett
I didn’t grow up around construction. I grew up in the country in a blue-collar family, just getting by. Because of that, I learned to be resourceful early — figuring things out, making do with what we had, and taking responsibility when something needed fixing. That mindset stuck with me long before I ever thought about running a company. Read more>>
Lizzie Tucker
In 2022, I found myself burnt out and overwhelmed to the point that getting out of bed each day was a struggle. My aunt called me from a place called Fit Farm, what’s now THE FARM, and insisted I join her. I looked at the website and immediately said, “No,” but thankfully she persisted, and I soon found myself on a plane to Nashville. Read more>>
Tim Walker
Tim Walker’s journey as an artist, producer, and songwriter is inspiring. His debut single, “Can’t Keep Chasin’,” released in January 2023, reflects his creative talent and his exploration of relationships in society. Read more>>
Kaelin Evans
I grew up right here in Nashville — Music City through and through. From the moment I can remember, I’ve watched this city transform, grow, and flourish, and I’ve always felt deeply connected to its neighborhoods, its people, and its vibrant culture. Read more>>
Matrice Littles
My company, GMAC Nurse Consulting LLC, is a multidisciplinary healthcare consulting firm. I started the business a little over a year after birthing my first child. The day my daughter was born, I looked into her eyes and knew I needed to both be and do more. I quit my very stable and lucrative hospital-based nursing career, and I took a chance on myself. Read more>>
James Cipriani
I got into fitness in the mid-1990s, long before social media, apps, or “quick-fix” programs were a thing. I started training people because I loved the process—learning how the body works, getting stronger myself, and helping others see what they were capable of when they stayed consistent. Read more>>
Akeela Wooten
Whew where I’m at today came with a lot of lessons, trails and test. Writing and reading has always been my escape from pain. Read more>>
Alli Worthington
In 2008, I was a stay-at-home mom when the financial crisis hit our family. My husband lost his job, and we lost our home. We chose to rebuild. I began teaching myself how to build a business online because I wanted the freedom to stay home with my five young sons while also helping support our family. Read more>>
Aubrianna Spencer
it’s a way that I express myself creatively in a sense. However, I was so tired of walking around and spotting others in the same garment I have. I wanted to feel exclusive. My grandmother is a seamstress, so I thought, hey why not try to make my own clothing since I want my own look and want to stand out in my own unique way. If my granny can do it, I want to do it as well and keep this special craft in the family. Read more>>
Therasa Richardson
Yes, of course! Faith James & Co. was born at the beginning of the COVID season, from a vision my husband and I shared. I’ve always been a creative, and faith has always been the foundation of our relationship. One day, I told my husband I wanted to purchase a Cricut machine to start making t-shirts—and in that moment, God spoke clearly to both of us that our focus should be on building His Kingdom. Read more>>
Helen Timberlake
The Scenic Route – I started out as a flight attendant, which taught me how to read people quickly, stay calm when things go sideways, and make stressful situations feel manageable. Long before that, though, I thought I’d be an architect. I was obsessed with houses—how they worked, how they felt, and why some spaces just felt right. Read more>>
Drew Creal
0I’m originally from St. Charles Illinois and attended a rural high school near a town called Burlington. I started taking lessons when I was 11 with a local guitar teacher named Mr. G in Sycamore, IL. Throughout middle school and high school I played in jazz band so I got familiar with playing lots of chord changes and taking solos. Read more>>
Carly Greer
When I was 4 years old, I sang ‘You’re a Grand Ole Flag’ on stage at the Capital Music Hall in Wheeling, WV. From that moment on, I was hooked. Singing and performing has been a sanctuary for me throughout so many key moments of my life. Read more>>
Blank Page
We are high school sweethearts from Maryland who are now pursuing a degree in Commercial Songwriting at MTSU in Murfreesboro, TN. We have played over 100 shows and have recently been signed to MTSU’s student run Match Records. Read more>>
Erica Whitney
Erica Whitney was born and raised in Brookings, South Dakota. She began playing piano at the age of five—where she still composes and performs her songs today—and also studied violin for nine years. Erica started writing the music that would become her debut album, FACE THE MUSIC, as early as age 13, and began producing it during her sophomore year of high school. Read more>>
Kristy Skinner
Music has always lived in my soul. My grandfather played the concertina and violin when he immigrated from Czechoslovakia, and that deep connection to music was passed down through my family. My father played the trumpet, and I began my own journey in school band, starting on trumpet before moving to the clarinet section. Even then, I always felt pulled toward the guitar. Read more>>
Janice Reese
We started Nashville Beach because there simply wasn’t a place in Nashville to play true competitive beach volleyball. At the time, options were limited to makeshift courts with dirty river sand, poor drainage, and layouts that weren’t designed for the sport. If you wanted to train seriously, compete, or experience beach volleyball the way it was meant to be played, you had to leave town. Read more>>
Jacob Camara
I have been a licensed massage therapist for more than 10 years and am the owner and founder of Eugene Massage and Bodywork in beautiful Eugene, Oregon, established in 2016. In November 2025, I expanded my practice and launched Nashville Massage and Bodywork. My journey into massage therapy and the healing arts began more than 20 years ago with a deep interest in yoga. Read more>>
Silvia Boyd
I’m a stay-at-home mom originally from Ohio, and after moving around for my husband’s work, my family and I have finally landed in Tennessee. We’re excited to grow roots here, which is where the name North South Magnets comes from—honoring my Northern home while celebrating our Southern future. Read more>>
Amanda Serrano
I began my career as a school counselor, where I developed a strong foundation in supporting individuals through growth, transitions, and emotional challenges. Over time, alongside my own personal healing journey, I felt called to do deeper, more relational work with adults and couples. Read more>>
Jess Nanto
I started making jewelry in 2020 in an effort to help support my two daughters. I quickly fell in love and decided to start my own jewelry company in 2024 (while pregnant with my third girl)! I love helping people custom create the perfect piece, whether it’s permanent jewelry or our custom lockets. Read more>>
Celestia Ware
Celestia Ware III — Insurance Professional & Community Leader Celestia Ware III is a seasoned insurance professional, business owner, and community advocate based in Nashville, Tennessee. As the CEO and Principal Agent of his own agency affiliated with Farmers Insurance, he specializes in offering customized insurance solutions that help individuals, families, and business owners protect what matters most. Read more>>
Luis Barber
My story started 30 year ago in an old barbershop in New Jersey owned by an old Puertorican barber named Samuel Cintron. When I entered there it seamed I had entered a Time Machine. The shop had a feel of welcoming and belonging. Everyone was bantering and laughing with each other. Eventually Cintron did something uncommon to the time and took me as an apprentice. Read more>>
Trystan Grisham
I was born and raised in southeast Iowa. Growing up on classic rock and country, I played the local circuits throughout Iowa Illinois and Missouri with various genre cover and original bands. Cutting my teeth for the better part of 15 years, I decided it would be time to make the move to Nashville and try my hand at a bigger playing field. Read more>>
Douglas Trovinger
My story is a bit unique and certainly has had its ups and downs in the 7 1/2 years I have been in business. About a year before I started the business in June 2018, I had ideas of creating my own firm because of all the chaos and disorganization that was out in the business (and consumer) world. Read more>>
Bailey Patton
I started singing/performing at 5 years old. Since then I have sang on radio stations, in bars, specialty fairs, Grand Ole Opry and more. Picking up that guitar is the greatest decision of my life. Read more>>
Cassy Laessig
Badass by Cass started as a creative outlet while I was first navigating blood cancer and had to step back from my normal hair and makeup work to focus on treatment. With more downtime than I was used to, I poured that energy into designing merchandise that felt creative and motivating. Read more>>
Zachary Carter
Well I have always been extremely intrigued with building things as a kid. I have worked jobs since I was 16 years old within the Home building industry. Roofing, Solar installation, Building Custom Homes. Welding and Fabrication was a hobby that I picked up as a kid and considered making a career out of. Read more>>
East Nashville Care Market
East Nashville Care Market has been around since 1978, when a group of local organizations decided no one in our community should go hungry. Forty-seven years later, we’re still volunteer-run and still built on the same foundation: when one of us struggles, all of us show up (including more than 50 volunteers each month)! Read more>>
Noah Curtis
I’m where I’m at today because of a combination of things that God foreknew. Read more>>
Mandy Whitley
I started doing photography in 2006. Our wedding photographer was so kind and let me ask her a million questions as I had always been interested in photography. I ended up shadowing with her and second shooting for her. Read more>>
Sarah McAlister
I’ll post what is on my website for the most thorough answer! In 2024, I committed to better understanding the source and nutrition of my foods. As a avid chef and self-described ‘foodie’, I wanted to ensure the meals I crafted weren’t just good for my taste buds, but also good for my health. Read more>>
Stephanie (Morrison) Platt
After college, Stephanie joined the patents team at Google, where she sharpened her legal acumen while volunteering with Google Corps and co-chairing the Princess Project’s Dress Committee. But the call to justice pulled her in another direction. She began law school at Tulane, volunteering with the Tulane Legal Assistance Program and the Orleans Public Defenders, then transferred to Vanderbilt University Law School. There, she interned with the Nashville Defenders, joined the Actual Innocence Practicum, and completed over 120 hours of pro bono work which earned recognition from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Read more>>
Dr. Garrett Paulson, DC
My wife and I met in college at the University of Dayton and got married shortly after graduate school. I graduated from Life University (just like my dad) as a Doctor of Chiropractic, and my wife earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Emory University. Read more>>
Kimberly Lyle Ladd
I began painting furniture in my one car garage back in Fall of 2016, This was my side hustle along side my banking career as my main source of income. I went through a bank robbery while pregnant in 2016 and decided to take a leap of faith and began painting furniture as my full time employment. Read more>>
