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.
Michelle Dickerson
I was born and raised in Clarksville and graduated from Belmont University with a BBA in Music Business, always having a strong interest in writing and public relations. During my first freelance position with a major Nashville-area PR firm, ‘desktop publishing’ was becoming a thing. Read more>>
Zach Griest
I started in real estate with nothing more than a license, a work ethic, and a desire to outrun the life I came from. No connections. No handouts. No safety net. Just a belief that if I out-worked everyone around me, I could build something real. My first brokerage took over twenty thousand dollars from me in my first year. Read more>>
MY LATEST VIDEOS
Rebecca Whitehead
With an M.B.A. degree from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, Rebecca Whitehead, Kidokinetics Nashville owner, has always demonstrated an interest in businesses with lasting, positive impact. This passion, coupled with her healthcare career and life-long love of sports and fitness, made Kidokinetics the perfect opportunity to add value to her community. Read more>>
Heidi Schulz
In early 2020, while working as a paramedic in South Dakota, my boss approached me about competing in a pageant and asked for my help preparing. I quickly found myself wearing many hats throughout the process—serving as a photographer, coach, and stylist—but it was spray tanning that truly stuck. Read more>>
Dr. Rachelle Fleury-Williams
I grew up in Queens, New York, where I spent much of her childhood feeling self‑conscious about her smile. Everything changed when I got braces in high school. As I watched my teeth straighten, my confidence grew. I realized just how transformative a healthy, beautiful smile could be, and I knew I wanted to help others experience that same shift in self‑esteem. Read more>>
Warren Evans
I moved to Nashville in 2007 to pursue my songwriter dream. Like most dreamers, I’ve had to figure how to support the dream. I started out as a rickshaw driver on Broadway; giving rides to and from the hotels/bars in a three wheeler motorized rickshaw. Fare was $3 a person anywhere in the downtown area. Read more>>
Nicole Barton
I actually started my career in healthcare as a nurse, working in emergency medicine and pediatrics back home in Chicago. At the same time, I pursued massage therapy and a degree in nutrition, because I’ve always been fascinated by the many ways our bodies can heal and thrive. Read more>>
Nadia Simmons
My love for food started long before Healthy Soul Catering Company ever existed. I was born in California and raised by strong women who believed that cooking was one of the most meaningful ways to show love. My grandmother, who was an incredible Southern cook, spent countless hours in the kitchen, and I was always near, watching and learning. Read more>>
Eduardo Esparza
I moved to the U.S.A about 12 years ago. I wanted to give my family a better opportunity in a different country, so we packed up our whole life and moved here! I spent 8 years after that learning as much as I could from every job, boss, job, etc., as I possibly could! Read more>>
Max Bolton
I’m originally from small-town Pennsylvania and have moved around a lot in the pursuit of my dreams of being a full-time musician. Read more>>
Earin and Ke’Anna Rose
We started 615 Soul Line Dance in 2022 with a simple idea that grew out of gatherings we were already hosting through a small starter LLC. Those early events showed us something important. Soul line dance was bigger than a party. It was culture, connection, and a way to bring people together across groups that did not always share the same space. Read more>>
Jess McKinney
I’ve always been a creative at heart. I’m drawn to creating experiences that engage all the senses and make people feel something the moment they walk into a space. I moved to Nashville right out of college to pursue a career in songwriting. As most songwriters know, it can take time to find your footing, so I took on a variety of odd jobs. Read more>>
Brenna O’Brien
Like many therapists, my journey started as a little girl desperate for answers… ‘Why do these dynamics exist as they do? Am I the problem? And how can I help my loved ones?’ As children, we internalize everything as our own, so understanding became my passion. Naturally, I decided I would become a therapist at the young age of seven. Read more>>
Mary Margaret Bolen
Photography has always been part of my story. Growing up, my dad was the one always behind the camera — capturing everyday moments and small details that, at the time, felt ordinary. Today, those images mean everything. After planning my own wedding, I fell in love with helping couples preserve not just how their day looked — but how it felt. The emotion. The anticipation. Read more>>
Jonathan Cuilla
My career path started out like most, job to job in hopes of more pay or better benefits. When I became a Sheriff’s Deputy, I thought that was going to be it and the next 30 years of my life. I’m thankful for my time there as it did teach me discipline, leadership, and how to connect with many different types of people. Read more>>
Diana Warpool
My name is Diana Warpool, and I am the founder of DW Multiservices LLC in Tennessee. My journey into this work was not something I originally planned—it began during one of the most uncertain moments of my life. Read more>>
Ten Smith
I discovered my voice as a kid singing along to a cartoon theme song. I hit a run that surprised my cousin, and his reaction made me realize I had something special. From that moment on, I sang everywhere, block parties, school events, basketball games and music became my safe place. Read more>>
Molly Mauney
I grew up in the forests of MS & loved being immersed in nature and gardens. I went to Mississippi State University and serendipitously took floral design as an elective course. At the end of the first class, I changed my major and began my design journey. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture and a concentration in Floral Management. Read more>>
Steve Ayala
The Dog Who Brought Me Back to Myself *By Steve Ayala* Over the past few years, I’ve worked with many dogs that are still feeling the effects of the pandemic. During that time, a lot of them missed the early socialization and structure that help them feel comfortable and confident in the world. Read more>>
Taleah Berkelman
I began taking piano lessons around age seven and have loved playing at different capacities ever since. I attended the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and graduated with highest honors, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts with Music and Psychology minors and an emphasis in Piano Pedagogy. Read more>>
Mallory Apple
I used to work in advertising as a broadcast producer- producing tv commercials and online content for big brands and clients. I loved being the one who had to execute on the ideas and make it happen. I was in charge of the entire budget which included sourcing the director, shooting locations and travel plans, along with the post production work (editing + sound). Read more>>
Philippine Maillard
Our story is really a journey of heritage, shared passion, and a leap of faith across the ocean. I grew up in France, where wine and the art of the table weren’t just parts of a meal—they were the heartbeat of every gathering. That appreciation for ‘art de vivre’ followed me throughout my life, but it truly crystallized when I met Alex. Read more>>
Esli Pino
Hi, I’m Esli, and my wife and I run a pressure/soft washing and window cleaning business in Gallatin, TN. We’re a family of five, with Lily, Isaiah, and Elise being the youngest. Over the years, I’ve worked in various fields, starting as an apprentice in construction and later partnering with a general contractor. However, that was during the 2008-2011 recession. Read more>>
Julia Kight
We started Skyline Inflatables in June 2025 as a family-run business built by a father, son, and daughter-in-law (me). Both the father and son are veterans, and we’ve always shared a strong work ethic and a desire to build something meaningful together. The idea really came from our own family. Read more>>
Sunny Thomas
Thank you for the opportunity to share about my story and the work we do at Tennessee Alliance for Kids. For me, this work actually began in our home long before it became my profession. My husband and I fostered and adopted five of our eight children. From the outside, our family often looked like the ideal picture. Read more>>
Eric Baines
I was born in Poughkeepsie, NY and then moved to Broomfield, CO when I was two and a half years old. I was drawn to music from day one and growing up, I was very active in any and every musical situation I could possibly be a part of. Read more>>
Teresa Kurowski
I started The Elderberry Lady Business while working as a Local Realtor . It all started because of my own allergy struggle and soon after everyone wanted my Elderberry and The Nashville farmers market asked us to be There. Read more>>
LaLa Jones
My story starts with a moment of disenchantment. I was bartending, showing up fully every day, but something kept whispering that I was built for more. People would open up to me without fail, sharing their lives, their pain, their breakthroughs. I wasn’t just pouring drinks. I was holding space. Through therapy, meditation, and radical self-reflecction, I made the leap into life coaching. Read more>>
Jason Schoenholz
My story helping children begins in ministry and martial arts. I am currently a minister at the North Sumner Church of Christ in Portland, TN which is a small church. I have taught adults and children for the 28 years that I have been in ministry. But, I also lead our after school program in martial arts when my child was young. Read more>>
Nicholas Degrassi
I began my electrical career when I was 21 years old, as an apprentice for the IBEW Local 11, in Los Angeles, California. After working for a few different companies, I ended up at the company I would call home for the next 11 years. I worked as a Foreman electrician, running various projects, mostly in the oil and gas industry, all over Southern California. Read more>>
Lydia Goetjen
I was born in Germany, loving dogs but my parents would never allow me to have a dog. So, I started walking the neighborhood dogs at age 4. I quickly learned that I can teach those dogs tricks and I loved it. Fast forward a couple of years…I got recruited for a college golf team in California and decided to move to the states. Read more>>
LANCE SANDERS
I’m a north Florida native from a town called lake City Florida, I moved to Nashville in 2011 My background started in construction and restoration mitigation, where I worked alongside my father beginning in 2011. For years, I’ve been involved in restoring homes and commercial properties affected by fire, flood, and water damage. Read more>>
Coralie Landry
My story really starts in 2017, when I picked up a pen and started experimenting with lettering and calligraphy. It was purely for me, a creative outlet with no bigger plan behind it. But then in 2018 I stumbled onto Instagram and discovered this whole world of journalers and paper crafters, and something just clicked. I realised I wasn’t alone in this obsession! Read more>>
CRUE ROMERO
I was medically discharged from the U.S. Army due to a back injury, which led me into a period of uncertainty as I worked to determine my next steps and how to best use my benefits. During that time, I came across The Ding King Training Institute, and it immediately caught my attention. Read more>>
Lois & Trevor Brucki
Angel Senior Transitions really grew out of both our professional experience and our personal values. For over a decade, we’ve been helping families downsize as realtors, and along the way we saw just how emotional and overwhelming that process can be. It’s not just a move—it’s a major life transition, often happening during a difficult season for families. Read more>>
Ann Williams
Yearly Co. began with a simple, meaningful tradition in my family. My grandfather gifted my grandmother a gold bangle to mark their anniversary, and over time those bangles became a way to celebrate life’s milestones. Wanting to carry that forward, I took a metalsmithing class at Vanderbilt, started making pieces by hand, and began gifting them to friends and family. Read more>>
holly GERONZIN
Although I was offered a position in Iowa, I returned home and pursued a career in sales management. Over the next two decades, I held a variety of leadership roles, including coach, sales supervisor, hiring supervisor, management intern mentor, and manager over the New Hire Training Department. I spent 21 years growing professionally, helping others succeed, and building strong teams. Read more>>
Valise Jackson
Valise specializes in crafting custom wedding scripts that reflect each couple’s unique journey. From traditional ceremonies to modern celebrations, intimate elopements to large formal weddings, she takes time to understand a couples vision and ensures every detail aligns with their dream day. Read more>>
