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.
Jeanne Carr
I started in a family act when I was 2 as the 6th child of 6 kids called The Carr Family Singers. I got my Actors Equity card at the youngest age of 5 as Gretl von Trapp in The Broadway National Tour of The Sound of Music. Read more>>
Joshua Arnoux
I began focusing on writing songs for other artists, producing records, and learning every aspect of the music business. I didn’t just want to make great music—I wanted to understand why some artists succeeded while others, despite incredible talent, never reached their potential. That curiosity led me to earn a bachelor’s degree in Music Business from Full Sail University and spend years studying publishing, royalties, marketing, branding, artist development, and the economics of the industry. Read more>>
Morissa Schwartz
Still, the work I care about most happens behind the scenes. It is helping a business owner explain what makes them different without sounding like a robot in a blazer. It is helping an author take the book they have been carrying around in their head for years and make it tangible. It is helping someone with real talent stop being invisible online. Read more>>
Cheyanne Williams
We didn’t have a delivery van. Instead, we had a go-kart, about seven horses, and a dream. We would ride our horses two or three miles out into the neighborhood, balancing cartons of eggs, and sell them for about a dollar a pop. Read more>>
Erika Kulovitz
Growing up, design wasn’t just a hobby, it was my environment. I fondly remember spending hours at my grandfather’s drawing desk, sketching away while he meticulously worked on blueprints. We’d also hang out in his workshop creating and building (though, admittedly, those power tool skills didn’t quite stick with me!). Read more>>
Madeleine Wyatt
In 2014, I received my contractor’s license and became a full-time general contractor and designer. It was an incredible education learning to rezone properties and having a front-row seat to Nashville’s reshaping. After two years of investor-heavy work, I needed to feel more passion and create positive change for people. In 2015, Wyatt Design Build was born, focusing heavily on historic , additions, custom builds and renovations for homeowners. Read more>>
Alexandra Kenin
When I moved to San Francisco in 2007, my father gave me a copy of Stairway Walks in San Francisco by Adah Bakalinsky. For years, I intended to use the book, but it just gathered dust on my shelf. At the time, I was working at Google in Mountain View. Because of the long commute, I spent four and a half years leaving early and coming home in the dark, rarely getting the chance to truly explore the city I lived in. Read more>>
Amy McTague
It’s terrifying to jump into a field I never knew anything about. I wasn’t brought up a hunter. In fact I didn’t learn to hunt till 2017 & wasn’t successful in harvesting a deer till 2019. That year I learn how to harvest & process everything. Now I can do it all harvest, process & put it on the wall. Never dreamed I’d be a ceo of my own shop Read more>>
Dr. Shifa Mariya Monet
In New York, my career grew quickly. I got signed with my dream Modelling agency Wilhelmina Models, began working as an actress with award-winning filmmakers and founded my own production company to create stories I genuinely believe in. Around the same time, I fulfilled lifelong dream by releasing my original music, working with Grammy-winning producers, performing live, and, more recently, also embracing Commercial EDM DJing. Read more>>
Vienna Notarianni
At home, we have a piano on our front porch where I would sit outside and play for hours after school every day. The owner of a winery in town was booking live acts and asked if I’d be interested in playing. That was how I booked my first gig. Throughout high school, I developed my craft, solo performing chops, and wrote my debut EP. Read more>>
Dylan Zmed
As of 2026, my brother Zach and I have been working together professionally for nearly fifteen years as The Zmed Brothers, celebrating what we like to call Blood Harmony Americana. We were born and raised in Southern California, splitting our childhood between life with our mom—a retired second-grade teacher of more than thirty years—and touring the country with our dad, actor and singer Adrian Zmed. Read more>>
Tajai Ling
My story starts in Orland Park, Illinois. This is where I grew up prior moving to Nashville. My music journey started off of a snowball mic and making parodies and remixes of popular songs from 2012-2016. I didn’t do any music during my 4 years of college however I rediscovered my love for music in 2020 when I started to release under my name Tajai. Read more>>
Zachariah Witcher
Short version is…my first instrument was drums around 4 or 5 years old. Apparently the man that was playing bass at the church I went to at that time was boring to me and I wanted to teach him how to be less boring (according to my maw) so she bought me a bass. Read more>>
Alicia Williams
My mother was the head person at her church in the community service department. When Covid hit back in 2020 the church did not want us to distribute food from their location. Read more>>
Chrystal Parker
I discovered circus arts over a decade ago and quickly fell in love with the creativity, challenge, and connection they brought to people. What started as a passion for performing grew into opportunities at festivals, community events, and private celebrations across the country. Along the way, I realized I loved not only being on stage, but also creating unforgettable experiences behind the scenes. Read more>>
Ashley Gift
When the pandemic hit in March 2020, I had just married my husband and moved away from Nashville. I was in the midst of a career transition, uncertain of what was next for me. As I reflected on my life and career thus far, I noticed themes of relationship, connection, empathy, and service. Read more>>
Austin Andrews
I started playing guitar when I was twelve or so, I was given lessons for Christmas one year and the guy giving the lessons was Jody Payne, who was Willie Nelson’s guitar player for a long long time. When he passed away I put it down for a while, but picked it back up towards the end of high school. Read more>>
Ashley Carswell
I have been singing/performing since I was three years old, No one in my family is in the music industry or has ever been in the music industry. SO when my mother put me in ballet. My ballet teacher Pam Nobles (Who is now deceased) realized I wasnt a dancer, but a singer. Read more>>
Jordan Moed
We were born in 2020 out of the chaos of a global shutdown, The Hungry & Dangerous are a Nashville-based rock band on a mission to bring authentic, no-frills rock ‘n’ roll back to the forefront. Read more>>
Landon Whitaker
I started as a bored 12 year old with my friend with old studio gear my dad had in the attic, and downloaded garage band on his old mac he had in there too. Read more>>
Emily Perry
If you had asked me years ago who I thought I’d become, I would have painted a bit of a different picture than the life I’m living today. And honestly, I’m glad I didn’t know how the story would unfold because I probably would have tried to go in a different direction. Some dreams came true exactly the way I hoped they would. Read more>>
Annie Mallon
My husband, Braiden, has been in the restaurant industry since he was a teenager. His first job was as a busboy at Merchants in Nashville. Over the years, he worked his way up through the industry and has now been a chef for the better part of the last 18 years. Read more>>
Lorilee Rager
I started out loving to draw. Then in college, I discovered a lab full of Bondi blue iMacs and fell completely in love with graphic design. After school, I worked at car dealerships, agencies, and Gaylord Opryland as a graphic designer. Read more>>
Luis Rey
I’ve been singing since I was a kid. I wrote my first original song somewhere around 4th grade and got in trouble because of its subject matter. Haha All throughout school, I was in choir and theater, so I’ve also spent quite a bit of time on stage in musical theater. Read more>>
Myah Mayhew
I began my music journey in the church at a very young age (I’m talking as young as two!). I slowly started to take on more musical tasks like piano lessons, voice lessons, and theater, and at the age of 9, I wrote my first song underneath a tree on the playground. Read more>>
Lorna Boyd
My journey in hospitality began in Jamaica, where I attended college to study hospitality services. During my studies, I was introduced to culinary arts, and that experience completely changed the direction of my career. I discovered that my true passion was creating experiences through food—the ability to bring people together, tell stories, and create meaningful moments around the table. Read more>>
Hillary Cummings
Four years ago, I was a classroom educator suffering from major post-Covid burnout, and was seeking something that would allow me to tap into my ‘love languages’: acts of service and detailed, intense research. I’ve always been an avid traveler, and so when the opportunity to join a new host travel agency– 8th Wonder Travel Company — became available in March, 2023, I was intrigued. Read more>>
Katie James
Music has always been the one thing I couldn’t imagine living without. I started writing songs as a kid and eventually moved to Nashville to pursue music. Since then, I’ve spent the past couple of years developing my sound, independently releasing original music, collaborating with other writers, and performing whenever I can. Read more>>
Alexis Buchannon
I had my daughter at 23 years old and I just needed to figure out who I was as a woman outside of being a mother, and that led me to beauty school. Read more>>
Samanta Santana
My journey with yoga began during a time when I was searching for something deeper than physical fitness. What I found was a practice that helped me reconnect with myself, build resilience, and navigate life’s challenges with more presence and compassion. That experience completely changed the direction of my life. Read more>>
Cassandra Hill
Speaking has been a gift since childhood. I can recall as a child making a microphone and walking around the house speaking to my parents and anyone else who would listen. As a college student, I used my voice to speak on issues like healthcare disparities and healthy aging. Entering the corporate world consumed much of my time. Read more>>
Matheus Cavalcanti
I was born in Recife, Brazil. Not a small town, but also not as big as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. As a kid, I always had the dream to be an artist and performer. Karaoke nights with my cousins when i was 10 pretending to be Whitney, and wondering if that life would ever be mine one day! Read more>>
Chris Ruben
Chris Ruben is a Suffolk County, New York native who has spent his life rooted in the local community. As the songwriter and frontman of The Chris Ruben Band, he has been a driving creative force since the group’s formation in 2014, leading the release of two full-length albums along with a collection of singles and live recordings that showcase the band’s evolving sound. Read more>>
Brad Wagner
I grew up in Canton, Georgia, and music was always part of my life. My dad is a huge music lover, so I spent a lot of my childhood going to concerts with him. Looking back, that’s probably where the spark started. My first instrument was actually my voice in chorus. Read more>>
Stephen Gervais
A long time ago, in a galaxy far away…….oh, wait! Wrong story. I don’t have the traditional Magician’s origin story. I wasn’t five years old and got a magic kit for my birthday and wanted to be a Magician ever since. Nope! I made the decision to never get lai…. wait, are kids going to read this? Read more>>
Laila Ashburn
I can’t quite remember how I answered this the last time, but I think my understanding of how I got started and my why has expanded. 14 years ago I embarked on a custody battle of the lifetime, as a matter of fact it still goes on. Read more>>
Erica DeRemer
For much of my life, I became really good at being what everyone else needed me to be. I built a career in funeral service, spent more than two decades walking alongside families during some of the hardest moments of their lives, later worked in leadership and human resources within the funeral industry, and just recently earned my MBA. Read more>>
Jay Allen
In 2013, I moved to Nashville with one suitcase and a guitar to my name. An older couple in Hendersonville graciously took me in and let me live in their in-law suit free-of-charge until I got on my feet. After a few years of hard work and networking, I landed my first publishing deal which eventually led me to Sony. Read more>>
Marcus Knight
My story is one of resilience, creativity, and connection. I was born with a congenital heart condition that taught me that life is a gift and every moment carries purpose. Growing up, I experienced both private and public schools, allowing me to build relationships with people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and walks of life. Read more>>
Jess Haynes
I became a singer songwriter at the young age of 13. I used to write poems and singing in the choir at church and Music has always just been a huge part of my life. I found myself writing about a lot of the heartache I had experienced in life and it was very therapeutic. Read more>>
Devon Burkhart
Chic Flips Home Transitions was founded from a simple belief: life’s biggest transitions deserve more than a real estate agent or an estate sale company—they deserve a trusted guide. As the founder of Chic Flips Home Transitions, I set out to create a business that helps people navigate the emotional and practical challenges that come with downsizing, estate settlements, inherited homes, and major life changes. Read more>>
Save Hamlets
Born in Bologna and now based in Northern Italy, I’m an independent country artist whose musical career spans more than two decades. Since the early 2000s, I have performed extensively throughout Italy as a lead singer and frontman, developing a strong reputation for my stage presence and connection with live audiences. Read more>>
Morgan Barber
I graduated beauty school right before covid hit and had absolutely no idea what I would be doing. I got a job and was immediately let go because of the pandemic and was clueless and lost. I ended up getting a job at a medispa and immediately felt like it wasn’t for me. Read more>>
Regina Beard
My journey to founding VicTory 4 Kidz began with a simple but powerful belief: every child deserves the opportunity to discover their potential before making life-changing career decisions. Throughout my career as a registered nurse and educator, I saw firsthand that many students—especially those from underserved communities—had limited exposure to healthcare careers and lacked opportunities to connect with professionals who could inspire them. Read more>>
Gary Matheny
I have loved music and singing since a very young boy Elvis Presley being my idol. In my teenage years I learned the guitar and began playing in a garage band. We did the local and regional parties, dances and even competed in a battle of the bands in Macon, Ga. We competed against a few really good groups. Read more>>
Janai Pledger
I’ve always been drawn to art, community care, and service, but I wasn’t always sure how those interests fit together. After working in the nonprofit sector in Nashville for several years, I decided in 2024 to leave the U.S. and move to Accra, Ghana. Read more>>
Darnell Perkins
My journey started back in Indianapolis, Indiana. I grew up pretty family-oriented and surrounded by creativity. As for myself, I spent a lot of time performing with my siblings and cousins in churches. We’d be accompanied by my aunts, uncles, and my pops on keys, drums, or bass. As time went, on I picked up the saxophone and began classical training. Read more>>
