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.
Winston Wright 
Brothers in Public Health was founded as an official 501c3 non-profit in 2023 by four young professionals based across multiple cities in the southeast. All of us finished our Master of Public Health programs right before or after COVID-19, entering an rapidly transitioning .. digitally dependent world, and met each other through linkedIn. Read more>>
Ben Montague 
a. Music came first. My father played in bands when I was a kid, so there was always a guitar in the house. We’ve always loved music as a family, and I grew up on the very best of it: The Who, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles. Read more>>
Lauren Maranto 
I moved to Nashville after graduating from Auburn and spent most of my career in HR and operations leadership. I enjoyed the work, but I’ve always had a creative side and a love for bringing people together. 14 years ago, I started a monthly supper club with friends. Read more>>
Amanda Johansen 
From Mississippi to Microsoft: My Story I grew up on a dirt road in Mississippi in one of the poorest counties in the nation, where my summers were spent shucking corn, hauling hay, and working on my family’s 400 acre farm. When I wasn’t helping out on the farm I was working in the local Piggly Wiggly, a job I absolutely loved. Read more>>
Los Locos Tristes 
Los Locos Tristes started in Santa Clara, Cuba. From the beginning, our music was a mix of the things we grew up with there and the rock and indie music we loved. Back in Cuba, we used to describe it as “rock and roll de bares y cantinas” — basically barroom rock and roll. Read more>>
Cameron Talley (Tana) 
Well, when I was in high school I had a group of friends who did music and they were the first people to actually show me a recording set up. But it was a specific day that made me a want to be a producer. Read more>>
Cyndi Galley 
Where do I begin? I’ve been creative for as long as I can remember. As a little girl, I’d harmonize with the songs on the radio, and I started playing piano when I was six. Before long, I was carrying a camera around, trying to capture whatever caught my eye. I loved performing, reading and writing. Read more>>
Anne McGraw 
My husband and I moved to Nashville in 2007 for a job opportunity in my corporate marketing and advertising career. I’ve always been working full-time and traveling all over the world for work, on top of raising two daughters who are now 16 and 18. Read more>>
Olivia Beaumont 
I guess you could say entrepreneurship is in my DNA. I’m a third-generation hairdresser, and my biggest inspiration was my Nana. She was a strong, independent woman who owned and operated salons for nearly 30 years. My aunt followed in her footsteps, eventually opening her own salon in Missouri. Growing up, I always admired the idea of building something of my own. Read more>>
Ali Waxman 
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to build a career doing something I genuinely love. Photography has taken me in directions I never could have anticipated, and along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some wonderful people and work on some pretty amazing projects. My journey has been one of curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to keep learning. Read more>>
Max Epulef 
I currently live in Santiago, Chile. Ever since I can remember, I’ve had this deep, undeniable itch to explore the world. Living down here at the ‘end of the world,’ I always dreamed of discovering new cultures, tasting different foods, and experiencing everything out there beyond my comfort zone. As a kid, I spent hours watching travel documentaries, just imagining what it would be like. Read more>>
Hannah Strumner 
I started writing music when I was about five or six years old. My grandfather and uncle were both very musical, and so my grandma had a piano at her house, and I started just always playing the piano there. And my uncle was a great guitarist, and I always admired his musical ability. Read more>>
Grace Marshall 
I started my freelance business, Grace Elizabeth Designs, while I was in college at Middle Tennessee State University. At the time, I wanted to get my feet wet, gain some real-world experience, and have more than class projects in my portfolio before stepping into the corporate world. I ended up loving freelancing so much that I never stopped! Read more>>
Vanessa Edwards 
My path into coaching began long before I became a personal trainer. It started with a young girl who felt lonely, struggled to make friends, and was made fun of for being shy and for how she looked. That girl was me. I wanted to be invisible, but I also desperately wanted to belong and feel safe. Read more>>
Dr. Brice Gilliam 
I grew up in Lebanon, Tennessee, which was a pretty small town at the time. I was raised by an incredible mom who taught me the importance of hard work, dedication, and believing in yourself. She made a lot of sacrifices to give me opportunities she didn’t necessarily have, and she always encouraged me to pursue whatever I dreamed of doing. Read more>>
Catherine Murray
After graduating high school in 1977, I had no idea what I was going to do. At that time, I had no desire to go to college. Back then, the government had money. You could sign up at the unemployment office for 5 or 6 different training programs. Read more>>
Annie Bacon 
I have traveled my whole life, but in 2023 I finally made the leap to sign up as a travel agent with Travelmation. I quickly became a Top Producer in 2024 and have maintained this status since. Read more>>
Greg Childress 
My story in the cleaning business started with my dad when I was just 10 years old. Cleaning commercial properties was a family thing. On Saturday or Sunday mornings, we would get up early and go clean buildings together. By the time I was a teenager, I wanted to do something different. Read more>>
Travis Canby 
My journey into real estate began in Los Angeles with just $3.01 in my bank account, no industry connections, and absolutely no experience. My wife, Judy, and I started from the ground up. we door knocked on over 26,000 doors my first year, determined to build something extraordinary. Door knocking was the only free form of marketing and our only option to create awareness. Read more>>
Jennette Price 
Meet Jennette Price Founder and Owner of Ti’Maya Naturals Studio | The Herbal Loctician Jennette Price is the proud owner and founder of Ti’Maya Naturals Studio, a beauty and wellness business specializing in natural hair care, locs, coils, twists, and textured hair. Read more>>
Kareem Aaron 
My name is Kareem Aaron. I go by SheLovesFlacko I was born in , New Albany, Mississippi. Raised in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I always been around music. My family always been in the music and then the church music also and then down south of Southern southern blue country played a big part in my sound day. Read more>>
Aloha Molero 
I was born and raised in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and I’ve loved organizing things for as long as I can remember. From school activities to international student conferences while studying in the University, I was always finding ways to bring people together. Read more>>
Isaac Biver
I am Isaac Biver, a 20 year old Guitarist specializing in many styles including Fingerstyle, Blues, Classical and Rock styles. My story with music started around 7 years ago. I started by taking Guitar lessons from a family friend at school and quickly became obsessed. I took lessons for a little under a year and the pandemic hit. Read more>>
Emma Gonsalves 
The Roster is a cheeky Nashville perfume brand inspired by modern dating stories. After a breakup, I spent months talking with women about relationships, dating advice, and everything in between. I’ve always loved the beauty industry and storytelling, so I started wondering how perfume could feel more personal and relatable. I scribbled the idea on a piece of paper, and The Roster was born. Read more>>
Michelle Francine 
For over 15 years, I’ve worked where government, technology, and education meet, designing technical training that helps people understand complex things. Along the way, I built a corporate career AND an entrepreneurial one. I’m a geek and an educator. My first degree is in Computer Science, and I later earned my Master’s in Online Education. Read more>>
Dr. Denise Brannen
My story began when I was a little girl who had a lot to say but struggled to get the words out the way I wanted. People laughed at the way I spoke, and I started to believe it was safer to stay quiet. Over time, that silence followed me into different parts of my life. Read more>>
THIRD DAGREE 
“Fresh Out The Garden” is more than just a slogan or my own personal lingo might I add, but more importantly a way of life from the seeds, the roots, the care, the production, and the harvest!” I personally always tell my guys, “There is no more getting it out of the mud, we’re in the growing business over here and nothing grows in the mud!” I got my start by the grace of God to whom all praise is given! Read more>>
Naomi Bello 
I’m originally from Cuba, where I studied medicine for four years. I was especially drawn to pediatric oncology, because I’ve always felt called to care for people’s health. In December 2022, I moved to the United States and settled in Nashville. Like many immigrants, I had to start over. Read more>>
Henry Fletcher 
Phish Food started as a catering company during the COVID-19 pandemic. I always had a passion for cooking, so I decided to use my talents to make some money and have fun. I would get two to three gigs a year. In 2023, I experienced a life-changing event that cost me my job. Read more>>
Mariah Kelly 
just like anyone else – i wanted photographs of my senior year. through my senior sessions, i became close to my photographer (shoutout Lindsay Kate) and she gave me the random but impactful opportunity to second shoot a wedding with her. i always was a creative, but that day the passion was seeded. Read more>>
Alexis Navarra 
My name is Alexis Navarra. I am a singer who just moved to Nashville from Phoenix, Arizona, where I sang at local bars and restaurants all over the state. I was born and raised in Northern California, and moved to Phoenix after I graduated college to work a corporate day job. Read more>>
Keshawn Lee Kinslow 
‘Art imitates life’ is more than just a well-worn phrase it’s a mirror and a compass for who I am and how I create. It captures how my personal experiences spill directly into my craft. Read more>>
Hayley Gregory 
I started my cosmetology career and journey over 20 years ago. I was working in the non profit sector and experiencing burnout. I was looking for a new career and kept reading the advice to make your hobby your career. Read more>>
Lauren Oliver 
When I graduated highschool in 2018 my goal was to leave my small town in Kentucky. I worked 2 jobs and saved nearly $5,000 within 7 months. Freshly 19 I moved to Nashville! Initially I thought my goal was to become a makeup artist. I attended Aveda Institute, there I fell in love with skincare and facials. Read more>>
Gail Wall 
My love of flowers began over 10 years ago! I have always loved arranging bouquets and exploring flowers as a creative outlet! Then as we had some close friends and my two daughters weddings, I began to delve into flower arrangements as a small business! I have loved being able to do wedding flowers especially as a part of my two daughters weddings! Read more>>
Mandii Brown 
My story has never been about following a straight line. I was born and raised in Chicago, and my journey began long before I ever wore a crown. I became a mother at 18 while navigating college as a first-generation, nontraditional student. My path through higher education was not conventional. Read more>>
Feylyn Lewis-Garrett 
A native of Nashville, Tennessee and a Vanderbilt University alumna, Dr. Lewis grew up as a youth caregiver for her disabled mother. Her experience with caregiving, disability, and living life on the margins led her on a path of global research and advocacy. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a PhD in Social Work. Read more>>
Justine Bracy 
I’m Justine, an eighth-generation Tennessean from the hollers of Lebanon. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. I grew up with an abusive father, and when my parents fought, I’d hide in my closet with my karaoke machine, headphones on, singing at the top of my lungs. It transported me somewhere safe. Read more>>
Dustin Soper 
I’ve always believed great hospitality deserves to be seen, felt, and shared, and that’s exactly what I get to do every day. As Corporate Social Media Manager at Spire Hospitality, I lead social media, digital, and print marketing efforts across a portfolio of hotels and resorts, working closely with on-property teams to bring each experience to life in a way that connects with today’s traveler. Read more>>
Gaea S. Thompson 
My story of restoration began after the sudden passing of my oldest daughter who was a twin in a car accident. I had been operating in ministry for years when she passed. It was not until I experienced the loss of a child that God began to expose himself to me in a different light. Read more>>
Faith Diggs
From Playwright to Media Entrepreneur: The Creative Journey of Faith Diggs My creative journey began long before I ever called myself a filmmaker, television producer, or media entrepreneur. In many ways, I began as a playwright. As a child, I expressed myself through writing, poetry, music, and visual storytelling. Whenever I wanted to communicate something to my parents, I would create. Read more>>
Mak Marie 
Started singing young with my grandfather, then in church. Started writing songs and playing acoustic shows, put a band together and play as much as we can, including some pretty well known music festivals. Read more>>
Martha Brace 
For more than 20 years, I built my career in healthcare leadership and operations, including over 14 years with Marathon Health, where I served as a Vice President. I had the opportunity to lead teams, develop people, build relationships, and help organizations grow. Read more>>
Darius Edwards
My journey as a musician began in church right here in Nashville. If the doors of the building were unlocked, my family was present. Because we spent so much time in church, I quickly developed a love for the music sang during the services. In fact, it was my favorite part about church. Read more>>
Leslie Alverson 
My role as Operations Coordinator for the Kim Alverson Foundation (KAF) began in early 2024. My mother-in-law, Kim, passed away in January after battling BRAF colon cancer for about two years. Shortly after her passing, my father-in-law expressed his desire to continue Kim’s legacy and help others facing similar challenges. Kim deeply loved Christ, her family, and caring for others. Read more>>
Randi Michaels Block 
Pauli’s Place Boutique was born in 2015 on a wing and a prayer. Growing up on Long Island in a family steeped in the garment industry, my mother would take me into Manhattan to visit my father’s sportswear company where he’d design and sell women’s clothing to big box stores around the country. Read more>>
Brigid Buckley 
As my mother puts it, I’ve been singing since I could talk and performing since I could walk. Music and a life on stage has always driven my life. I grew up singing in churches, voice recitals, and on my front porch. The dream was always to become a singer. That changed in seventh grade I was in my first musical, The Sound of Music. Read more>>
