Nashville’s Most Inspiring Stories

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.

Valerie Zapata

In 2014, I became a first-time dog mom when I adopted Cash, a sweet puppy posted for free on Craigslist. Cash had a rough start—he was found on the side of the road in the tumbleweeds of Oklahoma. He quickly became my soul pup! But soon after I adopted him, Cash started having serious health issues. From digestive problems to ulcers to kidney issues—the list went on and on. Despite countless vet visits, prescription kibble, and medications, his condition only worsened. Watching him suffer broke my heart, and I knew I had to find a better way. Read More>>

Mercedi Thomley

My name is Mercedi, and I am the head baker and co-owner of Buttercream Pop Bakery. My passion for baking began at a young age, as I spent countless hours in the kitchen with my grandmother, learning the art of baking and cake decorating. Over the years, I’ve honed my skills and developed a deep love for the creative expression that cake decorating allows, and I truly enjoy sharing that passion with others. Read More>>

Sarah Alfonso

I am a freshman at Vanderbilt University and an international student from South Sudan. I was born at a refugee camp in Uganda in 2004. When I was four years old, my family moved from Uganda to South Sudan, just a few years before the country gained independence in 2011. I grew up in a family of seven—three brothers, one sister, and my parents. Read More>>

Talasia Gordon

No, not at all. When I first came out, my music wasn’t really accepted as “gospel” because it wasn’t traditional. I wasn’t asked to be on any local events that my peers were on locally. However, I understood the plan for my life and so I kept at it, staying true to who I was. Before I knew, it I created a demand for what was deemed “different”. Years later, the room has expanded for the type of music I love to do and has brought me to winning awards and even being considered for a Grammy Nomination. Staying true to who I knew God made me to be, no matter the opposition was hard and lonely at times but so worth it. Read More>>

Chloe Alexander

For most of the high school and college, I pursued theatre very competitively and also worked as a Disney Princess for kid’s birthday parties. It was the most accessible avenue for me to purse music, and I loved acting. I successfully earned main roles at a young age compared to others trying out. My favorite role I ever played was Maria in West Side Story for Starlight Theatre. An interesting fact is that I grew up in the same town as Jodi Benson, the voice actress for Ariel in Disney’s Little Mermaid. And the last time Starlight Theatre put on a production of West Side Story, Jodi Benson played Maria. Read More>>

Quintin And Ron

We first heard about Nashville back in 2017 when we were on hold to work with Supermodel Nikki Taylor. Although we did’t make the cut to work together, Nashville caught our eyes. Then a few years later our good friend, muse, and Guess Model, Danielle Knudson, moved to Nashville. After seeing her instagram posts on living the good life in the south and starting a family, we really wanted to consider moving out of the super fast hustle and bustle New York City life in the north east. After a few visits we absolutely loved it. Read More>>

Roberto Wong

The process of putting together a group of like-minded people is not as hard as it might seem. Communication isn’t always efficient, but we tried to do the right thing and be good people during the process. We have nothing, but respect for all the city planning, finance, politicians, and community members who worked to make this happen since November of 2023. Read More>>

Tamra Simmons

The road has been far from smooth, but I truly believe that every challenge has shaped me into the person I am today. Early on, one of my biggest struggles was navigating the industry and earning respect in a space that can be competitive and sometimes overwhelming. Breaking through barriers, especially as a woman, required relentless determination and a thick skin. Read More>>

Shanny & The East Men

Living in Nashville it can be difficult to gain traction & confidence because it seems like everyone is doing music here. It’s so easy to get imposter syndrome & second guess if it’s all worth it, but when we all first met we could tell it was worthwhile. All of us were extremely invested and that’s what fuels our drive to take constructive feedback & keep sharing our music. However, we feel very proud of the progress we made. We think the main goal for ourselves is making music that we, ourselves, enjoy & are proud of! Read More>>

Katie Joy Allen

As much as I loved singing, I became curious about the broader music industry. I wanted to learn more about how music reaches listeners, how artists build careers, and how audiences engage with their favorite songs and performers. I realized that while my heart was in performing, I was equally interested in understanding the business side of music. I wanted to know how artists could make a lasting impact and how I could contribute to that. This realization led me to leave Eastman and shift my focus, looking for a path where I could balance performance with a deeper dive into the music business. Read More>>

Jessica Limeberry

After graduating, and 10 years as a photographer, I purchased Sophia’s Bridal and Tux in Indianapolis from its original owner. This was a big move for me and really allowed me to create something bigger than myself! I loved working with the staff, building up strong women, giving people space for leadership, and creating a business that touched so many lives! After a few years we quickly grew and moved to a bigger space, and then started opening multiple locations! Columbus, IN was our second location, and such a wonderful city! Read More>>

Skye Amber

Since being from Louisville, only a few short hours from Nashville, I travel to Nashville often. I shoot everything from brands to artist to engagement and maternity. Read More>>

Jill Moody

I grew up in a small town in Michigan, I always was interested in Music. I joined school band as soon as I could. There was not really a music scene anywhere near me so as soon as I got a driver’s license I went to concerts in Detroit. I attended a media arts school in Detroit that really made me fall in love with videography and editing, which is what brought me to Nashville. Once I arrived, I started working at the Wildhorse Saloon as a lighting director. Read More>>

Taffiney Williams

“It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many others, I encountered challenges along the way that tested my resilience. Personally, I went through a painful divorce and lost my father, both of which deeply affected me. I also faced health challenges and financial strain. In the early days, film production and authorship cost more than what it brings in, so I began picking up acting gigs, coaching others to tell their stories, and writing for hire to support myself. Read More>>

Matthew Burns

I wish I could say that my beginnings in the field of ownership was a smooth and fun experience, but the truth is it all came down to two options, SUCCEED OR BE HOMELESS. As with many others in 2020 Covid left me with no job. I had an offer with Shoneys that would’ve been the most money I ever made and I had also been doing Doordash, Uber black, and Lyft to get myself by. One Covid hit my offer was rescinded and I was let go from all rideshare platforms. This couldn’t have come at a worse time as I had just had my beautiful son Myles and had being fighting for custody of my other children from a previous marriage.  Read More>>

Cody Engdahl

I’ve always lived deep inside my mind. I was a quiet kid. I had friends but mostly played by myself. I wasn’t into sports or toys much unless I could fashion them into swords or guns. I acted out grand adventures where playgrounds were obstacle courses set on lava fields, the woods were the jungles of Vietnam, our house was a giant star cruiser and my bicycle was my personal starfighter that launched from the portal of our electric garage door. Even when I went to sleep, I would imagine an ongoing adventure where I was a sword-wielding warrior or space pilot. Read More>>

Blair Miller

A year later, I was handpicked by the father of the Jonas Brothers to start a marketing agency, where I guided Franklin Jonas’ explosive TikTok growth and limited-edition merch drop, led campaigns with influencers such as Charli D’Amelio, Lil Huddy, Avani, and Bella Poarch, and helped sustain viral hits like PUBLIC’s “Make You Mine” (550 million streams) and Lanie Gardner’s cover of “Dreams” (40+ million views and nearly 800,000 new followers in a month), followed by a surprise remix of the song with David Guetta. Read More>>

Alice Sullivan

I started my professional writing and editing career right out of college, when one of my professors hired me to work on his books. After two years of freelance work for a local newspaper, several Home and Garden magazines, and a children’s publishing company, I was hired by Thomas Nelson Publishers (HarperCollins) to ghostwrite two books. That opportunity jumpstarted my career in writing. Now, with 24 years in the publishing industry, I’ve ghostwritten 64 books and edited over 1,300 titles. Read More>>