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.
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>>
Vassili Soucharin
I graduated from college in 1998 and went to work in the corporate world. In 2010 the company I worked for fell apart. The clients, however, didn’t go anywhere, so another company took over the accounts. Read more>>
Cynthia Marlow-Foster
Hello, my name is Cynthia Marlow-Foster. I’m the baby of 4 girls. I was born in Columbia, TN. At the age of 6 years. Old, I tried smoking marijuana for the first time. At 8 years old, I was molested, and at 91/2 years old lost my father in a fire at the Maury County Jail. That best friend was my father, Isaac Marlow. Read more>>
Brad Francis
I grew up in Nolensville. Both of my parents were programmers and it was always something I was interested in. So I went to school for computer networking and quickly got a job at a major national firm. The career and culture ended up not being a good fit for me. Read more>>
Larissa Maestro
This year, I was commissioned by the Library of Congress to write a new work for violin and piano, to be performed by SistaStrings. I just released a recording of my string quartet, <i>Rotation</i>, on Bandcamp. It was commissioned by Lockeland Strings to commemorate the first anniversary of the tornado that destroyed parts of North and East Nashville on March 3, 2020. Read more>>
William Forkum
I worked for 9 years as a machine operator between two different jobs. I went to work to get paid like most of us do and nothing more. Well, After 7 years I started experiencing burnout and then year 9 hit and I was DONE. Hard questions started to surface: What am I called to do? What was I created for? Read more>>
Stacey Horn
I have been a Social Worker for 35 years and have worked closely with the Recovery community throughout. During and after the Pandemic, I had a position assessing individuals in crisis in hospital ER’s and ICU’s, and repeatedly met mature women in a substance abuse crisis who had no sober living environments to return to. Read more>>
Bryna Grant
For most of my life, I looked successful on the outside while quietly unraveling on the inside. I grew up in the church and learned early how to perform faith, chase approval, and hide pain. As we moved frequently, perfectionism and people-pleasing became survival skills, and unprocessed childhood trauma showed up first as disordered eating and later (after weight loss surgery) as alcohol dependence. Read more>>
Clay Myers
I moved to Nashville in 1986 from Orange Park, Florida with one goal: get close to great songs and the people who know how to turn them into careers. My first real break was working at Maypop Music, owned by the band ALABAMA, where I learned the publishing side from the inside—how catalogs are built, how writers are developed, and how the business actually moves. Read more>>
Wendy Wessel
Back in 2004, I was unexpectantly laid off from my job as a bookkeeper/office manager. I didn’t know what to do, or how my husband and I would make up the lost income. We were living paycheck to paycheck with two kids. I pulled into the Walmart parking lot and just sat there and had a good cry. Read more>>
Jody Mattena
I thought that helping people would do more for the people I was helping but I was so very wrong. It was very much reciprocal. While I handed out food, medical supplies, helped in the clinic and classrooms my heart and soul was being healed and the hole that was left by my fathers departure was soon filled in with love and gratitude. Read more>>
Kris Banas
After being featured in Nashville Voyager Magazine back in October of 2022, I have really come a long way. We had not even lived in the state until the previous year. We relocated from the Chicago suburbs in Illinois and have settled in East Tennessee, and we just love it. Read more>>
Mason Hereford
I grew up rollerblading and eating at gas stations in rural Virginia. I was pretty food obsessed but not a young cook by any means. My formative food experiences were at these country stores—part gas station, part convenience store, and part takeout counter. They sold beer and gas, lures and ammo, biscuits with white gravy and chili-cheese dogs. Top tier eats. Read more>>
Kelly Hernandez
Hello first of everything I want to thank for the invitation, my name is Kelly. I am 24 years old. I was born in Chicago and raised in Mexico. I describe myself as a productive, independent, hardworking, and family-oriented woman. My world revolves around my small family, and I come from a background of hard work and perseverance. Read more>>
Jessica Hobbs
I didn’t start in mortgage with a big title, I started as a bank teller. Day after day, I sat across people making some of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. I listened to their stories, their fears, and their goals. I learned quickly that trust mattered more than transactions, and that the right guidance could change someone’s future. Read more>>
Chanel Thomas
My journey to founding Blue Sage Wellness was not something I mapped out from the beginning. It grew slowly, shaped by my experiences, my questions, and a lot of reflection about what kind of care I wished existed, both for patients and for providers. Growing up as a Black queer person, I became aware early on that healthcare did not always feel safe or trustworthy. Read more>>
Flavia Estrada
I began my journey as a bilingual Latina entrepreneur who simply wanted to help people feel seen — both in fashion and in everyday life. For years, I worked full-time in administrative and public-service roles while juggling multiple side ventures, community involvement, and creative projects. Along the way, I realized how often Spanish-speaking and plus-size women felt overlooked in both customer service and fashion. Read more>>
Morgan Evans
Evans Plant Farm was founded in 1981 when Rick and Gail Evans started with three greenhouses and a vision to build something meaningful for their family. Through decades of hard work and dedication, those three greenhouses have grown into 30, each one representing years of learning, perseverance, and love for agriculture. Read more>>
Susan Hasley
In 2019, as my years of homeschooling were coming to an end, I saw a news report about a woman who had done something horrific to her autistic child. I had worked with children for many years, but in that moment, I realized I had never extended the same level of compassion to adults facing unimaginable pressure. Read more>>
Rebecca Meadows
Hello, my name is Rebecca Meadows. I am a licensed massage therapist, a certified medical massage practitioner, and the owner of Spirit of Life Therapeutic Massage. I opened my practice on January 2, 2022, though I have been working in the massage field since 2017. This is the story of how it all came together. Read more>>
Lauren Baumgarten
I began my career in Nashville after graduating from Belmont University with a degree in International Business. After college, I worked with several local companies in the corporate world, managing international accounts and learning skills that still serve me today. Read more>>
Pastor Richmond Owusu – Grace Depot Church
My name is Pastor Richmond, and I am the lead pastor of a brand new church in Clarksville, Tennessee, called Grace Depot Church. My wife and I moved here from California with a clear sense that God was calling us to plant a church rooted in grace, healing, and belonging. We did not come with a launch team, a network, or a built in community. Read more>>
Luke Gautier
Gautier & Sons Seafood is a niche Gulf Coast seafood distributor. Their head-on shrimp, crab meat and crabs, boudin, fish varieties, and prepared regional seafood offerings like gumbo and étouffée have kept landlocked Nashvillians flush with fish since 2020. Those in the know get to the Richland Park Farmers Market early on Saturday mornings to call dibs on their weekly seafood supply. Read more>>
Willis Schrock
JD Country Milk is a family owned and operated dairy farm and processing plant located in Logan County, Kentucky. Willis and Edna Schrock have created quite a niche market for their milk, and over the years they have raised eight children. Read more>>
Alexander J. D’Alessandro
I began working on vehicles at age 19 alongside my father and my brother, Sal. What started as a personal interest and hobby gradually developed into a long-term vision. I spent years working on my own vehicles while building hands-on experience and industry knowledge. I have extensive experience in the automotive industry, beginning with many years in parts sales before advancing into service management. Read more>>
Abby Zielinski
After more than five years working in law enforcement dispatch, I spent my days in a fast-paced, high-stress environment where every call mattered and calm under pressure was essential. While that career taught me discipline, attention to detail, and how to serve others in critical moments, I eventually felt pulled toward something different—something that brought peace, pride, and a tangible sense of accomplishment. Read more>>
Julia Hutchinson
I’m originally from Boston Massachusetts, and began talking classical piano lessons when I was four years old. I started guitar lessons when I was eight and began singing shortly after, with the encouragement of my elementary school music teacher. I was really shy growing up and performing quickly became a way for me to break out of my shell. Read more>>
Izabela Kerr
With over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry, I developed a keen eye for beauty as a whole—understanding how color, shape, and style come together to enhance natural features. When my children were young, I followed my passion into cosmetology school, and since 2019, I’ve specialized as a hair color and cut expert, helping clients look and feel their absolute best. Read more>>
Elizabeth Amels
I’m currently serving as the Worship Director at a church in the Williamsburg, Virginia. I’ve been here for a little over two years, and it’s been a growing experience, where I get to cheer on the strengths I’ve seen my younger self possess, while also looking to mentors and leaders for advice, encouragement, and equipping. Read more>>
Dawn Whitelaw
mystory3.pages.pdf At age 35, my life took an unexpected turn when saw an original painting in Washington DC. That chance viewing set the course for the rest of my life. My background was graphic design. I painted some, but not often or seriously. My uncle was a professional artist and my mother painted. I guess I assumed everyone painted some, not a big deal. Read more>>
Nickole Diaz
Transformation Circle began with my own financial journey. Although I am an accountant who studied money professionally, I realized I did not fully know how to manage my own finances. At the same time, I saw friends and family struggling with budgeting, credit, and long-term financial stability. Many of us were never taught these skills growing up. Read more>>
Bryant Allan
The way I ended up as a songwriter and running a these events and writers showcases, It’s a little bit unconventional to say the least. I moved to Nashville with plans to be the next big thing. I wasn’t sure in what regard, but I knew I wanted to do something in music. Read more>>
Kyrie Klopke
I grew up in a small town where relationships mattered and your word was everything. People did business face-to-face, took pride in their work, and understood that integrity was how a business truly thrived. That mindset shaped me long before I ever considered owning one. After working in social work, I became a mom to two awesome—and very energetic—boys. Read more>>
Jacob Travis
On December 23, 2024, I was unexpectedly let go from my previous position as a staff physical therapist at another private physical therapy practice in Nashville. The subsequent month after the firing felt like the deepest valley I had been in my entire life. In the midst of that struggle, my heart was captured by God. Read more>>
Andrew Thompson
For thirteen years, I served as a student minister. I walked alongside middle and high school students during some of the most tender, chaotic seasons of their lives. Read more>>
Dolly DeLong
I started my business as a family photographer, and I still do. Dolly DeLong Photography has been a full-time business since 2018, and in many ways, that part of my story never left. I was building a photography business while navigating motherhood, limited time, and the reality of being a solo business owner. Read more>>
Julie Edmunds
For 32 years, I had the privilege of being a teacher in MNPS. Every day was about guiding, encouraging, and helping others reach their goals. When I retired from the classroom, I realized I still wanted to help people. I found that in real estate. Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest decisions a person or family will make. Read more>>
Misti Blasko
I grew up in a small town called Mariposa. The oldest of 4. I studied at Chico state where I thought my path would be a 4th grade teacher. While going to school I worked part time in Retail- I loved it! 25+ years of diversified experience in the fashion, retail and consumer goods industries scaling DTC brands while also streamlining operational footprints. Read more>>
Dee Jay Shoulders
I am Pastor at First Apostolic Church Nashville TN. I have been here 22 years as Pastor along with my wife Karla. Read more>>
Jessica and Gordon Keene
In 2020, during the COVID shutdowns, my husband and I both lost our jobs. I was fortunate to find new work fairly quickly, but we still needed immediate income to get by. Out of necessity, my husband began doing yardwork and landscaping for friends and acquaintances. Word spread quickly, and before we knew it, a business was taking shape. Read more>>
Erica Sage McCarthy
I started competing in pageants because I loved the idea of community involvement. I’ve earned my ticket out of poverty through perseverance and work ethic, to becoming an executive for a Fortune 500 company to now becoming a Miss Tennessee titleholder for one of the biggest pageant programs in America, National American Miss. Read more>>
Nicolette Daugherty
When the opportunity for The Dog House came, I had a 6 month old and was working from home full time with her doing Fraud Investigations. I knew that I wanted to continue to work, but needed more time with my babies (I have 3). Read more>>
Dakota Norris
5th Avenue Uniting Church came together a few short years ago from two separate denominational bodies in Springfield. Read more>>
Rebekah Etyang
I was born and raised in Nashville. After graduating high school from CPA, I took a gap year and spent 8 months volunteering in Jinja, Uganda. I fell in love with the culture and people of Uganda. I returned to Nashville and went to Belmont University for college. Read more>>
Francis Vega
We are a family owned company, based out of Murfreesboro, serving Middle Tennessee. Nashville and surrounding areas. My brother used to work at Caterpillar as a salesman, and I worked full time for our small moving business. We decided to buy a dump truck and shift the business more towards trucking. Read more>>
Derrick Hamilton
Originally from Memphis, TN, I grew up with a love for all sports with basketball being my main passion. After high school, I attended Middle Tennessee State University which was the decision that led to me becoming a Nashville resident. I developed a deep love for the Middle Tennessee area, and I quickly realized that it would become home for me. Read more>>
Mya P.
In high school, that foundation expanded. I discovered alternative R&B and hip-hop—artists like The Internet, Masego, Frank Ocean, NAO, and SZA. That era sparked a deep curiosity and led me to explore a wide range of genres. I truly became fascinated with finding the hidden, the underrated, the undiscovered gems. Read more>>
Liz Kelly
Music for Seniors was founded in 2007 with the purpose of connecting the Greater Nashville region’s working musicians with older adults for live and interactive programming. Music is a proven tool to help manage some of the cognitive and emotional challenges that come with aging, and our programming increases quality of life for older adults while also reducing isolation and feelings of loneliness. Read more>>
