The Change-Makers: stories that inspire

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.

Toby Gehrlich

I wouldn’t say it was an easy Road as much as I met with resistance on my path. In reflection , most of the resistance that I experienced was internal. I’ve had the opportunity and honor to meet many people that have encountered and overcame true struggle. I’m grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many fantastic people and get to share in there stories through my work. Read More>>

Leyla Shay

I’ve always been an artist—the friend doing everyone’s makeup, offering style advice, and obsessed with beauty. But did I ever imagine being a professional makeup artist? No way! Growing up in the Midwest, especially before the rise of social media, being a makeup artist wasn’t really a common path. But 17 years ago, as I worked as a personal stylist at Saks Fifth Avenue, a Trish McEvoy regional artist approached me about joining their team. I thought, “I like makeup…why not?” And so, my journey began. Truly, the beauty industry found me, and through it, I found myself. Read More>>

Aslan Shakirov

The journey was not easy. I sought investors, attended conferences, found a sales manager, and personally built the plant, overseeing everything from purchasing land to shipping equipment. I also hired workers, offering jobs to people from Geneva and Ashtabula. The plant was completed in six months, and I obtained all the necessary permits Read More>>

Aaron Stone

In the early 1990s, I started to think that I could become a full-time musician, and I took a hiatus from DJing to pursue my dream. But the music career never panned out. This was during the early days of Hip Hop, and as I look back on it, I was definitely ahead of the curve. I did start my own record label and had a few artists working under it, which lasted a few years, but after that, I was kind of adrift. I missed the energy of the parties and crowds, and eventually returned to the scene in 2008 as a digital DJ. Read More>>

Tracey Hill

The S&G momentum was quick! The artwork created by Masticis Humanis (Dan Gore & Mark De Gruchy) captures the spirits of self-expression and creativity. The artwork is a mix of horror, heavy metal, goth, grunge, and glam aesthetics. Since my former business partner is a former pro wrestler, the initial sales were primarily pro wrestling fans. Then, people from all over the globe started visiting the online store. The first online sale was from Sydney, Australia. For me, the bar was set high, and I continue to strive for greatness in everything I do. Read More>>

Betty Smith

Nine years ago, Maria Byington, A friend of mine and supporter of EN-RICH-MENT, raised money that allowed me to purchase violins. In one of our conversations, I mentioned to her that I also needed support for our drumline. She gave me the name and address of a person she thought would be able to assist me with the EN-RICH-MENT DRUMLINE. On September 15, 2015, I sent a letter to a gentleman named Ted Swaldo and explained our program and drumline needs. Read More>>

Kiera Sanders

I have three hairstylist, a nail tech and a massage therapist and myself as the makeup artist we are called Glam Chixx makeup and beauty bar located in the Evendale area of Cincinnati Ohio! I am so truly grateful for each mile stone for what happened in the past relationship that led me to wanting to do some make up on myself to the woman, I met at the store to my first bridal party, and to everybody else, along for the ride of this journey, I would have never imagined that this is what I would be doing. I actually was in college to be a history teacher, and so this pivot was totally out of nowhere and I’m just so grateful to wake up and do something that I love every day. Read More>>

Nourish Our Neighbors

We’ve faced many challenges in our time organizing in Dayton, from funding to organizational structure and constant harassment and brutality of the police. As a grassroots organization we fund our services based solely on money from our own pockets and donations from the community and friends online. A volunteer was arrested at one of our services for handing out burritos to unhoused community members due to a city ordinance that makes it illegal to distribute free food, toiletries or clothing. We have also seen the ways in which the Dayton Police Department constantly harasses and intimidates our unhoused neighbors. Read More>>

Michelob Williamson

It has by far not been the smoothest road whatsoever. I’m doing this the most honest way possible. I work a full-time job and have been bouncing around from place to place just hoping and praying I can settle down soon. Lack of transportation, lack of housing, and lack of family really takes a toll on trying to make dreams like this happen Read More>>

Renae Scott

My journey in business began with a spark of entrepreneurial spirit from an early age. Growing up in Northwest Indiana, I had a creative spirit that kept me busy for hours; I wasn’t just content to dream—I wanted to create. One of my first ventures was selling rocks from Lake Michigan on our quiet, dead-end street. What some might see as just rocks, I saw as an opportunity to make connections and share something with others. This early experience taught me the value of resourcefulness and laid the foundation for a career centered around finding potential in unexpected places. Read More>>

Nicole Coleman

Throttle Company Vintage Motorcycles is a motorcycle dealership specializing in vintage motorcycles and new Royal Enfield & Moto Guzzi motorcycles. We provide events and social activities related to motorcycles that provide the inclusive environment we’re trying to build. We are set apart from other dealerships in that way, most dealerships don’t host tons of events and they don’t tend to provide inclusive environments with intent. Read More>>

Lillian Morales-Laster

I started my career in human resources over 20 years ago, driven by a desire to create positive, inclusive work environments where people can thrive. Over the years, I’ve developed expertise in organizational development, leadership development, and strategic HR planning. My role at United Midwest Savings Bank involves managing various HR responsibilities including matching organizational needs with potential candidates, fostering supportive work environments, and boosting organizational morale. Read More>>

Jessica Hardesty-Nollar

I am currently the CEO/Team Leader of Keller Williams Louisville. My role is extensive and some of the most important aspects involve helping real estate agents determine the best ways to serve clients to the best of their ability. In doing this they are able to create a life filled with endless opportunities utilizing real estate as a vehicle to propel them forward. With no ceiling the business can become overwhelming and easily cause burnout. We focus on developing a business strategy through models and systems to facilitate a life by design. Read More>>

Abigail Okenge

With this shift in mindset and additional education, certifications, and trainings, I have been able to sustainably coach myself—and other women—to pursue their dream selves. While this generally comes with fat loss, that is not the most important part. It is the way transforming into a new you—one that previously seemed unattainable—feels. Through this journey, I have become self-efficient, empowered, and for the first time in my life, I truly love my body for what it is capable of, not just how it looks (but I also love that, too! Read More>>

Christina Lindhout

At 17 I began dancing professionally, a dream I had been chasing since before I could remember. When I got the call that I had landed a job I literally almost threw up I was so excited. I was overjoyed that my dream had come true. Then, at age 18, I accepted a contract with Ohio Contemporary Ballet that landed me here in Cleveland, Ohio. While with the company I had the opportunity to dance principal roles both locally and internationally, including dancing lead roles in Havana, Cuba and Taipei, Taiwan. I was being pushed as a dancer and as an artist. It was truly my dream job. At 19, I fell in love with teaching while working with my adult ballet students at the Ohio Contemporary Ballet Academy who were aged 14-82 (!!), and showed me that it’s never too late to be a beginner at something! Students I met through teaching here are some of my closest friends to this day! Read More>>

William Washington

My life in being the living icon of “Mind & Music” has been a smooth road with Cleveland potholes. Playing music was easy because it is my spirit. Learning psychology was easy because it is my heart. The struggles that occurred were because of fake people that never knew themselves or never wanted to honest about their truth. Being around that damages you, and removes you from your own truth. I had to get back to myself. Read More>>

Leroy Bean

I wrote at least a poem a day everyday for 9-months straight that year, just because that’s what my spirit needed to get through that time. I didn’t even know spoken word was still a “thing” until around that Fall I saw the “King of Dayton” poetry slam happening and something in my spirit nudged me to sign up. This was the first time I was able to feel what it was like for my story and perspective to be heard and valued. After my turn in the first round of the slam, from the stage, the host shouted, “Yo, that was dope, son! Stick around!” So, I did. After getting exposed to the poetry community in Ohio I fell in love with it and showed up for every opportunity I could. Read More>>

Olivia Hatton

I strictly use implant grade materials such as implant grade titanium, stainless steel and niobium. As a piercer of now 7 years, I have worked very hard to be able to do piercings without tools- which can eliminate unnecessary trauma to the tissue. Read More>>

Kingsley Lims Nyarko

As a world traveler, Kingsley brings a global perspective to his creative work and pedagogy, deeply influenced by his African heritage and his engagement with international film communities. He serves as an advisory board member for Film Columbus and Gateway Foundation and a board member of Ohio Ghana Festival. Read More>>

Tiara J

Being a single mother of 4 with very little support system. Chronic illness, overcoming abusive relationships, financial losses, being faced with many trials and tribulations, having to fight for my children’s home and belongings, completely starting over my life and business from scratch, injustices of the court system. Read More>>

Daria Dillard Stone

Her tenure at the Dayton Urban League, spanning from 1985 to 2000, under the leadership of Willie F. Walker, showcased her administrative prowess as the executive secretary. From 2000 to 2014, she served as the Program Manager at Parents Advancing Choice in Education/PACE, where her dedication to empowering parents and advocating for educational equity earned her the moniker of “the mother of school choice in Ohio.” Read More>>

Trinity Burnion

Life is never a smooth road no matter the cards we are dealt. I’ve faced tough obstacles like losing my grandmother at 12 years old who was my strongest relationship. To the months where I had no lights and couldn’t afford rent which led to me losing my first apartment. Life will throw you curve balls and you may not understand why in the moment. Eventually, it will all make sense. If it wasn’t for the tough moments I’ve faced. I wouldn’t be here today. Read More>>

Brandon Hoff

At 19, I had my first solo performance, outside the orchestra, at a fraternity tailgate before an Ohio State football game. To my surprise, the audience of college students responded enthusiastically to my electric violin covers of rock and pop classics, like Sweet Child O’ Mine (Guns N’ Roses), Mr. Brightside (The Killers), and Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen). This particular performance caught the attention of Mark Wood, who reached out after seeing videos on YouTube. He has since become a mentor and invited me to study with him and other prominent electric string players, including Tracy Silverman (innovator of strum bowing and member of the Turtle Island String Quartet), Joe Denizon (violinist of Kansas), and Matt Bell (Co-founder of Electric Violin Shop). Read More>>

Mikalah Day

The journey hasn’t been easy; there have been countless challenges along the way. Balancing the demands of being a young parent, building a childcare center from the ground up, and managing all the responsibilities that come with it often tested my resilience. There were times when resources were tight and the path forward seemed uncertain, but my commitment to creating a positive impact for children and families kept me going. Each obstacle taught me valuable lessons, shaping me into the dedicated caregiver and educator I am today. Read More>>

Ta’shona Gibson

As I got older my love for makeup was still there but skincare really became my focus and is the reason I am here today, creating content and educating women who look like me on how to truly care for themselves as well as their skin. My goal now is to build community in the online space where I see Im needed the most, Black Women are such a huge part of the beauty industry, as consumers and practitioners, yet still we are underrepresented in production as well as marketing. I stand in the gap, relating and educating as much as I possibly can. Read More>>

Erin Rush

Starting my first salon space in 2011, designed to support both independent and newly emerging talent, I have always been drawn to the idea of assisting busy individuals in making simple self-care elevated, causal, and consistent. Over the years as a Licensed Esthetician and Nail Artist, I’ve honed my skills specializing in advanced Facials, Skincare, a variety of Eyebrow solutions, and long lasting Gel Nails – all with a focus on providing safe, health oriented services that caters to all skin tones and types. My goal has always been to create and Fitzpatrick-friendly space where clients can trust they will receive a concierge level of personalized care in a calm, welcoming environment that respects their busy schedules. Read More>>

Daniel & Sarah Cox

Since the fire, our family has had a full array of emotions and daily struggles. It’s not just something that “goes away”, we still deal with something related to the fire each day. However, we look at the loss as the biggest blessing our family has and most likely will ever have. God showed us so much that day and each day following that we have learned and grown so much for the better. God has continued to provide for us and taught us how strong our faith in him needs to be to continue on. Read More>>

Amanda Clark

The name A. Specht is my maiden name, and the name that I have signed all of my paintings since I started in college. My family has owned and operated our farm Specht Dairy for 100 years this year. I grew up with a strong work ethic because of my family farm and I am very proud of my family name, so that’s why I wanted to use it for my business. Read More>>

Dan & Tiffany Bean

Every day on his drive to work running another kitchen, Dan saw a small, run-down bar and grill for sale in Walton Hills. With our combined 30+ years of restaurant experience, and Dan’s passion for cooking, it was the perfect location for us. We decided to buy the place and spent one year remodeling. After one year, we opened our doors, and for the past 3 years, we have grown as our community has embraced us and our customer base continues to expand. We are not a big operation, and our small team excels at working together to serve our customers. We focus on offering quality and value and making sure that customers leave satisfied (and wanting to return for more). Read More>>

Irish Bianconi

Photography is also my passion and it’s so therapeutic, I just get so in the zone of capturing photos whether it be of my three kids and doing cute little photoshoots, to nature photos, just because I think something with the naked eye catches my attention or for a couple getting married and want those memories to last forever or just photos for clients to have with their family and watching my clients light up when they receive their galleries each time, make me feel like I have more of a purpose, no matter the reason, photography is something I could never give up. My mom is to thank for that, who got more into and doing it professionally. Read More>>

Anajd Dokaj

I grew up in a small town called Atina, located one hour and thirty minutes from both Rome and Naples, where both my parents worked in the restaurant industry. Our friends loved coming to our house because my mom always cooked delicious meals, and our birthday parties were always the most fun. My sister and I started working in the restaurants where our mom worked when we were little, and that’s where our passion for cooking began. Read More>>

Keeona Hall

As my business grew, I moved into the basement of my home to create a more professional space. I also began saving my earnings with the goal of opening my own beauty salon one day. In 2023, I made that dream a reality when I was able to invest in my own salon. It was a huge milestone, and it marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for my business. I’m continuing to grow my clientele and expand my services, all while maintaining a focus on what truly matters to me: helping others feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. Read More>>

Christine Sadler

My physical therapy career began working in the hospital. I was fortunate in working in a large department with such a variety of types of therapists and patients that I grew as a clinician and felt confident expanding my skills. Over the course of a year there, I recognized that physical therapy was offered to every unit in the hospital with the exception of maternity care. It was hard to understand why I could go to a patient after abdominal surgery and teach them how to recover, but an entire population of patients after abdominal surgery were just … being sent home. And with an infant, no less! Read More>>

Jake Schneider

Yeah! I started way back in High school with a Canon AE-1, just taking snapshots around town and of random things! I did step away from film photography for a year or two, but in 2020 I really got back into it. So much so that I started taking professional photos in 2021! At that time, 100 percent of my work was on film, but thanks to the Darke County Parks earlier this year, I signed a contract to be their photographer. Which has opened so many doors and has helped me step out into the community! I’ve met a ton of people who have shared their stories especially when I carry my Leica with me! With the change in my practices, most of my film photos are for my personal projects, and my digital work is for the paid gigs!!! Read More>>

Durb Morrison

I also write for Tattoo Magazine, where I interview fellow artists, sharing insights and perspectives from my years in the industry. As someone deeply committed to giving back, I offer an educational seminar called “Longevity of the Tattoo Artist.” In this course, I teach healthy, preventive techniques to help artists sustain their careers by staying strong, flexible, and mindful of their bodies over the years. Whether I’m creating art, managing Hell City, or working on projects for True Tattoo Supply, I’m dedicated to advancing the tattoo industry and supporting the artist community. Read More>>

Jide’ Fresh

That night was the beginning of a journey I never could’ve imagined. From 2018 to 2021, I faced fears that had lived deep inside me, the kind that test the very core of who you are. The fear of dying, of being left handicapped and dependent, of my marriage falling apart, my finances crumbling, and worst of all, the possibility of my children being split up. Everything I thought I knew about my life, my future, and my identity came crashing down. Read More>>

Destiny Sampson

Honestly, it hasn’t. You’re always gonna have some bumps in the road when it comes to running a business and being an entrepreneur, it has not always been easy. There has been times where I felt like giving up… I was always discouraged. It was hard to get support, and for people to believe in you, and I always doubted myself, but I learned to continue having faith and it just takes one person to see your business and turn it all around and that’s what happened you just gotta continue showing up for yourself and they will come to you ! Read More>>

Maurandis Berger

I’m the youngest of 10 kids so I was always around entertainment, from musicians to actors it came really natural for me. I got to where I am from being consistent, the thing about reaching success is you have to go for it. You have to do it afraid, when your sick and just plain out don’t feel like doing it. It’s a very tough road to achieve your goals and bring your dreams to a reality. Read More>>

Madison Sexton

I love meeting new people, trying new experiences and restaurants, pinpointing the next hottest fashion trends and sharing amazing places to checkout! I have worked with many small businesses and new restaurants and enjoy sharing about them through my social media accounts. Beside being a blogger or what some would call a creator/micro-influencer I am also an advanced esthetician where I have found a huge passion in helping teach others about their skin and how to enhance it. I am currently in school for nursing as well with plans to offer medical aesthetics in the near future. Read More>>

Kamiylah Bomar

I started music in elementary, being in choirs and as I leveled up in grades I joined an orchestra playing the viola, participated in choirs, plays, a cappella groups and talent shows. I didn’t start recording music until around the year 2017 and started taking it seriously around 2020 where I released my first single “The Sequel” later releasing another single in 2021 called “Stay Awhile”. Read More>>

Connor Paton

Connor (I) started Noshable my last year at Miami University, upon graduation I was set to teach english second language abroad in Hua Hin Thailand. I entered Main St Ventures Launch It Cincy Pitch Competition and ended up winning (valued around $28k). Additionally I raised an initial round of capital to take our idea and create a prototype. I brought on my co founders Evan Fix (who spent nearly a decade in software development at Kroger) and Mac Hoeweler (brings finance and cpg experience from P&G). We built and tested our prototype in a few markets across the country. Now we service and partner with property managers/guests all across the US. We also were named to the forbes 30u30 Cincinnati list and Connor was mentioned by cincy inno as being one of 5 to watch for 2025. Read More>>

Ebay Fuller Jr.

One of the quickest things I learned that business owners and people building their business should know is you aren’t for everyone and that is ok, figure out who you’re for and trail there. One of the biggest issues I end up facing was when I moved to California, majority of my inventory of work was lost in transit, so I had to start from scratch. During that moment I questioned a lot of things including on whether this business was one I wanted to stay in; Nonetheless here we are striving. Read More>>