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.
Todd Hudson
Over 17 years in this business you see almost everything there is to see. We survived an economic melt down in 2008, got married, had 2 awesome kids, lost some amazing humans, met some amazing humans, battled through Covid and just tried to get better and adapt the whole ride. It’s been stressful at times but has been so much fun I won’t ever be able to even express the joy it has brought myself and a lot of people. Read more>>
Erica Pirc
Scorpio Sun Crystals started as something small—just a personal love for crystals, minerals, and the energy they carry. I’ve always been drawn to the natural beauty of stones, not just for their aesthetic but for the meaning, magic, and history they hold. At first, I was just collecting for myself, but the idea of curating mystery boxes and offering an experience beyond just buying crystals started to take shape. Read more>>
Mycah Wells
Being a woman in the back of the house is never smooth. You enter into a male dominated field with little respect and constant pressure. You’re labeled too hard to work with if you defend yourself. Add on being black and plus size there’s definitely bumps. Through every test I grew closer to purpose and learned to prune the environments I worked in. Open to learning and always true to myself. Read more>>
Brittini Bach
In a perfect world we all hope for a smooth road but life wouldn’t be any fun without the bumps, right? Of course there is growing pains, as with any business, especially a new small business, there is a lot to learn. I went to cosmetology school and learned how to do hair but not how to run a business or a salon. I would say that’s the hardest part. The best thing I recommend doing is to find a business mentor. Find someone you can lean on and ask questions to. Read more>>
Jillian Duvall
For as long as i can remember I have been making videos on vine, youtube, snapchat, every platform I could get my hands on. I of course never knew what it meant or really even what I was doing but I just kept making them up until right now, I have had a tiktok for quite some time since about 2016, while it was musically, but I started taking it seriously last august 2024. Since then my life has totally changed! I have almost 15k friends, have worked with some of my favorite brands, and have had so many new opportunities. Read more>>
Tami Wisniewski
I’ve always enjoyed the administrative tasks as an educator and had the opportunity to help a friend a few years back when he launched his business. I helped him with tasks such as calendar organization, email preparation and scheduling. To me, it wasn’t a job, it was something fun that I enjoyed doing. This prompted me to start a side business as a Virtual Assistant in October of 2023. Read more>>
Jon Keen
After collaborations with some of the best in my niche I grew organically my own cult following and became a staple in news commentary, spirituality and conspiracy circles online with tens of thousands following my work and millions watching. During the cancel culture of 2020 I was then removed from iTunes with well over 100k downloads and other platforms but I persisted and evolved using my gifts in the tarot and astrology as a means to continue doing what I love. Now I have so everything from memes, to reels, to my classic long form deep dive podcasts, have cool guests and tarot readings and offer private sessions, memberships and merch too. Read more>>
Latrice Snodgrass
I can recall those days, as if they were yesterday, of being on Medicaid. I remember being treated like a second-class citizen, having medical clinicians and care team members talk at me and not to me, disregarding my concerns and comments, not answering my questions directly, or just blow ***BLOWING**** ME OFF AND NOT ANSWERING MY me off and not answering my questions at all. I was made to feel ashamed and discounted because I was “in the system. Read more>>
Sandy Mcculley
Knowing another grand baby, Rory Mae was coming in September and my hobby starting to thrive, I decided to officially name my small business. With the help of my daughters, I decided on the birth month flowers of my grand babies. The Iris for my February grand baby Kai, symbolizing hope and faith and the Aster for my September grand baby Rory, representing love and new beginnings. The naming choice was a way to intertwine my creative work with the joy and significance of family. Read more>>
K. Micah Maupin
Back in 2012, a good friend and I decided to venture into the business of fixing up houses and selling them. It was a challenging time to start, as the market was still recovering from the 2008 crash. We had a handful of properties listed with a real estate agent, and one day, he asked if I had ever considered becoming an agent myself. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but after giving it some thought, I realized it would be a valuable step—helping me build stronger relationships, gain firsthand experience, and improve the overall quality of the process. Read more>>
Luis Alicea
My main struggle was balancing my time, as most teens can relate. Balancing your school life with your “life life” can be frustrating, especially when you’ve got parents who expect a lot from you, and though I still struggle with time management, (though not as much as I used to), I believe that as I grow from my mistakes, and keep striving to be better, I can overcome any sort of problem, and I think that anyone can do this as well with enough discipline. Read more>>
Paris Larkin
April 2020 I released my first solo project as “Paris Alvaughn Imani Zellars” i was doing gospel… and i was not content. Of course i was happy people were listening and i was finally being recognized on my own as an artist aside from my mother or my brother– but i didn’t want the box that came with Gospel music. i Left religion first, then my Marriage, and then Gospel… My whole persective had started to change as well as my image and my Ex Husband was not with the spirituality shit lol. I moved Back to Cincinnati at the end of 2020 from Georgia and hit the ground running. I changed my name from “Paris Alvaughn Imani Zellars” to ” PwiththeDrip” Read more>>
Xanton
I am an independent artist in Cleveland, Ohio. I am originally from Lexington, Kentucky and just moved to this city in November of 2024. I lyrically write, record, and mix all my own tracks in-house, allowing me to produce the track to match how I heard it in my mind when it was first written. I pour my heart into my songs, writing is how I work through a lot of my thoughts; it feels like the most natural way to decompress. Read more>>
Shauntay Hallett
I quickly fell in love with being on camera and working behind the scenes. Shortly after working with my team, I wanted to create something for myself and I knew I wanted to have a platform where people can share their stories, and can organically be themselves. I had a vision to empower and uplift positive stories in our culture and bring those stories to the forefront of our communities. As a journalist I am proud of the work that I have done thus far but I know that there is more work that needs to be done. Read more>>
Diana Jaime
Mi Cozumel unique concept was created back in 2018, named after a beautiful Mexican Island. The idea of a modern Mexican cuisine in Ohio and a place where you can transport yourself to our roots, where you can be your self and where the continuous entertaining & extra-ordinary creativity with our fabulous drinks & food motivated the family to travel around 32 states of Mexico to discover all the flavors & heritage in our gastronomy. We aim to celebrate the passion, inspiration & teach others about our culture with our handmade furniture, glassware, decorations… These were carefully selected & handcrafted from these Mexican states: Jalisco, Puebla, Oaxaca & Guanajuato. Read more>>
Marissa Quinn
The most important result of it all, is seeing how happy and confident I get to make women feel about themselves. Over the years I became an educator myself because I absolutely love teaching and it is so crucial to me that other artists can receive the proper education. Today I have two little girls who love going to work with mommy when they get the chance! My husband is a phenomenal barber and we love that we’re in the same realm of work! Creating brows is truly what I love. Read more>>
Ghiovanna Dennis
Alexis my now 20 year old daughter is my General Manager. My youngest daughter (10) Teagan is our best employee and between a busy social life and 5th grade make a mean frappe. She is learning what most kids will never learn until they are older and had a better work ethic then most already! and Alexis and I both hope this molds her into doing whatever she sets her mind to. Read more>>
Chvsinn
Definitely has not been as smooth as it seems there is definitely a lot of obstacles to obtain. A few I’ve had to overcome is getting work done thru my life outside of my music which itself is a lot. Dealing with COVID, sicknesses etc and still pushing strong thru it all. Read more>>
Melissa Gould
New Vision Dance Company launched the inaugural New Albany Dance Festival on July 30, 2022. The event hosted 14 local dance studios, 12 local and regional companies, and a variety of fitness instructors. We had engagement from over 1,000 individuals who either took free dance and fitness classes or attended one of the 2 performances that day. Read more>>
The Groove
The Groove started as a trio in 2017 with me, Blake, and Z-Funk. We were all incarcerated at the time and we all had different release dates but we kept in touch with one another. Fast forward to now. We have become a quartet. So it’s Blake on lead and rhythm guitar as well as lead and background vocals. Ms. Melody on keyboards and lead and background vocals. Courtney on drums and percussion. And me on bass and background vocals. Read more>>
Tom Baldwin
Somewhere in the middle of all that is most likely more centered to the truth. The one consistent quality of the adventure is to never stop believing in yourself. Every day you can experience some forks In the road. Some lead to great opportunities and others can lead to mistakes or misfortune. Persistence is the best vehicle to take on this road to your chosen career and faith in your abilities will be in the driver’s seat. Of course the great foundation to me for all of this is the fact that I truly enjoy what I do. A fitting way to finish a lifetime of labor to the joy of being freely creative. Read more>>
Yvonne Boltz
Today, Boltz to Nutz is more than just a farm—it’s a mission-driven business with multiple layers. We grow produce and medicinal plants, raise limited livestock and chickens, and produce naturally derived personal care products and hemp-based nutraceuticals. But the heart of our work is BoltzStrong, our nonprofit that empowers kids and adults with disabilities through adapted cooking and gardening classes. Our goal is to create a truly inclusive space where the disabled community can access the farm fully—through adaptive outdoor activities like fishing, archery, and handcycling, and by engaging with nature in ways that are often out of reach. Read more>>
Flora Daniels
My business name is Flora’s Fiber Farrago, and I chose the word farrago because its synonymous with a hodgepodge, jumble, or assortment. I say I do a bit of everything fiber related, and sell a variety of products, including 3d printed fiber tools, such as yarn bowls, stitch markers, needle gauges. I also enjoy making accessories with my handwoven fabric. Earrings are probably my best seller, followed by bookmarks. I also enjoy larger projects, like bags and scarves. Read more>>
Know Clue
Brett the drummer and Charlie have been friends since grade school. Mitch and Charlie began working together around 2023 and they decided to start jamming after work. Those buzzed jam sessions turned into writing originals with a little more direction to forming a sound, including Brett behind the drum kit. Over 2000 beers later the three of us have have played over 40 shows established our presence on streaming platforms and curated custom merch for all of our shows that we hand press ourselves. Read more>>
Sarina Bigney
When starting a business, there are always struggles. If I didn’t have struggles, I don’t think I would be doing this right! I am a creative so learning the business side of things was (and still is) a struggle for me. There will always be ups and downs to owning and running a small business, but I believe those shape who we are and what our businesses become eventually. Read more>>
Jamie Thomas
Approximately three to four years later, I took the initiative to establish my own business. I set up an LLC, opened a business bank account, and secured my first client as an independent provider. While continuing my role at the Council on Aging, I began building my business on weekends, eventually hiring my first employee. Once I had saved enough from my annual tax returns, I resigned from my job and committed fully to my venture. Read more>>
Katie Camacho
This was a lesson I am very thankful to have learned from my husband, who gave me the gentle push to “just do it!” Without him, I would still be head in the books, not fully confident I can ever start. I owe the start and continued success of my business to my ride-or-die, number one supporter and love of my life, Vinnie. I still to this day continue my education and do not see an end in sight, which I now realize is just the way I like it! It’s scary starting a business from scratch, but I’m so thankful to have the support beside me to make it happen! Read more>>
Tim Tye
Finally, in 2023 I released “Last Hope For The Modern World.” This time I hired a publicist named Mike Stover, who helped promote the album. In 2024 the album was an ISSA finalist for band album of the year and a Josie Awards nominee for male country album of the year. I didn’t win, but it was a thrill to be at the Grand Ole Opry as a nominee and not just a spectator. Read more>>
Emily Wilson
I’ve known I wanted to be a therapist since high school and so I’ve made choices around my education and experiences that largely led me down that path! My undergrad degree is a BA in Psychology at the College of Wooster; I did a year of volunteer work in Belfast, Northern Ireland that was focused on peace-building and reconciliation work with youth in highly segregated areas; I got a Master’s of Research in Psychology at the University of York in England; and I got my Master’s of Social Work from Ohio State University. Read more>>
Valerie Smith
Sealcoating & Asphalt services help fund our mission, but our true passion lies in making a positive impact on the lives of the individuals we serve and supporting the community year after year. Since conception, Hope has grown from just us with our 2 young kids in a pick-up truck, serving sealer out of drums & meeting in our back yard for business meetings to a full-service fleet of 6 – heavy duty trucks, 2 power agitated sealcoat rigs, a diesel hot box, thousands of dollars in hand tools and inventory, and a 5000 SQFT shop facility that allows for daily meetings, training, inventory, machinery and vehicle storage. Read more>>
Kaylee Piper
Life has a funny way of surprising you as a local friend of mine sent me the job posting for the Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership as they were seeking a new Executive Director. It checked all my boxes (even new ones) and after several intense interview rounds, I was named the next ED of DTCFP. I have led DTCFP for almost 4.5 years! Read more>>
Melanie Bange
With that, content creation has pushed me to try many new things and 2025 for me is the year of simplicity. I am thirty-six years old with a two year old son, ten year old step-son, fourteen year old step-daughter, partner, career, and home; sometimes I juggle too many roles. Throughout my social media journey, I cannot express any more appreciation to life. While I may have no idea of what a smooth road is nor a struggle, I know next steps definitely include building tools to prioritize values that I want to remain in my life in five years (opposed to five minutes from today). Read more>>
Cierra Withers
We scoured Facebook Marketplace and found a really rough trailer that was about 3 hours away for $2,500. I immediately sent it to my dad and messaged the seller, and we waited. Waited some more. And some more. Then we finally got a response! The guy said he had over 500 messages and “just so happened to click mine.” When we went to pick up the trailer I said “no, sir, this isn’t a coincidence – I prayed for this trailer!” It was such an incredible thing to be a part of. Read more>>
Jahvierra Jackson
In 2021, I launched Bare Luxe Skin 216, where I offer body waxing, facials, and vajacials. That’s where my passion for waxing truly blossomed. During that time, I also began offering booth rentals to 1-3 beauty professionals in my common area. Alongside Bare Luxe Skin 216, I ventured into launching a cosmetic line, sunglasses, and a clothing line, selling locally and even getting orders outside my city. That’s when I first got the real feeling of making my own money, and it felt amazing. Read more>>
Ben Palocko
To get bigger and stronger for hockey, I started working out regularly and got hooked. I went on to play play college hockey and get a BS degree in exercise physiology. Then, a master’s degree while training for physique competitions. I started my own online fitness coaching business in 2014 and have been doing that full time ever since. Read more>>
Max Schaefer
As I made my way to high school, I shifted from Catholic school to one Lorain’s public high schools. It was a new environment for me and I was searching for ways to get involved and opportunities to make new friends. One of the first clubs I ended up joining was a service club. Key Club was focused on volunteering and giving back to your community. The volunteering felt somewhat familiar to me, but really I was there to meet new friends and socialize a bit before school started. Through this organization I served meals to others, volunteered at fundraisers, rang the local Salvation Army bell & sang Christmas carols in the mall. Read More>>
Jane Lankford
My first ceremony, however, came sooner than expected, March of 2021—an intimate affair for international students, with the bride’s parents joining via Zoom from Singapore. Surrounded by cherry blossoms at Hinkle Magnolia Garden in Eden Park, it was a perfect reminder that love transcends distance, time, and even global challenges. Read More>>
