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.
Madelyn Varela
Through my social media platform @cheezytalkwithmadelyn I provide videos showcasing cheese from all over the world and how to pair and eat them. My main focus is to highlight American made cheese and to support and uplift American cheese makers. There are a couple different cheese influencers on the scene but the feedback that I get the most of is that the cheese is always front and center which has set me apart from other creators in my niche! Read more>>
Sonal Jain
My journey started with a deep longing for connection as a first-generation immigrant navigating a new country, a new marriage, and a new way of life. Coming from a family of jewelers in India, I had always been surrounded by business, and before moving to the U.S., I even had my own candle-making and gifting business that was featured in newspapers and TV shows. However, when I arrived here, visa restrictions prevented me from working, which was a frustrating reality to accept. Read more>>
Matt Gittins
The road has been unpredictable, but I’m grateful to be on it. There have been struggles, including disappointments, money worries, and a general feeling of unsettledness at times. But I love what I do, and I’m fortunate to have a good support system. Living as an artist is both a privilege and a roller coaster. I’m learning to be more comfortable with it and now I enjoy the ride most of the time. Read more>>
Jessica Smart
It hasn’t been easy. I don’t typically spend a lot of money on advertising. Most of my clients are gained through word of mouth, locations where I have become a preferred vendor, and the logo on the back of my car. This typically means I have a lot of slow periods, also, I do not have a studio, so sometimes the weather can make for a miserable shoot. Mix all that with the misunderstanding of what goes into photography (it’s not just point the camera and click the shutter) and it makes for a bumpy road. Read more>>
Samantha Tay
My name is Samantha Tay, I’m an Illustrator from Upstate New York and I’ve been living in Cleveland for the past six years. Like many other artists, my journey began at a very young age. Back in grade school art class was always my favorite part of the day, I was always excited to get into the paints and make funky collages with paper from the scrap bin in the art room. Almost two decades later I’m still the same way; eager to throw ink around & still painting paper for collages. I graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2023 and have been keeping myself busy with work ever since! Read more>>
Lisa Andrews
After graduating from Youngstown State University, I moved to Cincinnati to complete my dietetic internship at Good Samaritan Hospital. I loved the connection between diet and disease, and my first job was at the VA Medical Center. I worked as a clinical dietitian in the ICU for several years, Over time, I became more interested in wellness versus illness. Read more>>
Marci Loehner
Over the course of that next year, I wasn’t being fulfilled. I wasn’t producing income, felt like I wasn’t contributing to the household outside of taking care of our daughter. Once she began eating solids, I started creating my own baby food recipes for her, playdoh and everything else that I can possibly make at home. In addition, this when the coupon craze was in it’s peak! So, I started my first website on blogger. It was dedicated to all the deals, how to get free products, coupons from companies, matching weekly sales with coupons, etc. Read more>>
Kevin Gabriel Isaiah Rice
We decided to start a detailing business to make extra money on the side of our full time job with the dream of making it a full time career in the future, whether that’s a few years down the road or ten years. We came up with the name in 2024 and officially launched our business officially in October of 2024. We are where we are today by the help of friends, family, advertisement, referrals and most importantly hard work. Running a business takes time, hard work and if you’re a business owner you must have a passion for what you do. We love turning cars that look like they’re on their last life to looking better than they did brand new. We offer services from interior detailing to exterior detailing and full detailing. On top of that, we also offer ceramic coatings and paint correction. Read more>>
Sophia Advent
Hi everyone, I am Sophia Advent, a 26-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio. I started sharing my journey about living with Chronic Lyme Disease, POTS, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in 2016. I wanted to spread positivity and share my life to help others living with chronic illnesses know that they aren’t alone. I also started to bring awareness about the conditions I have and advocate for others going through similar situations. My mantra is adapt, and I believe this has gotten me through my toughest times and I continue to fall back on this word no matter what is going on in life. This mantra, my family who is the greatest support system, and gratitude have gotten me to where I am today. Read more>>
Patty Flauto
I’m currently an abstract painter and arts educator. Both my undergraduate and graduate studies were in fine art. It’s amazing and wonderful that my entire career has allowed me to use color and design. Starting as a textile designer for home furnishings fabrics-this laid the groundwork for years of product development work. Forecasting color and design trends as well as selecting color and design directions for many consumer products companies such as American Greetings, Rubbermaid, Corning to name a few. This kept me busy, but I still managed to have a residential interior design business as well. I am now a full time artist and my days are spent making and teaching. Read more>>
Izzy Wilbur
I’ve always had a thirst for baking. I love baking and creating treats for friends and family to enjoy. I began my business about a year ago and have had very few orders. It is underratedly hard to start your own business! I used to make cake pops for fun but recently I have done a couple of orders for family including my intricate unicorn cake pops. Read more>>
Brandi Blanton
My team and I work to find money saving deals, coupons, trendy and viral items. We then share these finds to my followers. We operate 365 days a year. Every day before I even put my feet on the floor, I am working. I start by check emails , messages, then look over the deals my team has already found and shared for the day. I check in & say hello to my followers, then I start sharing the new finds I found for the day. Read more>>
Melissa Upton
Lake Erie Building Events, LLC is rooted in family values and ran by three sisters (Laura, Allie and Amanda) as well as an amazing event coordinator (Melissa). The ties to the Lake Erie Building run very deep for Laura, Allie and Amanda because they as most of their childhood up at the building running around on Saturdays sorting nuts and bolts for their father who was an engineer for the Lake Erie Screw Corporation and still to this day works within the Lake Erie Building. Each event held within the Lake Erie Room is treated like an event that we would host for our own family. We want our clients to love the event space and enjoy the experience as much as we do. Read more>>
Jon Charles Bennehoof
I grew up, the reference here is about my youth, not my entire life’s journey, in a working middle class family. If we were not well off, I sure as hell did not know it. When Dad, an electrician at the Steel Mill,, was laid off or on strike, he would get another fill in job until the mill was operational again. Sometimes it was with the Gas Company other times with the Otis Elevator Company. Each because of his older or younger brother. Occasionally, Mom’s mother would stop by with a bag of groceries, when Dad was in between, but it never felt like charity. It’s what families do… Read more>>
Lauren Bacans=Grounds
In 2014, leaders at the Islamic Food Bank began looking outward beyond the Muslim community to see what more they could do to support people in need in northwest Ohio. As a result of discussions and networking with community partners such as school districts and after-school programs, one significant gap in food access was identified. Many area schoolchildren receive free or subsidized breakfast and/or lunch during the school day but come home to empty pantries. Read more>>
Jennifer Stevens
It has definitely not been and it still is rough at times. As a smaller creator it’s really difficult to be taken seriously in this space. A lot of companies do not want to pay you for your work or want to do gifted collaborations which is basically free labor. When you’re someone with a smaller audience you’re expected to just be thankful for what you get and now we are trying to speak up and change that. It’s not ok for million/ billion dollar corporations to ask for free work because we have “less followers”. Read more>>
Ralphie Gianni
However, tragedy struck in 2019 when my best friend, Johnshae Boyd, lost his life to gun violence. Shortly after, I served time for a gun case. But even after setbacks, I refused to let my circumstances define me. In 2023, I came home, bought a new store in Cleveland Heights’ Coventry area, and now Im preparing for its grand opening. Read more>>
Sedona Neumann
When I came up with the idea, I knew I wanted it to be a place where parents/caregivers walked into the cafe and instantly felt at ease inside the environment. With the beautiful hand crafted coffees and teas, to the delicious, made with love pastry and bakery items. When the children walk into the play area, I wanted their imagination to flourish and take on a mind of it’s own! With something for almost every age range including children under one, I created a small “town” of almost life size play houses of real-life jobs/activities that helps kids let their imagination run wild. With events happening at the play cafe every month there is always something to help others be creative in their own way as well! Read more>>
Dionna May
Then the pandemic hit and everyone in my zoom class was talking about “TikTok” so I downloaded it that night and started posting the next morning. I was just styling clothes in my apartment and some of my videos blew up so I gained more confidence to post more about myself. I posted vlogs, makeup tutorials, DIY decorating vids and recorded everything I did! Now here I am, I love my job as a full time content creator and when I become a full time working actress I will still create content because I love it so much. Read more>>
Jacob Maher
I started taking pictures when I was 14 with a $200 Nikon kit camera and a kit lens. Fast-forward to last summer, my business partner, and I founded THRTEY. A creative agency that crafts intentional, relevant high impact marketing for various brands and companies. From curating Super Bowl LIX creatives to completely rebranding Mom-and-Pop business, we utilize real organic growth to bring awareness to brands. Read more>>
Justice Maxwell
I do print work and runway modeling. I’ve done this professionally for about 6+ years. I do specialize in some acting and promotions for designers who are serious about their creations. I usually come across those that love what they do and whenever we collaborate, it’s always magic. I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve learned to step out of my comfort zone and I’ve learned how to sell myself when it comes to networking as well as making connections across the states. I would say my work ethic and energy probably set me apart from others. When you do what you love you never get tired of it. Read more>>
Liev Williamson
Not at all, One of the main things I have been training myself to not do is compare my looks or fashion to those of others. I think its easy to start lamenting about how bad we have things, but we never look at how far we have come either. I have been discouraged by many different things, whether that be people that doubt me or maybe financial hardship, I have taught myself to turn that into all the more reason to try and outshine them. Read more>>
Matt Gisbrecht
I began as a self taught musician, and in an attempt to save myself money I started learning every part of music making, production, and film so that I wouldn’t have to hire someone else to do it because I was always broke working at places like Walmart, Target, Home Depot etc. I began doing small tours, performing at coffee shops, and mixing music for local Ohio artists. I recorded my first rap song with some local guys who I would sound engineer for and it got me on local Ohio radio stations at the time starting with WZIP 88.1fm in Akron, Ohio. This all started my full time music career that began in about 2012 and got me here to where I am today. Read more>>
Jordan Domingo
It hasn’t always been a smooth road for us. We projected to have our trailer finished in spring of 2025- but between the Cleveland weather, trying to find an affordable trailer, and finding somewhere to work on it we’ve pushed the opening date back to accommodate our busy schedules. Working full time jobs (not to mention, Ty coaching football and tennis for our local high school) finding time to work on our business has been challenging but the unconditional support of our family and friends is what keeps us motivated and pushing. Read more>>
Gena Page
When she returned to Cleveland, she got her first real opportunity to share her work with others at a fundraiser. She set up a small table, uncertain if anyone would be interested in buying her jewelry. To her surprise, people flocked to her display, admiring her bracelets and eagerly buying them. The overwhelming interest gave her a new perspective—maybe this hobby had real potential. Read more>>
Anneke Benefield
Sam B. Fingerprints branched off from our initial family business that started it all, Sam B. Billing, where we handle Medical Insurance billing for Home Health Care agencies. Engaging in close contact with our Clients we consistently heard a cry of frustration for the results of Employee background checks. After a year long discussion and research we pressed forward in 2020 and Sam B. Fingerprints was born. Sam B. Fingerprints offer Ink & Live Scan Fingerprinting, Notarial Services, CPR/AED/First Aid Training and soon……Lab Testing. Our services are mobile, everything can come to you! Read more>>
Ryan Fletterick
Tragedy would strike in early 2018 with the death of our initial founder/financier Jeff Lee. It was an unfortunate turning point which forced Phillips and Fletterick to now sit in the driver’s seat of being unexperienced proprietors wondering how to adequately run a business. The tone of 2018 was somber due to the inheritance of a business that was never really meant to be Phillips and Fletterick’s, however it was fully endorsed by Jeff Lee’s family to continue with Cleveland Print Co. and to finish what Jeff had started. Having the unwavering support of the Lee family made this unwanted transition much more bearable and without them Cleveland Print Co. may not be what it is today. Read more>>
Leland Cummings
Over the years we have had the pleasure of collaborating with local companies that align with that vision and have had the opportunity to meet some of the most wonderful people the Cincinnati area has to offer. From those dinners, I have made relationships with agents, doctors and nutritionist who have helped me work with actors and professional athletes while they are in Cincinnati. Today, I enjoy a good mix of both in home dinners, and working with athletes/actors. My goal is do more travel cooking, possibly for groups attending major sporting events. Read more>>
Matt Sexton
While it did help me to really hone my skills in that realm, I did not get much exposure to, or practice in portrait photography. In the last few years, I’ve really challenged myself to learn that side of things. To collaborate more with other photographers and take on studio-style portrait shoots, which I still find much more difficult to this day. Read more>>
