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.
Congito Jaffe
free neutral public service of use to a cross sections of all demographics , educational and social diversity in a rich American tableau— my eyes noted my neglected guitars, bass, and sheet music in the corner of my den and I said to myself, ” self let’s revisit the 17 year old still alive in our soul and go back to music lessons, songwriting, band and solo playing –the inner goal to share my dream vision and music that still vibrates and resonates. Read more>>
Chuck Taylor
It has not been a smooth road. The biggest problem I encountered was finding qualified people to work in our company. Finding smart, hard working and motivated people was a major problem we had on a regular basis. You have to understand that the work order updates we provided needed to be 100% error free. Mistakes on an update would cost us money in charge backs. Errors were simply not tolerated in our clients eyes and you had to pay close attention to the photos and information provided. The work order update needed to be flawlessly correct which is demanding but that was the protocols we operated under. Read more>>
Jessica Fetter
That’s the moment I decided to pick up the paintbrush again. I got two good years of painting in before falling sick on July 1st, 2024. I was rushed to the hospital in case I was experiencing a stroke, which happened to be Guillian Barre Syndrome instead. This caused me to become almost fully paralyzed. I spent one month in the hospital getting IV treatments, then another month of in-patient therapy to relearn everything. 6 months of home therapy bring us to today still working on getting full function back in my arms. Read more>>
Darl Schaaff
My challenges included personal loss, poverty and emotional challenges. I assisted my great love with his decision to end his own life. I have watched as an epidemic killed everyone I knew. Through it all those amazing gifts of patience, support and encouragement kept me going. Today I face challenges such as restoring a historic 120 year old building, My biggest challenge is maneuvering the path of raising the operating expenses, connecting with the community and being a good and generous friend. Read more>>
Donald Iannone
My undergraduate years at the University of Arizona broadened my horizons intellectually, creatively, and socially. I discovered the beauty of the desert, mountains, stunning sunsets, and the richness of Hispanic and Native American cultures. Since 1972, I have lived in Greater Cleveland, a region that has become my true home and a fertile crescent for personal growth, education, and career development. I connected deeply with the area’s culture and values. Read more>>
Theophilus Caviness, Jr.
I have talked about my failures with some of my family members, and oddly enough, they see things differently than I do. I feel like I struggled along the way, but I was able to take detours and in hindsight, my path was better than expected. Even though I was just “winging it” at times, the people on the outside thought I knew what I was doing. Again, my path hasn’t been straight, but I am still further than I expected. Read more>>
Maralee Martin
The Caring Closet began in November of 2020, born from a desire to share the love and hope of Jesus in a tangible way with women and children coming from hard places. With a few donations in the back of a pop-up chocolate shop in downtown Wooster, we were able to provide clothing for five women and their children as they moved out of the domestic violence shelter at OneEighty. The owner of the building heard what we were doing, and allowed us to move to a larger building he owned, which we quickly filled with donations and volunteers. We then connected with Christian Children’s Home of Ohio and offered to fill needs for them, beginning a fruitful and meaningful partnership. Read more>>
Lisa Miller
Cleveland Rocks and so does Podcast Sista. I was born and raised in the heart of rock and roll in Cleveland, Ohio and I started my solo podcasting career from my home studio in August 2024. Podcast Sista features the stories behind the music told by singers, songwriters and musicians. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some of the best publicists from across the country who book their clients on Podcast Sista to promote new song releases, music videos, tours, and more. Read more>>
Ali Sullivan
Learning everything from scratch has actually been a blessing in disguise—I’ve gained so many skills that now allow me to help clients in more ways than one. But the reality is, the world isn’t designed for people like me. Things like taxes, insurance, and retirement are all set up for people with traditional jobs, and I’ve had to figure it all out on my own. It’s possible, but it definitely feels like the world makes it harder for those of us living unconventional lives. Read more>>
Patricia Tate
Before I became a professional astrologer, I had a 35-year career in education. While my focus during those years was on teaching and helping others grow, I remained spiritually minded, often reflecting on how deeper universal truths could enhance personal growth. There was always a part of me that sought something more spiritually aligned—a way to bridge my love for learning with the mysteries of the universe. It was during a transitional phase, when I experienced significant changes in my personal life, that I found myself turning to astrology not just for answers, but for direction and healing. Read more>>
Dr. Joanna Consiglio
When I started Modern Motion Chiropractic, my goal was simple: to create the kind of practice I wish I had when I was injured. I wanted a space where active individuals—whether runners, CrossFit athletes, weekend warriors, or just people who love to move—could get high-quality, individualized care. No cookie-cutter treatment plans, no high-pressure sales tactics—just real, research-backed care designed to help people move and feel better. Read more>>
Kueendom
The road to discovery has NOT been fair but rewarding to witness . The process of development in every aspect of this journey has put into perspective for me learning how to embrace every hardship and to be counted it all as joy . Realizing in the second half my 20’s is that the experienced hardship not only provides divine wisdom and a lifetimes worth of powerful lessons , its built my character , tenacity and unshakable resilience . Read more>>
Jon Spreez
I’m a firm believer that nothing great comes without struggle. I was blessed enough to be placed on my life’s path at an early age when my mother taught me to channel my pain through writing. No story comes without adversity and of course I’ve faced my fair share. Being an independent artist requires so much of your time, energy, and faith. It also requires a willingness to fail. I’ve fallen short of my plans in one respect or another many times but the idea is to readjust and push forward. I’ve lost hard drives full of music, friends, business relationships, and at times hope. But what God has for you no man can interfere with, including you. The only thing I have to do is wake up and decide to continue the mission. Read more>>
Ryan Stull
As time went on, I realized that my journey wasn’t just about creating music; it was about overcoming obstacles, embracing every setback, and continuously evolving. I took risks, collaborated with diverse artists, and experimented with sounds that pushed me out of my comfort zone. Each challenge taught me something new, and every breakthrough made me more committed to my craft. Read more>>
Maxx Slater
I travelled down quite a few roads that lead me to where I am today. Everything from Nursing Assistant, to Event Planner, I even had a short tenure as the manager of a warehouse that distributed textbooks across the country. A very short tenure haha. But all of those experiences led me to be the artist that I am today. I believe that my past experiences in travel and different occupations all have played a part in the artist that I am today. What started as a form of self-therapy a few years ago, has blossomed into something that I never saw coming. The opportunities that I’ve been so fortunate to have are the result of alot of hard work and soul searching, and I feel lucky that I get to share my work with the world now. Read more>>
Eric Holley
I known for staying fly and having digital collaborations with the biggest artists in the industry I’m most proud of my album Standing on Business for years my peers had songs with Gucci Mane lil Wayne and Twista and now I have my own album with them out now I never hated or got bitter I just stayed down and loyal and built my team and waited my turn Read more>>
Carlos Sanchez
Born and raised in Guatemala, I pursued my medical degree there. However, the road to practicing medicine in the U.S. was anything but easy. Navigating a complex immigration process, I remained steadfast in my vision and eventually earned the opportunity to complete my 8 years of rigorous post-medical training in the U.S. This included three years of Internal Medicine training at Riverside Methodist Hospital, followed by Cardiology fellowship at The University of Cincinnati, and finally, a two-year subspecialty training in Interventional Cardiology and Structural Heart Disease Intervention at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Read more>>
Hilary Hilario
There have been plenty of ups and downs along the way. I have received huge custom orders that stretched me to my limit and I have had slow times where I can’t figure out how to get enough business. One of the biggest challenges has been navigating where to market my products. Through these ups and downs, I have been thankful for all of the lessons learned. These lessons have challenged me to grow and have taught me a lot both professionally and personally. Read more>>
Elissa Jackson
Additionally, I am deeply committed to delivering exceptional customer service. By prioritizing the needs of my clients and ensuring a seamless experience from consultation to delivery, I understand the importance of outstanding service in building a successful business. Read more>>
Naliyah Hall
It has not been a smooth road at all. One thing that new artists and creatives have to understand is that there will be days where the client style doesn’t align with yours, your cover might not be selected as an official cover, or even in more unfortunate circumstances, you might find that there will be people who take advantage of your services by requesting free artwork. However, these situations never should turn you away from a future career as a graphic designer because there will always be room for everyone. Read more>>
Liz Maselli
I later joined their board of directors as secretary and headed their social media, fundraising, worked on their website on top of helping with animal transports, event planning and cleaning before resigning in 2024. I started photographing my beloved residents and formed deeper love for photography. I realized photos can bridge the gap between our perception of typically farmed animals and the true reality of their kind and gentle nature. I try to capture personalities to encourage people to learn about the animals humans typically over look and don’t see as having the same feelings or rights to live their lives in peace. Read more>>
CoyyTheBoyy
It was only right that I released it! But I made my own beat and rapped the freestyle over that. And released it to SoundCloud. I’m not sure if it’s still on there or not but it was pretty good! Then shortly after I made a song called “Get Tf Off My Porch” which was my most streamed song on SoundCloud. After that i took some time to work on myself and work on new vibes (songs) and work on myself! Fell in love but that’s not here or there. But I made a comeback after some tears and years and made a project called Marskyjupyterfloor! Which included artists Kostakane, and Chvsinn! Two great beings and my bruvas! Now we are here in 2025 with a lot more music out on all platforms! Read more>>
Marco Carlson
I could probably write a book just containing all the obstacles I’ve faced. But I think it’s more productive to look back on all the goals I’ve accomplished instead. Despite losing my childhood home, a close member of my family, and numerous flakey cast members, I have still managed to get over halfway done in making my first movie. I wouldn’t have done anything differently. I would’ve only changed my mindset. Read more>>
Kinshasha (Shai) Hawkins
A kind doctor once encouraged me to write down my thoughts, and that simple act blossomed into sharing my inspirational “Shaisms” with others. Over time, these messages evolved into my podcast, Heal “U”, and later into a broader mission through life and business coaching, self-care journaling, masterclasses, and daily “Cup of Positivity” snippets. Today, I use my story to empower others to see their own worth and to turn dreams into reality. Through CreativelyShai, I’m dedicated to creating a compassionate community where every challenge is a stepping stone toward a brighter, more authentic life. Read more>>
Phillip Tate
I got started with streaming when I realized my passion for talking about and playing games. When my mom called me on her lunch break, while at work. she told me about how she seen her coworker watching live streams of video games and told me that might be my calling . I found that I was naturally drawn to gaming and the community behind it and wanted to explore more. To pursue this interest, I decided to go to Youtube university to do some research. Read more>>
Sharnise Sears
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but every challenge has helped me grow. When I first started officiating, I followed a more traditional, “copy-paste” approach to ceremonies. But I quickly realized that every couple has a unique love story, and their wedding ceremony should reflect that. So, I shifted to writing custom scripts, weaving in personal details that make each ceremony meaningful and unforgettable. Read more>>
Dora Rankin
The answer was yes. I can cope with these changes and no I will not fall apart. Instead, I picked up a paint brush and started to paint and paint… and paint some more. I painted my whole house, all different colors – pink, yellow, green. I had no idea what else to do. It felt cathartic. Eventually, I decided to go back to school and get certified in empowering women’s leadership at Cornell University. From there I began consulting women leaders and uncovered a broken system – lack of funding for women and minorities. So I linked arms with a high growth start-up and built a nationwide crowdfunding platform for small businesses to access capital. This was a three-year mission that ended in late 2020. Read more>>
Jeremy Bryan
Going into college I would produce beats that my friends and I used to freestyle to in the dorm. Some of the ladies would sing on the tracks and it was just a great time. A few years later in 2008 I did some networking with Beta Records. I met my friend Meru Matu who brought me on board to produce music for an upcoming music video starring the music video director of Kayne West x Keri Hilson x Ne-Yo’s Grammy hit song “Knock You Down.” That opportunity happened around 2010. Read more>>
Lisa Castro
In my first year, I was accepted for an internship opportunity in Hawaii. This changed everything. I met my partner there, a Cincinnati native, and trading island life for the Midwest became the shift I never knew I needed. In a city rich with opportunity, I stepped beyond my comfort zone—reaching out, showing up, and saying “yes” to every challenge. Read more>>
Najah Johnson
I decided to be a mobile based business because I began to meet the demand of my clients and travel to them. As time went on, I began to work with companies and agencies such as P&G, Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and others. This was the start my corporate career as a professional makeup artist. I also started working production and tv/film which is where I am currently growing in. Through the years I have had the honor of being a part of many journeys and stories. There have been people that have took a chance on me, mentored me and opened doors for me. It has been God, my faithful clientele, and dedication that has gotten me to where I am today. Read more>>
