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.
Meghan Rosbottom
I was born and raised in Concord, Ohio, right here in Lake County — the same community where I’ve built my business today. Education and hard work have always been cornerstones of my journey. I attended Kent State University, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communication, all while working full-time. Balancing a full-time job and a full-time class schedule taught me discipline, perseverance, and the value of determination — qualities that continue to guide me in my career and life. Read more>>
Alyssa Eliot
I went to college for photography and photographed weddings, families, couples, etc.. In 2017-18, I came up with the idea of paper scrolls for wall art. I offered holiday designs into everyday quotes and inspirations. Through the process of doing vintage shows with the scrolls and renovating our own home, I opened our home decor shoppe in Millersburg, Ohio. Read more>>
Julie Pfister
Glow was the brainchild of my sister-in-law Danielle Foster. She was instrumental in getting this business started. We were sitting around one night sharing a bottle of wine just discussing life and dreams. At the time I had been a stay at home mom with my 3 young children and momma was ready to have some more adult interactions. Read more>>
Kevin Mooney
My partner and I didn’t set out to build a resort, we set out to build a place our family and friends could escape. Over a decade ago, we discovered 77 private acres in Ohio’s Mohican Valley, which began with a simple cabin serving as a private retreat. Read more>>
Rob Chandler
I was probably 13 or 14 years old when I saw the old movie The Buddy Holly Story with Gary Busey. There’s this one scene that stuck with me: Buddy’s in the studio with his band, the Crickets.He asks the recording engineer to run the tape back and set up a second machine so he can record a harmony vocal part. Read more>>
Eric Gergotz
A few years ago, I was in a troubling time of my personal life. I also did not enjoy my career in engineering. Then, an opportunity came up to create a business in one of my favorite hobbies and I decided to take a chance on myself. Read more>>
Terrence Hubbard
Hello, Born and raised in Cleveland, my story goes back as far as the pre-school days. I’ve always been fascinated with learning how things work and creating things with my own hands. Drawing childhood favorites such as video games and cartoons kept my creative juices flowing until I started art classes in high school (Bedford). Read more>>
R. Robin (Robin) Graham
I’ve been a musician my entire life, beginning piano at the age of seven, and becoming a professional at age sixteen. I began songwriting then. Being involved in cover bands (wedding, jazz, pop, rock), I started my own original project, The Trade many years ago. The Trade played out for nearly twenty years — the longest living original alt-rock band in the Akron/Cleveland area. Read more>>
Krista Olive
I grew up in Florida, near Sarasota, which is a thriving arts and culture city. My story has always been rooted in creativity and connection. I’ve been into painting since a child, continued into art classes in school, and honors art. Art gave me a meaningful outlet for expression and a way to understand myself and the world. Read more>>
Carrie Danger
Like most, my story started with the love of music and talking to people! I was a latchkey kid so I listened to a lot of radio and watched a lot of music television. The idea of spreading the love of music and possibly lift someone’s mood was an exciting thought. Read more>>
Justin Rissmiller
I began my journey into entrepreneurship a little over a decade ago while I was working full-time at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio where I was employed there as a sustainability coordinator for the Russ College of Engineering & Computer Science. During this time, I also began to develop an interest in helping others develop themselves online through online branding, design and SEO. Read more>>
Odelin Albalat
Marketing has always been something I truly enjoyed. Even back in my teenage years, I loved keeping up with trends, learning the latest dances with my friends, creating flyers for clubs, and even helping local business owners I knew with their social media platforms. Read more>>
Michelle Pajak-Reynolds
Jewelry has been part of my life from the very beginning—my parents actually met across a jewelry counter. By the time I was five, I was making pop-bead “designs” inspired by the super hero, Wonder Woman’s, power bracelets and tiara, and I never really stopped. I didn’t just want to wear something magical, I wanted to make it. Read more>>
Engjell Hasula
From as early as I can remember, I have loved writing. As a child, I would spend hours reading books, fascinated by the worlds hidden inside their pages. Classics, especially, became my constant companions, they inspired me, challenged me, and stirred something deep within me. Over time, this fascination turned into a calling. Read more>>
Sherrie Hopkins
I’m a Christian who tries to walk the talk. As I watched my children and their peers grow into adulthood, I noticed how starved their generation seemed to be for acceptance, love and affection. Read more>>
Junior Rodriguez
This autobiography, written in Spanish, takes readers on a journey through Gutierrez’s life and accomplishments. From overcoming obstacles to achieving success, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking motivation and insight. The paperback format makes it easy to carry and read on the go, while the detailed descriptions of Gutierrez’s experiences provide a captivating read. Whether you’re a fan of biographies or simply looking for a new read, “Mas Alla de Mis Limites” is a great addition to any book collection. Read more>>
Russell Emanuel
Hi here’s my bio. Russ Emanuel is an award-winning American director, producer, and independent filmmaker, having directed such actors as John Heard, Robert Picardo, Vincent Pastore, Glynnis O’Connor, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Jeremy London, Ryan Hurst, William Devane, Marina Sirtis, Sean Kenney, Armin Shimerman, Olivia d’Abo, and Gary Graham. He grew up in both Japan and the United States and graduated from U.S.C. to study Cinema-Television. Read more>>
Dane Harding
I started off as a telemarketer for a large insurance company. I eventually had so many callers want me as their agent, that the agent I worked under encouraged me to get licensed as an agent. Once I was a licensed agent, he took me under his wing and taught me everything he knew about owning a business. Read more>>
David Myers
David Myers – Artist & Gallery Owner I grew up in Massillon, Ohio, a place that instilled in me a deep appreciation for passion, community and creativity. From a young age, I was drawn to visual expression—whether it was drawing, painting or photography, Art was always more than a hobby; it was a way of seeing and processing life. Read more>>
Tracy McKenica Besenyodi
I was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. Throughout high school and college, I worked in retails sales (mostly women’s fashion and home fashion). My senior year of high school, I studied abroad and fell in love with the French language and culture. Read more>>
Hayley Stovcik
I graduated from Ohio University (June 2007) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, a minor in Dance Performance/Choreography, a decent LSAT score (from what I remember), a plan of becoming a DEA Agent and the dream of one day eventually being elected as a U.S. Senator. Most exciting of all, I was supposed to start an internship at the White House that September. Read more>>
Yonder Miller
My journey began with family. I grew up watching my parents, grandparents, and other relatives operate as entrepreneurs throughout my adolescent and adult years. Entrepreneurship was where I came from, whether it was bar rooms, body shops, daycare centers, rental properties, or church organizations. What I witnessed long ago became the catalyst for who I am today. Read more>>
Asia Mays
Rooted in Springfield, Ohio, I now call Columbus home, where my husband and I have built our life and raised our family. We’ve lived here for many years, embracing the opportunities this great city has to offer. I think I always knew I was supposed to be a writer. Read more>>
Emma Visnic
Cleveland Garlic Festival began 16 years ago as a grassroots fundraiser for North Union Farmers Market, a nonprofit that champions local farms and food access in Northeast Ohio. Read more>>
Alyx Gold
To keep this short will be a challenge, but I’ll do my best to condense it to what’s most relevant. So, I’m 32 years old now, but when I look back, my story really starts as a young girl with insecurities, and struggles, just like many kids have. Read more>>
Chad Wilson
I graduated from Kenton Ridge High School in Springfield Ohio in 1997. Growing up in Northridge a small bedroom community that was built in the 60s was kind of like growing up in The Wonder Years series just 20 years later. We were surrounded by working class families. Read more>>
Rob Glover
Art has always been a part of my life, but the journey has not been a straight line to be sure. As a child, I was fascinated by what was inside machines. Taking them apart for the sake of discovering what was inside was more interesting to me than figuring out how they worked. Read more>>
Bethanie Meredith
My personal history is supremely relevant as the backdrop of why I founded the non-profit, ‘Healing At The Hands of Almighty’ (we call it H.A.T.H.A.). My story is a vital contributing factor of who I’ve become, the reason I became a yoga teacher, and the driving force of this foundation, established in 2022. Read more>>
Jennifer Brhel
I started drawing since I could hold a pencil. I used to go to my grandparents house every weekend. Where my Grandfather and I would spend hours at the kitchen table drawing and coloring. His dream was always to do art also. Unfortunately he did not fulfill his dream. I worked many jobs over the years. Read more>>
Danny Perry
There are four brothers, Jason, Chad, Jon, and Danny, who work together on all our ventures. We have various enterprises including a real estate company, a restaurant, and a pedal pub business. Read more>>
Johnnaisha Wheaton
My journey started in 2017 behind the chair as a Cosmetologist that braids. At that time, I was known for creating sleek, detailed braids that kept my clients’ hair healthy while still giving them styles that protected their hair. Read more>>
Megan Wanderer & Nick Nonno Comet Wanderer Studios
Nick and Megan started working together on musical and artistic projects while they were in college at Kent State University. They decided to continue their collaborations after graduation – creating Comet Wanderer Studios! Today, they design sculptures & projections for musical acts such as Sproot, create installation art for museums and city-wide festivals, and teach projection mapping. Read more>>
