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.

RJ Ingram

I never expected to make money writing poetry or selling books, but I kept applying to residencies, part time poetry teaching positions & bookstores in & around The Bay Area until the Covid Pandemic shuttered public spaces. In 2020 my husband & I relocated to Portland, Oregon to be closer to Michael’s family. Read more>>

Loreal Holt

I am a self taught photographer who never thought in a million years I would become a photographer and a successful one at that. Read more>>

Tamika Robinson Carter

I am proud mom of four incredible children—three sons, DeAndrae, Savion, Kavon and a lovely daughter, Ariane. I also have bonus children (2 girls, 2 boys) I’ve been happily married to my wonderful husband, Shawn, for 21 years as of April. I am the only child between my parents even though I have siblings on both sides. Read more>>

Lisa Burnworth

My husband grew up on a small family farm and took over in 1975 with 25 head of brooks cows and farming 500 acres.. He started a dairy in 1982 and milked Holstein dairy until 2015. During those years the farm had to diversify to remain profitable. In 2009 with help from family, and friends we started growing pumpkins, gourds and mums. Read more>>

Stephanie Straughn

Stephanie is the owner and operator of The Salad Revolution, a vibrant salad creation company based in Cincinnati. With a deep-rooted passion for cooking, Stephanie’s journey began in her childhood in the kitchen, where she learned the art of culinary creativity from her late father. Read more>>

Jill Pate

Hi, I’m Jill! I’ve known since I was young that I wanted to be a nurse. Growing up with a sibling who battled childhood cancer, I saw firsthand how deeply nurses can touch not only the lives of their patients but also their families. That experience made me want to help others the way those incredible nurses helped us. Read more>>

Chris Smith

When I started making jewelry, I came back to my creative childhood. Up until I started college, I was really involved in the arts. Charlotte, my mom, always encouraged me in anything I wanted to pursue. I felt pulled in several directions after high school, and ultimately, I decided on a career in history and education. I never used that degree in my professional path. Read more>>

Erin Perry

I began working in the mental health field as a counselor in 2011. I have held positions in a private practice, a university and a non-profit organization since that time. In 2020, the non-profit counseling practice unexpectedly closed its doors permanently. There were three counselors working there are the time and we were concerned about our clients and their continuity of care. Read more>>

Chloe Newman

After working in the service industry for years and falling deeply in love with sourdough baking, I started a farmer’s market based bakery business called Crust Worthy in 2018. I eventually built out my garage to become a home-based micro-bakery, where I could produce my baked goods and sell them at the markets. Read more>>

Kyle Herr

We are fourth generation water well drilling and pump service company. My grandfather started the business back when wells were drilled with a rope drilling machine. We transition into drilling with steel cable soon after my father Max Herr took over the business. Read more>>

Jamey Johnson

Gen-x kid with an atypical gen ex story, kind of… Dreamed of being a rock band leader, model, and actor. I had no musical talent, no acting talent, and a face for radio. Was a third generation entrepreneur but didn’t know that yet… I had no interest in spiritual things, church, religion, or faith anything. That all changed. Read more>>

Melanie Norman

My journey into group travel started unexpectedly. I first volunteered to lead two trips for a local non-profit organization — and I immediately fell in love with the experience. I discovered how rewarding it is to bring people together, share new adventures, and watch friendships form along the way. Read more>>

Jenna Head

After getting my Bachelor’s in Exercise Science at Walsh University, I coached and managed full time at a gym while working through my Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Akron. I found that I really loved the management aspect of the position and had an opportunity pop up with StretchLab. Read more>>

John Eslich

I’ve always had a passion for creating experiences that bring people together. My background in construction and business management gave me the foundation to build and operate large-scale attractions. In 2000, I purchased the Factory of Terror, which at the time was just one haunted house. Read more>>

Nicholas Wank

It started with a lower back injury while playing High School basketball. I had seen multiple providers but experienced little to no relief until I had met my chiropractor who gave me a diagnosis, treatment and full plan to get back to playing basketball. Read more>>

Melissa Dodd

I am a lifelong Xenia resident and my husband and I both purchased the land that now houses Jasper Hills Golf Club and Jasper Kitchen + Bar back in September 2021. The land was a shuttered golf course that had been closed for over 5 years. We restored the golf course, rebranded and built a full service bar and restaurant. Read more>>

Lauren Terihay

I graduated from The Ohio State University in 2007 with my Doctor in Veterinary Medicine. I did full-time general practice with dogs and cats as well as relief work. In 2010 I started working for Dr. Riggs, avian specialist, treating just he dog and cats in the practice. Then, in 2022 I purchased the Wadsworth office from him and having been running it ever since. Read more>>

Mark Sudduth

Mark J. Sudduth is a 1983 Graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art. He majored in Glass with a minor in Drawing. Mark has been operating a private studio since 1983. His work consists of hand blown and sculptural glass. Read more>>

Andy Baker

Our story starts about 15 years ago with our two founders, Andy and Casey, right here in the Dayton, Ohio, area. We’re a fully remote agency now, serving clients all across the U.S., but our roots are definitely in Dayton. Andy and Casey initially brought their complementary skills together to start CreativeFuse, an agency offering website development, branding, and marketing services. Read more>>

Sharon Kissel

I have always found joy in making art for people . As a kid, I would draw portraits of my family members for Christmas presents. Perhaps not the best portraits, but always made with love. The act of creating and giving gifts has always been the driving force behind my art. Read more>>

Emma Lusby

I’ve only been taking photos for about a year.. last fall my lifelong friend asked me to take her family photos using her DSLR camera. I really enjoyed it and thought.. what if this was what I was meant to do all along? I prayed on it and ended up buying her camera from her to start out.. and just kept diving in further. Read more>>

Kelly Clemons

It’s amazing to think that all of this began years ago on a small far in Stanton ,KY. Growing up, I learned that the simplest way to show love was through food. For years, I baked just for friends and family, until I finally found the courage to share my treats with the world. Read more>>

J Lynette David Dennis

Her journey into speaking on the subject of mental health was ignited by her own personal tragedy—the loss of her six-year-old son to a drunk driving incident. This life-altering experience propelled her into a mission to serve others, leading her to create the annual community event series, iGot You Covered. As CEO-the organization provides essential resources and support for families on their healing journey. Read more>>

Amber Bergman

I started my business in 2017 after working at a Veterinary Hospital for four years. I also had the chance to work at the boarding facility and was hands on with taking care of the pets who were boarded. It did allow me to see how stressed some of the doggies and kitties were while away from home. Read more>>

Jenna Elam

My love of rocks started when I was young. My Papaw Elam and I used to spend a lot of time outside together, and my favorite thing we did was go geode hunting. That is what first sparked my interest in geology. Read more>>

Michael Kimball

I started out as a jet engine mechanic and eventually worked on a range of aircraft, doing everything from basic fueling to research and development. One day, while running an engine test, the engine exploded in spectacular fashion. Later, examining the wreckage, I noticed holes in the fuselage exactly where one of us would have been working under normal circumstances. That realization changed everything. Read more>>

Kellee Anderson

My journey in music, and how KC & the Moonlighters came to be, is rooted in an unexpected legacy and a profound philosophy about music itself. It all began in the early 2000s, as a vocalist in a blues band called The Zen Blues Band, led by the incredible Tom Ciancetta. Tom was more than a bandleader; he was a mentor. In a way I didn’t understand at the time, he prepared me for what was to come, bringing me to all his client meetings despite me just being a singer. He’d insist, “No, you need to sit right here,” even when business was being discussed. Looking back, I believe he had a premonition. Read more>>

Scott Terranova

Since then we have also started Cuff Link Media, a premier Photo and Video company. The wedding tandem has formed a wedding power couple in Cleveland Ohio that offers newly engaged the ability to bundle entertainment, photo, and video services saving people time and money! We are the only operation at scale of this kind in town! Read more>>