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.
Monique Rogers-Dogbey
Growing up in a large family, gatherings were more than events—they were an expression of love, filled with vibrant dishes, laughter, and stories. Over time, I discovered my passion for bringing people together and creating moments that feel as beautiful as they are meaningful. Read more>>
Arcola Creek Tattoo
Arcola Creek Tattoo opened in 2012. At that time, Ryan was eleven years into his tattoo career. He began tattooing at “Tattoos by Buzz Jr.” in Jacksonville, North Carolina—just outside Camp Lejeune, where he was stationed as a Marine. Read more>>
Aaron Messer
My journey began at 13, when I went through clown training with an organization called the Smile Seekers Clown Ministry. It was there that I learned how to perform as a hobo clown and picked up my first basic balloon designs. I credit much of my success today to this wonderful group and the foundation they gave me. My interest in balloon art grew quickly. Read more>>
Sam Seibert
My insurance career started in 2012 when I was 19 years old as a registered financial representative for Western and Southern Life here in Springfield. I took on a management role with them in 2015, and ultimately made the switch to Shelter Insurance in 2017. I started my career with Shelter Insurance on the management side. Read more>>
Kellee Haslon
My journey started in 2006 as I enrolled in nursing school at the University Of Cincinnati. During my time there I fell in love with learning about the body as well as providing healing interventions to individuals needing medical care. Read more>>
Jenny Sieck
I started reading tarot at a shop in Clintonville–Feed Your Spirit. I amassed a following and also did a lot of venues around the city offering my intuitive tarot readings at Comfest and several bars on their Astrology Nights! These were the early years before I went to get my Masters Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Depth Psychology. Read more>>
Jeana Nutini
I was born and raised on the westside of Cincinnati, where I grew up as an athlete, a high achiever, and the daughter of parents who were deeply involved in our community through sporting organizations and affiliations. Although my childhood looked “normal” from the outside, my teenage years took a sharp turn when my family life unraveled. Read more>>
Jennie Sartwell
Where to start? I’m a butcher and chef by trade and a livestock grazer in most recent years. I spent my early childhood in New Mexico and moved to Athens in 1988-ish. After finishing high school, I moved to Maine, had a couple kids, and ended up eventually attending culinary school in Portland. Read more>>
Tonya Waite
I’ve always had a passion for travel, learning about places, the people who live there, and the stories behind them. That curiosity has been with me for as long as I can remember. Eventually, it led me to start Belle Vie Travel, a full-service travel agency. The real turning point, though, was a conversation with my mother while she was terminally ill from cancer. Read more>>
Brett Woods
My name is Brett Woods, and I’ve been a carpenter for more than 25 years. After spending two decades in the carpenters union, I reached a point where I knew something needed to change—there was a part of me that still felt unfulfilled. At the end of 2019, I stepped away from the union to start my own construction business. Read more>>
Hope Silvieus
The beginning of my Reiki journey and eventually my business began while I was living in Jacksonville, Florida where I helped manage a metaphysical store called Spiritual Uplifts. The owner Lynn, kept telling me it was time to get attuned even before I fully believed in myself. What finally shifted everything was a family member’s high-risk pregnancy. Read more>>
Tausha Stude
I am hearing impaired with profound hearing loss and wear hearing aids. It is a huge communication barrier for me with regular jobs. I have always wanted to own my own business. It took a while though life to find my passion. I went through a weigh-loss journey in 2014, I joined Weight Watchers and after I started my journey as I found my calling. Read more>>
William Ong
“I taught drum lessons in music shops for many years, but the small lesson rooms and limited equipment made it difficult to offer the kind of instruction I wanted—often we had to rely on practice pads or mesh heads with silent cymbals. I also couldn’t provide recording or video services for students who wanted to create covers or their own drumming content. Read more>>
Torey Worron
Who can ever forget hearing that special music that let you know that the “Ice Cream Man” was in YOUR neighborhood! In 2017 my husband Jeff and I set out to create a business that could create that same excitement. Our goal is simple….Bring out the 8 year old in everybody at every event we do! It’s that simple. Read more>>
Jennifer Wilson
After spending more than a decade working in the marketing industry, I finally decided to give into the entrepreneurial pull I’ve always felt. Throughout my career, I’d gained a wide range of experience, developed a clear perspective on what effective and meaningful marketing can look like, and I felt ready to build something of my own. Read more>>
Dr. Nathan Tomcik
In August of this year, we opened our behavioral health clinic, Radically Open Connections, where we specialize in providing Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT). RO-DBT is a newer, evidence-based treatment designed specifically for people who haven’t responded to “treatment as usual,” including individuals with chronic depression, anxiety, trauma, and anorexia. Read more>>
Michelle Fife
Boujee was founded by Michelle, an air force veteran and registered nurse with a heart for service and a vision for change. After years of caring for others, she knew that wellness isn’t just physical — it’s emotional, financial, and social. Read more>>
Shayna Browning
I’ve loved furniture since my twenties. The beauty, detail and craftsmanship that goes into it fascinated me. After being a long time admirer, I finally got to learn a few skills from a friend who had a furniture refinishing company. After dabbling for years, I finally put my mind to refinishing and painting furniture full time. Learning more and more as I went. Read more>>
Rochelle Sibbio
I started with Habitat for Humanity of Summit County in June 2006 as it’s executive director. In 2008 I became President & CEO and we launched a capital campaign to find a new headquarters for our organization to be large enough to house our offices, construction warehouse and our ReStore. We have occupied 2301 Romig Road since December 2009 and just added on 3,000 sq. Read more>>
Simon Bast, MiCP
I started young working on large cattle farms, which taught me responsibility, grit, and how to figure things out completely on my own. That work eventually led me into the auctioneering industry, where I spent a lot of time around people buying and selling everything — equipment, property, businesses, livestock. Read more>>
Jianchao Zhang
While continuing my medical research, I have also trained in Chinese Medicine with a focus on acupuncture. In 2014, I obtained a Master’s degree in Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in the US and became the board certified for acupuncture by the American Traditional Chinese Medicine Association (NCCAOM). I also obtained an acupuncture license from the State Medical Board of Ohio. Read more>>
Lisa Bieznieks
One year into the start of making the pinecone flowers, I suddenly lost 80% of my vision in my right eye permanently overnight. It was a stroke in the optic nerve. I have now adjusted to the loss , and do the best I can. My husband Ron, helps me with the hardware and wood working part of the business. At shows, he will always be there as a constant support. Read more>>
