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.
Kiara & Emma Zook
At Zook Coffee, we focus on creating a warm, welcoming space with high-quality drinks and clean ingredients. We specialize in handcrafted coffee, homemade pastries, and fresh lunch options — especially our sandwiches made on homemade bread. We’re also known for featuring coffee beans sourced from our family back in Madison, Indiana, which makes every cup feel personal and meaningful. Read more>>
Michael Stutz
Yes, we have a very large inventory and an even bigger warehouse — what’s on the floor at any one time is only a small sample of our ever-growing holdings — so we do have a very wide selection, and the average person coming in looking for something is liable to find it. Or we can order it. But we have developed a reputation as a place to go to find something great that you never knew existed. That’s where we excel. Read more>>
Ron Bell
We actually started R&D Recreation to do petting zoos on site and mobily and then thought of adding a couple of bounce houses to the plan because all kids love bounce houses, especially our grandkids. Bob, at Business of Bounce here locally, offered to let us work with him because we were a great customer, but I’m not a partner kinda of guy. Read more>>
Charles Starr
As a traditional functional physical therapist, I guided many patients to improved mobility and, for some, complete relief. Yet a particular group lingered in my mind: those whose pain didn’t match their scans, whose symptoms persisted even when everything “looked fine.” I knew their suffering was real, and I felt increasingly certain that something crucial was being missed. Read more>>
Brianne Core
I worked for a franchise owned salon for the first 5 years of my career, I then had a baby & went independent in 2019! I worked in a booth rental environment for the first 2 years & then moved into a suite! I have been in my own suite for almost 3 years now & it’s been more than amazing! My 7 year business birthday is next month (January 2nd)! Read more>>
Liz Calhoun
My first career was as a cosmetologist in my home state of Kentucky. When I moved to Ohio to be with my then boyfriend, Jeremy, (now husband) I decided to make a career change and go to nursing school. I graduated nursing school in 2017, and accepted a position as a nurse in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Miami Valley Hospital. Read more>>
Taylor Chenault Shaw
I started doing hair when I was 14. I watched YouTube videos and musically’s to learn, then eventually started practicing on neighbors and friends. I went to cosmetology school February 2024 and graduated February 2025. I started my LLC (Dolledbythebratt) during Covid 2019, and it’s been 7 years. Read more>>
Ray Marshall
My journey as a trauma therapist began at the age of three at a Lil Tykes kids picnic table. My mother, who stayed home to raise my sisters and myself, would have a cup of coffee with me at that picnic table and we would talk about life and all that it entails. Read more>>
Danielle Breach
Hello, my name is Danielle! I am a wife, mother of five and the Co-Founder of Mother Rising Women’s Studio. I am a Birth and Postpartum Doula here in the Cleveland area. I also teach infant care courses out of our studio in Chardon. My story really started all the way back in my formative years. I struggled academically and with my self-esteem. Read more>>
Julie Gallagan
I’ve been dancing my entire life (since age 3). I have always loved dance so much and when I was facing high school graduation, I couldn’t imagine a future without dance in it! I decided to pursue dance as a major at Otterbein University. I had the time of my life and learned so much during my four years of college. Read more>>
rommel angulo
I started my career in the insurance industry working as an employee at an Allstate agency. That experience gave me a solid foundation in how the business operates and how to serve clients effectively. After gaining that experience, I decided to open my own agency, initially partnering with Progressive. Before fully establishing myself in insurance, I worked in different roles within the community in Columbus. Read more>>
Diane Anderson
I grew up just east of Cleveland, Ohio, with a love of both nature and art. As I was growing up, I decided that I wanted to work in a scientific or computer-related field. I also decided that art would continue to be a part of my life. Read more>>
Jeff Vale
I grew up in and graduated from Avon. At 21 I moved to Missouri with my wife and attended Evangel University. We stayed in Missouri for almost 19 years, had 3 kids, and owned several businesses. I worked in the insurance industry and after covid the insurance industry had some hard times in the states where I worked. Read more>>
Kayla Colon
I’ve always been the ultimate girly girl. Growing up, I was drawn to all things beauty and fashion, and that love really shaped who I am today. I attended The Ohio State University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Social Work and became a Licensed Social Worker. Read more>>
PLN A Boutique Publishing & Creative House
PLN A was officially formed in 2025, though the pieces of it foundation have been building for the past 15 years. The 3 founders of PLN A are creatives in their own right. Christopher Hearn a songwriter, MC, and performer, Deven White-Revere a music producer and film producer, and Malcolm Marshall an instrumentalist and producer. Read more>>
Bharat Patel
As every life have a story. I started my journey with a small hotel technical project in Hayti, MO in 2001. It was a new for me and i am so connected with motel as a employee to own a business. Meeting with people from every corner of the world i am so enjoying. Read more>>
Nathan Dudley
Back in 2008 when I was 14, I started following around this local christian hip-hop group Life Saving Decision with Kevin Beebe and Aaron Thompson. I started remixing their songs as a DJ/producer after some months of following them around to their shows. Their manager reached out to me and brought me along to shows with them to DJ and then opening for them. Read more>>
Kathy Carrington
It took writing a book to tell my story so to summarize it here will be challenging. While my story contains abandonment, abuse, and trauma, it also contains the amazing resiliency of what it means to be human. I know what it’s like to feel unloved, unseen, and unworthy. At two years old, I was abandoned by my parents. Read more>>
Kelly Shasteen
I started my company in 2022 after the passing of my only sister. She was only 52 years old and passed from Cancer that was caused from environmental toxins. Through my grieving process I wanted something positive to come out of such a horrible loss. Read more>>
Whitney Stires
After high school, I decided to try out massage therapy school because I knew traditional college wasn’t going to be for me. I went to American Institute of Alternative Medicine(AIAM), did their nine month accelerated program, took the state test, amd started my career. I’ve been at it now for 20 years. I’ve had my own clientele mostly for most of my career. Read more>>
Brice Klausing
My journey in lawn care and landscaping started long before I ever thought of owning a business. When I was 14 years old, I began mowing lawns and helping my dad with landscaping jobs around Van Wert. I learned early what hard work looked like—especially during the winter. I’d work snowstorms overnight, then head straight to school, followed by basketball practice. Read more>>
