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.
ButtenZup Collection
ButtenZup was born out of personal loss. It began as a way to process grief after losing a dear loved one to ovarian cancer. In the earliest days, it started as a passion driven project rooted in healing, remembrance, and finding meaning during an incredibly difficult season. Read more>>
Sacheen Devonne
My journey began with a personal need for healing before it ever became a business. Like many women, I spent years pouring into everyone else—family, career, community—while quietly ignoring the signals from my own body and nervous system. Eventually, that disconnect caught up with me. I found myself searching not just for relief, but for a deeper sense of alignment and wholeness. Read more>>
Myke Rock
All upward movement in my life seems to have stemmed from involvement in music. As a child, around 8 years old, it was a normal occasion around the house to hear my father playing his electric guitar. Some BB King, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and a bit of ‘duckwalking’ through the living room. Read more>>
Sasha Raitz
I’ve been a hairstylist for going on 26 years this spring. I found my salon home in Findlay for about 13 years before making my way back to Tiffin. Read more>>
Samantha Bolin
I started my hair journey at the Columbus Downtown High School at the career center. Originally, doing hair was how I was going to pay my way through college. I thought I wanted to be a nurse but once we started dissecting animals I quickly learned that was not the path for me. Read more>>
Sewing Love by Gloria Rosas
I grew up in south Texas. My interest in Fashion Design, Art & Sewing started shortly after I graduated from Raymondville High School class of 2001 and after completing one year at Texas A&M University. Read more>>
wade paul
I was born to the parents of…haha i’m kidding. I was a long time (mostly metal) drummer, who learned to play pretty much every other instrument. Read more>>
Lora Hendershot
I have always loved animals and nature and have always liked to feed the birds outside of my office window. I used to fill bird feeders daily and wanted to hang something outside that would last longer. I looked into making solid bird food wreaths molded in bundt cake pans and gave it a try. Read more>>
Monique (Mo) Crews
Unfortunately, I had to close and downsize a year later, then covid happened. I had plenty of time to focus on what’s next for Hair Velocity. Currently I am taking classes to become a certified herbalist. My goal is to incorporate my Medical billing and coding, my herbalism and relaxation for my clients to have a healthy scalp to promote hair growth. Read more>>
Ashley Bivens
My path into the beauty industry wasn’t linear, but it’s always been guided by purpose. I entered the industry later than most, becoming licensed in 2016 after visiting Paul Mitchell the School Cincinnati and deeply connecting with its Day Maker and visionary culture. Read more>>
Nicki Lathem
I was a stay at home wife and mom for 18 years, dependent on my husband‘s income. When he decided that that lifestyle wasn’t for him, I was left with four kids, no education and no income. So this was my opportunity for a fresh new start I considered … what might be the best job in the world? Read more>>
Nikki Reed
I founded Mayfair Creations in May of 2023 as a creative outlet alongside my career in the medical field. While I love helping others through my work in healthcare, I’ve always had a strong crafty and creative side and wanted to build something that allowed me to express that passion. Read more>>
Joanne Holbert
I started my solo counseling practice in 2010 in the back of a pediatric office. By 2014, I was so busy I needed to hire other practitioners and buy a building. By 2019, the 8 office building needed an addition, and we now have 20 offices, additional needed parking, and a beautiful waiting room. We are completing additional space in the basement for group activities. Read more>>
Iris Pietri-Ayala
Over five years ago, I never imagined I would be writing or running a small business while also working full-time in the education field, balancing my career with running a growing business. Creativity has always been a part of who I am from scrapbooking to repurposing furniture and so much more. Read more>>
Kaila Joseph
Our story of Hudson’s Cottage Bakery was started in January of 2025, inspired by my son. I first made a batch of buckeyes for our relatives, just as gifts for the holidays. Read more>>
Dustin Chapman
I got into cigars when I was 21 years old. I tried one at my house one night when a friend brought some over. The next day I went to my local shop and immediately fell in love with everything about it. Read more>>
Janet Richards
I began my career with a clear focus on helping people navigate mental health and substance-use challenges with dignity, structure, and evidence-based care. Early on, I saw how difficult it was for individuals and families to access services that were not only clinically sound, but also compassionate, coordinated, and practical for real life. Read more>>
Shelby Ball
I always enjoyed hair, makeup, and fashion. I attended Boardman Schools but knew at a young age I could start my career early on, so along with Boardman I attended the MCC&TC in Canfield in 2003. Read more>>
Ayan Abdirizak
My journey began with a desire to build something lasting for my family and to prove that success doesn’t have to follow a single, traditional path. I’m a Columbus-based real estate agent, entrepreneur, and mother of four, and from the beginning, I knew I wanted to create a career that balanced ambition, purpose, and flexibility. Read more>>
Ellen Kolman
I am Ellen Kolman, I am an Ashtabula County native, and I have taught and entertained children for 40 plus years either in the church or Christian school setting. Since college I have dreamed of writing children’s books, but it seemed unrealistic at that time. With the advent of self-publishing and hybrid publishing, actually publishing a book seemed more possible. Read more>>
Roger Dorsey
Good Knights was founded by myself, in response to what I experienced as a child growing up, my mother fled from West Virginia to Elyria Ohio to escape domestic violence we moved in with my aunt at 850 Purdue Ave Elyria, a 1008 square foot 3 bedroom ranch, with a total of 7 children and 2 single moms there were not enough beds so for the first 3 years in Ohio my bed was in a closet on a pile of clothes, having been blessed as a adult my wife and I chose to use my struggle and experience to end child bedlessness in Lorain county and surrounding areas. Read more>>
Scott Popovic
From a Rickety Stool to Private Dining: A Chef’s Long Way Home I grew up in North Olmsted, the son of an auto worker and a payroll specialist. A Midwest childhood. Blue-collar roots. Nothing about my beginning screamed culinary journey—yet somehow, food found me anyway. My path to cooking has never been straight. It’s been winding, messy, joyful, painful, and deeply human. And honestly? Read more>>
Z. F. Taylor
EARLY FOUNDATIONS: BECOMING BEFORE UNDERSTANDING My story begins long before I had language for it. I was shaped early by observation—watching adults navigate survival, responsibility, joy, pain, and contradiction. Childhood was formative in ways that were both creative and sobering. I learned how to read rooms, read people, and read energy before I ever learned how to read music or scripts. Read more>>
Bill Yentz
Always wanted to open my own business, but I was too scared, because I was raising a family. One day I got into a argument with my employers wife who was telling me my diagnosis was wrong on the car I was working on. Then it was a perfect storm. Read more>>
Isaac Kaba
And certainly, my passion for drug discovery was fuelled during my time at the Center for Drug Design and Development at the University of Toledo. I had exceptional research training in drug design, synthetic medicinal chemistry, and chemical biology during my time at UT. An important lesson I’ve learned from my case is that hurdles were opportunities to grow as a scientist, build resilience, and become capable of engaging in an international scientific ecosystem. Read more>>
The Bexley String Quartet
The Bexley String Quartet was founded around 2008 by four friends from Capital University. Corey, the current coordinator joined on viola two years later. The Bexley String Quartet has been playing at weddings and events in Central Ohio for the past 17 years. There have been a few member changes over the years, but our second violinist Amy Reski is a founding member. Read more>>
Christopher Weible
Chris Weible is a lifelong entrepreneur who started his first business running a neighborhood landscaping company at a young age. After studying musical theatre, he moved to New York City, where he developed the confidence, communication, and relationship-building skills that would later define his career. Read more>>
William Lee
I graduated the University of Akron with a degree in engineering. While working at Firstenergy for a few years, I had developed a strong desire to work for myself. After developing. my skills as a videographer I decided to launch my own production company, William Lee Production Co. Read more>>
Rajahle Lawson
I was introduced to self-care at a very young age through my parents. I grew up watching them prioritize their health and appearance — consistent hair and nails, regular workouts, and mindful eating. My mother, in her younger years, was both a hairstylist and nail technician, so wellness and beauty were always woven into my environment. Read more>>
Hummingbird Salon & Spa Erin & Taylor Inscho
I went to cosmetology school at 26, working as a receptionist and starting over more than once. I struggled with money, relied on a jobs program in the start of school just to afford gas, worked part-time, paid bills, and even moved back in with my mom when things got hard. I dropped out twice. Read more>>
Joy Edington
Before founding Keytones and Cake, I spent years in a corporate career and earned a degree in exercise physiology and an advanced degree in health statistics. I was a personal trainer while working my way through school, where I saw firsthand how deeply food choices impact energy, health, and quality of life. Read more>>
Caleb Ingram
Even as a young adult, I’ve always had a heart for connection, service and seeing churches worship together. I remember the many phone calls I made to organize recreational soccer games and hangouts. I also enjoyed serving in my church that my parents started. In high school, I had the idea of combining these things: my church ministry and connection and collaboration. Read more>>
Steven Fisher
All I’ve ever really known or felt beckoned to do is create. It’s been a long and somewhat crooked path but a very necessary one that’s led me to where I am. Who knows how it starts, really? I didn’t really look for it and I wouldn’t have known it if it hit me in the face, especially at 10-11 years old. Read more>>
Stephanie Booth
I started my business in my kitchen after buying a candle that I was dissatisfied with I went online (YouTube) and I learned how to make a Candle myself. I posted it on Facebook and the next morning I got over 800 likes. I had orders for a candle before I even had a business or business name. Read more>>
Al Folk
I really got started as a result of being a drummer. Every time any project I was in went into the studio, I was mesmerized by all the gear. I was always interested in what It all did and was constantly asking questions. Throughout the years I became friends with many engineers and people in the production business. Read more>>
Garrett Aitken
I actually got started in all of this randomly. I left home and got a job doing the same thing I did at my family’s business during college. It really wasn’t something I wanted to do so I stopped. Read more>>
Heather Reed
After high school, I immediately joined radio broadcasting and spent 10 amazing years living my dream! After being laid off, not knowing where to go next, I began working office jobs to keep paychecks coming in. While I am good at what I do in the office, this has never felt like that is where I was supposed to be. Read more>>
Samantha Rincione
Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ is a fast‑casual, family‑friendly restaurant serving up specialty hot dogs, mouthwatering BBQ, hearty breakfast favorites, and full catering for any occasion. Our New Philadelphia location, at 233 Bluebell Drive SW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, inside Walmart, brings bold flavors and warm hospitality to the community every day. Read more>>
Janelle Wolfe
Well the truth is I never wanted or desired to do hair or have a beauty business. In 2013 I was living life just trying to survive and take care of my sons, I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to do career wise since every attempt I had made up to that point didn’t work out. Read more>>
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>>
