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.

Sarah Herbst

I’ve been a licensed esthetician since 2010 and started my business in 2014. What began as me taking clients on my own has grown into two Sugar Bar locations, an online and in-person education platform, and now The International Sugaring Convention. Read more>>

Sierra Heard

Nappy by Nature was started in 2018 from a place that was very personal to me. I always loved beauty and hair, but I also noticed how many people struggled to feel confident wearing their natural hair. I wanted to create a brand and environment where people felt comfortable embracing who they are naturally while still feeling beautiful, confident, and cared for. Read more>>

Dalton Harp

I’m Dalton Harp, a photographer and videographer driven by storytelling, emotion, and documenting real moments as they happen. Long before I ever picked up a camera, I was obsessed with movies, television, and the feeling visuals could create. Read more>>

Kyle McDonald

I come from a family of creative, hardworking, and service-oriented individuals who have always believed in using their talents to positively impact the people around them. Growing up in that environment inspired me to pursue creativity not only as a passion, but as a way to connect with others and provide meaningful value to my community. Read more>>

Emily Mitchell-Polci

Yes — that’s a better angle. More simple, honest, and true to the story: — The Wandering Lantern came together in a way that felt very natural, but also a little wild. It started as just an idea — one of those “wouldn’t that be amazing?” conversations — and then suddenly there was a real opportunity in front of us. Read more>>

Theodore Stegner

The Springfield Soup Kitchen is a heartache and hope intertwined, a story born from the depths of love, marked by loss, and fueled by an unwavering sense of purpose. Read more>>

Amelie Astrid Coffi

Coffico African Beauty & Fashion was born from my passion for African culture, creativity, and natural beauty. Originally from Senegal with family roots in Benin, I have always been inspired by the rich colors, artistry, and traditions of African fashion and design. My journey started over 16 years ago when my youngest daughter was born with eczema. Read more>>

CLAUDINE KOSIER

I started Simply Dog Photography after my heart dog, Tango became sick with a very aggressive cancer. I had always wanted to be a photographer, since high school, I just chose a different path. When he became sick, the first thing I thought was, I needed to find a photographer. We found the perfect photographer to capture beautiful images of him. Read more>>

Mary Foltz

My path to lifecasting started with my education in sculpture and over 15 years of experience as a mold maker, so the technical foundation was always there. The real turning point came when I noticed lifecasting as a popular service in Europe. I was completely stopped in my tracks. I had never seen a keepsake so meaningful, so deeply personal. Read more>>

Spencer Williams

I grew up right here in Strongsville, Ohio, and if you’ve spent time in SouthPark Mall over the last decade, there’s a good chance you’ve seen me somewhere along the way. At 15 years old, my first jobs were right here in the mall. Read more>>

Miranda Sullivan

I was formerly a school teacher that was very interested in retiring as soon as possible. I learned a lot about finance on my own and I worked in a low income community so I began teaching the concepts I was learning to my students. Read more>>

Maggie O’Malley

I have wanted to own a coffee shop since I was in high school. I went to Shawnee State University for business and marketing. A got a job at a bank that I hated, and eventually left to work at a coffee shop near Columbus. After a year, I became the manager there and I loved it. Read more>>

Luke Leffel

Wow, where to start!? I’m currently full-time Lifestyle and Cafe Photographer. I’m also launching a cafe magazine (it’s called Cafes Magazine) and doing some speaking and writing…but I feel so new to it all! I spent the better part of 20 years opening cafes and restaurants around the Midwest (One Line Coffee, Fox in the Snow Cafe, Emmett’s Cafe. Read more>>

Justin Nawman

I’ve been in law enforcement for over 17 years, and throughout my career I developed a strong interest in martial arts because of the discipline, structure, and mindset it builds. I was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a way to gain confidence and develop skills without having to rely solely on my duty belt. Read more>>

Durb Morrison

I’m Durb Morrison, a tattoo artist with over 36 years of professional experience, beginning my tattoo career in 1990. I’m the owner of RedTree Tattoo Gallery and the organizer of the Hell City Tattoo Festival, which has grown into one of the tattoo industry’s favorite conventions. Read more>>

Shawn Harper

My story is really a story of grace, grit, and God. I grew up in Columbus, Ohio, in a single parent household with five siblings. We faced poverty, rejection, and a lot of challenges early on. I struggled in school with learning disabilities and a stutter. I repeated the first grade, was bullied, kicked out of schools, and was even voted most likely to fail. Read more>>

Emy Abrahams

I always had house plants because my mom and aunts always had them, but during the pandemic I started to get more interested in them like so many other people. I learned to use a diamond-tipped drill bit to drill drainage holes in vintage teapots and vases to hold my beauties and started to sell them at garage sales in ’22. Read more>>

Christine Garcia

After college, I pursued a Master’s in Hospital Administration, with hopes of becoming the CEO of my own hospital one day. After having my daughter, I realized that my career aspirations were changing and this was no longer a dream of mine. I liked being an involved mother and having the time to be with my daughter. Read more>>

Donna Ironwing

I’ve been a hairstylist for 16 years now, starting right out of high school. Before opening my own business, I worked at a salon in Parma for 11 years, where I really grew into the stylist I am today and built such a loyal client base. In 2023, I finally decided to take the leap and open my own space, The Moth Room. Read more>>

April Sawicki

In 1999 i graduated from Highland High School and the Medina County Career Center! I received my cosmotolgy license on the first try! Ever since I was a little girl i always wanted to be a hairstylist! Styling my dolls hair, friends hair, even bugging my brother sometimes! In my career I always knew i wanted my own shop! Read more>>

Dan Farkas

Professional Wearer of Many Hats isn’t something you can put on a LinkedIn profile, but it may be the best way to describe me. I’m a Professor of Strategic Communication at Ohio University, where I teach research, strategy, content creation, measurement, and analytics courses. I’m also a business owner when not chasing late homework or his two kids. Read more>>

Katherine Hurley

I have been a working artists in Cincinnati, Ohio for 50 years specializing in atmospheric Landscapes in oil and pastel. My scenes are from all over the globe, but my favorite is my own view of the Ohio River. I welcome commission work too. My studio has been at The Pendleton Art Center for over 33 years. Read more>>

Prophet (Chef Braxton Vaughn) Stacks

Adversity Builds Character and the Survival of Struggle and being born into odds stacked against you creates Drive and Ambition! For me, that was the recipe for my efforts to strive for excellence and I believe that as long as you do your Absolute Best with Supreme Integrity, the Results are in God’s Hands. The Success is within the Process! Read more>>

Adam Geuy

I am the son, nephew, and grandson of very hardworking and highly skilled carpenters and contractors. Our lineage originated in Germany and brought that attention to detail and precision with them. My grandfather’s company had a reputation for building beautiful barns throughout champaign county and central Ohio. Many of which later became bicentennial barns and we’re noticeable due to their unique design character. Read more>>

Alicia Donovan Brainerd

Let’s set the record straight. The journey of The Hosted Collection didn’t begin with a grand commercial real estate strategy or an immediate leap into historic neighborhood renovations. It actually started much closer to home, born out of a personal passion for hospitality and a few spaces of our own. Read more>>

Mikaela Faiello

My Lagree journey started a few years ago when I was living in Los Angeles. I took my first class and was instantly hooked, it was unlike anything I had ever done. It challenged me mentally and physically, transformed my body, and made me feel stronger than ever. Read more>>

Earl Fox

Well, I owned a store shortly after I graduated High School. Had a partner, we parted ways and couldn’t come up with an agreement, so we closed. I Always wanted to have another store. It took quite a few years, and lots of twists and turns in-between. 12 years in-between, then Covid happened and the Whole business I run Changed. Read more>>

Daniel Wakefield

I was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. When I was a senior in high school, I was invited by an Ursuline Sister to come to their Motherhouse to help serve at a jubilee celebration. This invitation had a profound effect on me and my life. I began learning about the Ursuline Sisters and their ministries. Read more>>

Joe Claire

I grew up on a farm in rural Indiana, in Benton County near Fowler. I attended Purdue University, where I earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. While in school, I interned with DaimlerChrysler in Kokomo, Indiana. After graduating, I moved to Maine and worked for Nestlé Waters for two years before relocating to Springfield, Missouri, where I spent about five years working for Kraft Foods. Read more>>

Alison Perez

A few years ago, around three years ago, the term “life coaching” was brought to my attention during a conversation with my sister-in-law. At the time, I honestly didn’t know much about it, so it prompted me to start researching what life coaching actually was. Read more>>

Heather Wentz

My journey into travel didn’t start with a plane ticket; it started with a search for freedom. For a long time, my life felt incredibly heavy. I spent over 15 years struggling with a weight I couldn’t seem to shed—a battle with alcoholism and infertility that I truly believed would be the end of my story. On December 30, 2013, everything changed. Read more>>

Yolanda Murphy

Yolanda Murphy Founder & President, Love for Mankind LLC Owner, Mobile Fingerprinting LLC Solutions & Ohio Pre-Employment Services LLC Yolanda Murphy is a visionary leader and entrepreneur dedicated to fostering independence, dignity, and equality for individuals with developmental disabilities. Read more>>