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.

Samantha Barrick

Hey, I’m Sam, and this is the story of why The Steady Desk Company exists. In 2017, my husband and I moved away from everything familiar, our hometown, most of our family, our people, to start fresh with our five-month-old daughter. It was a good move. But for a first-time mom suddenly far from her support system, it was also really lonely. Read more>>

Danielle Klein

Meet Stella’s Art Gallery: Where Community and Creativity Come to Life Walking into Stella’s Art Gallery feels less like entering a gallery and more like stepping into a living, breathing creative community. Every corner tells a story—through clay, paint, glass, metal, wood, and the hands of the artists who create it. Read more>>

Alex Kilpatrick

I first graduated college with a four-year business degree before entering the real estate appraisal industry. Over the past four years, I’ve continued building experience through mass appraisal, property data collection, and residential valuation work while completing the licensing process and transitioning into independent fee appraisal. Read more>>

Holly Haynes

Twenty-two years into my corporate career, I sat at my desk building business strategies for Fortune 500 companies and asked myself, ‘What am I doing?’ The salary was good. But I was working around the clock and missing the small, meaningful parts of my life. The dream wasn’t anything dramatic. Read more>>

Jared Rollyson

I’ve always enjoyed taking photos as well as appreciating art. In general, I’ve always loved visuals whether its the cinematography in movies or a haunted house on Halloween or a colorful garden. Read more>>

Shannon Housley

Before founding Housley Institute, I built my career in the corporate world as a marketing campaign strategist and financial copywriter, helping companies craft messaging that truly connected with people. While I enjoyed the creative side of marketing, I eventually found myself wanting something more personal, hands-on, and impactful. Read more>>

Jennifer Schertz

I’ve always enjoyed baking, and used to help my mom and my grandma — both excellent bakers — as a child. As an adult working in the corporate world, baking was a hobby and my form of stress relief. I’d bring all my extras into work, and my co-workers used to ask me if I’d ever consider starting a baking business. Read more>>

Mollie Mason

I actually started on a completely different path, going to school for elementary teaching and special education. While I always had an appreciation for art, I never realized it was my true calling until I picked up a paintbrush one day. Everything changed when I sold my first painting at 22 years old—seeing how much other people resonated with my work sparked an instant obsession. Read more>>

Patrick Parin

I have been in the food service industry for a total of 7 years. My dream is to open a food service establishment. When I finished culinary I realized that there are not very many bakers and bakeries anymore. I went back in 2022 shortly after earning my culinary arts degree to earn my baking and pastry degree and earned it in 2023. Read more>>

Ghoul Tarot

Hi! My name is Savannah Rae, aka Saiko Ghoul or “Ghoul Tarot.” I’m a professional witch & spiritual advisor from Toledo Ohio. I’m well known for my TikTok content & the work I do in my community. I mostly read tarot cards, cast spells, & give advice from the spirits. I started this business in 2020 after having my second spiritual awakening. Read more>>

Conrad Faraj

I’ve been obsessed with movies for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Honduras, one of my biggest sources of joy and entertainment was going to the movie theater every Sunday with my mom to watch double features. Cinema completely captured my imagination at a very young age. Read more>>

Turab Rai

I was born in Pakistan, and when I was four years old, my family moved to Canada in search of greater opportunity and a more stable future. My mother believed deeply that, in the West, hard work could create a fairer path toward security and generational wealth. My parents built a successful business there, but when I was nine, my father passed away. Read more>>

Patrick Kearns

My path started overseas. I spent over fifteen years doing humanitarian work in Southeast Asia, much of it along the Thailand-Myanmar border. One of the things I’m most proud of from that period is co-founding a school inside a refugee camp. That experience shaped everything about how I think about community, dignity, and what people are capable of when given real support. Read more>>

Gregory Hall

My story begins where it still lives today — Cleveland, Ohio. I was born and raised here, and from early on I understood that where you grow up shapes not just who you are, but how long you live. That truth would become the throughline of my entire career. Read more>>

Tyeshia Davis

My name is Tyeshia Davis, and I’m the founder of Talley Sweets, a dessert brand built from passion, creativity, and perseverance. I started baking at a young age and quickly realized that creating desserts was more than just a hobby for me — it was a form of art and a way to bring people together. Read more>>

Hannah Inglish

My path to massage therapy wasn’t a straight line — but looking back, every turn makes sense. I’ve always been drawn to holistic health, yoga, meditation, philosophy — the whole picture of what it means to live well in a body. Read more>>

Bunny Roberts

I started freelance business consulting in 2014. By this time I’d been a licensed cosmetologist specializing in highlights and cuts and I’d recently closed out a passion project turned business called Tres Doux. Read more>>

Macy Meyer

Growing up, some of my earliest memories are of sitting beside my grandma while she sewed. She was a hobbyist seamstress, but to me, she was an artist. I watched her create with incredible precision and craftsmanship, but what stayed with me even more was her attitude toward mistakes. Read more>>

Jessica Rosser

I really grew up in the wedding industry. I started as a coat check attendant, then worked as a server and bartender at weddings, and I’ve personally been in countless weddings over the years. Those experiences gave me a front-row seat to what makes a wedding successful and where couples often need support. Read more>>

Taylor White

I decorated my son’s 5th birthday party. That’s when I realized how excited I was to bring my vision to life. I posted my used Pokémon theme party decor on Facebook Marketplace and a few days later someone asked me “How much would it cost to set up balloons for their upcoming event”. That’s when I knew the balloon business was for me. Read more>>

Cortney Ley

Our story really started back in 2017 when a local landmark, Englewood Indoor Soccer, burned down. It was a massive pillar of our community, a place where generations of kids grew up and made lifelong memories. We also had a beloved local arcade and batting cages down the street, but that facility closed down in 2024. Years later, and still no one had rebuilt. Read more>>

Jamey Leigh

My dad taught me to play guitar. He was the best guitarist I’ve ever known! I started singing in his classic rock band when I was a teenager and they’d pay me for those gigs. That was awesome to make $100 for a few hours of singing as a teenager! Read more>>

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>>