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.

Ashley Kubin

I have always had a creative side. I worked in healthcare for many years. This took me away from my boys and I knew I wanted to be a Mom 1st and not miss a second of them growing. The healthcare industry started to take the turn into insurance driven care. Read more>>

Hannah Sensius

I have always been interested in the beauty industry and when I was in high school I wanted to do the post secondary program for Cosmetology, but my parents urged me to go to college instead. After attending college for three semesters, I decided it wasn’t for me and went to hair school. Read more>>

Destiny Harris

I’ve always been larger than life. Whether I was on stage, in front of a camera, or simply making people laugh, performing came naturally to me. Storytelling, creativity, and connecting with others have always been part of who I am. Yet despite that passion, I didn’t seriously pursue acting until 2021. Read more>>

Leah Lynch

It started when I was seventeen. I’d recently gotten out of raising Jersey Woolly rabbits, the breed I’d done for years, and I was missing the hobby. Then one day, scrolling Craigslist of all things, I found two bucks (male rabbits) for sale of a breed called the French Lop. Read more>>

Leah Lauchlan

I started my entrepreneurial business in Mary Kay Cosmetics in my early 20’s. I was disillusioned by my teaching job at the time, realizing it was not the dreamy job I hoped it would be when I was studying education in college. Read more>>

TIFFANY PETTIS

My journey has definitely not been a straight line, and honestly, I think that’s what makes it meaningful. I began my career in banking, where I spent more than 13 years working in customer service. During that time, I learned the importance of communication, problem-solving, and truly listening to people. Read more>>

Rob Hinds

From the time I started working (officially) at the age of 15, I always enjoyed and gravitated to job opportunities that revolved around helping people. As I matured and gained experience, my focus on psychology, human behavior, communication, and leadership intensified. Read more>>

Fatima Emlemdi

My journey with the Interfaith Center began in 2016 when I joined Miami University as a faculty member and served as a co-advisor for the Muslim Student Association (MSA). At that time, we frequently used the Interfaith Center for potlucks, meetings, and community gatherings. What immediately stood out to me was how welcoming, inclusive, and inviting the Center was for people of all backgrounds. Read more>>

Jasmine Parker

Soul Candy Herbal FARMacy was born from a deeply personal healing journey. After seven years of battling endometriosis, infertility, and pain medication dependency—along with undergoing seven unsuccessful surgeries—I decided to take my health into my own hands. I began researching holistic alternatives, studying herbs, and incorporating detox practices into my daily life. Read more>>

Fonda Royster

I started my journey long before I ever had titles, degrees, or organizations attached to my name. Before I experienced homelessness at 14, I had already survived years of neglect, abuse, and the collapse of every system that was supposed to protect me. Family systems failed. Religious systems failed. Education systems failed. Medical systems failed. Legal systems failed. Children services failed. Read more>>

Mackenzie Greer

I opened my little shop almost 10 years ago! It started with size-inclusive clothing and slowly morphed into what it is now: a gift shop filled with whimsy & rage from small brands owned by women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ folks! Read more>>

Shannon Thomas

i was traveling in my van as a pro paddle boarder and river surfer and doing graphic design remotely. When I came back to my hometown of Dayton for the summer, i decided to build a little river surf and paddle board clinic business out of an enclosed utility trailer I had. Read more>>

Tuffy Tuffington

Ever since I was young, I had an interest in both art and music. My walls were covered with posters, album covers and pages from magazines. I was granted early college acceptance and spent my last semester of high school interning at a design firm in downtown Cincinnati. Read more>>

Cade Buckus

As a kid, I always had an affinity for art and creativity. The adults in my life were always trying to convince me to be an artist, but I always had an aversion to people’s suggestions, for reasons I can’t explain. Read more>>

Heather Daye

Studio86 began in 2019 as an online video library subscription as a side hobby while living in Los Angeles. I spent six months learning how to build a subscription website, and how to film, edit, and upload videos before launching the website on April 1st, 2019. Read more>>

Janita Boles-Cochrane

For starters I never had a cup of coffee in my life. I would have told you it was the worst thing i ever smelt or tasted, but as a little girl I heard a song called ”Me and Mrs. Jones’. Read more>>

Nick Kostis

Nick began as an educator started out as a social studies teacher in West Lafayette Schools and his trail of helping children led him through Washington County Schools, Oberlin City Schools and Tallmadge City Schools where he was the Director of Pupil Personnel Services. Read more>>

Jeremy Kramer

I’m Jeremy Kramer, a commercial and editorial photographer based in Cincinnati, Ohio. My love for photography started with skateboarding, BMX, and a Polaroid camera, and later grew through years spent creating alongside musicians and other artists. Today I work with brands, publications, and creative teams to produce portraits, product imagery, sports photography, and visual campaigns that feel both polished and genuine. Read more>>

Myeisha Thompson

Looking back, my entrepreneurial journey doesn’t surprise me because I’ve always known I was meant to work for myself in some capacity. Even at a young age, I knew I was driven, independent, strong-willed, and willing to put in the work to create the life I wanted. Read more>>

Nick Kizirnis

I’m a long-time musician and user experience designer based in Dayton, Ohio. I started playing, recording and touring in bands back in high school, releasing independent albums and getting to share bills with so many amazing artists. Read more>>

Casey JO Miller

My arts education started in 9th grade at Cincinnati’s School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA). I started as a double major in Vocal Music and Visual Arts, by the time I graduated I specialized in photography. At that time most of my creative projects were created in the dark room. Read more>>

Kaitlyn Brooks

Growing up, chiropractic was always part of my life because my dad is a chiropractor. Ironically, I never planned on following in his footsteps! At the time, I had actually applied to dental school, but ultimately decided that wasn’t the path for me. After withdrawing my application, I found myself completely unsure of what direction I wanted to take. Read more>>

Kenton Parker

My first exposure to a DIY show was at 16, in church auditorium, with maybe 8 kids there, not including the bands. It was also my first exposure to local music. Raw and original, a little off time and too loud, I was hooked. I would go on to join one of those bands and we would play just about anywhere that would let us. Read more>>

Hillary Epstein

FOR 18 YEARS… Fleetwood Macked the Ultimate Tribute to Fleetwood Mac is a New York based Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band that tours nationally. Hailed as the most authentic Fleetwood Mac tribute band in the U.S., much of the realism comes from the bands history. Read more>>

Grissell Daniels

I started my business journey in my 40s when most of my children had gone off to college and I no longer had kids at home. I wanted to stay busy, find a creative outlet, and do something that brought me joy. Arts and crafts had always been relaxing for me, so I decided to turn that passion into something more. Read more>>

Brian Keith

Brian Keith is a singer, songwriter, producer, and media professional with more than 30 years of experience in the music industry. Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Brian relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, at the age of 16. Read more>>

Samantha Mahnulee

I am a self-taught makeup artist who began my beauty journey in 2010, driven by a lifelong passion for art, creativity, and self-expression. What started as a love for makeup quickly grew into a career dedicated to helping others feel confident and beautiful. Read more>>

Krista Pettry

I got started with my Marketing Company by accident. I was working for another company and two different business owners asked me if I did the job that I was doing free lance. I had never considered that, and after the 2nd person asked me – I thought this might be a great idea. Read more>>

Jason Riley

Bellawood Farm began through the partnership of three Marine Corps veteran families. Jason, Nathan, and Phil all served in the Marine Corps, collectively for nearly fifty years. The idea of purchasing the farm and businesses developed after Jason and his family moved to the Canal Winchester area in 2021. Read more>>

Brookelyn Akers

First of all, I’d love to say hello and thank you to everyone who is taking time out of their day to read about my story. My name is Brookelyn Akers, owner of Grace & Glory Photography that’s home based out of New Bloomington, Ohio, about fifteen minutes from Marion, Ohio. I am married to my wonderful husband Seth of 5 years. Read more>>

Toria Thornton

My journey into birth work began with a love for art, feminist theory, and the powerful intersections of gender that I explored while attending Wright State University. I followed my passion and earned a B.A. in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in 2019, and I’ve been painting and creating ever since. Read more>>

Brittany Ashley

I start photographing Ohio’s abandoned landscapes/urbanscapes in 2018. I have always been fascinated with fallen ruins covered by nature in that it showcases time in the past, present, and future all at the same time. In 2019, I was in a bad car accident that left me with a broken pelvic bone, ribs, and collar bone. Read more>>

Jaleesa Anderson

Hello, well my eyebrow journey actually started in high school somewhat. I use to arch a few of my friends eyebrows, and when I got into college I started taking a liking to doing makeup. I would watch all my favorite youtube girlies, and spend half of my summer working paychecks on buying makeup products. Read more>>

Young Spit

Young Spit is originally from Burundi a landlocked country in east central Africa, bordering Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The main languages spoken in the Burundian Republic are Kirundi, French (both official) and Swahili. Read more>>

Stephen Miller

I started cooking at home with my mother. I showed an interest in learning how to make my own food and she guided me with the basics. I enjoyed food network shows. Specifically the competition shows because the creativity needed to prepare meals with random ingredients with limited time was very impressive to me. Read more>>

Jen Burns

A few years before starting Access to Excess, I left a career in aviation logistics and began working in a grocery store. I was shocked by the amount of perfectly good food being thrown away simply because it didn’t sell fast enough or too much had been ordered. Read more>>

Giordano Poloni

I was born in a little city in the North of Italy, nera Milan, I lived an average 80s youth growing with the best of Hollywood and having fun with tons of friends. As the most of my generation I had a very grungy(e) teens but I have to say it has been a great time of my life. Read more>>

Christopher Jackson

It all started back when I was real young, I didn’t think I would fall in love with photography. My dad was in the navy and when he use to come back from his tour of duty, he would come back with these photos taken from this slim black camera with a little built-in flash. Read more>>

Christie Davis

My journey began with a deeply personal realization: beauty shouldn’t require us to compromise on our health or peace of mind. For years, I watched the beauty industry flood shelves with products packed with complex chemical synthetic ingredients, leaving consumers trying to decode labels just to find something safe for their skin and hair. Read more>>

Darryl Yokley

I moved to New York in 2009 and quickly established myself as a band leader performing around New York City and the surrounding areas. Since then my band and I have toured nationally and have three albums out- The Void (2012), Pictures at an African Exhibition (2018) and Un Mundo en Soledad (2024). Read more>>