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.

Alec Berlin

I got my first guitar when I was 7, but I remember playing air guitar on a tennis racket even before that. I took lessons and played as much as possible throughout school, including playing in bands at school dances and such. Eventually I moved to Boston to study jazz at The New England Conservatory and then to New York City. Read more>>

Riley Steiner

I’ve always had a love for animals from a young age. Growing up I had all sorts of animals from rabbits, to guinea pigs, goats, chickens, cows, sheep and of course dogs. Dogs have almost always been apart of my life. Read more>>

Istina TSOUKOUMBAYA

My name is istina Colombe, originally from Congo known as coco , founder of coco MWASSI LLC, who is a company that specializes in promoting the African Culture in USA . I move in USA in my twenties in November 2014 from some complicated living situation, even leaving my beloved son. Read more>>

Ericka Peake

I didn’t start this business with a business plan. I started it because I understood what it felt like to be overwhelmed. My life hasn’t followed a traditional path. I left home at 16, battled addiction, made more mistakes than I can count, and spent years trying to figure out who I was and what kind of life I wanted to build. Read more>>

Melinda Payne

Over 10 years ago, my business journey began with a simple conversation with a friend. At the time, I was working a corporate 9-to-5 job, but I felt unfulfilled and knew I wanted something more meaningful. Read more>>

Brinaje Bri Coker

I never imagined my story would attract attention. I’m simply a woman from Cleveland who kept moving forward when life gave her every reason to stop. Over the past few years, I’ve quietly rebuilt my life from the inside out through faith, reinvention, entrepreneurship, education, and a willingness to begin again. Read more>>

Carol MacConnell

My path to becoming a full-time artist took a few turns, but every step led me here. After earning my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Miami University with a focus on graphic art and painting, I spent about 20 years working in industry as a graphic artist, advertising manager, and in sales. Read more>>

Lori Weber

NPower was founded by Lori Weber, a mom with an autistic, adult daughter. All through the K – 12 education system, Lori learned that it took a team of teachers, direct service providers, social service assistants, and other care providers and specialists to help her daughter reach different potentials – often pushing past expectations. Graduation changes everything for the developmentally disabled (DD) population. Read more>>

Marisa Atwood

I’ve been a licensed cosmetologist for 17 years now, attaining my training and license through my high school career-tech school Pickaway Ross CTC in 2009. I always knew I wanted to work in a creative field and environment that I was able to fully be myself and to welcome others to do the same! Read more>>

Brittney Kessler

I’m Brittney Kessler, Founder and Owner of The Taste You Can See LLC. Like many stories worth telling, mine began during a season of uncertainty. When COVID-19 changed the world, it also changed the hospitality industry. As a professional chef, I found myself asking the same question many others were asking: What now? Read more>>

KTGODUMB!

My music journey began in late 2019 when I started producing beats using GarageBand before eventually transitioning to FL Studio. I was heavily influenced by artists like Lil Uzi Vert, J. Cole, Kid Cudi, and Wiz Khalifa, whose creativity inspired me to explore different sides of music. Read more>>

Matt Ashton

I was a classical musician in need of a morning/day job. During the time I had both careers going, I studied the coffee business like I was studying music. A year later, I left my first coffee job in an attempt to join and buy out a different local company. Read more>>

Jordan Lear

The decision to purchase the historic building in downtown Covington was driven by our deep-rooted love for the community and commitment to its development. We recognized the building’s potential to become a cornerstone for social gatherings, celebrations, and business events. By restoring and repurposing the structure, we aimed to preserve its historical significance while introducing modern amenities that cater to contemporary needs. Read more>>

Adam Hurst

My path to starting Hammock Gear was anything but planned. In the early 2000s, I worked for a small environmental consulting company in Ohio called Smalley & Associates. I spent about seven years there working with real estate companies and regulatory agencies such as the EPA and Ohio’s Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations. Read more>>

e’lele tiana

I lost a bet to a friend and that forced me to join choir in middle school. Now I am an award winning and nominated vocalist in the state of Hawaii where I live, and enjoy the tour circuit of the Midwest and the west coast every year. My family gathered often and shared meals and played music together. Read more>>

Jess Fisher

I’ve been in the beauty industry for 17 years and owned Salon Lola for the last 8. Like a lot of stylists, I started because I loved doing hair, but over time I realized I was just as passionate about helping people feel confident and creating opportunities for other stylists to grow. Read more>>

Samuri West

Talking about myself has never been easy. I’ve always felt more comfortable expressing who I am through songs than through interviews. I’ve been a singer and performer for as long as I can remember. In fact, the first trophy I ever won was for singing. I was so young that I don’t remember the actual performance, but I remember what it represented. Read more>>

Audra Dalton

My journey in cosmetology began after becoming a young mother. I wanted a career that would provide financial stability while also allowing me the flexibility to be present for my children and never miss the important moments in their lives. I started my career in a men’s salon and later worked in two established salons in Wilmington, gaining valuable experience and refining my skills. Read more>>

Dinah Taylor

Absolutely. My name is Dinah Taylor, but most people know me as Dinah Did It. I’m an entrepreneur, web designer, creative strategist, and business owner based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Read more>>

Charlie Ramshaw

I’m Charlie Ramshaw, founder and CEO of RamClean. My background is actually in real estate and construction. I studied business at Eastern Kentucky University and spent years in construction management on the family side of things, which is where I really saw how much a building’s condition affects the people and businesses inside it. Read more>>

Mandi Clark

Sonshine Blooms started as a mother-son gardening duo. My son, Van, and I began growing cut flowers in our backyard just for fun. One day he told me, ‘I want to open a flower stand.’ Most kids want a lemonade stand—but he wanted a flower stand. We set one up, and to our surprise, we sold out in about an hour. Read more>>

Hayley Deeter

I left corporate America at the height of my 27-year career to make a career change. I was a single parent to two elementary school children and wasn’t home enough. I decided to follow my passion and opened an art gallery on Nov. 8, 2007. In its first full year, the gallery was voted Best Gallery in Columbus. Read more>>

Hanawalt Family

I will try to make this as short as possible and you will just have to take ! In 2000, Chip Hanawalt went to collect money from a builder who had not paid him for a tile job. He noticed a ‘for sale’ sign in front of a dilapidated campground and thought it would be neat to own a park. Read more>>

Rebecca Russell

My creative story really began with the women in my family. Both my loves and many of my skills were learned or handed down. My grandmother was a teacher and a quilter, she taught me the basics of sewing while also instilling in me a deep love of reading. My mother, an English teacher, reinforced that love of books, language, and writing. Read more>>

ANGELL CARPENTER

I started off as a background actress in 2015 and was networking at a show in California when I met Faces of Rap Mothers at Comedycella. They invited me to be a social worker in the movie/ comedy/ drama series. Read more>>

Jim Rodgers

HiFi Honey started about nine years ago. My previous band was locked into a pretty specific themed genre, and that limited where we could play and what we could do. I wanted to build something that wasn’t boxed in like that — a band that could adapt as music trends shifted but still lean on the staples that always work a room. Read more>>

Lauren Dirksen

I’ll be honest, I don’t remember what triggered me to be so intrigued by tattoos, but it happened at a young age! Read more>>

Colin Harmon-Ulmer

Hi, my name is Colin Harmon-Ulmer! I graduated from Kent State University with a BFA in photography back in 2024. While managing my academic career, I was also managing my personal and professional career. I started photography when I was 17 years old and have honed my skills since then. Read more>>

Penelope Tsirambidis

My name is Penelope, and I’m the owner of Forever Fly Nails. My journey started with a passion for beauty, creativity, and making people feel confident. What began as a hobby quickly turned into a career when I realized how much I loved not only creating nail art but also building connections with the women who sat in my chair. Read more>>

Jamie Rapavy

I may be in my second official year of coaching wedding entrepreneurs, but the truth is, I have been coaching in this industry for over 25 years. I just did not always call it coaching. Read more>>

Melissa Adamchik

I am the daughter of some pretty amazing parents who taught me to care for others and to work for justice. My mom was the ultimate nurturer, room mother at school, and neighborhood mom; and my dad was a Criminal Investigator for the IRS who also did SWAT and Secret Service detail. Read more>>

Tony Dawson

My grandfather owned a kettle corn business & as I was growing up he’d take me with him to fairs, & markets. I hated it at first cuz I wanted to go play & run around the fairs. But as I got older I started to appreciate the business & the joy that kettle corn brought to people. Read more>>

Izzy Schachner

Izzy began his career operating a mobile catering business for film productions throughout Ohio. On set, the 150-person crew operated like a family, collaborating across the same projects and developing strong professional bonds. This shared dedication was forged through demanding conditions, from harsh winters and heavy rain to intense summer heat. Read more>>

Benji Ballmer

20 years ago, I realized that the food system is rigged against our health. In an effort to find out how to restore the most nutrient-dense food to my diet, I realized that the average customer would never be able to get to as many small farms as it would take to ‘shop’ each week. From that need, the Yellowbird Foodshed was born. Read more>>

Tanyia O’Neal

I started making Tutus years ago. I saw photos of tutus, tutus in the store for children, trends of tutus and thought to myself I can make these. I did some research to see what was the best technique, I started off going to the local craft store buying material and started my very own first tutu. Read more>>

Dan Barker

I grew up in a small town in western New York and have always been someone who enjoys learning through hands-on experience and I’ve always had a passion for music. I’ve faced many challenges and setbacks, but they’ve helped me grow into who I am. Read more>>

Tia Williams

My journey has been filled with both challenges and victories. For much of my life, I doubted my own talents and creativity. It wasn’t until I left home for college that I truly began to embrace my creative abilities and step into my purpose. During that time, I started exploring entrepreneurship and launched several business ventures. Read more>>

Lindsey Myers

I went to Boston University (BU) where I majored in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. While I was a student I took an internship at WordHampton Public Relations (WHPR), a hospitality PR firm located in East Hampton, NY and ranked by Jack O’Dwyers as one of the top 100 independent PR firms in the country. Read more>>

Blake Derr

When I was a little kid, my parents saw pretty quickly that I was musically inclined. By the age of 13 I was taking music classes at my school and doing private lessons up until I graduated from high school. During that time period it was decided that I would go to Ohio State University to become a doctor in music educated. Read more>>

Bart Alcorn

I was born in Lexington, Kentucky, but I was raised in Kettering, Ohio. That is where I met my wife of 39 years, Janet. It was through Janet that I was introduced to the family business, Eddy Fruit Farm. Eddy Fruit Farm was established in 1869, and the founder, Clay Eddy Jr, still lives in the original farm house. Read more>>

Michael Adamski

My passion for cars began at a young age thanks to my dad. Growing up, Saturdays were often spent attending local car shows and watching drag racing at Quaker City Motorsports Park. Those experiences introduced me to the automotive community and sparked a lifelong appreciation for classic cars, muscle cars, hot rods, and motorsports. More importantly, they showed me how cars bring people together. Read more>>

Mary Bouyer

It started with a dream I had at the age of 8 years old. In 2013, I was given a call by a publisher saying they want to publish my book. They had seen me viewing there sight. I knew I was working on a children’s book but I did not remember searching for a publisher. Read more>>

Casey Lucio

Graze Station really started with two moms who love entertaining and bringing people together. One day we came across the idea of a mobile charcuterie cart on social media and decided this was it. Read more>>

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>>