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.

Ebay Fuller Jr.

One of the quickest things I learned that business owners and people building their business should know is you aren’t for everyone and that is ok, figure out who you’re for and trail there. One of the biggest issues I end up facing was when I moved to California, majority of my inventory of work was lost in transit, so I had to start from scratch. During that moment I questioned a lot of things including on whether this business was one I wanted to stay in; Nonetheless here we are striving. Read More>>

Rick Acker

I got my start in the material handling industry in 2008 as a store fixture liquidator. My role was to travel around the country and sell off surplus fixtures and assets from shuttering retail stores (Linen’s N Things, Rite Aid, Circuit City, etc). At that time, I had no prior experience in the industry, but quickly learned there is a great need for used warehouse equipment in good condition at a great price. Read More>>

Lexi Clark-Stilianos

I remember riding my bike to the local library and finding a book on choreographic methods and tools when I was around fourteen or fifteen. The book prompted basic scores such as making your limbs carve pathways in space to recreate shapes, numbers, and letters and being fascinated at this new exploration on how I could create my own movements. I have always been energized and curious about the body and dance as a vehicle for expression and connection. Read More>>

Keisha And Nyema Bedell

In February 2020, Nyema stumbled upon an advertisement on Craigslist for office space in Cuyahoga Falls—yes, Craigslist! It was an opportunity we couldn’t resist. We promptly filled out the application and were thrilled to get approved. Just a month after securing our office, the world shut down due to COVID-19. Our initial setup consisted of two offices and a back breakroom, which would eventually become Nyema’s office as we quickly outgrew our original space. Read More>>

Mackenzie Vasil

MacKenzie Walks began from my love for animals and the special bond I formed with my own dog, Charlie, who became a huge source of comfort shortly before my mom passed away. Walking him daily grounded me during this time, and as I began my journey in medical school, it became a form of self-care and connection with others who share a deep love for their pets. I realized that many pet owners wanted the same level of care and attention for their pets that I gave to mine, and that’s when MacKenzie Walks was born. Read More>>

Zachary Gill

Around the time that we both met, Kayla was pursuing a solo artist career and had recently released her first EP. I was working as a producer, creating instrumentals for rap artists out of the Cleveland area. In the summer of 2015, a mutual friend got Kayla in touch with me, as she was looking for a new producer to work with. This not only sparked a musical journey for the two of us, but also a personal relationship. Our love of music was the strongest factor forming our bond and it has been consistent to this day! We learned a lot from each other in the beginning. Read More>>

Penny Meeker

In college, I interned at a school for middle school boys who had emotional, behavioral, and learning disabilities. These were kids who hadn’t been able to stay in a special education classroom in their own school and were one step away from needing to be in a locked facility. I learned a host of tools to reach kids who had been previously unreachable. The teachers at this school modeled how to stay calm in the face of a multitude of behaviors and emotions that the boys exhibited daily. Calm, intentional interventions consistently applied over time transformed the lives of these young people.  Read More>>

Nicholas Levitt

We’re proudest of our newest sauce “Reapers Thai Tsunami” made with Carolina Reapers, fish sauce, garlic, ginger and Thai basil. It’s unique and the feedback has been great. We cover the globe with our sauce selection. Carribean Jerk, roasted tomatillo & jalapeño Verde, roasted garlic & habanero and banana pepper with new things always in the works. There are some seasoning blends in our offerings. “No mess” hot honey stands out from the others. Its granulated honey mixed with hot pepper powder, delivering the flavor of a traditional hot honey without the sticky mess. Read More>>

Sydney Turnbull Cameron Kurz

My sister Cameron and I purchased Carl’s Deli two and a half years ago, but our connection to it runs much deeper. We’ve been regulars at Carl’s our entire lives, growing up just a few blocks away. Having grown up within a family-owned business – Honeybaked Ham Company – we’ve always understood the importance of tradition and legacy. When the opportunity came up to take over Carl’s, it felt like a natural continuation of what we were raised to value. We’re proud to carry on its legacy while adding our own touch, and we’re excited to keep serving our community. Read More>>

Br’teway Nevafold

I don’t come from much. Where I’m from things are unpredictable. You have to keep your guard up at all times. My earliest memories were violent. I had good days but more so days where I had to defend myself all the time and some days when I was very young I couldn’t even do that. However I kept the love that I was born with, somehow but I can’t say the warzone didn’t change me. I watched my mom struggle to keep the family afloat while my dad spent a lot of his time getting high. It wasn’t long before I learned how to make money for myself.  Read More>>

Deed Ziegler

I don’t think starting a business is ever a smooth road. But, thats what makes it rewarding and even fun. As a solo founder with no background in food science or manufacturing, I faced a steep learning curve. Developing a completely new type of outdoor nutrition product meant there was no established playbook to follow – everything from the nutritional formulation to the custom packaging had to be built from scratch. Read More>>

Victor Paredes

Born in Chicago, and raised under two loving parents and a great older sister, my family was super encouraging of life in showbusiness from a young age. My parents had a running joke that whenever they saw a child actor on television, especially if the acting was terrible, they would turn to me and jokingly say, “See! Boy you could do so much better than that! No go out and make me some money!” Read More>>

Shango Upton

I’ve recorded artist for money for number of years. I had a home studio I work out of for some time. I recorded and worked with artists in professional studios around the city of cleveland. At one point, I was looking into getting a loan or an investor to open my own studio. Unfortunately, that never happened. COVID-19 really stopped everything I had planned. During COVID-19, unable to record in person, I innovated by producing beats around acapellas. When I got pretty good at this I created a unique “Beat Tape – Yellow.” This method, producing music tailored to artists’ vocals, became a cornerstone of my production approach, delivering exceptional results. Read More>>

Chloe Vanscoder

My journey hasn’t been smooth at all. I’ve had plenty of ups and downs. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to work for myself, have the freedom to make my own schedule, and not have to answer to a boss. After graduating with a bachelor’s in education in 2018, I chose not to pursue a teaching career. Instead, I worked as a server in a restaurant and a stylist in a boutique until an opportunity in direct selling, or network marketing, came my way. Read More>>