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.
Bruce & Sandy Bottcher
As with so many other businesses, we face higher property taxes and insurance. After covid, the cost of goods escalated, causing a strain on each of us. We have tried to keep our service prices down in order to help our patients be able to afford their health care, but in order to stay in business, we have to bring in enough to pay our bills also. We are a cash only business, but we do take credit cards, checks and cash. The credit card companies have begun to gouge us with higher prices and extra charges that were not originally charged; therefore, we have had to pass the credit card fees on to our patients. Read more>>
Tamuka & Jazmine Simango
We created Water Your Plants because we wanted to make intentional spaces for people to connect and build community. Austin is a beautiful city with a lot going on, but sometimes that can lead to a lot of surface level interactions and we want to help change that narrative. Read more>>
Siddhi Golecha
My journey into hand lettering began unexpectedly in a college visual communication class. Watching my professor effortlessly create fluid strokes with a brush pen ignited a spark of curiosity within me. The playfulness and expressiveness of the art form drew me in. Borrowing her brush pens, I discovered a therapeutic outlet. Read more>>
Cat Ashton & Clairissa Simmons
We’re both serial crafters and problem solvers, and in 2023 we found ourselves at a crossroads. The community makerspace we belonged to was closing its doors, and we did not want to lose the community we’d found there. Rather than letting that space disappear, we decided to step in and take over. Read more>>
Richie Vios
So it’s a challenging start, as for sure its a hard pill to swallow per se, I’m architect before and worked part-time attendant on the City of Victoria,Texas Golf Course and started full-time artist and taught in the Victoria Art League at night, God is good after 6 years of hustling now I can say I made it. I won multiple major awards and did major art exhibitions all over the state. Read more>>
Knox Kronenberg
I am a 26-year-old fine art photographer, born and raised in Austin, Texas. My earliest passion was the outdoors, particularly fishing, and my life since has been a natural progression of that love. Today, the fine art business has become my true calling, and I feel deeply honored and grateful to create imagery that resonates with others and inspires them to collect my work. Read more>>
Ricky Grant
It had dawned on us how much of an influence fungi has on the well-being of the whole planet. So, we decided to set out on an adventure to develop a relationship with fungi to vitalize our community and our lands with the power of mushrooms. We started the journey in 2019 right before Covid had taken its hit on the nation. Read more>>
Charli Krause
I’ve never worked for a big company – the extent of my private sector work was at small mom and pop restaurants, working with my parent’s cleaning service, and freelancing for my hometown newspaper when I was in high school. Read more>>
Jason Brumbalow
Hey all! Pictures speak thousands, but videos say everything I can’t get into words here. So, here is a handful of vids that highlight the genesis and journey. If you want me to fill in the gaps after digesting there, I’m all yours. Read more>>
Reshma Mohamed Khaleelullah
Hello everyone, I’m Reshma Khaleel, henna artist and the founder of AR MEHENDI ART. I’m orginally from South part of India. I moved to the USA after my marriage. That is when my journey with henna began quite unexpectedly. Read more>>
JERRY MORALES
As a kid my dad had me working for him every summer to help pay for my school clothes for that up coming year. Read more>>
Lisa-Marie McGaughey
Interview Feature – Lisa-Marie McGaughey, MCG Homestead Rentals and Sales I began my journey in real estate and property management in 1999, working with several brokerages and managing apartment communities. Over the years, I’ve faced my share of challenges — balancing a career while being a single mother and navigating failed marriages. Each experience taught me resilience and fueled my determination to create something lasting. Read more>>
Gus Manke
In sports in high school and college, we have a championship or a goal to aim for. But after you graduate, it’s tough to find a goal or north star to train for. Personally, I was overweight coming out of school, and between my poor work, eating, and drinking habits, I wasn’t progressing my fitness anywhere. Read more>>
Jesse Herrera
iPainfree is first and foremost a family-owned and operated company started by my stepfather, Delmo Casarez. Being a disabled veteran, he, like most veterans, experienced pain daily, specifically chronic sciatica pain. Del was and is a salesman and would go across the state selling various products that were based on holistic pain relief, motivated partly by his own situation. Read more>>
Michelle Megie
I began my journey as a kindergarten teacher—a girl with a big heart for helping others and a growing passion for skincare. My obsession with skin health started when I was 19 and struggling with hormonal cystic acne. The pain was not only physical but deeply emotional. Read more>>
Alexandra (Alex) Campo
I’m Alexandra “Alex” Campo, the Peace Integration Coach. I’m a somatic practitioner, trauma coach, and founder of Hero’s Ranch Holistic Healing, a healing farm focused on releasing trauma out of the body and healing your nervous system, located on the east side of Georgetown. As a solo mom of three and a U.S. Read more>>
Chanelle (Nelly) Smith Hubbard
I’m a certified wig maker, educator, and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the beauty industry. My journey began back in 2010 when I made my very first wig using a glue gun and a dome cap. I had no idea that moment would spark a passion that would later become my purpose. Read more>>
Allie Martinez
I moved to Austin for undergrad at UT and it’s been home ever since (almost 20 years!). Even after backpacking for a year around the world, my now-husband and I just knew Austin was where we wanted to be. In 2017, I was working in tech and realizing that I needed to break out of the 9-5 grind. Read more>>
Miles Mosby
Landscape/hardscape started for me at a young age. I grew up doing country type work, building stone walls and wood fences. Planting and picking tomatoes and squash. Throughout high school I worked at Shoal Creek Nursery in central Austin. I picked up odd jobs on the side like delivering and planting trees, installing edging, trimming hedges. All that sorta stuff. Read more>>
Tiffany Berry
My career path took multiple turns before I landed in the world of therapy. I spent 5 years as an elementary school teacher in a local dual-language immersion program. Read more>>
Mario Tamez
I started working as a producer and director at 23 in Mexico City, and by 25 I had moved to Baja California for an opportunity to work with clients both in the U.S. and Mexico. Read more>>
Uriel Reyes
From Humble Beginnings to Leadership: A Journey of Resilience I was born in a small and humble town in Mexico a place without electricity, without television, without toys, and without the simple joys many children experience. I didn’t know what Christmas was like, and I never had the chance to ride a bicycle. Read more>>
Carolyn Roach
I started as a small jewelry designer located in rural Pennsylvania, Mars PA. The original name of the shop was just simply ‘The Bead Store’ it was located in a back room of a local coffee shop. I was open for 2 years at that spot. Read more>>
Joel Salcido
My first photography epiphanies, if you will, came early in life in Mexico. First, while playing hide and seek with friends in my grandmother’s home I accidentally discovered the camera obscura. Read more>>
Ryan Thompson
I played soccer for 16+ years as professional Goalkeeper. Born and raised in Kingston Jamaica. Soccer changed my life and gave the opportunity to travel the world and meet many different people and culture. As a goalkeeper we are consider the most important player and the field but has in life the role of a goalkeeper is very similar. Read more>>
Jamika Martin
ROSEN began in my dorm room at UCLA after years of dealing with severe acne acne hyperpigmentation. I began breaking out in middle school, which then began the long journey of treatments, medications and appointments for my skin. Eventually, I went on to take Accutane twice- the largely touted ‘last stop’ to acne medications. Read more>>
Rachel Lorance Jones
Born and raised in Houston, Texas. Got into the bar business at 18. Started as a barback, then a server, then a bartender, and then a manager. Moved to Marble Falls. I was a stay at home mom during the day with our oldest & bartended a few nights a week at the Rbar and Grill located in the Downtown district Of Marble Falls. Read more>>
LaShann Thomas
Five years ago, I started Texas Loan Notary with one mission; to serve families with integrity, excellence, and faith during one of the most important transactions of their lives: closing on their home. I’m also a Texas Mortgage Broker with C2 Financial and the founder of Thomas Capital Lending, an educational platform designed to empower homebuyers through understanding Read more>>
Bruce Levinson
The Bell House’s roots date back to 1946, when the property was first platted and a modest two-bedroom home was constructed. Over the years, it transformed from a family home into a drive-through snow cone shop. Read more>>
Kathy Teeter
We knew the owner of 402 East Street for many many years prior to purchasing and turning it into The Victorian House of Hutto. Read more>>
Emily Ingraham
I’m definitely not where I thought I’d be 5 years ago. If you told me that when I stepped out into my own space I wouldn’t be doing haircolor anymore I’d look at you like you had two heads. I’ve been a colorist my entire 13 year career as a hair stylist. Read more>>
Sean McNinch
It’s been an interesting journey getting to where I am today. I discovered that life in contracting can be incredibly rewarding, especially when you know your craft well enough to make a real difference in people’s daily lives. Being able to help others and guide them in making the right decisions brings a sense of purpose that keeps me motivated every day. Read more>>
Heather Miller
I’ve been into photography since high school — a long time ago (I graduated in ’95!). What started as a hobby turned into a lifelong love for capturing people and emotion and creating. Fourteen years ago, I officially started Simone Rae Photography, and it’s been growing and evolving ever since. Read more>>
Gerardo Gomez
I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, ever since my mother introduced me to painting and drawing preceding elementary school, I have always kept art as a sacred practice in my life. Read more>>
Edward Perry
My name is Ed Perry, and I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. I started this as a hobby about five years ago, but soon had too many pieces to keep around the house. I named my business Torch and Nail because it incorporated techniques I use in my art. We are actually a family of artist. Read more>>
Blanca Sanchez-Navarro
I am a native Texan who also spent many years in New Orleans, LA where, after high school, I attended Loyola University of the South. Upon graduation with a BS in Psychology, I returned to Texas to attend St. Mary’s University in San Antonio where, in 1989, I completed an MS in Clinical Psychology. Read more>>
Lorrie Ortega
About ten years ago, I started thinking about what I’d do if I were laid off or when I retired from my corporate job. I wanted something I’d truly enjoy, so I thought about what I love most—football (both my sons were D1 long snappers at Texas A&M and the University of Nevada), spa days, and travel. Read more>>
sarah Imparato
I remember in 3rd grade my teacher asking me to help two classmates fighting over a rubix cube resolve this problem. That moment stood out to me and today makes sense to my community that I would leave a peaking Hollywood PR career to pursue my passion of becoming a therapist. Read more>>
TJ Duncan
The heart of Lazy Sue lies in the friendship between Jane (vocals), Sol (vocals+bass/keys), and Zane (vocals+keys/bass) with TJ (guitar) and Zoe (drums) bringing a new air to old friendships. Friendships that started 12 years ago in a choir room in New Mexico and have brought Lazy Sue to the stages of Austin, TX. Read more>>
Faith/Ania Salais/Prieto
We started working together in a bakery about 4 years ago. I was finishing school and Ania was our mixer (the best mixer, in my opinion). We literally worked across a table from each other, everyday, so naturally we became fast friends. We both shared the love of baking but agreed we wanted more than our day jobs were offering. Read more>>
DANIELLE PIRES
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I have always been a problem solver and the first one to jump into helping anyone that crossed paths with me. I had my first child when I was 17, and soon became a single mother struggling with responsibilities and lack of freedom. Read more>>
Bri and Jasmin Berkowitz and Vara
We met at an independent school in Austin where we both landed our dream positions to grow the student support program: Bri as Director of Learning Services and Jasmin as Lower School Counselor. Bri primarily worked with the adults (parents and teachers) of children with learning differences such as dyslexia and ADHD. Jasmin worked with children to support them through emotional dysregulation, anxiety, and stress. Read more>>
Jason Russel Waller
My father was a criminal, so when my family was on the run, movie theaters were a great place to hide out. The whirling hum of a film projector in a dark, air-conditioned cinema was always an invitation to escape my disorderly upbringing. But the Silver Screen offered more than escapism. Movies introduced me to other types of people and places, art and culture. Read more>>
Paul Roach
It all started for me when I went to a boarding military high school 8 hours away from home away from all my friends and family. While trying to discover my new life here, I wandered into the art room and met Mr. Freeman who would ultimately change the course of my life. Read more>>
Kanaka Sathasivan
I have been part of the classical dance community in Austin for over 30 years, and in that time, was privileged to direct and produce many productions. One of the first shows I did as a young director was supported by Indian Dance Endeavor of Austin, which at the time was a very small organization. Read more>>
Cathy Walker
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to helping people heal. I began my career here in Austin in 2004 as an acupuncturist and massage therapist. What started as a small solo practice eventually grew into a thriving business called Austin Ashiatsu. I poured everything I had into it—my body, my time, my heart. Read more>>
Christina Herrera
I always knew that I wanted to work with children but after graduating high school, I still didn’t know what that looked like. After earning my bachelor’s degree, I was fortunate to start work with a nonprofit called Communities in Schools. I greatly enjoyed working with CIS and found that counseling and mentoring was what I was passionate about. Read more>>
Amanda Mamerow
I was in college fixing to graduate. I had been applying for jobs but no return calls. A little boutique in my hometown was retiring and I decided the best way to get experience was to purchase the business and go into business for my self. This year I celebrate 15 years in business. Read more>>
Bernice Escorpizo
My name is Bernice Escorpizo, and I launched Providence Notary Services in mid-2025 with a simple premise: essential legal documentation should be accessible, convenient, and built on trust. My career path began in luxury wellness and personalized care, with over 20 years of experience as a licensed massage therapist. Read more>>
CYNDI O’TOOLE
The Autism Resource Center (ARC) started from a simple goal: to make the diagnostic process more compassionate, clear, and accessible for families who have a neurodivergent child. I’ve worked in the field of behavior analysis and special education for over 20 years, and throughout that time, I kept seeing the same story play out. Families were waiting months, sometimes even a year, for evaluations. Read more>>
Evelyn Vieira
My story begins in 2012 when I became a stepmom to two girls, ages 5 & 7. I had worked with kids for 15+ years before that as a Professional Nanny and Preschool Teacher so I thought becoming a stepmom would be a piece of cake. Boy was I wrong! Read more>>
Brian Kerschbaum
I was born and raised in Michigan, where my dad, Chuck, made a big career change back in 1999 to start a water feature company called WaterScape. Growing up, I spent most of my summers out on job sites with him, helping build ponds and waterfalls. That’s really where I learned the craft — hands-on, one rock and one pump at a time. Read more>>
Jill Franks
From Dreamer to Destination Expert: The Story Behind Destinations by Jill I’m originally from Minnesota, but Texas has been home since 2010. My husband and I first settled in The Woodlands before eventually finding our way to the Georgetown area, where we’ve built our life together. My love for travel started long before I ever had a passport. Read more>>
H.L. Fahnestock
In December 2019, we made a trip to Hamburg, Germany, to visit our daughter, Sam. She was studying at the University of Hamburg during her junior year abroad from Smith College. Every morning, during our visit, we would stop for coffee and a delicious Franzbrötchen at the train station. In March 2020, the pandemic forced her to return home. Read more>>
David Messier
Excellent question Megan. Interestingly enough, I was the first hypo-birth Weymouth, Massachusetts. They had to hypnotize my mother because during birth I was recklessly flinging my arms and legs. Shortly after, I moved to Austin, Texas with my plutonic friend Andre Cantave. Read more>>
Alex K
It all started when I tried my first escape room and was instantly hooked. I loved how it blended storytelling, problem-solving, and teamwork in such a unique way. At the time, escape rooms were still new in the U.S., and I saw an opportunity to create something special. That led to my first project, ROOM 5280, inside a charming old Victorian house in downtown Denver. Read more>>
Pamela Clark
I started my career as a self-employed web designer and later transitioned into software development—all while raising five children. Photography was always a creative outlet for me. I loved capturing my own children, my friends’ children, and even volunteering at their school to photograph students for the annual yearbook. Read more>>
Stacy Cassel
I’ve always loved bringing order to chaos and helping people make sense of their stories. My background is in Human Resources and Leadership Development, where I spent years creating programs to help people grow and connect. Over time, I realized those same skills—organization, storytelling, and reflection—fit perfectly with my love of photos. That’s how Snapshot Solutions started. Read more>>
Lacey McDaniel
I started Newsboy Marketing & Publishing with a simple idea: that brands, no matter their size or budget, deserve stories that truly connect with people. While working in the corporate world, I noticed so many businesses pouring their hearts into what they offered, but struggling to communicate that passion in a way that felt authentic and strategic. That gap inspired me to build an agency that could bridge creativity with clarity. Read more>>
Michael Goff
I still remember the first time I finally nailed a rack of ribs. It was one of those blistering August afternoons, right in the middle of a 30-day stretch of 100-degree heat. Read more>>
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