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.
Dr. Lauren Williams
I was born and raised in Texas in the suburbs of Houston. My parents immigrated from Jamaica, and their courage and work ethic shaped so much of who I am. They taught me to build things that matter, stay curious, and lead with integrity. I attended the University of Texas at Austin as a Plan II and Dean’s Scholar Honor student. Read more>>
Minal Nebhnani
In high school, I discovered my love for psychology through dabbling in various courses and volunteering in my community. As a result, I then went on to double major in Psychology and Communications at Boston College, with the hope of being able to help people live better and more fulfilling lives. Read more>>
Jacob Rodriguez
Eighteen years ago, my career as a hairstylist began the moment I graduated high school. I had originally thought college would be my path, but cosmetology captured my heart, and I never looked back. Even though that degree was always out there, I found my true calling behind the chair. And over the years, that calling evolved into something much bigger. Read more>>
Jenny Zimmer
Babynetic started during one of the most chaotic and beautiful seasons of my life: maternity leave with my second child. I’ve always worked full-time in tech leading Customer Success teams, and becoming a mother of two made me hyper-aware of what parents actually need in the moments that matter. Read more>>
Gustavo Martinez
My journey as a creative likely began with my love of reading. Stories were a way to dive into new worlds, as my own world growing up was a little lonely. My parents were working, my grandmother was very strict – so I jumped into storytelling as a way to connect with other people. Read more>>
Brooke Davis
I fell in love with the idea of using the CNC machine to create one off pieces of artistic furniture when I was in graduate school at Purdue University. My grad thesis was based on utilizing mass production techniques to create limited run art. It was pretty forward thinking 20+ years ago, but now its pretty common place to see makers using these machines. Read more>>
José A. López
I started my journey as a small business generalist, developing a strong foundation in bookkeeping, financial management, marketing, and community business networks. Early in my career, I worked as a Business Developer for a nonprofit in Puerto Rico, where I had the privilege of helping nearly 200 small businesses launch and grow. Read more>>https://voyageaustin.com/interview/meet-jose-a-lopez-of-the-economic-growth-business-incubator
Adrea (AD) Sproles
Firstly I’d like to say thank you all for the opportunity to telling my story. Super honored to be here and be highlighted. I’d say my story really started back in college, when Snapchat was the thing. Read more>>
Daniel Dufour
I started as a percussionist in grade school (Willis, TX), and went to Sam Houston State University for a bachelors in Percussion in 2007. After taking a year off and working/teaching in the Houston area, I moved to Austin in 2012 for a Masters Degree at UT. Read more>>
Anton W. Blake
I’ve been an artist all my life. Even when I was very young, I’ve had a drive to create things in whatever ways I could. Similarly, comics have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Read more>>
Stephanie Nelson
I started On Paws Professional Pet Services a few months after I started staying home with my oldest daughter. She was about 8 months old at the time. Read more>>
Helen & Brian Robinson
Our story begins in 2010, when Brian and I were newly married and learning the adventures of blending a family with five boys between the ages of 1 and 12. Like most families, we were always searching for meaningful ways to spend time together, One fall afternoon in 2013, we took our youngest two boys to a pumpkin patch. Read more>>
Niccole Delestre
I spent my entire career in education, working with kids, families, and communities. I’ve always believed in the joy of learning, connection, and creativity, especially for young learners. While the curriculum is important, building connections with students is equally as important. Over the years, I started noticing how much children responded to tactile, relational, hands-on lessons and experiences. Read more>>
Hilary Nunn
TrueCore Georgetown opened 6 years ago on the square. We recenlty moved to the west side of Georgetown on the corner of Williams drive and Shell Rd. TrueCore Fitness in Georgetown brings a modern farmhouse vibe to boutique fitness. With two thoughtfully designed rooms, TrueCore offers small, supportive classes in Reformer Pilates, Barre, Yoga, Sculpt and Recovery. Read more>>
Antoinette Tucker
Nubian God Entertainment LLC began as a vision fueled by passion, resilience, and a commitment to creating opportunities where none existed. What started as a small idea grew into a powerhouse movement built on dedication, creativity, and an unshakable belief in purpose. Through consistency, hard work, and refusing to give up—no matter the obstacles—I turned setbacks into strategy and dreams into reality. Read more>>
Carl Demps
I started Jurnee Mechanical as a want to be self employed. I have been in business for 3 years. Starting from what’s called a duct hand (a helper of hvac construction jobs) to quickly making my way to service technician within 1 year. The only way up was to own and operate my own business. Read more>>
Mauricio BasantesDiaz
It started back in the 90’s. I helped a local DJ carry his equipment. Turntables, Vinyl, Big Box Speakers. I learned the trade by watching how old school djs beat match, select music and drive the crowd. With my first paycheck at 16, I purchased basic equipment to practice. this was when the cd players were becoming popular, 1996-1997. Read more>>
Meredith Kapchinski
Fortis Therapy Center was founded in April 2018 by Meredith Kapchinski, PT, DPT, with a vision to make high-quality physical therapy accessible to individuals of all ages and abilities in Central Texas. What began as a small, community-driven effort has grown into a thriving nonprofit healthcare organization recognized for its innovative, evidence-based approach to intensive rehabilitation. Read more>>
Desirine Ledan
I grew up in humble circumstances. My parents, immigrants from the Caribbean, resided in Brooklyn, New York, and worked tirelessly to provide for their three children. I was the first in my family to pursue higher education. Read more>>
Jay Cooper
I’m the product of a Roman Catholic 18-wheeler colliding with a United Methodist bus that careened into a Presbyterian seminary before picking up speed, rolling off a cliff, and hurtling, naturally, toward an even deeper love for Jesus. Read more>>
Shelley Embrey
I was a young Army wife with a new baby, stationed on Oahu in the mid 90’s. I decided it was time for me to find a career path so I completed a travel agency management program in Honolulu and quickly landed my first job at a nearby travel agency! Read more>>
Andrea Hidalgo
My journey really began with my own family. Growing up, I watched my brother struggle in a traditional school setting because of his ADHD. I saw firsthand how much potential kids can have when they’re supported in the right way, and how easily that potential can be overlooked when the system isn’t built for them. That experience shaped everything for me. Read more>>
Christian Childs, Alejandra Childs N/a
My wife and I met through a group called couch surfing in Austin Texas 8 years ago. I asked her to marry me and we moved from dripping springs to Temple/Belton/Killeen to manage some properties for our furnished housing company. Read more>>
Jenna Ayers
Absolutely. Ayers Photo Co started very simply: with me and a camera, chasing the feeling of capturing moments that felt real and meaningful. I didn’t set out with a grand business plan — it began with photographing friends, small events, and anything that inspired me. Read more>>
Kari Goin
Quite honestly I’ve always been creative, since I was a young child. I grew up with 12 siblings, and my family was very poor. Money was scarce. If there was something I wanted, I had to figure out how to make it. Most of the time I did just that. Read more>>
Emily Jansen
My name is Emily Jansen! I am a marketing, branding, and communications leader with 15+ years of experience across nonprofit, corporate, consulting, and private sectors. Today, I run my own brand and strategic communications practice—Emily Jacob Agency—and am in the process of writing my second book for women navigating life and relationships with ADHD. Read more>>
Diana Zavala
I have been a Central Texas resident for more than twenty five years, and during that time I have managed businesses for myself and for others. Read more>>
Darrell Miller
My story is about surviving setbacks and turning them into fuel. Nothing in my life was handed to me, I had to build every piece of it from scratch. I’ve gone through financial pressure, legal battles, relationship issues, and moments where I had to choose between giving up or leveling up. Every time, I chose to build. Read more>>
Leigh Ann Boone
Absolutely — buckle up, because my journey into mortgage lending is a little wild, a little sentimental, and very on-brand for me. I grew up with a mortgage lender for a mom, so while other kids were learning how to ride bikes and make mud pies, I was learning about DTI, escrow accounts, and why you always double-check page 2 of a tax return. Read more>>
Cyndi Williams
I’ve been in the travel industry for more than 30 years, beginning my career in leisure travel and rising through leadership roles in operations, training, and organizational development. I’ve always been passionate about helping people grow, and over time I realized that the part of my work I loved most was supporting people through their growth journeys. Read more>>
Rachel Stein
Rachel Stein, LPC-S and LCDC, founded Awkward Recovery as a modern, trauma-informed Intensive Outpatient Program that grew out of her private practice, Atomic Souls Counseling, after recognizing how many people leaving treatment needed ongoing support, community, and real-life tools to stay sober. Read more>>
Ty McDonald
My story began unfolding at age 9, with recurring dreams of standing on roadsides, holding signs inviting passersby to accept God’s love and forgiveness, accompanied by visions of angels in the heavens blowing trumpets. As I delved deeper into spiritual matters, my love for the God I proclaimed in my dreams grew, fueled by reading and research. Read more>>
Noreen Flack
I first became interested in Buddhism and meditation when I was 25 and had just moved from Detroit to Seattle. I think, like many people at that age, I was trying to find myself. One day I picked up a flyer in a café for a Buddhist General Program class—an introduction to Buddhist psychology and philosophy—and decided to go. Read more>>
Rev. Nell Newton San Marcos UU Fellowship
SMUUF was founded back in the 1990s by a small group of folks who wanted a UU congregation in Hays County. Drawing folks from Wimberly, Martindale, Kyle, and San Marcos, they have deepened their roots in the community. With a strong call to social justice, and creating community, the congregation is well-known for showing up and speaking up. Read more>>
Kayo Master
mi cielo creates handmade clothing for babies, toddles, and adults. We were born out of a love for creating unique clothing for our little one, Tristan. Through his inspiration, our creations turned into a passion to share these unique designs with the little and big citizens of the world. Read more>>
Alex Syedin
Despite my efforts, I wasn’t accepted into the first grade of the choreography department at the local arts school. The competition was fierce, and my plasticity still wasn’t enough. However, I truly admire the professionalism of my teachers. They noticed my strong sense of rhythm and kindly suggested I try studying music instead. That’s how my musical journey began. Read more>>
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