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.
Guadalupe (Lupita) Preciado
My name is Guadalupe Preciado (Lupita), I was raised in California where I attended La Sierra University in Riverside, CA on a full academic scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. In 2005 I made the difficult decision to move to Texas and loving this decision. Where not only did I met my true love but found the opportunity to run multiple businesses together. I currently own and manage 3 businesses. Read more>>
Kisha Smith
Eloquence Solutions LLC specializes in financial accounting and grant management services, helping mission-driven organizations secure and sustain the funding necessary to thrive. By combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of the nonprofit and public service landscape, we empower clients to focus on impact while we ensure compliance, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. Read more>>
Lucy Garcia
Throughout high school, I worked full time after school to help support my family. After graduation, I tried college, but the reality of our financial situation pulled me back into the workforce. In the years that followed, I got married, had two children, and became a single parent working full-time in finance. I wanted to go back to school, but at that time it simply wasn’t an option. Read more>>
Jake Swartz
I was about 9 years old, and it was ‘Take Your Kid to Work Day’. My dad worked in advertising in Chicago. He had just wrapped a shoot (I want to say it was for Home Depot), and that day they were scheduled to review edits at Cutters Studios in Chicago. Read more>>
Federico Alotto
My path in the arts began early as I embarked on studying the trumpet, musical composition, and orchestral conducting at the age of 8 in Turin, Italy. In 2003 I completed my studies at Turin’s prestigious Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of the Arts and found myself immediately in-demand as a professional jazz and classical musician. Read more>>
Tracy Dang
Our family has spent many years working in restaurants in both Vietnam and the U.S., so food has always been a part of who we are. When we opened La Dalat in May 2019, we simply wanted to share the authentic Vietnamese flavors we grew up with. Read more>>
Jasmine Lu
My name is Jasmine Lu, and I am an aspiring mechanical engineer. I have always been drawn to both creative and technical work, even before I had the language to describe it that way. Growing up, I spent a lot of time making things—through art, music, and hands-on projects—and I enjoyed the process just as much as the outcome. Read more>>
Amy Boyd
I’ve sung ever since I can remember. I grew up in Houston and made Texas All-State Choir in high school. At 18, I moved to Austin on a National Merit Scholarship to study music at the University of Texas. I changed majors several times, but my main focus throughout college was vocal performance, singing with the UT Chamber Singers under Craig Hella Johnson. (Dr. Read more>>
Jim Huntington
Huntington Sculpture Foundation was established as a 501 C 3 (Public Museum) nearly 20 years ago. It includes well over 100 large-scale sculptures in stone and stone combined with stainless or copper, plus numerous smaller sculptures in both garden and studio building available to the public by voluntary contribution 24/7/365. The studio also includes 9’x 12′ folios of drawings dating from 2000 to the present. Read more>>
Jessica Valentine
I’m Jessica Valentine, also known as Masscara Massacre. I’ve been licensed in the beauty industry since 2007, beginning my career in my home town Portland, where I trained as a makeup artist and learned lash extensions at a time when the craft was still finding its footing. Early on, I understood that beauty was as much about listening as it was about technique. Read more>>
Anthony Head
In the beginning, I worked at The Bluebird, a music venue in Bloomington, Indiana. During the day hours, it was known as Gerry’s Happy Hour. I worked as a doorman and bartender the Bluebird for many happy years and came to appreciate the vibes during Gerry’s Happy Hour. The place felt more like a dive bar during those hours. Conversations could be had. Read more>>
Michelle Ellisor
I started my career as a Marriage and Family Therapist. I worked in a variety of settings including private practice, community mental health and even mental health crisis work. Then I stepped away from that world for quite a while. I honestly wasn’t sure if I ever wanted to go back. Read more>>
Chris ‘Uncle Staple’ Nicholas
STAPLE! The Independent Media Expo is an annual event in Austin that features independent creators of comics, zines, art, crafts and games. It’s a way for those creatives to connect with each other, and with an audience who appreciate their work. A brief history: Back in ’03 a friend and I started self-publishing our own comic books. Read more>>
Honey Hargrave
I started Honey’s Eden for myself and my friends during the early days of the pandemic when everything felt distant and uncertain and we were all craving intimacy, care, and belonging. It began as a series of dinners in my home and then hyper-curated picnics outdoors — beautiful, intimate, slightly surreal gatherings — designed to invite people into a different kind of experience. Read more>>
M. Duane Miller
I attended the University of Texas at Austin on a football scholarship from 1986-1990, and received a BA in History in 1990. I was a Texas Longhorn Football starter, and letterman from 1987 to 1990 and served as a co-captain of the 1990 Southwest Conference Championship team. Read more>>
Patrick Young
I have over 20 years of experience in the HVAC industry, starting my career working for a McDonald’s franchise of 20 stores, a cornerstone in the Austin community. In 2011 I got my contractors license and started my own hvac company part-time. In 2022, when the franchise owners sold, I took a leap of faith and committed to growing my own business full-time. Read more>>
Don Moriarty
I started selling homes in 1988. It was a tough time in the market – home sales were cratering and I thought it might present a buying opportunity. Unfortunately, I didn’t know at the time that self-employed people have to have 2 years of tax returns in order to qualify for a mortgage loan. Read more>>
Sun Dragon
Sun Dragon Seido Karate and Self Defense started way back in 1989 when Sensei Suzanne Pinette decided to give herself a birthday gift—a karate and self-defense school for women and children. Read more>>
Leslie Lang
I grew up in a small town in West Texas. I was raised around hard working, middle class people. My dad was a cotton farmer and a God fearing man and was firm, but fair with us. I struggled to find my place as my brother’s stepped into the farming business and me being the girl, I wasn’t included in that process. Read more>>
Kristopher W. McDowell
My career began as a performing artist, which gave me a firsthand understanding of the creative process and the realities artists face on and off stage. Early on, I performed internationally, appeared in Off-Broadway productions, recorded a solo album, and toured nationally, while also working behind the scenes as a director and producer. Read more>>
Oscar Chavez
My name is Oscar. It’s been quite a journey, actually. I was born and raised in Peru, and that’s where I really started my career in the tech world. I built a web development company from the ground up, focusing on websites and e-commerce platforms for local businesses and education institutions and it went really well. Read more>>
Tricia Blewitt
I was born in a small city in NH. In NH, back then, a “city” needed to only have 10,000 people to be considered one. I grew up in a nearby town, Newport, “The Sunshine Town”. My parents divorced when I was 7, two people that probably should never have gotten married, as I was an “oops” baby. I have a younger brother. Read more>>
Kassie Harris
My name is Kassie. I am a native Texan and professional chef with a specialization in Indian cuisine. I have been trained in Goan, Gujarati, Keralan and Hyderabadi regional foods and I represented Whip In at the Austin Food & Wine Festival in 2014. Read more>>
Ola Quadry
Ambrose Upholstery has been serving the Austin community since 1988. I acquired the company in 2023, drawn to its strong foundation and long standing reputation for craftsmanship. I come from an industrial engineering background, with degrees from the University of Houston and Purdue University. My career centered on systems, process design, and precision, but I always wanted to build something tangible. Read more>>
Arlene Dixon
Moving to Austin 8 years ago marked the beginning of a new chapter. I didn’t just want a new job; I wanted a new life, one where my work aligned with my purpose and gave me the freedom to be present for my family. Massage Therapy was the key that unlocked that door. Read more>>
Amy Fiala
It was 2012, I was planning my wedding, and in between venue tours, guest lists, and late-night Pinterest scrolling, one thing became crystal clear: I couldn’t imagine saying “I do” without my fur kids there. At first, I hadn’t even thought about it. Planning a wedding is a whirlwind—flowers, themes, seating charts, oh my gosh – all the things! Read more>>
kelsey champagne-smith
With a background in science and education, I’ve always been drawn to making complex ideas feel approachable. Over time, my work evolved into playful, nature-inspired designs that blend curiosity, humor, and thoughtful storytelling—often through bird puns, illustrations, and lighthearted takes on the natural world. That combination became the foundation of Acorn & Artisan. Read more>>
Dr. Melissa Case-Vincent
We are known for our individualized assessments and our psychologists have diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. CAPES is proud to be helping people gain insight into their difficulties, whether neurodivergence, learning disabilities, behavior difficulties, or mental-health concerns. Our therapy services aim to be client-centered and address each person’s or family’s unique needs. Read more>>
Dave Sather
Today, we manage a bit more than $2.2 billion. As of the end of 2024 we were the fourth largest RIA in the state of Texas. In October, CNBC listed us as one of the Top 100 Financial Advisors in the nation and in November, Newsweek named us a Top Financial Advisor nationally. Read more>>
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