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.
Nikki Seals, LAc
Chinese medicine became the key that helped me rebuild my energy, my strength, and honestly, my relationship with my own body. I had to learn how to listen and to understand the signals my body was sending instead of pushing through them. I learned how to work with my body instead of unknowingly fighting against it. Read more>>
Renee (she/they) Chen
That realization pushed me toward a major turning point: moving to Seoul, South Korea, to teach English as a second language. It was there that I met my wife, Codi. Together, we spent several years teaching and traveling, learning what it meant to live intentionally and in alignment with our values. When we decided to return to the United States, we made one promise to ourselves: our work had to impact the communities around us positively. Read more>>
Benjamin Elijah
My journey into barbering started way before I ever called it a career. At six years old, my dad was cutting my hair with clippers in one hand and zero concern for clean lines—uneven cuts, nicked ears, and somehow I always walked away happy. That’s where I learned early that a haircut isn’t just about hair; it’s about the experience. Read more>>
Amanda Love
My path into wellness began through my grandmother, who opened a health food store in 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her passion for natural healing and preventative care shaped my worldview from a young age. Being around that environment, I intuitively knew early on that this would be my path as well. Read more>>
Matt Shook
All serendipity, right place right time and willing to take a risk . In 2003 When my boss was evicted for non payment of rent I scooped up all the equipment and signed a lease under a new name, Daily Juice. Read more>>
Shawnnell Batiste
Choosing Empowerment was born out of both lived experience and professional calling. I did not wake up one day and decide to start a mental health practice. Choosing Empowerment emerged through surviving, healing, and then my realization that too many people like me were being underserved, misunderstood, or completely left out of the mental health conversation. Read more>>
Erin Leavitt
The story of our lavender farm begins with the land. This area was a rock quarry a hundred years ago. But before that it was where Indigenous people came to gather flint and make their weapons and tools. My father came here often as a child to look for arrowheads and to dream of owning some land like this. Read more>>
Felicia Graves
Little Fireflies really started from seeing a need over and over again in our community. I kept hearing the same frustrations—long waitlists, having to drive far for therapy, and not feeling truly understood or supported. In Taylor, there just wasn’t a local place where kids could get both speech and occupational therapy. Families were doing the best they could, but the system made it hard. Read more>>
Phyllis Everette
From Humble Beginnings to a Movement: How I Found My Voice—and Built Saffron Trust My story didn’t begin with a grand plan. It began with a knot in my stomach watching women—especially Black women—carry the weight of their families and their dreams on their backs with too few hands reaching out to help. Read more>>
Mattison Mattson
I’ve always been interested in nails and nail art. I grew up very artsy, always drawing. painting or coloring. I remember spending hours as a teen sitting at my kitchen table, trying to recreate water marble and newspaper print nails that I would see on Pinterest. Read more>>
LaNica Failey
Where It All Started: The Story of Sprinkle Me Baby (written in thirdperson) Before there were sprinkles, frosting swirls, or the sweet hum of a mixer on wheels, there was LaNica—a devoted educator whose world revolved around children, learning, and the magic that happens when the two come together. Read more>>
Clay Jasper
We are originally from Houston, Tx, where I was a teacher and my wife worked in finance and accounting. I decided to leave education in the Spring of 2025 and pursue other careers and be at home with our two children more. We visited Austin for Spring Break to visit family – my sister lives in Lakeway and a cousin lived in Steiner Ranch. Read more>>
ALEXANDREA LONG
My path into this work began with my own survival of childhood trauma, dysfunctional relationships, and deep emotional wounds. Like many people, I spent years trying to understand myself why certain patterns kept repeating, why my nervous system reacted the way it did, and why I was drawn to certain people and dynamics. Read more>>
Jenny Larson-Quiñones
Trinity St Players started in 2012. It was founded by Cathy Jones and then Ann Pittman served as the artistic director, and then I took over as the artistic director in 2022. The company is a theatre ministry of First Austin. First Austin is a center for faith, justice, and the arts. We are a progressive and Queer affirming church. Read more>>
CrisShandle Hines
My husband and I are retired military. We are the proud owners of D & S Fitness gym. We provide 1 on 1 small group personal training. Read more>>
Monica Guerrero
After 18 years in dentistry, one decision changed the direction of my life and I never looked back. When I first learned about microblading, I knew it was something I was going to make happen! I had always loved brows and understood the confidence they can bring, so taking that leap of faith into the brow business felt natural. Read more>>
Sabrina Garcia
In 1997, Nidia and her daughter, Sabrina, immigrated from Colombia to the United States, arriving in Miami with their family in search of new opportunities. Jairo, Nidia’s husband and Sabrina’s father, worked a variety of jobs as the family established themselves in their new country. Read more>>
Tammy Young
I’m Tammy Young, the founder and owner of SEED Property Group and SEED Development Co. in Austin, Texas. I’m a real estate broker and developer, and while our SEED team covers the entirety of Austin, I really specialize in North Central Austin—especially my home neighborhood of Hyde Park and the surrounding historic pockets that give this city so much of its character. Read more>>
Jason Sugg
I started my professional life as a software developer – I actually have bachelors and masters degrees in computer science from MIT! As a student I really enjoyed that field, but when I got out into the working world I quickly discovered that I wasn’t well-suited to the corporate environments of most tech firms. Read more>>
Bridget Brandt
My story is deeply tied to the Leander Chamber of Commerce. I’ve been part of the organization for 15 years, and during that time I’ve had the opportunity to watch both the Chamber and the city of Leander grow in incredible ways. Read more>>
Monica Ybarra
My journey in the beauty industry began in corporate salons, where I learned structure, systems, and the fundamentals of running a successful business. From there, I experienced commission-based private salons and booth rental environments, which gave me a clear understanding of what worked and just as importantly, what didn’t for both stylists and clients. Read more>>
Rachael Saldana
I spent years in hospitality — front desk at boutique hotels, revenue management, accounting at big brand properties. If there was a job in hotels, I probably did it. Eventually I moved into account management at Booking.com, which taught me a lot about online travel agencies — what makes them great, and honestly, what makes them terrible. And then I planned my first Disney trip. Read more>>
Eleanor Brown
Before I became a therapist, I spent years working as an electronics technician. I was trained to diagnose problems, trace patterns, and figure out why something wasn’t functioning the way it should. From the outside, life felt stable and predictable. Yet inside, I was aware that I was showing up but not fully engaged, capable but stuck. Read more>>
Heather Young-Lira
The Lost Pines Learning Collective (LPLC) connects Bastrop-area families with the education, enrichment, and therapeutic resources they need. Our aim is to help create a collaborative, sustainable education ecosystem that makes quality education-related resources accessible here in Bastrop and surrounding counties. I’m Heather Young-Lira, and I founded The Lost Pines Learning Collective in 2023 as both a mother and an advocate. Read more>>
Pam Campbell
Art has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I began painting as a child, and over time it became my sanctuary—a way to recharge and express myself. Eventually, I reached a point where I simply couldn’t keep all my work stored at home anymore. Read more>>
Dave Mukherjee
Master Dave Mukherjee is the owner and head instructor of the Austin Karate Academy (AKA), which he established in Austin, Texas, in 2006. Dave Mukherjee’s Background: Early Life & Training: Master Mukherjee’s fascination with martial arts began at age 12. He grew up in India and started his training there, eventually finding his way to the World Tang Soo Do Association (WTSDA). Read more>>
Emily Kaye
I come from a creative, music industry background that taught me discipline, adaptability, and the value of hard work. Raised between Hawaii and the South Pacific, I developed an early love for movement, the outdoors, and an active lifestyle. I am a lifelong athlete with a competitive edge, from record setting track performances to cycling podiums. Read more>>
Sarah Pevehouse
My path into education was anything but traditional, which is likely why I ended up building something nontraditional. I’ve worked in education for over eighteen years as a teacher, program director, enrollment director, administrator, and over volunteering parent, across Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio-inspired environments, and alternative learning communities like co-ops and charter schools. Over time, I kept noticing the same disconnect. Read more>>
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>>
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