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.
Eileen Bristol
Sahara Lounge opened in 2011. Prior to that, for 33 years, TC’s Lounge served the East Austin community. The 14 years we have been open has been quite a journey. We present a broad array of live bands, performing musical styles from Afrobeat to Punk as well as some DJ dance parties. Read more>>
Alexis Flores
I’ve always been passionate about health and wellness, but my journey into holistic health truly began before the birth of my son 10 years ago. My husband, Chris, and I were always looking for alternative routes to traditional medicine when we were sick. I stumbled upon elderberry syrup and began reading about its many amazing benefits. Read more>>
Brent Bird
thisthat CBD was founded by (Texas born and raised) Brent Bird in December of 2019 in Portland, Oregon. Brent was working in the Oregon recreational cannabis market selling THC rich products for a large company and saw a need in the local and national market to offer CBD rich hemp products (that were not intoxicating). Read more>>
Vinay Patel
We purchased our print shop in January 2023 with a simple goal: to build something of our own while continuing to serve our community. As two brothers working full-time jobs, taking on a business together wasn’t the easiest path, but it was one we believed in. Read more>>
Janelle Guy
In 2017, I launched Standing Ovations Events with a simple passion for helping couples bring their wedding visions to life. I began solely with full-service planning, guiding clients through every detail with care and creativity. Read more>>
Amanda Quraishi
I spent two decades working in digital marketing and engaging in community activism before I burned out. I went down in flames in 2023, right before I turned 50. At that point (thanks to support from family and friends) I started thinking about what was next for me. Read more>>
Dan Liberman
I am a Mechanical and Electrical engineer with more than three decades of experience leading businesses across Mexico and the U.S. My main company, DILCO, specializes in industrial spare parts and material handling engineering and automation. I am also a founding partner of one of the top Mail Boxes Etc. stores in the world alongside my sister. Read more>>
Casey Hoskinson
I grew up in Odessa, Texas, and studied interior design with an art minor at Texas State University in San Marcos. I was a late bloomer creatively—but once it hit, it hit hard. I couldn’t stop making things. In college, I was obsessed with creating constantly, using whatever materials I could get my hands on. Read more>>
LAURIE VAZQUEZ-CAMPAGNA
The past few years have been an absolute whirlwind! After college I moved to Chicago and began my career as a freight broker. I took a role in carrier sales and truly enjoyed my time working in freight. Freight was an entirely different world but it teaches you to work very hard and move fast, and I had a ball while doing so. Read more>>
Jef Johnson
I entered this world in 1958 and was raised in Killeen, Texas, the first of 8 children. After completing high school in Granville, North Dakota (a rather long story) I attended St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. It was in Austin where I first met and began my life with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) in their college program. Read more>>
Bobby Dubois
Our journey started when we left the busy life of LA, where Bobby worked as a physician scientist, for the peaceful ambiance of Austin. We transitioned from a fast-paced urban environment to a serene, nature-rich haven. The pivotal moment came with the acquisition of 178 acres of pristine land. Read more>>
Sara Lee
Pat and I opened our first restaurant together in September 2006. Pat grew up in the Asian grocery business and I grew up in the restaurant business with my parents. Read more>>
Lucero Valle
In my early years in Austin, I considered myself mostly a freelancer. I was working across many types of photography jobs while also working as a bench jeweler for Limo Jewelry- an iconic South Congress store that are sadly now is closed. Read more>>
Dan Gonzales
My name is Dan, and my story begins with indecision in college. I have always found the world interesting, and many areas of study caught my interest. I went through psychology, English, and medical programs, among others, but did not complete any of them. Read more>>
Matthew Jones
Harker Heights Ceramic Coatings started as a hobby in Matthew’s home garage, and grew into the go-to place for paint protection film, window tint, ceramic coating, hail repair, residential/commercial window tinting, and auto detailing in the Killeen, TX area. Read more>>
Moshood Oseni
I have been actively involved in ministry for over two decades, serving faithfully in various capacities, including Prayer Leader, Sunday School Leader, Assistant to the Senior Pastor, and eventually as a Pastor. I obtained my Master’s degree in Ministry from Redeemer’s University North America, Greenville, Texas. In October 2021, I pioneered our church, beginning with only my family. Read more>>
Angela Frazier
I originally was enrolled to be a cosmetologist back in 2019 in Nebraska. Hair was not my niche. As a requirement we must learn how to do manicures & pedicures. During that portion of the class I fell in love with learning more about nail & feet care as well as enhancements. Read more>>
Patricia Espinoza
My birth parents were missionaries in Africa when I was born. When we returned to the USA, my father started churches on the East coast, but passing away during my childhood. All throughout my life, my faith in Jesus Christ has been the foundation and guiding force of my life. Read more>>
Jenny Hooper
My story really started in February 2024 when I was laid off after almost two decades in the corporate world. At the time, I was really upset and burned out — it felt disappointing, but it also forced me to pause and ask what I actually wanted next. I knew I needed a reset and a new sense of purpose. Read more>>
Lou Quallenberg
I was born and raised in New Jersey. I grew up in a home that was also a photography studio and school. I eventually became a commercial photographer and then married a girl from Texas. We bounced back and forth from New Jersey to Texas, finally settling in Texas over 20 years ago. You just can’t take a Texas girl out of Texas. Read more>>
Nadia Kravets
My name is Nadia . .I was born and raised in Ukraine .When I was eight years old ,my uncle moved to USA.,and ever since then I’ve dreamed of living in America. .I even prayed to God for this , and miracle happened;I got my visa and I moved when I was 22. Read more>>
Deanna Rider
What began as a love story of just two people (being myself and my husband), we grew a company from the ground up. One idea turned into a vision, and that vision became a space where imagination could come to life. Read more>>
Kim Repede
I spent my career working in corporate meeting and event production. During that time I wore many hats including presentation graphics artist, account executive, video and meeting producer, and production department manager. I always enjoyed creating images and when my family asked me to restore some of our old family photos, I realized this was something that would make an interesting and enjoyable business. Read more>>
William Hadley
Six years ago, my wife handed me a photo of a Christmas ornament and asked, “How do you think this was made?” It looked laser‑cut and engraved to me, and that was the end of the conversation — or so I thought. Over the next year, she kept asking me what I planned to do when I retired. Read more>>
Armando Neblina
Started collecting Pokemon as a kid. Got into Yugioh into middle school. Played Yugioh competitively in high school. Joined the military forgot about my cards after a few years, my uncle reminds me with my old binder full of cards. Read more>>
Riley Skinner
Building has always been a passion of mine and have worked in construction since I was young. I got my bachelors in construction management and found great value in it. I worked for a home builder and built homes for them. Even though these homes were well built, I constantly found myself wanting to do things differently, change the process, or elevate quality. Read more>>
Jonathan Gray
Well I was born in Frankfurt,Germany to Larry and Edith Gray. We moved a lot while my dad was in the service and our final destination before he retired was Copperas Cove right outside Fort hood army base. I Grew up playing football and track. Around 9th grade year I was injured and was out for the rest of the season. Read more>>
Jassamine (Jazz) Domino
Growing up, I always knew and had a feeling I wanted to be apart of the technology world. I would take electronics like calculators or anything with a motherboard apart that no longer worked and put them together with each other, pretending they actually worked. Thats where it started. Read more>>
Zachary Salas
My lifelong passion for photography began after borrowing my grandmother’s point-and-shoot camera when I was a kid. I even did a photoshoot in the backyard with my sibling!! Those early moments planted the seeds for my love of photography, which would eventually grow into something bigger, even as it took a back seat for many years while I focused on teaching martial arts. Read more>>
Michael McCauley
I liked playing my grandmothers guitar when I was a child. When I turned 7 she gifted her guitar to me as a birthday gift, I was fascinated with the tuner machine mechanics. The gears that tighten the strings. I took them off and reinstalled them to understand how they worked. This layed the foundation of an interest in musical instrument mechanics. Read more>>
Joaquin Avellan
Over time, I realized my work wasn’t asking for more effort, but for recognition. I had spent years focused on production, believing progress meant constant movement. What became clear later was that the most important part of the work had already matured. As circumstances changed, I stopped pushing and started paying attention to what was already there. Read more>>
Shannon Briggs
Since 1990, I have built my career in Austin’s fitness and dance industry. I spent 13 years working with the University of Texas RecSports program before the pandemic shut down operations. During those months, I continued with UT while also taking my own clients privately, either virtually or in person when that was an option. Read more>>
ASHLI FELL
2026 Marks about 20 years of extensive design experience in the fashion industry, particularly in swimwear. My project to graduate from FIDM in Los Angeles, CA, was to pattern, source and sew a 15 piece collection and show at Barker Hanger. I was ready. The start of my career was quick, designing private label swimwear for Xhileration sold at Target as an assistant designer. Read more>>
Pete Fajkowski
First, I have two emails: The one you used to reach out to me (pete@austinmps.com) for the brokerage and another, pete@homestart.us for my new company. I own two companies: Mortgage Portfolio Services (25 years) and HomeStart (14) years. Mortgage Portfolio Services (MPS) was built on honesty and client focus, not high-pressure sales. Read more>>
Ashley Staats, PhD
I began my career as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Sex Therapist, working with adults and couples who were often thoughtful and successful, yet struggling in ways that felt confusing or isolating. Read more>>
Samantha Huntsman
I have been baking since I was a kid, with my grandma Shirley Mae during holiday and summer breaks. I would also bake at home with my dad, John. Read more>>
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>>
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