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.
Hal Elrod
I grew up in a small town (Oakhurst, California), and I was pretty mediocre at just about everything. School, sports, popularity, you name it, I wasn’t exceptional at anything. That began to change when, at age 15, I made one of my dreams come true when I was hired by the local radio station to host my first weekly radio show. However, I still struggled with discipline in most areas of my life. Read more>>
Barrett Raven
I didn’t originally set out to build a real estate team or a media platform around helping people relocate to Austin. Like a lot of people, my path here was shaped more by relationships and opportunities than by a perfectly mapped-out plan. I’ve always been drawn to work that sits at the intersection of people, trust, and major life decisions. Read more>>
Jason Goad
In 2017 we noticed all of our favorite places to eat were closing down for various reasons. My family and I decided we wanted to offer a new place locals could go to get quality food at a reasonable price. We wanted to offer fresh ingredients, house made sauces, organic veggies, and responsibly raised meats; which is something that seems to lacking at many spots. Read more>>
Austin Luedtke
My family has been in the construction business since before I was born. My dad used to build houses in the 80’s, then ran a building materials supply company in Austin for 30 years. Having been around the construction industry my whole life, I have been drawn to custom home design and building since I was a child. Read more>>
Sapora Williams
About 4yrs ago I had a vision of a space where children from all over the city could come for child development and education. A space where their uniqueness was accepted and they were encouraged to be the best versions of themselves all while being supported, loved and cared for. This space is called Community Youth Village my 501c3 nonprofit organization. Read more>>
Anna Munguia
The year was 2001, when my older sister asked me to be her maid of honor. It turned out that not only was I her maid of honor, but quickly became her, wedding planner too. I had no clue what I was doing, however, I took the leap of Faith, and on Feb. 2nd, 20o2, my sister and her husband got married. Read more>>
Al Magara
Austin Elite Motors began in 2014 as a family owned and operated dealership with a simple goal: offer a higher‑quality, more personal car‑buying experience. We’ve built our business around hand‑selecting each vehicle, keeping our inventory intentionally small so we can focus on quality over quantity. Read more>>
Krystl Michalek
In January of 2018, my husband Thomas Michalek obtained his Responsible Master Plumbing license with the intent of starting his own business. In July of that same year, we officially started Michalek Plumbing. We had a plan that in two years he would leave his full-time job to work full-time in our company. At that time, he worked evenings and weekends building our new company. Read more>>
Tommy Byrd
This is from my bio on the Byrd & Street website: ‘Back in ’64 John and me… saw the Beatles singing on TV. That’s all it took, that was the start, something new was beating in our hearts’…’Big Stars in a Little Sky’ (from a song Tommy wrote.) And it’s been going ever since. Read more>>
Max McCaskill
I started with a palm sander in my grandfathers shop around age 7 and that is where my woodworking career would begin. I learned to work with mesquite wood mainly, making live edge tables and lodge style furniture. I did not always work with wood for a living. Read more>>
Nico Léophonte
I am a drummer, producer. I moved to Austin in 1998. I didn’t know anyone, didn’t speak English, I just wanted to play music with the real deal. I started hanging out and got my first gigs, I went up the ladder little by little. I got better opportunities as I kept my faith. Read more>>
Chad Holmin
Like New Building Solutions was originally established in Washington State around 2000. In 2012, we relocated to Texas and began building the business again from the ground up. One of the first steps we took was becoming active in the local Chamber of Commerce and several networking groups to build relationships and establish roots within the community. Read more>>
Nick Pinelli
I was originally doing theater in high school and college, because that was the only thing I cared enough about to want to pursue a career in. Eventually, I worked my way up, performing touring shows across the country, but it wasn’t until I met a friend who wanted to film something that I got my first experience behind the camera. Read more>>
Dr. Amreen Ali, PT, DPT, PCS
I’ve always loved working with children, but early on I noticed parents often feel unsure or overwhelmed in those first months. I realized helping babies thrive is more than therapy—it’s about giving parents the guidance and confidence to play, bond, and support their little ones’ growth. Read more>>
Brandon Davis
After fracturing my spine in high school, I spent years doing everything the system told me to do…physical therapy, strength training, mobility work. I was disciplined. I was strong. But I wasn’t getting better. My body kept breaking down after the fact. That frustration changed everything. While studying Kinesiology in college and working as a trainer, I began questioning the traditional model. Read more>>
ololade omokpo
I began my career as a psychiatry nurse, working closely with individuals across the lifespan who were navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, and life transitions. Being on the frontlines of mental health care gave me a deep understanding of how profoundly emotional wellness impacts every area of a person’s life. I witnessed resilience, vulnerability, and the transformative power of compassionate, evidence-based treatment. Read more>>
Jessica Karcz
My past experiences all combined in the best way to help me build PupList. I started in international development, working with communities and solving real-world problems where resources are limited and outcomes matter. It taught me to focus on what people actually need and value. Later, I moved into tech and worked as Head of Solutions at TikTok. Read more>>
Emlynn Jones
I started Milky Tomato in February 2022 with a handful of stickers, buttons, and prints that I made myself in my bedroom and listed on Etsy while finishing my Associate of Arts degree at Austin Community College. I have always loved building characters and little worlds that feel both cute and slightly creepy, and I began sharing that process daily on TikTok. Read more>>
Sabrina Alton
My path to becoming a financial coach wasn’t straightforward — it was deeply personal. When the idea first came to me, I was a stay-at-home mom homeschooling my older daughter, separated from my husband, and completely financially dependent on him. I was raising two neurodivergent teenage girls and had, somewhere along the way, lost the ambitious, self-reliant woman I once was. Read more>>
David James
In October of 2014, I lost my 13 year old son Peyton to suicide. I made a vow to him that his death would not be in vain, and wanted to find a way to not only honor him, but to help others. With the help of Jill Kubin and Sue Harris, we established The Peyton Heart Project in July of 2015. Read more>>
Ashley Rogers
How and why I am where I am today actually is rooted in my childhood. I was born in Valencia, California to parents who struggled with untreated mental illness and addiction. My childhood was very traumatic as a result. They did not overcome their demons. I was removed from the custody of my birth parents after we moved to Texas in 1997. Read more>>
Sarah Talley
I still remember my first day at UT Austin in 2013. After five applications to the university and finishing my second master’s degree, I finally got the call offering me a position. I was thrilled by the stability and opportunity ahead. I thought I had made it to the job I had always seen myself doing growing up. Read more>>
Chrisit Cornell
The Capital Area Parkinson’s Society, a local nonprofit, was founded in 1984 by two women whose husband’s had Parkinson’s Disease. Primarily a volunteer led organization, CAPS facilitated support groups with the goal of creating community for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners. Currently CAPS provides education through monthly meetings and seminars, support groups throughout Austin, social groups, crisis funds, and social services. Read more>>
Chelsey Goettl
The Inspiring Rise of Chelsey Goettl and Ideal Massage & Luxury Headspa In the heart of our growing Hutto community, a quiet revolution has been unfolding of healing and the need for it, in today’s life. Read more>>
Claire Porter
Claire Porter lives in the Texas Hill Country, southwest of Austin, Texas. At the young age of 10, Claire fell in love with horses, and spent time showing horses in the western region throughout High School. After college she showed as an amateur owner as well as trained some young horses that went on to have great success on the east coast “A” circuit. Read more>>
Monica Peña
My journey has always been rooted in entrepreneurship, community, and creating opportunity for others. With a foundation in marketing and business strategy, I began my career co-founding and managing social media for my family-owned business. Through intentional branding, community engagement, and a commitment to environmentally conscious practices, the intial compnay I was involved with was honored with the Austin American-Statesman Social Media Award. Read more>>
Jasmine Bertrand
Originally, in school I was studying Kinesiology, the goal was to work with athletes as a Strength and Conditioning coach. I was also a Heptathlete and wanted to set my eyes towards the 2020 Olympics. That dream got cut short with a shoulder injury that ended up keeping me stuck in an injury cycle out of College. Read more>>
Jerry Maxwell
My story began in 2015 in a small suburb of Spring, Texas. We lived in a new subdivision and because of the clearing, there were no pollinators for my garden. We tried in vain to attract some wild honeybees. So, we decided to start keeping our own bees. I was terrified of bees at first but came to love them. Read more>>
Isaac Whitwell
I’ve always been drawn to building things from the ground up. Captain’s Pizza started as a simple idea. We wanted to serve really high-quality, Neapolitan-style pizza in environments that felt fun, community-driven, and uniquely Austin. I wanted something mobile, flexible, and built around events, music, and people coming together. Read more>>
Jessica Tranchina
I’ve always been drawn to effort. Even as a kid, I was competitive — not necessarily with other people, but with myself. I was curious about how far I could push, how much I could improve, and what separated people who followed through from those who didn’t. I didn’t have language for it at the time, but I was fascinated by resilience. Read more>>
Tom Gehring
I am an attorney and have been practicing law since 1995. I began working in the Houston/Gulf Coast area (Harris County; Galveston County; Brazoria County; etc.). I have worked doing injury cases where I have helped injured folks get compensation for injuries they suffered because of another’s negligence/recklessness. Read more>>
Michele Shipley
This is some text from a letter of introduction I sent to families when I started here: My name is Michele Shipley, and I am both honored and excited to introduce myself as the new Director of Tarrytown Children’s Center. It is truly a blessing to join a community so committed to teaching and nurturing young children. Read more>>
Madison Dennison
I grew up in a kitchen that was always busy. My dad was constantly cooking — big Southern-inspired meals from his childhood, or experimenting with a new dessert or bread recipe. We always joked he only knew how to cook for an army. Food was how we connected. Read more>>
John Macey
I specialize in writing wildlife management and habitat restoration plans, Project oversite for habitat restoration, population monitoring and surveying, endangered species management, assist landowners with 1D1 requirements, and much more. I recently started contracting to AI firms to train AI in Conservation Science and other biology related fields. In 2023 I graduated with my PhD from Texas A&M university in Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Science (dissertation on golden-cheeked warbler). Read more>>
Stacey Palmer
We founded Vivere Healthcare & Wellness in Georgetown, Texas, to offer a Direct Primary Care and Lifestyle Medicine model that prioritizes relationships over rushed visits. Our shared mission is to help patients prevent, manage, and even reverse chronic disease – restoring health, hope, and quality of life through evidence-based lifestyle change. Read more>>
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