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.
Maryna Litvinenka 
I think my story with flowers began long before I ever imagined they could become my profession. I grew up in Belarus, and one of my strongest visual memories is my mother’s garden at our family’s country house. She has always grown an incredible variety of flowers, and her garden is so beautiful that people sometimes stop to admire it and take photographs. Read more>>
Meaghan Luna 
Hi, my name is Meaghan Luna. I was born in Gonzales, Texas, and raised in Victoria, Texas. I’m the oldest of four girls, so growing up I always felt a responsibility to be someone my younger sisters could look up to. My love for cosmetology started with creativity. Read more>>
Shanaz Ikonne 
My journey began with a genuine interest in understanding people, what shapes us, how our experiences shape how we think and behave, and what helps people move forward when life gets difficult. That eventually led me into the mental health field and to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. Early in my career, I primarily focused on working directly with individuals, children, and families. Read more>>
Serena Evans 
Hi, My name is Serena! I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and moved to Austin at the end of 2022 with my husband for a change of pace after the pandemic. I’ve always been passionate about the beauty industry, posting creative makeup looks online for years, but had also been dealing with severe acne since my late teens. Read more>>
LouAnn Garza 
I am Dream Achiever, LouAnn Garza, RDH! My dream for over 20 years of becoming a Registered Dental Hygienist has become a reality. I am the oldest of 2. My dad finished 11th grade and my mother 6th grade. I am the first in my immediate family to go to college. Read more>>
Cheryl Goveia 
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. I went to art school and earned my BFA in Studio Art and Art History, and shortly after moving to Austin almost 30 years ago, I began teaching art. Read more>>
Preston Wilson 
I actually started building gyms on accident. I went to a physical for a job that I didn’t really want. Those physicals are just to make sure you won’t die on the job and that you are not using drugs. After the physical was done and I was leaving, the doctor came back in. Read more>>
Shakiel Smith 
I’m originally from New Orleans, and I think that city is always going to be somewhere in my music. I grew up around so much culture, soul, musicianship, church, sports and just real life. Music became my way of processing all of that. Read more>>
Amy Closson 
I started back in 2008 when I opened Cupprimo in Austin. The goal was simple: create a relaxed, family-friendly neighborhood spot with incredible coffee and baked-from-scratch cupcakes. We wanted everything to be incredibly moist, rich, and decadent—no dry, crumbly cakes allowed—and always served with a healthy dose of personality. For the first decade, we ran hard. Read more>>
Meredith Stratigopoulos 
I graduated from high school in a small-town in Texas with nineteen people in my class. From there, I moved to New York City before landing back at TCU and then later graduating from UT Law. I made partner at a mass tort and litigation firm when I was 29 and have since and have established my family and law practice in Central Texas. Read more>>
Angela Maldonado 
After my dad died in 2011, I started taking improv classes. I wanted something to get me out of the house, and I wanted something that made me stay in the moment and connect with other people again. In 2017, a fellow improviser asked me to join the storytelling show Testify. Read more>>
Patrick Conway 
I’m Patrick Conway—a songwriter, producer, and composer based in Austin, Texas. For more than 30 years, I’ve been writing songs, making records, and creating music for artists, film, television, and visual media. I’ve always been drawn to the space between things—the place where Americana and folk meet ambient and electronic music, where a simple song can become something bigger. Read more>>
Ashley Cutshaw 
My journey with dogs started when I was 10 years old, when I took my very first dog-training class with my family’s dog. From that point on, I knew I wanted to work with dogs. That interest continued to grow as I got older, and in 2017, I got my first dog of my own, a Standard Poodle named Socks. Read more>>
Carrie Balkman 
I am the co-founder and co-owner of Fernweh Fly Co. We established our fly fishing adventure company on the Spring River in the late summer of 2026, but my story begins far before then. My first small business was started in 2021. I established a blog called Following the Fernweh that fall and began writing about my outdoor adventures. Read more>>
Jacob and Lilly Trevino 
In 2020, during the COVID shutdown, I started LFay Candle Co. for my daughter, Lilly. My hope was to build something that could one day provide her with a future of her own. As life became busier and I took on more responsibilities in the office, the candle business remained small. Read more>>
Michelle Neal 
I was born and raised in the Philippines, where I worked as a professional actress for 13 years. Starting at a young age taught me discipline, resilience, and how to connect with people through storytelling. I moved to Texas in 2015 and made Austin my home in 2016. As an immigrant, starting over meant building a new career, and new relationships. Read more>>
Mason (SISU) Buchanan 
I spent years doing freelance illustration work before covid shifted things. I apprenticed under Daniel Howland at platinum ink, where i spent about 6-7 years piercing at a high volume. That really built my confidence working closely with clients and earning their trust. Read more>>
Stefon Osae 
Musically It all began for me Learning how to drum from my church drummer (Maurice N.)at the age of 12 played for the youth choir then developed enough skills to play for the adults. Started producing with my cousin (Jeffery Lewis) shortly after. Read more>>
Erica Galia 
Looking back, every decision I’ve made feels like a spark, a tiny star lit in the dark. I couldn’t see it then, but those stars were quietly arranging themselves into a constellation. Each moment led me to the next, and none of it was ever a straight line. Read more>>
Fariba Darukhshani 
Mesa Alterations is a family-run business built on a lifelong passion for sewing, design, and craftsmanship. My husband, Ali, has loved sewing and design since childhood and has more than 35 years of experience in tailoring. In 2015, he moved to the United States and continued his professional career in the clothing and alterations industry. Read more>>
Jessica Monsalve 
I started @austinconhijos simply by wanting to share my experience as a mom discovering new places and fun things to do around Austin. Read more>>
Valerie Lewis 
I grew up in North Killeen, so Central Texas is more than the area where I work, it is home. Read more>>
Lindsay Dougless 
My name is Lindsay Dougless, and my business partner, Courtney Diggs, and I own The Starting Place Birth and Wellness Center. My journey into women’s health really started long before I became a nurse. I think, in many ways, I was drawn to this work before I even understood what it meant. Read more>>
Jesse Lee 
Was born in South Texas and started playing guitar around 15 years old I was in the jazz band and Mariachi in high school played jazz bass in college moved to Austin in 20 14 to start a band and have been doing it ever since. People say I’m the best one-handed guitarist so I just rolled with it Read more>>
Roger Bohuslav 
I am from the Gulfcoast of Texas. I grew up by the beach but also the culture and city of Houston. An art degree from UT-global hopping-experimenting with collage and painting-and now mixed media collage painting with color and textures. I also have taught public school art in Austin for 27 years. Read more>>
grace rivers 
I started my hair journey when I dropped out of community college in Bend, Oregon in March 2020 due to my classes going online because of covid. I was going to school to be a teacher, but once I dropped out, I reflected on what I wanted to do and what I wanted my life to look like. Read more>>
Brittany Ojo 
My journey with The College Grad Project really started in 2021, when I enrolled in an online Master of Social Work program. During my first semester, I struggled with one class in particular. The assignments were confusing, and a few of my classmates and I created a group chat so we could ask questions, help one another, and honestly just figure things out together. Read more>>
Jon Olivieri 
Initially it all started with a dream of doing something for myself and family down the road. An opportunity arose to help make a friends wedding more and I couldn’t help but jump at it. With a zero overhead model the first steps weren’t easy but we pulled it off and we have only enjoyed the many steps to come after. Read more>>
Leia Gregory 
I always knew since I was a kid that I wanted to be in the beauty industry. I went to cosmetology school at Paul Mitchell Dallas. I started my career journey in my hometown Denton, Tx. In April of 2025 I moved to Austin, Tx and in early July of this year I moved into a booth to start my independent career. Read more>>
Beau Sutton 
So I already owned a hair salon called scissor Sisters and at the time it was located in Killeen Texas and I have been selling vintage items in a small booth at the Round Rock antique gallery as a hobby. I realized that I really wanted to do both and had a crazy idea of blending the two together. Read more>>
Zac/Christi Dillon 
My husband, Dillon has worked in pest control for over 6 years before deciding to become a Certified Applicator and start his own business. We are passionate about providing quality pest control at an affordable price. We like to educate our customers along the way and build a partnership for years to come. Read more>>
Otis Carter 
I practically grew up in the flooring business, learning the trade from the ground up under the guidance of my uncle. He was an incredible mentor who made sure I mastered every single type of flooring installation. His philosophy was simple: learn it all so we could take on full-house jobs and never have to turn a customer away. Read more>>
Patricia Lashley
I’m proud to say I grew up with two amazing parents who taught my sibling and I the importance of community involvement and giving back. My journey began 26 years ago with a strong desire to support young girls and connect with people who may not know where to turn for help. Read more>>
Haley Ritchie 
My story really started during a season when I was trying to figure out what life looked like outside of the military. I had recently separated, I had a new baby, and for the first time in a long time, I had the freedom, and honestly the challenge, of deciding what I wanted to build for myself. Photography started almost by accident. Read more>>
Taylor Watts 
In my 20s, I experienced medical issue after medical issue. I kept going to doctors, getting more diagnoses, and being put on more medication. There was never an attempt to solve the root, just to mask symptoms. Read more>>
Stacy Kou 
I moved from Taipei, Taiwan, to Austin in 2011 and started a new life without my beloved family around. It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done. I started cooking and baking because I missed home. In 2022, I had my first pop-up at Broth & Basil. The owners were so kind and generous, offering me the space and support I needed. Read more>>
Miguel Tio 
I began my painting studies with artist Elías Delgado while attending the School of Fine Arts in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where I was born. I later studied Publicity and Graphic Design at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo. I worked as an in-house draftsman and sketch artist for Teleantillas TV and as an illustrator for the Dominican Department of Education. Read more>>
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