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.
Stevy Red 
I’m an Afro-Dominican girl who grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. Yes, really. We had a small Dominican community, but I never quite fit in there either. I was deep in SoundCloud and underground everything, spending hours online building a whole world in my head that didn’t exist where I lived. I was never someone who waited for answers. Read more>>
Carolyn Pritchett Aponte
I began my career in Interior Design in New York City as a Technical Project Specialist for the iconic furniture company Knoll, Inc. (now MillerKnoll). In this role, I developed custom furniture applications for high-profile clients, cultivating a deep, nuanced understanding of the custom product process. From there, I transitioned into residential design, joining JD Bell, Inc. as an Interior Designer. Read more>>
Abigail Patterson 
I started knitting nearly 20 years ago when a friend from Poland showed me how to knit continental. The first thing I made was a scarf! After knitting a few scarves, I put the needles down for a while. I eventually got married and busy running my dance studio. Occasionally, I would knit a scarf, but that’s all I knew how to make. Read more>>
Michael Greene 
I am a filmmaker in Austin, Texas. I grew up in San Antonio and gained a passion for filmmaking when I took a Video Production class at Communications Arts High School. To me, movies have always had a power, a magic, that other mediums do not. Read more>>
Jerry White 
I learned to tell stories on deadline. I started in local news at what was then KBVO, later KEYE CBS, here in Austin. News is a tough school. You get a story, a few hours and no excuses. I spent several years at KXAN, then went back to KEYE as a special assignments videographer and producer. Read more>>
Marissol Marolli 
My journey started in Brazil, where I graduated as a Physical Therapist and specialized in dermatological rehabilitation. Early in my career, I discovered my passion for helping people feel better in their bodies, combining therapeutic techniques with a personalized approach to care. In 2019, I moved to the United States with my then-husband for his work opportunity, leaving behind an established career in Brazil. Read more>>
Mayra Vazquez Radzinski 
I’ve always been a science-and-social-justice nerd. When I was a kid in the 80s, and most girls asked for Barbie dolls, I asked for a chemistry set. In high school, while others planned their dresses and dates for the dance, I organized beach cleanups and Earth Day events. In college, I studied journalism and marched for women’s rights. Read more>>
lyna Vuu 
Growing up, I actually envisioned a career working with animals, but with my older brother nearing the completion of dental school, I was encouraged to explore dentistry instead. What wasn’t initially my first choice eventually became a career that allowed me to combine science, artistry, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Read more>>
Kendall// Martin Armenta 
When we started Crafted Hills Construction, Martin had already spent years managing projects for other builders. He had worked his way up and taken on more responsibility, but we kept coming back to the same question: what could we build if we put that effort into something of our own? Read more>>
Ana Perez-Mackenzie 
I was born in Panama, grew up in Tampa Florida, the daughter of what I like to call a match made in multicultural heaven. My parents met in the 1960s: my mother, a country girl from Tennessee, and my father, *un salsero de acero*, from Las Tablas, a small town in the Republic of Panama famous for its spectacular Carnival celebrations. Read more>>
Felix Romero 
We knew each other well before we started playing music together. We’d keep running into each other at shows around town—Hotel Vegas, 13th Floor, Central Machine Works, Mohawk, and plenty of other places. At first we were familiar faces, then friends, and eventually bandmates. Read more>>
Larry St Clair 
When my mom and I moved to Austin from Galveston, I was overweight and uncoordinated, with no extracurricular physical activities. I received a pass for martial arts training, and that started the 41-year journey to where we are now. Martial arts, as my instructor puts it, is the one activity that accepts everyone. Read more>>
Taylor Almeida 
I started my waxing career in 2018 at European Wax Center in Cedar Park. I was fortunate to have patient, supportive trainers who took the time to help me understand the techniques and build my confidence. That experience gave me a strong foundation and shaped the way I approach my work today. Read more>>
Maggie Luce 
I was raised in Williamson County, and although I wasn’t born in TX this State is my HOME. I was born making the first 5th generation possible, all 5 generations 1st born were women. My great grandmother, Bertha H. Lailson was my inspiration. She was an independent woman who was still working at 101 years young at her family restaurant, ‘Loncheria La Mexicana,’ in Laredo. Read more>>
Nicole Thomson 
One could say my journey started at birth. Coming from a family of artists, I was surrounded by creativity from an early age, thanks in large part to my grandparents, who helped nurture my creative spirit. It wasn’t until my junior year of college, however, that photography began to take shape in my life. Read more>>
Abigail Camacho 
I’ve been a nail tech for 7 years, started in other salons and decided i didn’t fit in anywhere and made my own comfy space! I was sick of driving north for my nail supplies since there are none south so i made one! Read more>>
Laura Capes Terry 
I grew up on a farm outside Chicago, and I was painfully shy. If you had told that young girl she would someday teach marketing, lead a local media company, and host podcasts, she wouldn’t have believed you. I imagined a career quietly working behind a computer. But I also felt God nudging me to use my voice. I knew I had more to give. Read more>>
Jet Guerra 
I learned early on from Steve Jobs that technology wasn’t just about computers or writing code. It was a tool to change people’s lives. That simple idea changed the direction of mine. Growing up in Austin, Texas, I was fascinated by technology, creativity, and innovation. Read more>>
Patti Contrasto 
My journey has been anything but a straight line, and I think that’s probably true for most entrepreneurs. I started my career in the mortgage industry about 20 years ago, and over time, I discovered that I really loved helping people navigate some of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. But I also had a growing interest in real estate, investing, and eventually construction. Read more>>
Ashleigh Edelstein 
I’ve always been the person people open up to. Even as a kid, I was endlessly curious about people’s stories, and listening came naturally to me. I could sit and listen for hours! What initially drew me to becoming a therapist was wanting to learn more about how the mind works and what drives certain behaviors and thought patterns. Read more>>
Adrienne Lusk 
Texas Veg Foundation became a 501c3 educational nonprofit organization in July 2011. We hosted our first free public education event, Texas VegFest, on March 31st, 2012 at Fiesta Gardens in Austin. Texas leads the nation in cattle production, CO2 emissions, heart disease, and diabetes. Research has shown that plant-based diets can help reduce these risks, benefiting our health, the environment, and animals. Read more>>
Luna Pierrot 
Luna Pierrot started out as a character for a steam-punk-fantasy comic created with my best friend from high school. Luna is the child of two circus owners. They ran away to the big city to start their own cabaret after the death of their parents. Luna’s character was a later addition of mine that I made shortly after the end of the COVID lockdown. Read more>>
Ponle Oluwole 
I grew up in Nigeria and quickly fell in love with fantasy worlds. I would dive deep into stories written by authors like Rick Riordan and Eoin Colfer. While I love these stories, I couldn’t relate to the protagonists or the settings of the stories. I started writing to express my worldview and the stories that shaped my culture. Àyànmọ́ was born from that. Read more>>
Semaj (B.M.O) Trice 
I grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi. I started making music in 2018 with my childhood best friend Holley Boy — he went by Holleywood at the time — in my aunt’s attic. It started as a joke, I was going by ItzBMO back then, but the more songs we released over time, the more I started taking it serious. Read more>>
Georgina Del Real 
Hello my name is Georgina and growing up my family called me Geo. When I was in 5th grade I had my graduation and I remember my mom doing my hair and makeup. I felt like an absolute princess. Fast forward to high school I loved playing with makeup, it made me feel so beautiful. Read more>>
Roj Rodriguez 
When people ask me where I’m from and what’s my story, I like to start by telling them that although I’m originally from Texas, I was ‘made’ in New York City. New York City does something to your mind, heart and soul. Read more>>
Carol Turner Johnson 
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share my story. Music has always been my refuge and my escape – a place where my external world could fall away and give way to my inner world. In that space, everything felt possible. I could go anywhere, be anyone, and feel connected to something much bigger than myself. Read more>>
Catina Servin 
Heaven Of Cheesecakes & Sweets LLC started from a genuine love and passion for baking that has grown over the past 14+ years. What began as something I enjoyed doing for family and special occasions gradually developed into a passion for creating homemade desserts that bring people together and make celebrations even sweeter. Read more>>
Josh Reding 
Hi, My name is Joshua Dean Reding and this is my story… Well, lets see…I started singing at a very young age, probably 3 or 4 years old. That progressed as I grew older, with aid from Choir and Theatre classes throughout grade school. Read more>>
Dr. Hahja Peterson 
Today I am a healer, one who inspires wholeness In others. That has been a lifetime in the making. As a child playing in my family’s chiropractic office I didn’t think anything of our holistic lifestyle. Watching my uncle’s muscle test and adjust their patients, greeting patients and offering them water, while helping my grandmother do the secretarial work. Read more>>
TRAVIO WARD 
After going through a rough patch in 2016, and saying goodbye to any football aspirations. It was time for self reflection and a truth moment about my next step and phase in life. So, on April 20, 2026, I took my last $400 and bought the bare essentials to get started and got my DBA, to establish a business name and brand. Read more>>
Marc Olivares 
I grew up in a South Texas border town. Both my parents were educators, and my dad also coached football for more than twenty years. He believed deeply in my ability to succeed academically. To him, that meant I could become whatever I set my mind to. I don’t think I fully understood what a gift that belief was until I lost him. Read more>>
Justine Govea
I grew up in the shop for as long as I can remember. My mother has been cutting hair for over 35 years. I remember when she worked at a local hair salon, and I would go to work with her. She eventually opened her own shop years later. Read more>>
Aswini Sivaswamy 
My story really begins at home, shaped by the family and elders around me and who raised me. My mother, grandmothers, great-grandmothers taught me to respect the earth, appreciate natural ingredients, and show care through food and hospitality. They also taught me humility and to treat everyone with equal dignity. My father brought a different influence: an engineer’s curiosity and determination to solve problems. Read more>>
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