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.
Samantha Stone
A couple of years ago, I was working in bathroom remodeling sales and spending way too many evenings and Saturdays away from my family. That’s when I reached out to the owners of BesTex Solutions, friends I’ve known since our days in Hutto, and asked if they were hiring. Read more>>
Carrie Frugé
Austin, TX — Professional auctioneer Carrie Frugé has officially launched Biddy Up, a woman-owned auction boutique designed to transform charity fundraisers into high-energy, high-impact experiences. With Austin roots and a growing global footprint, Biddy Up brings infectious enthusiasm, expert strategy, and a refreshingly transparent approach to fundraising auctions. You can count on their unwavering support, whether it’s at home in Austin, across the US, or in exotic locations like Mexico. Read more>>
LaToya Crick
I can finally see how God functions in everyday life and share the Message with you and others so you can initiate your journey and play your Part wholeheartedly with the cycles of the Moon, Stars, and Soil. Read more>>
Aishah McCoy
I became a lawyer because I wanted to help people through some of the most important and difficult moments in their lives. From the beginning of my career, I was drawn to areas of law that are deeply personal — family law and estate planning — where trust, compassion, and practical guidance matter just as much as legal skill. Read more>>
Linh Flores
My story started on a sixteen-foot fishing boat in the South China Sea. My parents, two aunts, and I fled communist Vietnam when I was one year old. We escaped Vietnam with a couple dozen other people. I was the youngest on the boat. Read more>>
Emmelie Banet
I’ve always known I wanted to work with children. My journey really started at a young age, and right after finishing high school, I began working at an elementary school in Germany in the after-school program while also serving as a substitute teacher. Read more>>
Rodrigo Quintanilla
My journey has always been driven by a deep passion for hospitality, experiences, and building meaningful concepts that connect with people. I started my career understanding the business side of hospitality — focusing on operations, finance, and how to create sustainable concepts — but very quickly I realized that what truly makes a restaurant successful goes far beyond numbers. Read more>>
Augusto & Veronica Fossi
UpHill Taps started a little unexpectedly, but it grew out of two things we’ve always loved: bringing people together and creating memorable experiences around drinks. My husband and I moved to Austin and quickly fell in love with the event and wedding industry here. We started noticing how much the bar experience can shape the atmosphere of an event. Read more>>
Holly Malish
My career began in manufacturing in San Antonio working in the marketing department. After a few years, I took the advice of my father and applied for a job at the San Antonio Chamber. Nine months into the job, I ran into a colleague from the manufacturing days who worked at the New Braunfels Chamber, who were currently hiring for an economic development coordinator. Read more>>
Dr.Isaiah Martin D.C.
My journey into chiropractic really started with my background in athletics and movement. I was a collegiate athlete running hurdles, and competing at that level taught me a lot about discipline, resilience, and how important it is for the body to function at its best. Read more>>
Dr. Shyra Jones
This is the first time I have sat down and thought about the story of Shyra Jones Counseling Services, SJCS. In doing so I realize the story of my practice is the story of me as a person. Many therapists enter the field for personal reasons finding motivation in being able to walk beside others in a vulnerable time. Read more>>
Na’Cole Thompson
I am a native Texan and Austinite. My parents raised me to value hard work, faith, education, and showing up for family and community. Those values guide how I lead and serve. Leander became my home in 2007. I raised my children here and built a local business here. Read more>>
Terry Cole
I started Street Youth Ministry back in 2008, after volunteering to serve homeless young adults (age 28 and younger) at two other organizations for 5 years. I’m not rich so this had to be a community supported ministry, and the clients deserve stable adults in their lives (first they ever had had in most cases) so it was important to be reliable. Read more>>
Christianna Bettis
My photography journey began over a decade ago, long before it became what it is today. What started as a simple love for capturing people and moments quickly became something much deeper. I found myself drawn not just to how things looked, but to how they felt—the quiet in-between moments, the genuine connection, the emotion that can’t be staged. Read more>>
Rachael Maly
Some of the most important drawings of my life began as symbols from my dreams. At the time, I was a single mother of three, working during the day and going to school at night. The images felt important, almost like messages I didn’t want to lose, and drawing them became a way of understanding what was happening inside of me. Read more>>
Theodore Owens
Twist Web Studio started from a simple observation. While attending Deaf community events, small businesses, and local markets, I noticed many great organizations and entrepreneurs either did not have a website or did not know where to start. Read more>>
Breana Dutton
Cloud & Co. Marketing really started pretty organically, but if I trace it back to the very beginning, it started when I was working as an esthetician at a medical spa. At the time, I was struggling with my own skin issues, specifically acne that honestly felt like a complete mystery. Read more>>
Audrey Lecker
I’m a director, comedian, and the founder of TIGERTEAM, a creative studio focused on bringing musical comedy to life on stage and online. My background is a mix of entertainment and marketing strategy. Read more>>
Divya Gudavalli
My journey into technology began with a deep curiosity about how systems work and how they can be improved to solve real-world problems. I pursued a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Toledo, where I developed a strong foundation in building scalable and intelligent systems. Read more>>
Stefan Sanders
Central Texas Philharmonic (CTP) was founded in 2018 through the merger of the Round Rock Symphony and Georgetown Symphony Society, uniting two strong traditions of musical excellence and community service. Under the leadership of Music Director Stefan Sanders, CTP launched its inaugural season in 2019 with six programs and a new Youth Orchestra, which continues to nurture young talent across the region. Read more>>
Emily Godinez
Sunshine Fence Texas officially started in 2016, but our experience in fencing goes back much further. My team brings over 17 years of experience in the fencing industry. What began as hard work and long days in the field eventually grew into a business built around family, dedication, and serving our community. From the beginning, I have always been very hands-on with the company. Read more>>
Hannah Gustafson
Just over a year ago I was feeling disconnected from my community and discouraged by the political landscape. I had recently become unemployed and was trying really hard to find my spark again. I had been finding a lot of joy in making different jams and I thought it could be fun to sell them in my front yard. Read more>>
Durann Probst
In college I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to do- as a creative person I’ve always found it hard to stick to one thing, one interest that I could do for my whole. Entire. Life. Sounds daunting. Read more>>
Tara Gray
Tara Gray’s journey with Candlelight Ranch began in 2006 during one of the most profound and heartbreaking moments of her life. Her daughter, Reese, was born with a terminal illness and lived just six short months. Yet in that brief time, Reese’s spirit left a lasting impression on everyone who met her. Read more>>
Jodie Huynh
With a robust background in international business management and sales, I bring a global perspective and a servant-leader’s heart to the Austin commercial real estate market. My journey began in Southern California as an alumna of Long Beach State, followed by more than five years in Asia driving business development and operations within the IT sector. Read more>>
Kenny Kane
My story starts earlier than most people expect. I became a pharmacy technician at 15, and that job quietly shaped everything that came after. It taught me how to think about systems, how to communicate in high-stakes moments, and how to approach organizations that exist to serve others. From there, I found my way into the nonprofit world almost by accident. Read more>>
Candice Dublin
Strangelove was born in 2019 and the concept has more or less stayed the same since we finally opened in 2025: All day coffee and wine, with a robust retail bottle shop as well. The shop is a collaboration between Figure 8 Coffee and Small Victory. Read more>>
Camila Gomez
I knew I wanted to be a therapist at age 14 or 15, as this was when I had my first therapy experience. It was truly magical to me. I think at the time I had a lot to say and didn’t know it. Read more>>
Ross McLauchlan
I founded The Austin Winery in 2013, as the micro-brewery model was in its ascendancy and Texas wines were out-of-sight in Austin’s burgeoning food scene. We started small, without investors, and sought to prove we could make good wine, representative of Texas, without fancy equipment. Read more>>
Tayrin Cardenas Wittenstein
I am a criminal defense attorney based in downtown Austin, representing clients in Travis and Williamson counties in cases ranging from DWI to some of the most serious felony charges, including sexual assault and child molestation. The work is intense, high-stakes, and often deeply personal. Read more>>
Claudia Miller
My story really began in my aunt Irma’s kitchen in Austria. She was an incredible cook and baker, and as a child I loved spending time with her while she prepared meals and desserts. I remember standing next to her, watching how she measured ingredients, kneaded dough, and pulled beautiful pastries out of the oven. Read more>>
Randy Hargraves
This is a great question! After a career spent in the fast-paced world of Corporate IT, I decided to return to my roots as a lifelong car enthusiast. Detailing has always been my quiet escape, a chance to work with my hands and focus on the fine details. Read more>>
Kyle Mylius
Tin Top Burgers and Ice Cream was founded by 4 friends; myself, Lindsey Belk, Chase Piedfort, and Evan Styles. Several of us worked together in the industry at my first restaurant, Root Cellar Cafe. We knew that we had what it took to create the perfect, old-school burger joint complete with homemade Ice Cream. Read more>>
Jennifer Carey
I’ve lived in Austin for most of my life, so my connection to the city runs pretty deep. I’ve watched neighborhoods grow and evolve over the years, and that perspective really shapes how I approach real estate today. My interest in real estate actually started pretty early. Read more>>
Denise Bodman
CrossFit 737 was founded in 2013 with a passion for creating something different in the fitness space, an environment rooted in faith, family, and fitness. From the very beginning, our goal was not just to build stronger bodies, but to build stronger people. Read more>>
Rebecca Rose
I started Rebecca Rose Fine Portraits with a simple but deeply personal belief that people deserve to feel seen, valued, and remembered. My passion for portraits comes from my own childhood, where a single photograph of my grandparents who passed away in World War II became something I cherished. Read more>>
Jessica ‘Brooke’ Vanderberg-Beauvil
After retiring from 20 years of Active service in the Army and deciding to settle for good in Nolanville with our younger children, we noticed Nolanville didn’t have a local coffee shop where neighbors could gather over a great cup of coffee. For many residents, finding specialty drinks or small snacks meant traveling outside the area or local gas station. Read more>>
Tina Lee
My journey into this work began in 2009 when I started volunteering at a local food pantry. What began as a simple desire to help quickly became something much deeper. Over time, I stepped into greater responsibility and was eventually entrusted to serve as their Executive Director, an experience that shaped my leadership, strengthened my resilience, and deepened my heart for this work. Read more>>
Sheri Woolsey
I started by tossing seeds into the ground and seeing what would grow. I followed what the seed packets told me, paid attention to what thrived and what struggled, and that’s where the experimentation began. It was curiosity first… Then straight *obsession*. Read more>>
Stephen Putonti
All three businesses focus on family law – divorce and child custody cases -from different perspectives. My specialty is cutting through red tape and handling opposing attorneys who make cases more complicated and more expensive than they need to be, and doing so with full client knowledge and participation. Read more>>
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