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.
Mark Warnick
Most recently, I spent the last year and a half developing an internal foresight practice within USAA. I created foresight workshops designed to guide architects, strategists, and senior leaders through exercises that help them envision their preferred futures and then build roadmaps and culture shifts to support them. I also led a team of foresight practitioners in developing new horizon-scanning capabilities, publishing quarterly reports on the top signals of emerging change, and creating programs to nurture a long-term culture of innovation. Read more>>
Ryan Myers
The year is 2020 before the shutdowns, and my roommate Aaron and I were invited out to a lunch with some friends which used to train at the CrossFit gym which we both coached at — Aaron as the Head Coach. They sat us down and flat out told us that we needed to break out and do our own thing. Read more>>
Jacob Leon
I’ve been blessed to have a musical family, so from day one I have been classically trained in piano and cello. Early on I discovered my interest in writing my own melodies– or at least extracting the melodies stuck in my head and putting them to use. I’ve had some incredibly talented peers and collaborators that have always pushed me to be better. Read more>>
Luke Hoeft
The Hoeft Design Build story starts generations ago in North Texas in a cabinet maker’s shop. Sherman, Texas, 1950. Owner Luke Hoeft’s great grandfather built several of the houses that still stand along Grand Avenue in Sherman, as well as many of the custom pieces of furniture at Austin college, the first national bank, and many other homes around town. Read more>>
AJ Bell
We’re a Fiction Only Dark Academia Inspired bookstore near the heart of Fate Tx. Years ago, my kids and I took on a business that didn’t work for us, and with me being laid off after dedicating 16 years to the same company, we were in danger of having to close our doors and lose all we had worked for. Read more>>
Giselle Salazar
Absolutely! I began my photography journey in 2012 in New Jersey, starting as a mobile newborn and natural light photographer. What began as a love for capturing tender family moments gradually evolved into a deep passion for fine art and editorial portraiture, as well as glamour-style photography that empowers women to feel beautiful and seen. Read more>>
Mia King
My life basically began on stage. As a 2-year-old, I was the tiniest little student at my mom’s traditional Chinese dance school. Then I started piano at age 4, violin at age 6, and flute at age 10. Somewhere in there, I became obsessed with writing short stories and scripts. At 13, I booked the first acting job I ever auditioned for. Read more>>
Jennifer Vrazel
When I was a kid, one of my favorite toys was Etch-A-Sketch. And I remember that I would draw these elaborate building sections through a multi-story house (although I didn’t know what a ‘building section’ was at the time). One level would be the living room, next level would be the kitchen, next level would be the bedroom/bathroom and so on. Read more>>
Xavier Monford
I was really inspired after watching the documentary Street Gang about the making of Sesame Street. Seeing how that team brought such bold, creative ideas to life really encouraged my creative mind. I’ve always been full of ideas and I’ve tried a bunch of different directions with my videos, mostly geared toward families. Read more>>
Amanda Larner
My doula journey began with the birth of my second child. My cousin had recently become a doula, and since I already wanted her to be present at my birth, I asked her to support me through that pregnancy. It ended up being a fast and furious labor, with me giving birth just 30 minutes after arriving at the hospital. Read more>>
Jennifer Ober
We are Jennifer Ober and Gregory Dunham, the owners and managers of a unique and curated collection of vacation rentals in Wimberley, TX. We didn’t set out to be in the hospitality business, but we’ve found we have a knack for it! For Gregory hosting just comes naturally. Read more>>
Ramiro Belmares
I began working in the auto body industry back in 2014, when i started at my father in laws auto-body shop. Over the past 12 years, I have gained extensive experience working with several auto body shops and perfecting my craft. Read more>>
Travis Amason
After years of working in corporate America – the feeling of lack of passion in my work was too overwhelming. I had always reminisced about how much I enjoyed one of my first jobs serving pizza and how great it felt to hear diners love my food and that it’s always better when I’m in the kitchen. Read more>>
MJ Northrop
Our Story: A Labor of Love Northrop’s Furniture began in 2017 as a side hustle, with our back porch serving as our very first workshop. The business quickly outgrew that space, leading us to lease our current shop in South Austin on the Menchaca line. Read more>>
ELENA LEWIS
Carlos started his Arthur Murray journey in 1997 while he was attending the University of Maryland. He wanted to broaden his Salsa dancing skills, was handed a card and made a phone call to start taking lessons. Read more>>
Sarah & Jim Gagliardi
We’ve called Austin home since 2013, and from the start, we knew we wanted to build something meaningful here—something that combined our love of food, family, and community. Austin’s vibrant local energy and foodie culture were a huge inspiration. We wanted to share the lifelong skill of cooking—not just with our own kids, but with children and families across the city. Read more>>
Chris Millar
I was a freshman at Sam Houston State University when I began a really dark battle with depression. In the midst of that season, I connected with a group of college students who shared about the good news of Jesus dying for me because He loved me. That news changed every part of my life. Read more>>
Indri Schaelicke Hammock Hill Audio
The Story of Hammock Hill Audio is an extension of my own. I began taking piano lessons at age 5 which instilled and nurtured an innate sense of musicality in me. Eventually, I also learned percussion, tuba, and jazz trombone, which created a healthy mix of perspectives on musicianship. Read more>>
Robyn Jacob
I was born and raised in this part of Texas, and I grew up loving rural life. I’ve been raising and riding horses for almost as long as I can remember, and when I met my husband, it felt perfectly natural for me to partner with him in running his family’s feed store business in nearby Carmine. Read more>>
Cynthia Smalls
I became a notary public in 1996, back when documents were still being faxed and cell phones had antennas. What started as a side hustle to help friends and family quickly evolved into a calling. Over the years, I witnessed how critical notarization is in people’s lives—whether it’s finalizing a home purchase, preparing estate documents, or navigating a legal emergency. Read more>>
Andrew Thompson
I graduated from Suffolk Law School in 2012 but felt a strong call to service. I enlisted in the army in 2013 and was stationed at Fort Hood in early 2015 where I stayed until my active duty contract expired. Near the end of my active duty service my wife and I wanted to develop a plan to help transition back into civilian life. Read more>>
McKenzie Gomez
I’m the owner, McKenzie Gomez. I graduated from the University of Arkansas last December, where I was the Feature Twirler for four years and have been a competitive baton twirler for as long as I can remember. Read more>>
Ted L. Turner
I spent forty years in construction, starting on my tools and finishing in the C-Suite. I’ve managed five-thousand dollar projects and three and a half billion dollar projects. Construction has taken me all over the world. I’ve had projects in 17 countries on four continents. What I enjoyed most about my career was building teams and mentoring individuals. Read more>>
Kay Williams-Turgott
Omg, the story of La Vida Flor reaches all the way back to 2008, when I was living in Alexandria, VA! At that time, I was working as a personal trainer and Zumba instructor, completely immersed in the world of fitness. Read more>>
Lance Russell
Lance Russell is a music theorist in New Braunfels, TX. He moved to NB in April of 2025 from Dallas, where he built a successful private music studio over the past five years. Lance loved music from an early age. He was active in band and choir throughout K-12, and pursued bachelor’s and master’s degrees in vocal performance from the University of South Florida. Read more>>
Dr Syreeta Bond
I literally built everything I have from the ground up! I switched careers from banking and retail to tech and pursued my PMP, completed my bachelor’s in fashion management, my MBA in project management and started working in tech. All throughout my career pivot into tech, I rebranded my fashion business to a sustainable model. Read more>>
Trisha Bailey & Jenn Dean
We’re Jenn and Trisha — best friends, business partners, and the proud co-owners of The Girly Birds, a Permanent Makeup, Piercing, and Jewelry Studio in Dripping Springs, Texas. Our story began long before The Girly Birds ever took flight. We met 17 years ago in dental hygiene school, two young women chasing steady careers but dreaming of something more creative, more personal, and more fulfilling. Read more>>
Ginger Matthews
I was born in New Orleans to a blues musician and a music loving florist. I grew up on the East coast singing in choirs, musicals and talent shows, before heading off to SF for college in 2010, where I picked up a heavy psych influence. Read more>>
Henri Herbert
I got started by listening to my dad’s record collection – we had loads of great music in the house. I remember hearing Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, Jerry Lee Lewis. Then a friends’ dad gave me a Little Richard cassette and that just blew my mind. Read more>>
Anjali Maazel
When my son was applying, to college in 2014, I hired an independent consultant to work with him. I was satisfied with her knowledge of colleges but not happy with the strategy side or communications with parents. It left me feeling frustrated more about the process and the stress I experienced than the results themselves. Read more>>
Minerva Villa
I have always loved photography, but it was always just a hobby for me. I am actually an actor and have been performing since I was ten years old, but I’ve always had a camera attached to my hand. I have boxes full of film photos I’ve taken over the course of my life. Read more>>
Mariana Tolobaieva
My teaching journey began in Ukraine, where I started giving private lessons to young students. I loved helping children discover their abilities and grow more confident in learning. Teaching quickly became more than just a job for me — it was a way to inspire and make a real difference in children’s lives. Read more>>
Angelique Umutesi, LCSW
Then Roots & Refuge Center LLC was born. A place born out of cultural accessibility, compassion, and connection. A place to be re-storied and re-imagined in peace within. A therapist in Texas and California, I work through an integrative, trauma-informed lens that unites evidence-based practice, mindfulness, and spiritual components. Read more>>
maurice barrett
his family was moving to nashville, tn but they surprisingly asked if i wanted join them. once we got to nashville we went from just the two of us to 6 members before Royaltee split up. some of us formed another group called IEnquiring Minds that took a hiatus which lead me to start a solo career as 247 (twenty four seven) also know as Out of Place. after 15 years of being in nashville i moved to austin where i changed my name to Kilgore Trout. these days i do more drumming than hip hop but i still make albums mainly for myself. Read more>>
Jennifer Lott Hagler
Start by selecting your perfect hat from our curated collection. Then, let your imagination run wild as you choose from an array of accessories – fancy feathers, colorful bands, gorgeous broaches, stylish hat pins, fun charms, customized branding, stitching, and more. Read more>>
Steven Schiff
I am a dynamic Sales and Marketing Executive and Entrepreneur with a proven track record in business consulting, community engagement, strategic planning, process optimization, and leadership development. My passion lies in partnering with organizations to help them achieve their goals, accelerate growth, and drive measurable, bottom-line results. Read more>>
Linh Nguyen
I have owned American Blue Diamonds, a retail fine jewelry business in Austin, Texas, since 2005. I earned a decent living income and obtained additional degrees, including a Graduate Gemologist certification from the Gemological Institute of America at Carlsbad, California, an AAS in Jewelry from Austin Community College in Austin, Texas, and an MBA in Business Administration from Texas A&M University at Kingsville. Read more>>
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