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.
Gabriele Pianezze
The Story Behind Amale Tre Focacceria & Italian Deli Where Family, Faith, Passion, and Authentic Italian Food Come Together In the heart of downtown Norfolk, directly across from the Scope Arena, sits a small family-owned Italian deli that has quickly become more than just a restaurant — it has become a destination. Read more>>
Christine Angles
I am the owner and principal agent of the Christine Angles Allstate Insurance Agency, an award-winning agency serving clients in Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, and West Virginia. My focus is helping individuals, families, and business owners protect what matters most through thoughtful insurance advice and strong coverage strategies. Read more>>
Brandi Walker
Body Arc was founded in 2021 by Brandi Walker, who is an artist with her BFA in Sculpture and Extended Media, as well as a personal trainer of 8 years. Brandi invited Victoria to join her as a co-owner in 2024. Below are both of their answers to this question. Read more>>
Stephen Lipscomb
I had a government job in 1992 when I started doing lawn service on the side to pay down debt. I quickly earned more money doing this than at my job. In 2000 I purchased the local office of a national lawn franchise. I ran this for 10 years before leaving it to run my own company in 2010. Read more>>
Faisal Saad
I started from nothing, this my first basins in this field, I do have experience of Crepe, i worked in Crepe Lena in Maryland Wheaton, and Washington Dc Union station. Read more>>
Caye Blackwood
After grad school, I worked as a software developer for a government contractor. We were coding the first electronic medical record for use by US Air Force. I loved this work because it had a mission beyond my keyboard. We were serve the people who kept us safe. Then, 9-11 happened and our work become crucial to the lives of our service memebers. Read more>>
Samantha Rudolph
My story might be a familiar one to a lot of people, especially in the Hampton roads area! I acquired my degree in math and science, and wanted to continue on into the medical pediatrics field. Read more>>
Dana Mares
We are Scott & Dana Mares, and we have dreamed of owning and operating a Bed and Breakfast ever since we stayed in a lovely B&B for our honeymoon on Whidbey Island in Washington state almost 40 years ago! Read more>>
Aditi Bangad
My name is Aditi Bangad, and I am the Principal Designer and Founder of Vishok Interiors. With a Master’s in Computer Applications and over 15 years of experience as an IT professional, my passion for aesthetics and love for creating captivating environments led me to establish my interior design studio. Read more>>
Connor Bowman
I started Mightee Movers during my sophomore year at Liberty University, looking to make some extra money while offering a great service to locals in the area. It began with just me and my pickup truck. Right from the start, thanks to a few basic Facebook posts, we were able to land our first few moves. From there, the business just kept growing. Read more>>
Vasanti Jivan
I grew up carrying deep emotional sensitivity, childhood wounds, and an inner longing to understand life beyond surface-level existence. Like many people, I searched for love, belonging, peace, and healing outside of myself for many years. Although I appeared functional on the outside, internally I often struggled with emotional pain, insecurity, self-doubt, and patterns that affected my relationships and overall well-being. Read more>>
Gene Conner
Well, when I was 15, I decided to quit school and make a million dollars.. 🙃 At 54, I am still waiting on my windfall… I started in construction at 15, I became a roofer.. 💪 one of the hottest jobs and best paying as well.. it was a job you either love or hate… Read more>>
Eileen Pantich Gabriela Carrillo
The tale of Peek a Look Boutique begins with two best friends (Gabriela and Eileen) and a shared dream to explore the world. Inspired by diverse cultures and fueled by an unending passion for beautiful children’s clothing, they embarked on a life-altering journey. Read more>>
Christopher Dyer
I started Reborn Martial Arts just over two years ago. It was my dream to have my own martial arts studio, and the culmination of close to 20 years of dedicated training and study. I am extremely proud to see my students thriving and genuinely changing into healthier happier people everyday. Read more>>
Cailyn Siegman
I started my floral business in 2018 after the unexpected loss of my dog, Brin. During that time, I found myself pouring my energy into creating something meaningful, and I opened around Mother’s Day. What began during a difficult season grew into something that connected me deeply with my community. Read more>>
Anna Binneweg
Early in my studies, I had the privilege of studying privately with a conductor who was a terrific mentor and pedagogue – he had a tremendous influence over my future as a professional musician. During the same time, I also had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in London – a city full of life, arts and multi-cultural avenues. Read more>>
Steve Yoon
I came to the United States with a dream of building my life through food. My journey started in California at Hama Japanese Restaurant in Venice Beach, where I began learning Japanese cuisine and understanding the discipline, detail, and passion behind the restaurant industry. After that, I continued my journey in Dallas, Texas, working at Shogun Japanese Restaurant. Read more>>
Alex Casey
Adopted from Seoul korea at 6 months old, grew up in fredericksburg va. went to masaponax highschool graduated 2010. my mom taught biology at mary wash for 30 years. my dad had his own private practice for internal medicine also in town. after highschool i moved to washington and started working for Chef Jose Andres at Jaleo. Read more>>
Amanda Britton
BeautyBOXX started in 2013 when I began doing cluster lashes out of my home while raising my two sons, both under the age of three at the time. What started as a small hustle and passion for beauty quickly grew into something much bigger. Read more>>
Andrea Shipley
My path has been anything but straight, and I’ve come to appreciate that about it. I started out thinking I’d be an artist. I went to graphic design school, then changed majors when I realized I didn’t want to spend my career selling things in a corporate setting. From there I found my way into wellness as a massage therapist. Read more>>
Cortney Herndon
I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy who has practiced in Danville, Virginia, for more than twenty-three years. In 2015, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, I unexpectedly found myself on the opposite side of health care — as the patient instead of the provider. That experience was both humbling and life-changing. Read more>>
Carey Dean
From the beginning of my nursing career, I always knew my heart was in mental health. Although I explored several specialties and gained valuable experience in different areas of nursing, every path eventually led me back to psychiatric care. Those experiences only strengthened my passion for helping individuals struggling with mental health challenges. Read more>>
Cody McCracken
I always hated that I didn’t get a professional to do my wedding photos. We only have like 2 good photos from our wedding. So I wanted to capture other people’s story and make everything easy for them. I always seen photos being a weird or awkward thing growing up so I enjoy making it very fun and effortless for couples. Read more>>
Derek Aarstad
My name is Derek Aarstad, and I’m the owner of DNA Heating and Cooling. I’ve been in the HVAC and mechanical trades for over 16 years, with experience in residential service, light commercial work, maintenance, system design, ductwork, installations, and diagnostics. Read more>>
April Thompson
I’m a creative professional based in Virginia and the owner of April Thompson Designs. I specialize in graphic and web design, branding, social media management, and digital content creation. Before starting my business in 2019, I worked closely with visual arts, technology, and professional development for both individuals and businesses. Read more>>
Crystal Jones
My journey to becoming a psychotherapist began during my undergraduate studies at Hampton University. I grew interested in relationships and family systems when I noticed gaps in these areas after speaking with some of my peers. I wanted to learn more about family systems and how they effect the individual. Which led me to becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Read more>>
Craig Wright
I started watercolor painting the beginning of 2020 as a hobby; just something to do to keep myself busy. At the same time COVID hit and like many others, I found myself stuck in the house for days, sometimes weeks on end with way too much time on my hands. Painting watercolors filled the void. Read more>>
Kisha Damali Kingston
My design journey began in 2009 after designing custom stationery for my sister’s wedding. What started as a creative outlet quickly grew into a business, leading me to officially register my LLC and spend over a decade designing stationery for published weddings and events. In 2023, my work evolved beyond paper into the world of interiors, branding, and surface design. Read more>>
Danielle McCutcheon
I started out in the casino industry in Las Vegas and California, which was about as far from jewelry as you can get. Eventually, I hit a point of burnout and went to visit my mom in Hawaii for a reset. She had started making shell bangles with a friend and selling them at local markets on the weekends. Read more>>
Rick Moore
When I started Adept Motions, I was bartending and serving full time. I was tired of working in the cooperate world and decided to start our digital marketing agency. I had 2 business partners at that time we launched that I have since bought out. Read more>>
Carrie Wendell
Friendship Preschool and Child Care Center was established in the 1960s as Graham Road Preschool. Now housed at Friendship United Methodist Church, Friendship Preschool and Child Care Center is a low-cost, well-regarded fixture in the community. In the Pre-K program, children are encouraged to learn, grow, and thrive in a warm, welcoming environment where every child is known, valued, and supported. Read more>>
Joshua Pelling
I began DJing in 2012 after serving in the US Army, and I launched Love & Light Entertainment in 2018 after moving to the DMV area. Over time, the story has become less about “starting a DJ company” and more about refining a boutique, veteran‑owned wedding entertainment experience for couples in Northern Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland. Read more>>
Melissa McGlone
Twenty-eight years ago exactly I was deemed infertile when they discovered I had “the worst case of endometriosis the doctors had ever seen.” They were so sure I’d never have children a complete hysterectomy was recommended. At the counsel of a wise family member, I instead embarked on a 90-day journey to heal the disease all-naturally using the Ann Wigmore Livng Foods Lifestyle program. Read more>>
Bruce Brown
I started out pursuing my gifts in music and my love for film at a early age. Using music and video throughout my time in school showed me I could connect with people in a unique way. and it also helped that I got good grades because of using those gifts of Songwriting, performing, and making videos for various school projects. Read more>>
Asia Anderson
My journey as an artist has been a long winding path that has come full circle. I’ve always been creative, but for a long time, I didn’t fully see art as something I could build a life around. I spent years following the paths that seemed practical or expected, while still creating in the background. I became a stay-at-home mom with two children under 2. Read more>>
