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.
Glen Schultz
I was an unemployed college professor at age 30 so I went door-to-door looking for odd jobs. Since it was October, several people wanted leaves removed. One man wanted his gutters cleaned and I obliged. I realized I could make more and work faster cleaning gutters so I started Leaf Relief Gutter Cleaning. Read more>>
Candace Harding
Dr. Candace P. Harding PT, DPT, OCS received her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from The George Washington University in 2016 and a B.S. in Exercise Science from Rutgers University in 2013. She is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist with post-doctoral coursework distinguishing her as a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist. Read more>>
Karim Zebdi
Think about the last time you searched for a local business on Google. You typed in what you needed, looked at the first few results, and called one of them. You never scrolled to page two. You never asked around. You just called whoever showed up first. Now flip that around. Read more>>
John Gervasi
Where Engineering Meets Art: The Story of John Gervasi PhotoArts In a world that often asks us to choose between logic and creativity, John Gervasi built a life that proves you never have to. An engineer by training and an artist at heart, Gervasi has spent decades weaving together two seemingly opposite disciplines—precision and imagination—into a single, compelling career. Read more>>
Aimee Long
If someone had told me years ago that I would one day be introducing strangers to alpacas, goats, donkeys, pigs, and a cast of rescue animals with personalities bigger than most humans, I probably would have laughed. Yet somehow, that is exactly where life led me. Animals have always been a constant in my life. Read more>>
Emily Kramer Throckmorton
My journey to becoming the owner of Kaizen Athletics and founder of Kaizen Adaptive Training started with a simple belief: fitness should be accessible to everyone. As a coach, I saw firsthand how traditional fitness spaces often overlooked individuals living with physical disabilities, traumatic injuries, and chronic conditions. In 2020, I began working with a single athlete who had sustained a spinal cord injury. Read more>>
Jeff Connell
Born and raised in South Georgia. Was a full-time pastor for 35 years. Friend told me about the position at the 4-H Center and I was intrigued. Hired in February 2024. Love my job. They were in dire financial need when I arrived. Worked hard to rebuild relationships in community and with outside organizations. Worked hard to plan events for the 10 months outside camp. Read more>>
Veronica Szalus
Veronica Szalus has been immersed in projects focusing on art, design, and museum experiences. She has worked with museums and community arts organizations, artists, architects, and design professionals in a broad range of roles. Read more>>
Natalie McNamara
CreativeMktGroup began as a start-up business on $0 capital in January 2016 and has since continued to grow organically. Founder, Natalie McNamara, determined a gap in the marketplace for small businesses and the quality, simple marketing support they so very well deserve. Read more>>
Alex campbell
I grew up surfing in Virginia Beach. As a kid my very first board was an old fish shaped board that I found under my neighbor’s deck. It was completely trashed, but I was stoked to have it. The neighbor sold it to me for $5. I took it home sanded it down, reshaped, fiber glassed, patched and repaired it. Read more>>
Kendallyn Johnson
Passion and helping others. That passion is what birthed KenYouReach. I started this practice because I saw a massive gap between people who needed to move better and the accessibility of specialized care. Read more>>
Andres Navas
Hi, im Andrés Navas, I started Doptus in 2005 from Quito, Ecuador, with a question that still drives everything we do: why do organizations invest in marketing campaigns before they actually understand their own communication landscape? At the time, every agency in Latin America was competing on creative portfolios and campaign pitches. I took a different route. Read more>>
Jac Beasley
How far back can I go? I have always been an outdoor kid, peak-90’s youth, here! Back then, I had a neighbor who let me garden in a little patch of dirt in their side yard. From that point, as a teen saving for my first car, I mowed lawns every weekend. $10/mow, with an extra $5 if they wanted an edge. Read more>>
Evan Scher
Lulu Karaoke has been around for 20 years now ( going on 21 this year) ( Founded 2005) Same one door entrance with no windows. Same aluminum foil covered ceiling. Lulu has gone through many changes over the years. As centreville has evolved, Lulu has survived the storm. No big corporate, no management team. Read more>>
Cayce Carlisle
I was six years old standing on a chair watching Mom make cookies when I leaned in a little too close and my long blonde hair whirled around the KitchenAid mixer, yanking my head down. That’s when my passion for baking began. After that, I was glued to mom’s side every time she was baking in the kitchen. Read more>>
Lee Kondor
I enjoy doing engineering work, so when I retired from Raytheon in 2019, I started Kondor Engineering to see if I could find some engineering projects to work on. Read more>>
Jaymee El-Amin
Majestic Phoenix was born from determination, resilience, and a desire to create something beautiful from life’s challenges. My journey into the nail industry began in 2017 while sitting on my living room floor, five months pregnant with my son. At the time, I had no idea that I possessed any artistic talent. Read more>>
Aldany Lopez
I’m 21 years old and the owner of Legendary Lawn Care & Services LLC. Looking back, I’ve always enjoyed mowing lawns. Ever since I was around 12 years old, I liked being outside, working hard, and seeing the difference you could make when a job was done right. Read more>>
Liz Riffle
I never planned to become a bison rancher. My career started in healthcare. I served six years as a Navy Nurse Corps officer after commissioning through NROTC, caring for service members and their families at military hospitals across the country. While I loved serving, I also felt a growing pull towards my roots as an equestrian, back outdoors and to the land. Read more>>
Bryant Edwards
My background is very broad. As a kid I cut grass in my neighborhood and I loved it. As I got older I worked in the Lawn & Garden department at 3 different big box home improvement stores before trying to make a go at it in direct sales. I was great at it but didn’t like it. Read more>>
Daniela Pelaez
My story starts long before I ever opened a beauty business. I moved to the United States in 2014 I was 14 years old at the time. I helped my mother as a housekeeper until I got my first job was working at the front desk of a sportsplex facility. At just 16 years old, I quickly worked my way up into a supervisor position. Read more>>
Celeste A Mensah
My journey to pediatric dentistry has been driven by two passions: caring for children and serving patients with special healthcare needs. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, I pursued my dental education at New York University College of Dentistry, where I participated in the Special Patient Care Honors Program during my senior year. Read more>>
Kaytlin McCoy
I first discovered my love for photography in college when a friend asked me to help with her engagement photos. This little favor turned into my passion. I found myself drawn to telling people’s stories through images, documenting the joy, emotions and meaningful moments that make each season of life unique. That passion continued to grow over the years. Read more>>
Jason Lester
15 years ago a co-worker seen me playing with a cheap digital camera and asked me if I would take some pictures of her for a model agency she was applying to. The pics turned out amazing and I discovered I had a natural eye for photography. Read more>>
Brittney Dinac
I started my business as a result of the pandemic in 2021. At the time, I was in my third year of teaching, and while navigating hybrid instruction, I discovered a love and passion that extended beyond the traditional classroom setting. Read more>>
Phally Kay
Growing up in a village from Thailand and coming to the states has been an incredible journey to who I am today. The most impactful thing that happened in my life is giving my life to Christ and ever since then I have not been the same. I am currently in the Air Force and author. Read more>>
Melody Smith
I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. Long before photography, I painted, drew, experimented with mixed media, and spent countless hours creating things simply because I couldn’t imagine not creating. Art has always been part of who I am. I picked up my first camera at eight years old and immediately became fascinated by people. Read more>>
Jose Centeno
My story started in a very humble way. I did not come from a traditional college path or a big business background. For a long time, I felt like I had potential, but I was not really using it in the real world. I spent a lot of time playing games and I was very competitive with it. Read more>>
Jasmine Rush
I am a U.S. Navy veteran, entrepreneur, and storyteller who founded Speaking From the Lens to help individuals and organizations preserve the moments and messages that matter most. What began as a passion for photography evolved into a mission-driven media company focused on strategic photo and video storytelling for speakers, authors, nonprofits, and purpose-driven brands. Read more>>
Lindsay Miguelez
Photography has been a hobby with the women in my family dating all the way back to my great-grandmother. I always thought of it as just a hobby until I decided to take the leap and start a wedding photography business in 2014. At the time, I was pursuing a History degree, but I never did well in school. Read more>>
XIMENA NAVARRETE
I’m Ximena Navarrete, founder and General Manager of Prime Web Agency Online LLC — Prime Web Online — based in Alexandria, Virginia. I started this company while working — and still working — a full-time job, Monday through Friday and often Saturdays. Read more>>
Rilee Jackson
I’ve always loved playing with a camera. I would make my own stop motion videos with my friends in middle school and taught myself how to edit videos. Then, I went on to taking art and photo classes in high school. Read more>>
Jimmy Lewis
I started working in the cigar industry over 10 years ago in Lynchburg, Virginia while I was in college. During that time we often had people driving all the way from Roanoke to Lynchburg for a cigar lounge experience since there wasn’t anything comparable in Roanoke. Read more>>
April Gresham
This is my fifth year in business, I used to work with family where I reached my limit on growth, so I decided to open my own business. I got into the Pack and Ship Business Center field based on my personality and off the strength that a store like mine (Post Office) was needed in my area. Read more>>
Nazratu Boateng
My journey has been one of faith, resilience, and purpose. I didn’t start with everything figured out. Like many entrepreneurs, I experienced setbacks, made mistakes, questioned myself, and had to learn many lessons the hard way. But every challenge became an opportunity to grow, refine my vision, and strengthen my faith. Read more>>
Alexandra Crutchfield
I worked for the athletic department while earning my Bachelor’s from Roanoke College in Salem, VA. As graduation was approaching, I was searching for jobs in and around the Roanoke Valley area (sports and non-sports roles.) I decided to interview for the Account Executive/Marketing Manager role for the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs of the SPHL. Read more>>
Harry Wilkinson
I started as a child actor in New York. My family lived in a suburb of NYC in Westchester, NY and that’s where I took lessons in music, dance, and acting in order to train for auditions. I did commercials, movies, musical theater, and television. As I got older I went to college at UCLA, and was focused on a career in the arts. Read more>>
Heaven Hall
I grew up in a very small town in Virginia called Caroline County. My house was very musical in an 80s way. I used to dance on my desk and bed to Bon Jovi and the Bangles while playing video games like Sonic. In school, I was the artsy emo anime kid that loved to sing. Read more>>
David Rothman
I knew from a young age that I wanted to become a therapist. I suppose it started because enough of my friends told me I was a good listener and said I’d make a good therapist, so I decided to listen to that advice by majoring in psychology. Read more>>
Dani White
My story is pretty simple. I did an internship with a photographer in 2005 when I was just a senior in high school and have never really put the camera down since. Read more>>
Diamond Kut
My journey has been shaped by resilience, purpose, and the determination to create a better future for my son and myself. Everything changed when my son’s father passed away. In the midst of grief, I made a promise to myself that I would do everything in my power to ensure our son knew he was loved, supported, and had every opportunity to succeed. Read more>>
Lucio Melgar
I’m Lucio Melgar, a tattoo artist and entrepreneur from Northern Virginia. What started as a passion for tattooing grew into something bigger I realized I wasn’t just creating tattoos, I was creating experiences and helping people tell their stories through art. Read more>>
Debra Mitchell
I started in management consulting almost 20 years ago after graduation from George Mason University with my Masters in Adult Education. That launched my career in consulting. First as an Instructional Designer and Training Facilitator supporting civilian agencies with the federal government. I then moved into a leadership role supporting the Air Force team as a organizational change management lead. Read more>>
LaMichelle Hecht
LaMichelle Hecht, MBA, CPA, is the Founder and Owner of Overhead Solutions Group, a specialized accounting and advisory firm dedicated to serving nonprofit organizations. With over a decade of experience in accounting, LaMichelle has built her career around supporting mission-driven organizations, particularly those navigating complex grant funding, regulatory compliance, and audit requirements. Read more>>
John Finn
The Finn family has a long and proud multi-generational history, beginning with James Finn, a Civil War sailor who settled in Winterpock, VA, and became a farmer and did carpentry repairs. James and his wife Henrietta had nine children, including Andrew, who achieved remarkable success as a businessman and built the first African-American school in Chesterfield County in 1917. Read more>>
Jessica Yanez
We’re a Family Owned Business Our story begins with the encounter of two stranded immigrants who find themselves along the way by merging traditional techniques with modern cuisine. Chef Benedict Yanez and his wife Jessica Yanez migrated from El Salvador and Mexico in 1996, looking for a brighter future in Texas, learning along the way all the necessary skills for running a restaurant. Read more>>
Nick Halleran
Despite growing up near the Buffalo region of New York, I always had a passionate curiosity about the ocean and surfing. I moved to Virginia Beach at age 19 and fell in love with surfing. Read more>>
Leslie Merriman
After two decades as a research and IT consultant, I was ready to take a pause and find what I wanted my next career chapter to be. The path of working with skin brings together so many passions of mine but I also see this work as something far beyond the superficial beauty world. Read more>>
Pulse Pilates
Ashlin’s employer/local studio closed down during COVID. Together with a coworker, Arkeif Robinson, they pooled their resources to establish a 250 sq ft private studio offering private sessions only. In the Fall of 2021, Ashlin bought out Arkeif’s share when he relocated out of state. This coincided with the arrival of a new client, Sheryl, a nurse practitioner feeling the effects of extended hospital hours. Read more>>
Ryan Alexander
I am Mandu Soul. I’m artist out of Lynchburg, Virginia. I’ve consider myself as laidback with an ear for the classics. I’ve always been into music in one form or another. Church Choir, Chorus at school, Singing in my car being a road warrior. If you ever passed me on the road, you probably seen me singing. Read more>>
