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.
Lauren Moncure 
My whole dream started to develop around this time last year. Read more>>
Analisa LaCour 
I’m a third generation thrifter- my mom & her mother always loved going to thrift stores & antique shops to find unique treasures & their appreciation for vintage pieces really made an impression on me. When I moved to Richmond in 2024, I was lost, career-wise. Read more>>
Rev Guill Evie Guill 
We’re those business owners who share the story of practically growing up in the foods service industry! Read more>>
Angela Bowles 
My journey in the wedding and events industry began more than 23 years ago, and over the years I’ve had the opportunity to experience this industry from so many different perspectives – from rentals and hospitality to sales, catering, venues, logistics, and, of course, wedding planning and coordination. Every role taught me something different and helped shape the planner and business owner I am today. Read more>>
Megan Stewart 
My journey has never been a straight line, but there has always been a common thread: I love building things that create opportunities, experiences, and community for other people. I originally grew up in Seattle, Washington, and moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 2017. Read more>>
Armando DeMarchi 
I started out in the wedding industry in March of 2021, and just slowly continued to change my style, color, approach, and just fell more in love with telling love stories! I also do recurring work for a nearby town’s tourism board, which has been a great way to continue growing and flexing my creative muscles in different ways. Read more>>
Shayola Binta 
I suppose my journey officially began in 2010. I can remember gearing up for my 30th BEarthday and feeling that big changes were on the horizon. The time had come for me to change the way I had been eating—and, more importantly, the way I had been treating my body. Read more>>
Denise McMahon 
Growing up, I never really knew where I fit in or who I wanted to be. In my twenties, I spent a lot of time letting the external voices of some I held in high regards carry more weight than my own and not giving enough weight to the people who truly supported me. Read more>>
Mackenzie Krob 
Glow Theory Studio started as a small side business with one simple goal: to help people feel more comfortable, confident, and beautiful in their own skin. I’ve always loved the beauty industry, and as someone who is naturally fair-skinned, I personally understood how something as simple as a sunless tan could give you that extra boost of confidence. Read more>>
Tracy Roberts 
I opened my business in 2024 with a clear vision: to create a place where scalp and hair care could be combined with genuine relaxation and an elevated, personalized experience. At the time, headspas were still relatively unfamiliar in our area, so much of the beginning involved educating people about what a headspa was and why scalp health deserved the same attention as skincare. Read more>>
Jay Grizzo 
Began as a stand-up comic here in Richmond VA, chose a corporate career over show business. I got married and had a family but kept close ties to the comedy community, I got in early in 2011 from a comedy promoter into podcasting back then it was called internet radio and that got me into the behind the camera and show production. Read more>>
Alexander Christos-Larbi 
One of the most significant developments in my journey has been the creation of KOLIKO, a character and visual language that has become central to my artistic identity. Read more>>
Kendall Short 
I was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and raised in the East End of Richmond. I’m a mother of three sons and a grandmother of seven, and my faith has been the thread through every season of my life. My walk has been deeply shaped by the teaching I receive at The Word Church International. Read more>>
Deborah Hunter 
Crescendo Studios was started in 2019 by a special education teacher whose daughter was learning to sing opera. The daughter wasn’t getting what she needed from the music school she was attending so her parents bought a building and opened a school. Read more>>
Mylira Cary 
My story began long before I ever had a business, a license, a degree, or a title. It began with my own journey of learning how to heal, find my voice, and believe that my life had purpose. Some of the experiences that could have silenced me ultimately became the foundation for the work I do today. Read more>>
Chris Coston 
My journey into photography started pretty organically. I’ve always been interested in the art of photography but one day I bought my first professional grade camera and took off from there. I’m completely self taught and have always loved learning and trying new things. Read more>>
Michelle Belcher 
My love of travel started with studying abroad in college. That experience set me on a path that has now taken me to over 17 countries. Along the way, I naturally became the go-to trip planner for friends and family and I realized the part I enjoyed most was designing the experience for someone else. Read more>>
Carson Crazé 
I started making music on my phone using BandLab, teaching myself the basics and discovering how much I enjoyed creating. As my passion grew, I wanted to take my skills further and truly understand the technical side of music and media. Read more>>
Amelia Marin
I started posting on Amelia the Foodie in 2024. This year I was planning a wedding, renovating my house, studying to be a financial advisor all on top of working full time. I was extremely stressed and needed some kind of outlet. I have always been a ‘foodie’ but funny enough I hate cooking, that’s always been my husband’s strength. Read more>>
Alexandria Schoolhouse
We started Alexandria Schoolhouse because we saw a model that worked and fell in love with it before we ever had a name. Brian Billings spent three years as a director at Brooklyn Schoolhouse, a small one-room, multi-age preschool tucked into a corner of Clinton Hill. Read more>>
Kayleigh Spain 
I am the Director of Marketing for Spain Commercial, Inc., a commercial construction company based in Yorktown, Virginia. My career in construction has taken a somewhat unconventional path. I’ve been fortunate to combine two things I love—my connection to the blue-collar world and my passion for creativity, photography, video, and storytelling. Read more>>
Kristina Evans-Sherburne 
My story with The 3D CEB Foundation really began long before the foundation itself existed. I spent nearly a decade as a military spouse. My husband was stationed with The 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion in Twentynine Palms, California, and during that time I became deeply involved in the 3rd CEB community. Read more>>
Meredith Norris 
The idea for Flour to Fork was born on a trip to Ireland. My sister (Paje) and I discovered a bakery/market in Galway that we fell in love with. Over the next days we spent driving time writing a business plan and discussing what could be. Upon returning the universe spoke loud when I was laid off from my corporate tech job. Read more>>
emily lincoln 
My name is Emily, i’m 23 years old and I attempted my life when I was 18 years old. After an abusive relationship, financial issues, and addiction, I didn’t see my life going anywhere. Being bipolar affected my mental health for years, as well as losing family members the same way. In 2022, I attempted my life by jumping from a parking garage. Read more>>
Suwanit Tachothai 
I grew up in Bangkok, Thailand, where community was a big part of everyday life. I was surrounded by family, friends, neighbors, and large groups of people who genuinely stayed connected. Getting together wasn’t always something that needed a special occasion—it was simply part of life. There was always food, conversation, laughter, and a sense of belonging. I’ve carried that with me throughout my life. Read more>>
Sandra Romulus 
My story is really a story about purpose. It is about how my deep love for people, my connection to Haiti, and a desire to make a difference. All this gradually came together to shape who I am today. I have always been drawn to caring for others. Read more>>
Alexandra Podobnik 
Photography started as a hobby long before it became a business. I’ve always loved documenting people and the moments that make up a life; from taking my friends senior photos in high school to being part of my elementary school camera club. Read more>>
Baby Rhiii 
I’m from Portsmouth, Virginia, and music has always been something I loved, but I didn’t start seriously pursuing it until I was around 20 years old. My journey into music wasn’t necessarily traditional because, at the time, I already had a lot going on in my life. Read more>>
Lydia Burns 
I started creating websites in highschool for fun, actually! As a young adult, I attended college where I worked several jobs to pay my way through school. Read more>>
Akyra Thompson
I’m a 17 year hairstylist dedicated to cultivating healthy hair and self love for my clients. I entered the beauty industry while attending high school where I grew up in Gloucester, VA. Our school offered a vocational program that allowed students to become licensed cosmetologists by their senior year. Read more>>
Antoinette ‘Toni’ Brown 
My journey as a content creator began with a genuine love for fragrance, beauty, and the confidence they can give a person. Perfume has always been more than something I simply wear—it is a form of self-expression. A scent can reflect your personality, complement your mood, bring back a special memory, or help you feel more confident before walking into a room. Read more>>
Zach McKinley 
My name is Zach McKinley, and Williamsburg has been home for my family and me for years. I am originally from Twin Falls, ID and after a 21 year career in the U.S. Navy, we decided Hampton Roads area is where we will plant our roots. I’ve always believed in doing things right the first time and taking pride in craftsmanship. Read more>>
Laura Coates 
I always had a passion for art growing up, whether through dance, drawing, writing, or photography. I grew up in Manassas and attended VCU, where I was immersed in Richmond’s expansive and energetic arts scene. It was there that I became especially interested in community organizing through the arts, while studying entrepreneurial leadership and writing. Read more>>
Josiah Kowles 
I bought the studios because I couldn’t find a space in Hampton Roads that was worth what it cost and would help my content stand out. I was building a tech startup and needed to make content consistently to help market the brand, but the spaces I could rent were expensive for what they were and weren’t unique. Read more>>
Claudia Vasquez 
I’m Claudia, the owner and grower behind Azalea Field Flowers in Rapidan, Virginia. I’m originally from Los Angeles and moved to Virginia when I was 16. My life has taken a lot of turns since then. I became a mom very young, and today I’m raising four kids while working part-time and running my flower farm. Read more>>
Tom & Leynah Barber III 
Our Story: My husband, Tom Barber, is a barber by profession, not just by name and no, he did not change his name for the job! 😄 He started cutting hair at 17, graduated from Lu Ross Academy in California in 2014, and earned his barber instructor’s license through the BeVelle Barber Instructor Program in Texas in 2018. Read more>>
Alexandra Gravely 
I’ve always loved art and have been a creative person for as long as I can remember. In high school, I started selling pet portraits, which was my first real experience making money from my art. At the time, though, I never really thought of art as something I could turn into a career. Read more>>
George Schuler 
My parents were both music lovers I guess so most of my initial exposure to music was through their tastes. I don’t think I had too much of an interest in picking up an instrument myself as a kid, but I would tap rhythms out all the time. I never really thought about it. Read more>>
April Boyde 
My story started in Memphis, Tennessee. That’s where I spent the earlier part of my childhood. My parents split when I was around four years old. Although it broke my mom’s heart, she felt it was best for my sister (Toya) and me to stay with my dad until she could get her footing. Read more>>
Vanita Kumar
My journey to owning Postal Connections in Leesburg has been driven by a passion for serving people and building relationships within the community. I have always enjoyed helping others solve problems and making everyday tasks a little easier, which is what drew me to the shipping and business services industry. Read more>>
Lia Fernandez
I’m originally from Colombia, and I have lived in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and now Richmond. My interest in design started early. I taught myself how to code by building Sailor Moon fan sites, which still feels very on brand. I studied Communication Design at Miami Dade and Parsons, then split my career between startups and agencies. Read more>>
Diam Wins 
Diam Wins is the founder and creative visionary behind OXImoron Fashion Sense, a multifaceted lifestyle brand centered around helping people curate how they look, create, and live. Read more>>
