The Most Inspiring Stories in Utah

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.

Farzeen Alam

Growing up as an only child, I often found myself looking for ways to pass the time at home. Drawing became both a source of entertainment and a way to express myself creatively. I started with simple subjects like flowers and animals, but over time, my focus shifted to drawing faces. As a teenager, I spent hours drawing my favorite actors and musicians, with a particular focus on the members of One Direction. Read More>>

JP Gendron

I also realized that I wasn’t interested in being a career king crab fisherman, so I enrolled at the U of U. With my student priced Alta pass in hand, I would hitch hike up LCC nearly every day, managing a school and work schedule around skiing. After graduating, I moved to Park City to work ski patrolling at the Canyons (now PCMR) during the day while serving food at night at Shabu. Those were wild years- the Park City restaurant night-life was rowdy and I’d have to be up well before the sun on powder days to go throw bombs for avalanche control- it was great and for a minute or two I wanted to live that life forever. Read More>>

Dum Boy Sticky

I didn’t always love dance music. In fact I used to hate it. In my teen years I would primarily listen to harsh Noise, industrial, metal and electronic avant garde or experimental music. This blend led me to enjoy some harsh EBM, then eased into music associated with the cybergoth aesthetic. Randomer’s Dekmantel Boiler Room in 2018 was the first real moment I heard techno music and thought “wow this is incredible” and I probably listened to that mix almost every day commuting to school for the better part of a year. It was then that I decided to switch to producing dance music. Read More>>

Shiree Best

After years of working through all of that, I wanted to close the door on all that pain and move forward, so when the prompting came to start a podcast and talk about this all the time, I literally cried. I didn’t want to do it. But I did. I realized I needed to help other people work through their feelings, stop damaging themselves and the relationships they care about most. I had to help them. So I do. I talk about it every week. Read More>>

Dal Reed

At a pivotal point in my life, I found myself as the sole provider for my 4-month-old son, which gave me the motivation to build a better future for both of us. I started by completing my GED and then enrolled at Ogden Tech to study real estate—a field that had been my dream since childhood. Growing up, I spent countless hours watching HGTV, which sparked my passion for homes and helping people find their perfect space. Read More>>

Charles Gardner

I feel like this is a difficult question. How far back do you go? The fun part about life is that all experiences bring you back to now. The most important moment was a relative encouraging me to start wrestling in 6th grade. That sent me on a direction of investing my life into martial arts. Once I started training it quickly became a self identifying factor of who I was and what I do with my life. As an adult my obsession with Jiu Jitsu turned into a career. Teaching allowed me to provide back to people while building my community around me. This led to building a business and that business allows our community to have a place train with our friends and learn Jiu Jitsu at a high level. Read More>>

Summer Falkenrath

But I lived in a pit of depression that fueled a creative drought for a few years. Thanks to a toxic job, too much pressure internally and externally, and other heavy factors, I didn’t make art, play music, or write anything for a number of years. At the end of 2019, I took a steep pay cut from being a store manager to a popular nationwide company so I could work as a daycare receptionist and get some peace and quiet in my life. I was very lucky to retain a job during the pandemic, but so much time at home had me creating things again. Read More>>

Ben And Lacy Hardman

Despite the heartache Ben felt he continued to strive to save his family. Unfortunately it was only used against him to get the girls back and to make sure they had no place to go back to. After a lot of deceit, lying, conniving and scheming Ben lost most everything; his wife, daughters, home and most worldly possessions. It was nine months before he saw his daughters again. Ben says that although he lost a lot, he believes that what he gained from the experience is priceless. He knew he had a purpose and that meant doing something much bigger than just living. He also knew it was going to take a lot of work and a lot of time, especially the work he needed to do on himself. Read More>>

Kim Boylan Ray

One day while kayaking with a friend I said we need to do an event in memory of those who lost their life out here and try put a smile back on Utah Lake. I reached out to Sam at Utah Lake Authority and he loved the idea and we started making plans for the first ever paddling event on Utah Lake. That was back in 2021 and it now 2025 and we are planning our 4th paddle event on Utah Lake. Read More>>

Jessica Later

I was their first staff hair and makeup artist shooting daily. They were set to open a studio in LA and after a year in Seattle, they moved me there to start the studio in Culver City. After four years in LA shooting marketing, editorial and regular e-commerce work for Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack I got a job at Anthropologie headquarters in Philadelphia where I was the lead hairstylist for their photo shoots. A year later I came back to Utah and started freelancing regularly, mostly in LA. Covid hit and changed a lot of things. I got married, had a baby and started working locally in Utah. I have loved every step! Read More>>

Maxwell Christen

Absolutely! I started my career in social media marketing, which led to me becoming the Director of Marketing for a large restaurant and brewery group here in Salt Lake City! After that career, I decided to start Big Mouth Marketing – my community marketing agency focused on supporting small businesses in the greater Salt Lake City area. Since the beginning of Big Mouth Marketing over 4 years ago we’ve supported over +40 businesses with a proven success rate in services. Read More>>

Alexandria Layne

I was born and raised in Ogden. I love ogden and plan to live here for the rest of my life. I have always loved crafting. I was that kid who was always making/ building SOMETHING. I learned how to sew when I was pretty young, maybe 8 or 9. I used to sneak into my moms fabric bin and snip off little pieces of material to make dresses for my barbies… then show my mom my hard work and she’d be like “ummmm where did you get that fabric??” On one occasion I had cut up her old prom dress to make a skirt for my favorite stuffed animal. sometimes my resourcefulness was a curse and not a blessing lol. Read More>>

Krista Johnson

Our friends and family were our guinea pigs as we mastered our skills. Through word of mouth, social media, and eventually the launch of our website, our clientele grew bigger and bigger. We spent our first couple of years in smaller office spaces. This worked for a while, but as our client base continued to grow we decided it was time to build the spa we had dreamed about that day in the Phoenix airport. Today we have our beautiful space on 200 North in Cedar city. In 2021, Jenn graduated with her Nurse Practitioner license enabling her to act as our medical director. In 2023, I officially retired from the hospital and work full time managing Skinology. It truly is a dream come true for both of us. Read More>>

Alex Nibley

After high school, I felt like I hadn’t quite found what I was meant to do. I spent a year taking classes in every field I had any interest in until I stumbled on the Advertising program at BYU (AdLab). The AdLab taught me how to think creatively with a purpose. I learned how to jump from having an idea to making that idea come to fruition and even win some awards! However, by the time I graduated, I knew I wanted more. At this point, I see my life as a series of steps toward the director’s seat—the place from which I can lead the creative charge. Read More>>

Blake Kirkpatrick

Mesa View Oasis is a family-owned homestead and adventure park currently under construction between Hanksville and Capitol Reef National Park. We have a lot of exciting things planned. We’ll have our own line of handmade goods and souvenirs, freshly made food and drinks, on-site greenhouse space, accomodations and attractions for travelers, bike rentals and other adventure opportunities for thrill-seekers, and other fun things planned. Read More>>

Teal McDonald

I also realized I had a big passion for conformation dog shows. I’m an advocate for ethical dog breeding and breed preservation. Going to dog shows and watching the professional dog handlers prep their poodles and move them around in the ring was eye opening for me. I have learned so much from just observing them. I asked them lots of questions and implemented everything I learned into my own dogs and grooming. I’m always evolving and learning how to be better. Read More>>

Alena And Natalian Peck And Hunt

So far, its been pretty smooth, though there have been some hard pieces along the way. We have learned to work together as we lived across the state and with family and personal struggles. Although sometimes we do experience setbacks, the business is always thriving and we balance each other out as needed. We have learned to work through the struggles and have come out stronger for it. Read More>>

Katy Gullette

We are just entering year 8 of rescuing and rehabbing dogs from the Native American reservations of the Four Corners region. For the last 5 years, Underdog has also hosted monthly spay/neuter/vaccination/wellness clinics, bringing veterinary care and services to the highly underserved areas primarily on the Navajo Nation. Through this effort, we have cared for over 4000 animals that would not have had access to care. I currently work as the CEO of the organization as a full time volunteer and I couldn’t be more fulfilled. Read More>>

Natalie Cass

What stood out to me was that many drone pilots I encountered were solely focused on the technical side of flying, often outsourcing branding and storytelling projects to professionals like me. I saw an opportunity to combine my visual storytelling expertise with drone operation, positioning myself as a one-stop solution. Marketers in these industries often prioritize finding a drone pilot, with filmmaking and branding as an afterthought. By launching this brand, I could fill that gap and deliver comprehensive, high-quality results. Read More>>

Anna Sheffield

If you watch old home videos of my family, you’ll find me jumping into the center of the shot—regardless of what else is going on—belting out a song or moving to whatever music was in my head. I was also adopted, the product of two families—one mom birthed me and the other caught me moments later. And although at times I’ve struggled to know exactly where I fit as the first black member of my large family, I see my love for performance as a beautiful blend of my nature and nurture. Read More>>

Larry Price

in 2003 I read a photo magazine that featured the work of John Running. John’s images moved and inspired me. I contacted him and his invited me to his gallery and studio in Flagstaff, Arizona. I made good friends with John and he mentored me for many years. I lived on the Navajo Nation near Monument Valley, Utah where we had amazingly beautiful landscapes and people to photograph. John’s advise to me was always burn film. I was using a 35mm Can0n camera back then. I made friend with Sam Minkler, a professor at Norther Arizona University. Sam taught many things about photography. These two men helped get where I am today. Read More>>

Tamara Mulkey

They still have a grip on me. It’s been over 30 years now. It has interfered with my life enough that I needed to pursue a disability claim, which I was awarded. Meds and therapy only go so far. It has become a mental rollercoaster ride. The bright side is that I am no longer suicidal. I have learned to weather the storms. A return to art has been a life saver. I only wish my mother had lived to see me return to painting. Read More>>

Heather B. Walker

What started as a local service quickly gained traction, culminating in a feature on Fox 13’s The Place, which showcased Pumpkin Porch Fairy as a unique and beloved business. The recognition validated the hard work and creativity that went into crafting not just beautiful front porches, but memorable Fall Festive experiences. One of the defining aspects of this success story is our commitment to sustainability—donating pumpkins back to farmers and ranchers after the season, completing a full-circle journey that supports the community and the environment. Read More>>

Donovan Kelly

I served an LDS mission and when I got back, I went to BYU and studied in their photography program. I also worked as a student photographer for BYU Photo covering all BYU Athletic events, banquets, official portraits, and any other photography needs the university had. I loved that job and getting to learn more about studio lighting, capturing fast action, and learning how to organize my content effectively. After that, I went and worked full-time at an off-road parts company in North Salt Lake called Artec Industries, and I just recently shifted jobs to become a studio photographer for Crumbl. Read More>>

Bradley Knowles

We have the absolute best direct seafood from vendors in alaska. There’s really nothing else like it in south utah. We are growing steadily and looking forward to helping everyone enjoy fresh Alaskan seafood in the desert. Read More>>

Austyn Schwab

Despite being close to the end of my senior year and the Cheer season had ended, I decided to turn that dream into reality. I launched my boutique while juggling school, starting esthetics school, and working a full-time job. It wasn’t easy, but I was determined to make it work. The support of my family and friends kept me motivated through the late nights and the challenges of managing multiple responsibilities. Slowly but surely, my vision came together – I sourced pieces that spoke to the western aesthetic I adored and added my own personal touch to make the boutique truly my own. Read More>>

Samantha Nania

Once I trap a cat, Salt Lake County Animal Shelter picks them up and the cat will get: spayed/neutered, all of their vaccinations, dewormed and any other care they need (if they are sick, need dental work, etc) and then safely returned to the exact place they were trapped. Trapping for me is a way for me to impact the community and help cats. I feel like it is the small difference i can make and I get the opportunity to meet so many incredible people that want to provide care to feral cats. I feel that feral cats are very misunderstood; they can’t be pet and they can’t cuddle with us, but I feel that they deserve to be showed love in the way that best supports them. Read More>>

Nathan Davenport

The best way to share my business story is to start with where I am now, and then share my beginnings. I have now been operating Nebu Summit, aka Nebu, an outdoor apparel brand that focuses on hiking, climbing, and biking clothing–we create high tech products at affordable prices–for over 3 years now. The first 2 were all product and business development, and the last year and a half has been selling, marketing, fulfilling, developing, and logistics. Read More>>

Leslie Paramore

I was searching for a lifeline. Anything that could keep me hidden from life’s eyes. At 19, fresh out of high school, I entered marriage, naive and barely out of childhood. The marriage was marred by abuse, yet I sought solace in my own secret moments. Through these dark times, I discovered the resilience of the human spirit. I began my healing journey by writing motivational and inspirational greeting cards for others, and as I suffered in silence, I had over 150 greeting cards published by various companies. Little did I realize the words I scribed for others were also part of my own healing journey. Read More>>

Kaori Fairbourn

They had just recently opened and were looking for a teacher. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into back then, but I am grateful to this day that I found the courage to apply. The owner/boss Lucia believed in me and since then I have stayed at Workshop SLC. I am now still teaching my classes and have some students that have been with me for 4 years! I also became a studio art manager here and having a great time being part of a great art community with so many inspiring instructors and members and students I get to be around! Read More>>

Megan Adelsberger

Junction prioritizes safe and encouraging dance spaces through continued research in early childhood development and equality. Curating a supportive and inclusive environment allows for human connection, healing and the evolution within each artist to truly flourish. Dance is viewed as a sacred experience rooted in gratitude and celebration. Respect for ourselves, one another and to those who have paved the way lends itself to Junction’s thriving morale and reputable presence in the Salt Lake dance scene. Read More>>

Lani Moon

My passion for Preppy Paws is based on four things; family, education, community and of course happy, healthy, pets. I got where I am today in the most indirect route possible, it’s not so much that I took the path less traveled, it’s more that I was on a 6-lane highway in a storm with an old map and vague directions written on a post-it note. I started my adult life at the University of Utah working in human molecular genetics which was a natural beginning to ending up in a PhD program in political science studying ancient political philosophy which naturally, of course, meant I would end up opening a pet supply store. That’s mostly where my story begins. Read More>>