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.

Damiano Carlotto

My name is Damiano Carlotto, I was born in a small town by the Dolomites near Venice, Italy in 1992. My story, like many out there, started in my teen years as an unruly kid that didn’t know what he wanted to do in life. I was very good in school, but at the same time couldn’t stand it. I recognized I had an “artist soul” that made me restless, always craving to do more, discover, create, learn. From design to learning musical instruments, drawing, painting, and riding motorcycles, I was always up for something daring and adventurous . Read more>>

Kailee Wing

That Canon 6D Mark II was what really got my journey going. I branched out from taking pictures of things that didn’t move (and the family cat) and had my little sister and other family members and friends become my models. I started photographing groups for high school dances and high school seniors. I began shadowing different wedding photographers and doing styled shoots. I fell in love with photographing couples in love and decided that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to capture the happiest day of peoples’ lives. From that time, I have been able to work with so many amazing couples and each time I do, it makes my heart full and my sets my soul on fire. Read more>>

Tanya Mills

Seven years ago in January of 2018, when our local Barnes & Noble refused yet again to offer my high-functioning autistic son a part-time job on his third try, I decided it was time to do something about it myself. I determined to help grow both his career prospects and the scant literary scene in the fastest-growing metro area in the country. As a writer, myself, with two published books to my name, I set my keyboard aside temporarily and jumped feet first into the bookselling business. Read more>>

Marisol Pitta-perez

We had to make some modifications to best serve our Community consumers. We wanted to provide a Gluten free option so everyone could enjoy some traditional Artisan Peruvian Empanada. Ham and cheese is not very traditional, but people wanted a breakfast option. People also wanted a sweet Empanada so the Apple was created. Read more>>

Debbie Jenkins

Together, we’ve built a strong, interconnected roller derby community, providing opportunities for skaters of all ages and skill levels. Whether it’s junior skaters taking their first laps, new recruits learning the game, or seasoned competitors representing us on the national and international stage, we’re committed to making roller derby accessible and empowering for all. Read more>>

Josue Mejicanos

The next few months were a grind. I was taking photos of anything and everything, building my brand, and figuring out how to turn this into a real career. Then, my first big break came: a concert shoot at The Saltair. Rick Ross, Lil’ Mosey, and Lil’ Pump. I had no idea what I was doing, but I showed up, shot my heart out, and those photos ended up being the stepping stones to where I am today. Read more>>

Liv Moore

Previously, I traveled the US living in AirBnbs. While traveling, it was a goal to see as many National Parks and awe-inspiring views as possible. Through traveling I fell in love with photography and elopements. I had the privilege to witness many elopements in my travels and they were always magical. When I moved back to Texas, I took my photography career seriously. I specialize where my heart and where my passion is – couples, micro-weddings, and elopement photography. Read more>>

Jordan Schmidt

I moved to California for a few months to do a marketing internship with stance socks. During my time there Tik Tok started to gain a bit of popularity and I noticed some videos about Utah on my for you page so I made a few videos for fun and my second video ever had 100,000 views in a day so that sparked an idea. I figured since I was coming back to Utah I would try making that type of content and after 2 months I gained 10,000 followers and by June 2020 I had 100,000 followers and have been doing Utah themed content since on both Tik Tok and IG Read more>>

Nicole Cook

No, it is definitely not a smooth road. As all new business owners do, you make mistakes and sometimes I catch myself up at night thinking about how dumb or nuts it was that I made some of the decisions I did. Such is life though! The biggest struggles for me have been learning about business and time management. I feel like it is a common struggle with creatives to learn how to market, run a business, and successfully time manage. We tend to be free spirits and out of our realm of study when it comes to that end of a business. Time to grow though! Bring on the struggle! Read more>>

Summer Belnap Robertson

I had my first baby at 29, and I realized I needed to pivot and find a new passion. So, I put all my focus and energy into choreography and founded the St George Dance Company and Red Rock Dance Festival. The St. George Dance Company provides adult dancers the opportunity to train and perform and produces concerts and events like the Red Rock Dance Festival in southern Utah. This led me to be invited to serve on various boards like the St. George Arts Commission and the RAP Tax Commission. Read more>>

Wagner Ribeiro

I love what I do …dealing with people, I am really generous, I have achieved a lot of things and being recognized by that Read more>>

Todd Bay

I’ve been in sales my entire life. I started at 19 and never looked back. Selling isn’t just something I do—it’s who I am. Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve excelled. I don’t compete with others; I compete with myself. Before stepping into the world of natural stone, I was selling SaaS for Fortune 500 companies. My last year in SaaS, I was the number one salesman worldwide. I hit my annual quota by July and was on track to double it by year’s end. Read more>>

Riker Chance

Some of these companies included ENO hammocks, SKB Cases, Stanley thermoses, freestyle watches, rumpl, Thursday boots, Kelty, fitts, nuun, sog, braven, qalo, the list goes on. Long story short, I noticed that Utah doesn’t have a good product photography studio that specializes in Amazon quality content. Amazons parameters are unique, and ever changing, so it can hard to qualify a business to tackle such product photos and videos with confidence. I believe I have created that company. Read more>>

Byanka Deras

To all my new lymphatic bodysculpting specialist just beginning be just self there’s enough food in the table for everyone and don’t give up I started with 0 cliente 0 followed but my heart and mind was always there with the backup of few excelente surgeons who saw my work and potential Also all my clients who have been drove all the way from Las Vegas, Cedar City,Kanab Arizona just to see me it’s more that rewarding. Read more>>

Mercedes Ng

Growing up in Hong Kong, I loved to doodle as a kid. Whether at church or restaurants, I would ask my mom for a pen and draw on an old relief society agenda or on the blank side of a paper menu. I wasn’t the brightest kid at school. But I was good at drawing. If you could have seen all the doodles in my textbooks, you’d understand how “attentive” I was in class. Throughout most of my life, people believe and have told me that there’s no money in art. I remember seeing a stack of professionally drawn comics my Dad created and asking him why he didn’t become a cartoonist.  Read more>>

Lynda Peterson Galicia

You see, because my mom had to constantly work to provide for us, that put my older brother and I in a parental position for my little brother, Mark. Mark was autistic, nonverbal, and he had received a diagnosis at the age of 8 for Epilepsy. He had grand mal seizures and was required to take many medications to help. This placed a world of responsibilities on my older brother and I so that my mom could continue to make the money we needed to survive. Read more>>

Liz Dalton

I was 35, married with 3 children when I received my breast cancer diagnosis. After losing my mom when I was 7 years old and my dad when I was 29, I knew what cancer could do and I was terrified. The unknowns were scary and treatment was actually awful but I did find something incredible about being diagnosed with cancer. That was the people. People reach out in so many ways and they also connect you with others who have faced something similar and those people are gold. Read more>>

Sierra Martinson

Living in Utah of all the places I have lived has been an interesting experience. Looking through the lens, there are so many beautiful places and people here. It made me fall in love with Utah in a way that I wouldn’t have without my job. But I’m eager to move and explore a new place, with new culture, people and heck even the weather. With how I grew up, it’s hard to not want to just take off and explore a new place- in an immersive way, not just visiting for a week and leaving. It’s an amazing experience I have had throughout my life, one of diverse culture that I wouldn’t exchange for anything. Read more>>

Paulina Ganung

With over a decade of experience in marketing and social media, I help businesses craft strategic, engaging content that builds their brand and connects with their audience. Originally from Florida, I now call Heber City, Utah, home—balancing my career as a freelance social media manager with being a mom of two. Read more>>

Colette Hanley

I continued to make new connections there with photographers, videographers, bands and other local creatives to introduce more inclusive events like Pride Prom, Heavy Metal and R&B concert nights. My art, my work would be obsolete without the bravery of those willing to share their dreams with me and their trust in my creative voice to bring them to life. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities I have been given to learn and grow as part of my story and theirs. I look forward to what the gremlin of my mind hungers for next and the colors and movement yet to be captured. Read more>>

Brie Pereboom

Since then I’ve added smaller wooden plaque options, in ornament and magnet sizes, as well as paper portraits, in various sizes. Even though I find it incredibly stressful to deliver a portrait that will capture the personality of my clients’ pets, I am deeply honored to be thought of and trusted with these very special portraits. Read more>>

Molotov Dress

We started as a group of friends passionate about music and art. After playing music for some time, our writing became a natural step in our progression as a band and we are incredibly lucky to be included and involved in the local scene we’ve always loved so much. Read more>>

Kim Gordon

I’ve taught at the high school and middle school levels, but for the last 24 years I’ve been an adjunct professor at Snow College teaching mainly drawing and 2D design classes and occasionally teaching community workshops through the local art center. While teaching is a large part of my life, painting and creating my own art is my priority. I paint regularly with a plein air group I helped found in Sanpete County as well as in my studio at home. Painting life in Sanpete County and its history is very inspiring to me, as well as recording places I’ve traveled. Read more>>

Brian Gagne

Fast forward to 2023. We were wiser (debatable), wider, and much less flexible than before, but we were finally all together again in Northern Utah. We decided that, like the great Rafiki once said, “it is time”. We started writing together again, but wanted to fulfill our dream of recording a full-length album together. Something that helped make this possible was Brian winning the BOOM Campaign from his company BrainStorm Inc., and so we put ourselves to work and released our album “To Be Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” on January 1st, 2025. Read more>>

Teresa Kwant

Now, with over 12 years of experience selling on TPT, I’ve expanded my work beyond just creating resources—I also mentor and teach other educators how to turn their lesson plans into a source of income. Through my membership, Teacher-Author Brilliance, I guide teachers through the process of designing and selling educational materials using tools like Canva and PowerPoint. My goal is to help teachers leverage their expertise and create an additional income stream, whether it’s to supplement their salary or build a thriving business of their own. Read more>>

Arica Roberts

After completing a B.A. in History from BYU and a M.A. in History from the University of Utah, I moved to the U.K. to pursue a PhD in Archaeology. During COVID-19 lockdowns, I had to move back to SLC and it was during this time that I began naturally applying my research to my direct surroundings in Salt Lake City. My archaeological research was on power and the landscape; specifically looking at the ways intersecting identities shaped the landscape and displayed their power. Read more>>

Delynn Talley

On July 1, 2020, I officially became the owner of PG Printers—and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I love being creative, working hard, and seeing projects come to life. But most of all, I love being part of the Pleasant Grove community. We proudly work with Miss Pleasant Grove, high school sports programs, and local businesses—because this town is my home. Read more>>

Capp City

We already have a lot of love with where were at. We get to play shows at these great local venues and we’re writing music very actively. We’ve always been grateful to work hard on writing, practicing, and marketing our music, so I don’t think we can label hard work as a “challenge” or “obstacle”. So far just having fun and focusing on what we love to do with our project has opened a lot of doors and gained us a lot of opportunities, and we just hope that it continues to be that way. Read more>>

Quinn Lapeyre

I dealt with an 18 year drug addiction going around Utah doing home, invasions selling drugs, robbing people, etc. I finally found sobriety through a deeply spiritual, psychedelic journey. I turned my life around and started to talk about how I found a spiritual awakening through these plant medicines, and I started to create a community of people who have found their spiritual awakening as well. I’ve grown a social media following to almost 1,000,000 and I currently hold Support groups, live and virtual meetings for over 10,000 members Read more>>

Preston Reynolds

I then moved on to become a Business Intelligence Developer for a nationwide security company and later led the largest Business Intelligence (BI) team at Amazon. After creating a new BI practice at a local consulting firm, growing to $4,500,000 in revenue in the first 3 years, I decided to go out on my own and founded Insights In Action. My proudest achievements come when I can work with organizations and leaders to see their problems in a different light – opening new avenues for putting their toughest operational problems to rest. I’ve always been driven by a commitment to delivering tangible business impact and continuously challenging the status quo to drive improvements. Read more>>

Quyen Pham

Smooth roads are boring—I thrive on the bumpy, winding paths! My first big challenge was overcoming my shyness and social anxiety. I knew that, eventually, I’d have to put myself out there and talk to strangers. As an introvert, this felt like a huge obstacle, but the support from my friends and family helped me grow. Read more>>

Bandit

I moved to Utah a little over two years ago and discovered my passion for being on the road. Since then, I’ve been exploring the state the best way I know how: On two wheels! Read more>>

John Millar

In the realm of sneaker customization, my approach focuses on designing and painting in a way that maintains the original integrity of the sneaker, ensuring it still resembles a product directly from Nike. I place a high value on meticulous craftsmanship, often dedicating extra time to perfecting every detail, from ensuring precise stitch lines and color matching to guaranteeing that the sneaker is expertly crafted to ensure long term wearability. Read more>>

Anthony Fossceco

Magic and the occult have always been a part of my life, even if I didn’t realize it at first. As a young boy, I was captivated by mystical TV shows like *Charmed* and *Sabrina the Teenage Witch*. Yet, back then, magic was presented as pure fantasy—something entertaining but entirely separate from the “real world.” It wasn’t until I grew older that I began to uncover the rich historical tapestry of people who had practiced the very crafts I’d seen on screen, using them for personal growth and empowerment. This revelation sparked a curiosity that led me to purchase my first deck of tarot cards and one of my earliest books on magic: Buckland’s *Complete Book of Witchcraft*. Read more>>

Evelyn Chavez

My name is Evelyn Chavez, and I am 37 years old. I moved to Paterson, New Jersey, from Peru when I was 12 years old. I remember Paterson as a very diverse city, where I had the opportunity to immerse myself in learning about other cultures and traditions. In 2004, I moved to Salt Lake City, where I began my journey as a Latin American folklore dancer with the Utah Hispanic Dance Alliance, directed by Jessica Salazar. Those 10 years were some of the best of my life as a folklore dancer, as I learned to appreciate dances from all over Latin America, as well as from the Philippines, Spain, and Ireland. I discovered the rich stories behind the dances, the communities they represent, and their deeper messages. This experience completely changed my perspective on the world. Read more>>

Braiden Belnap

From a baby to about 6th grade I thought the world was perfect. I was one of the happiest kids in the world with a gift of walking in a room and seeing who was truly happy or who was truly sad. I felt blessed I had 4 grandparents, 2 loving parents that were together, 2 siblings that were my best friends. We lived in a nice home, had 2 nice cars, traveled, had food and played sports. We truly lived an amazing life from my perspective. Read more>>

Madi Whitaker

I’ve dealt with some self doubt, every month I’m like damn am I going to pull this off again? The uncertainty of being mostly self employed is anxiety inducing but it helps my drive, it helps me be more resourceful and makes me think outside the box. I learn something new every month. The amount of opportunities I’ve received since quitting my job has confirmed for me that I’m doing the right thing. I’ve never felt more fulfilled by a job even though it feels cloudy at times. I just keep hustling and trusting myself. I also have a great support system and I don’t think I’d be doing what I’m doing without my friends and family encouraging me. Read more>>

Omar Castanon

I started taking photos as a way to preserve memories of my life. I took a beginner photography class in my last semester of my bachelor’s degree. I fell in love with the medium immediately. Soon afterwards, I bought a digital camera and began to teach myself photography through YouTube videos, books, lectures, and a lot of trial and error. I always enjoyed bringing the best version of somebody out in a photo and helping them see themselves in a new light that they may not have before. Getting to meet interesting people and learning about their life is what motivates me to continue shooting portrait Read more>>

Christopher Peterson

Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to help people feel their best and truly enjoy their health. By the time I reached college, I was on track to attend medical school at 22. I had always been a healthy, athletic, balanced person, but everything changed overnight. At 22, I woke up to skin so itchy it kept me up at night, with dry, scaly patches around my mouth, nose, and eyes. The itching was unbearable, and my body was covered with it, making sleep nearly impossible. I woke up with blood on my hands from scratching. Read more>>

Marcie Suchow

In late 2023 life changed unexpectedly when I found out my little brother had been killed tragically, being some years older then he was, and the only stable member of my family, I became the executor of his estate and started the journey to find justice for his death. Unfortunately Justice never came. This time in my life was very dark, mourning the life of my brother and the loss of ever finding peace in his death. Read more>>

Kristina Batal

I have worked in retail in the past, but there’s a bit of a difference between finding someone a pair of jeans and finding someone their wedding dress; I love being a part of the process and making someone feel as beautiful and confident on one of the most important days of your life. It’s truly what I think I was put on the earth for. Read more>>

Jordon Holdaway

I was raised by a single mom, and lacked any respect for authority, I was rebellious and a thrill-seeker from a very young age. I based my life off a mindset of testing any and all boundaries, I found myself drifting into a life of drugs and criminal behavior during high school and continuing on into adulthood. Anti-social tendencies and an addiction to methamphetamine led to my first felony charges at the age of 23. This marked the beginning of many years in and out of prison as a career criminal and drug dealer. All told, my choices cost me 11 years of my life incarcerated with unimaginable damage done to my family and the community. Read more>>

Breeann Allred

Entrepreneurship is always a roller coaster. From finding the perfect space, remodeling taking longer than anticipated, funding delays, floating personal and business expenses, and working to build notoriety and consistent clientele it has been a lot of hard work and some tears. Read more>>

Susan Fendler

A pivotal moment in my career was writing The Daily Guide to the Yoga Sutras, a book that bridges ancient wisdom with contemporary life. It connects each sutra to live practices, allowing readers to integrate the teachings into their daily routines. The book’s unique feature—QR codes linking to meditations, mantras, movement, and music—brings the experience to life in a modern, interactive way. The upcoming Audible version, where the sutras are sung as they were traditionally taught, is a project close to my heart, blending my love for teaching and yoga with music. Read more>>

Carson Drawe

My time management has definitely gotten better since starting this but it is still the hardest part of being a small business owner. Something that has gone a lot better than I imagined is the support I have received from people that hear about Museo. Almost every time I tell someone about this project I am always surprised with how willing people are to offer help. I have had people volunteer graphic design expertise, network contacts, and so much more and it has meant the world to me that people have been so generous. Read more>>

Shelby Briscoe

This adventure has shown me that trucking isn’t just a job—it’s a lifestyle, and way more complex than I ever imagined. That’s why I started Happiness By The Mile. I wanted to share my experiences and the daily challenges we face as truck drivers. By opening up about my own struggles on the road, I hope you’ll find what you need to get a grip on the truckin’ life. So, if you’re after some inspiration, support, or just some handy tips and tricks to keep you rolling, check us out! Read more>>

Jessica Christensen

Fashion Essentials: Elevate your style with our chic clothing line, featuring luxurious fabrics and contemporary designs. From tailored blazers to flowing maxi dresses, each item has been crafted to make you feel confident and effortlessly stylish, no matter the occasion. Read more>>

Amberly Lambertsen

While I have always loved Davis County, I would watch friends in other areas of Utah go to delicious restaurants and participate in fun activities that I felt we were missing out on by living where we live. I set out to find places to eat and play in the area where I lived and share that with others. Davis County Date Nights (Davis County Dates) was born out of that desire to explore more and share what we found with others, along with my background in relationship education. The goal of Davis County Dates is to share fun ways for couples to connect without having to travel too far. Read more>>

Adam Ospital

The road hasn’t been smooth, but each challenge has been a learning opportunity. On the clothing side, I initially struggled with manufacturers who didn’t meet my quality standards, which pushed me to start making the items myself. Even now, I’m constantly refining my craft and learning how to mass-produce blank shirts entirely on my own. Mistakes are part of the process, but I’m committed to perfecting every detail. On the photography side, building credibility has been a hurdle. As I grow in the industry, it’s been tough to gain recognition and be taken seriously. However, I’m focused on consistently proving myself through my work, and I’m confident that persistence will pay off in the long run. Read more>>

Jared Whatcott

I was in the Air Force for 5 years as a contracting officer. After 5 years, I got out of the military to go to business school (Darden) and then moved to Utah to become an international equity manager on several mutual funds. After a career in international investing, I wanted to invest locally and spend more time with family instead of traveling all over the world. When I heard about Take 5, I knew the business model would be a success in Utah, so I purchased the rights to northern Utah. People love the fast, friendly, simple oil changes, and the stay-in-your-car business model. We also added 10-minute emissions test for the same price that the competition is charging, and our customers love that! Read More>>

Robyn Nielson

We cannot wait to open our doors in March. We have spent the last year overcoming many obstacles to get us to where we are. We learned adding 20 large infrared panels and a commercial grade humidifier to a 1,350 square foot room requires a lot of planing, engineering, approvals and groundwork. It will all be worth it! Read More>>