

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.
Justin Leader

I started in my living room in april 2016. I started the business on accident. I owned a nutrition supplement company. I had tried a few different apparel and promo products companies. I experienced missed deadlines or things getting damaged during the process. So I decided to try it for myself. People started asking who does your stuff, and I replied I do. After that I started building this business. I remodeled my garage in sept that year to make room for my first wide format printer. I hired my first employee June of 2018. We moved into our first commercial spot in september 2018. Our main facility in 2020. We are now in 3 different buildings for different departments. Read more>>
Brandy Fowers

How we started. Our family’s farm started a long time ago. We got married in 1996 and went on our own. Our main crop is onions, on average we have about 60-70 acres. We crop rotate with wheat and corn. We farmed in Hooper Utah until selling and buying close to 265 acres in Box Elder County in 2007. We own another company and we were looking for an office in Davis and Weber counties. Read more>>
Amy Newbold

In 2018, we opened our online shop to carry modern fabrics, patterns, kits, and snarky, fun merchandise. As our online inventory grew and our lease to our place was going to expire, we ventured out in the summer of 2020 and found a small retail place in the Holladay/Murray area of Utah. A brick and mortar was not what we had in mind when we originally began, but with our customers support has helped us grow and brick by brick and now we’re here because of you. We love working with companies, designers, and customers to cultivate creativity and share our passion for sewing. Read more>>
Laura Kinser

I went to school for photography at Hallmark Institute and graduated in 2008. I started my business in Las Vegas that year and havent looked back. I have moved 3 times and started my business over in each city, Now SLC is my home, we love it and are there for the long haul. I have been married for 12 years and have great kiddos that I put to work at the studio every chance I get. I have created a business I love with the best team members and clients I could ask for. Read more>>
Clarissa Norton

In 2021, at the age of 44, I decided to chase the dream I’d tucked away as a little girl. I started an apprenticeship to earn my Hair Designer license, diving in with everything I had. I didn’t just check boxes—I showed up for every advanced training, especially in salon marketing, determined to rise above the norm. Read more>>
Brynn Shipley

I was completely enamored by that entire process. Seeing how a little bit of this, and a little of that, accompanied with a good hairstyle completely altered how these people viewed themselves for the better. I was not only obsessed, I was determined to acquire that skill myself. Fast forward to now, I have worked in the beauty industry for 15 years. I began working at MAC as my first makeup job, and in years to follow I worked a lot of retail cosmetic positions in just about every position, department and beauty store you can think of. I learned so many valuable skills and lessons in those years I was “paying my dues”. Read more>>
Benjamin Eggen

I was deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Haiti during my military career. After completing my service with the USAF, I decided to go into dentistry using the GI Bill. I attended Columbia University, and Montana State for undergrad, then was accepted to A.T. Still in Mesa, AZ for dental school, a public health institution. In 2021 Wayne Community Health Center hired me as the dentist and eventually director of the Panguitch, UT location. After 2 years of public health service I started my own practice Eggen Dental in Cedar City, UT. Read more>>
Lisbeth Perez

Traveling through Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean has shaped my design style. I achieve this by traveling, observing, and feeling — viajando, observando y sintiendo — blending what I discover into the timeless, cozy restaurants I now create throughout Utah and Salt Lake County. Read more>>
Matthew Sargent

It took years of self-healing, therapy, and intentional growth to become the person I am today—a husband, a father, and a creator committed to human connection. That commitment is woven into my photography because I know what it means to long to be seen. My purpose isn’t just to take photos—it’s to reflect back the beauty, depth, and truth of who you are, to ensure you feel seen, heard, and enough. Read more>>
Tai Grant

This put me in a place of having a good amount of debt, and still no clients, which led to me doubting my worth as a photographer. I came to a place that I really thought I may never get to make a living as a photographer like everyone else on instagram seemed to be able to, and it was a really sad process for me, but I stuck it out a little longer, and honed in on SEO, strategic marketing messaging, and utilizing styled shoots to attract a type of clientele that I craved to create art for, and it has all come together really well. Read more>>
Bryce Wilson

The idea for the podcast emerged from a simple observation: while dragons play pivotal roles across genres, from fantasy epics to animated adventures—there was no dedicated platform analyzing their cultural and cinematic impact. Recognizing this gap, we founded Big Flying Lizards LLC in 2024 with the mission to provide insightful, entertaining, and critically engaged discussions about dragons in visual media. Read more>>
Darrin Cook

Subsequent career advancement led me to multi-facility SNF operation, to Regional Vice President overseeing 12 health care facilities, to Chief Executive Officer running two Long Term Care Hospitals (LTACH’s) in the Las Vegas, Nv. Market. These advancements gave me the opportunity to pursue further academia in obtaining an MBA. Read more>>
Aspyn Headrick

The creative side has always come easy, I’ve just got an eye for how I want things to look and I love making it all feel artsy. The business side though? Total learning curve. It was definitely a struggle at first, but I’m figuring it out as I go. I do all the shopping and prepping myself, and for the bigger grazing tables, I’ve started bringing in help to set up, because let’s be real, it’s a lot! Read more>>
Jarom Johnson

At Bridgewater Construction, we see ourselves as your building partner—not just your contractor. Our goal is to be on the same team with you from day one. It’s not you versus us to get the project done; it’s us and you, together, against the challenges of the project. We succeed when you feel supported, understood, and confident in every step of the process. Read more>>
Brittanna Roberts Kercher

I grew up in Midway, Utah and fell in love with art while in high school. My art teacher had such a profound influence on me that I decided to study Art Education in college. I graduated from Utah Valley University with my bachelor’s in Art Education and was the 2022 School of the Arts Valedictorian. I have a passion for art and learning, and sharing my love of both as a teacher. I have been teaching high school art for the past few years, and will be going into my 4th year of teaching this fall. I absolutely love seeing my students explore, learn, and develop their artistic skills. Read more>>
Johamy Enciso

I started my business in 2018 after I had my twin boys. I had 3 boys under the age of 2. I noticed that when I would fold their tiny premie clothes and organize their baby items I felt so good inside and it made me feel joy. I googled online to see if there was even a job for this and I saw I could start an organizing business, so I did! Throughout the 7 years, I have had 3 more children, added an employee, grew to multiple teams with multiple organizers and expanded to 3 states. Read more>>
David Whitaker

I found myself getting terrible stomach cramps and throwing up occasionally. Then it turned to weekly, then daily, then twice a day. I could keep anything down and the doctors were confused for months. My blood tests were terrible, showing large inflammation and an irritated liver. Read more>>
Joe Kingston

The process was surprisingly smooth, and I realized there was real potential in the pallet business. I began reaching out to more companies and gradually built a customer base. Eventually, the business grew to the point where I was able to leave my sales job and focus full-time on running my company. Read more>>
Dez Wyman

I would draw something and it looked like a two year old drew it, but I loved the world of construction and loved being creative so I figured I could merge the two and become a designer! At 17 I was an assistant designer at Inzpire Home Design then moved on to being a designer. After graduating high school I went to the Institute of Interior Design and received my degree in interior design, which later turned into me starting my own comany, Dez Jaide Design Studios! Which is crazy to say at 21 years old! Read more>>
Lisa Peterson

But my heart’s always been a bit bigger than retail. After years of working alongside animal rescues, I realized I was ready to build something of my own. That’s how Dirt Roads Rescue came to life. We focus on saving dogs and cats from rural and high-risk areas—especially the Navajo Nation. We provide vet care, foster placement, and a shot at a new life. We’re 100% volunteer-run and powered by grit, heart, and the belief that rescue is always worth it. Read more>>
Melissa Gagestein

After 9/11, Arlan left his banquet Sous Chef position at Deer Valley, and we began catering for private homes. In 2002, with $3,000 and a business partner’s faith, we launched Peddlers. After six years of ups and downs—successes and near failures—we closed our 25th Street shop just before the 2008 crash. We moved our equipment to a friend’s commercial kitchen, living off equipment sales and select catering for about a year and a half. As word spread, catering flourished. Read more>>
Alexis Thunell

I’ve done a lot of freelance work, and worked for Utah State university part time, but currently I’m just bartending and painting! Me and my partner have made the financial decision to get out of debt, and then pursue our careers, so those are on pause momentarily. I love doing markets, meeting people, and sending my paintings to new home homes! This year I’m taking a break from markets, but have had my paintings at Caffe Ibis in Logan through June and July this year! I will most likely start attending markets again next year. Read more>>
Jill McCullough

When we first visited the Ogden Farmer’s Market, we noticed a problem—there wasn’t an affordable option for everyone. In fact, we were even told by a vendor that if we couldn’t afford what was being sold, we simply didn’t belong there. As educators and community-driven people, we knew this mindset was unacceptable. The market should be a space for everyone to gather, enjoy, and connect—not just for those who could afford high prices. Read more>>
Britty Marie

I don’t talk a lot about my childhood, but it was pretty rough. Superficially it all looked great from the outside. Middle upper class upbringing, raised in the Mormon church, big house, big family, but behind closed doors was another world entirely. Combine that with the struggles of growing up an undiagnosed autistic female, and let’s just say that I’ve pretty much single handedly kept the mental health profession in business. I am a huge advocate for therapy and meditation. The one thing I’ve always been is resilient. I’ve got something in me that just won’t let me quit. Read more>>
Aspen Francis

I had a friend introduce me to F45, which was completely foreign and scary for me. I wasn’t a fan of working out in front of strangers, and I was terrified of the coaches judging me for doing something wrong (spoiler alert: they never did). Those classes changed my life. I went for a few months, then started working at the front desk. A year later I was pursuing becoming a certified personal trainer, and I have been one ever since. The confidence that I built at F45 has been foundational to every aspect of my life since then, and even though I feel I have outgrown that stage of my life in a few ways, I am endlessly grateful for the doors it opened. Read more>>
Thomas Bender

I grew up racing bikes—and still pretend to—and found a home in the local cycling community. It’s a pretty incredible mix: people from all walks of life show up to the weekly group ride, push themselves to the limit, then go back to whatever Tuesday looks like for them. Between those rides and weekend races with my folks, I met a lot of people. One of them—a friend to this day, 30 years later—told me about his job in “design.” He explained that he came up with ideas for products, sketched them, and made them. To a kid like me, that sounded like magic. That conversation led to a college visit, and eventually, a four-year degree in Industrial Design. Read more>>
William Kranstover

I’ve been blessed by a fairly smooth road. But my desire and passion have kept me on that road through all my life. They’ve always been struggles, but I believe if you have the love and passion in in your heart, the road somehow seems to smooth itself out. I was always terrified by the phrase, “starving artist “so I always kept a daytime job on the side until I figured out I could make it. Read more>>
Ashley Moore

Growing up, it was my escape and a way to express myself. In my adult years, it became much more. My husband was injured in a very serious accident almost five years into our marriage. I watched him fight for his life, scraping together little bits and pieces of himself through a traumatic brain injury. We both reexamined what labels we had been given over the years as he fought to return to himself again. Read more>>
Ashley Razo

Today, my spa has grown into a thriving business with multiple locations, a team of passionate estheticians, and a loyal community. I’m currently in the process of transitioning out of daily operations to step into a mentorship role—supporting the next generation of women in business while making space for my own personal growth and future goals. It’s been an incredibly rewarding journey, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come. Read more>>
Melina Nelson

That’s how SoulSync Communications was born. I wanted to create a space where internal communications wasn’t just about sending emails or planning town halls—it was about aligning the heart of the organization with the voices of its people. Today, I help businesses across industries build intentional communication strategies that foster trust, connection, and clarity from the inside out. It’s been a journey rooted in purpose, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Read more>>
Anne Holman

It’s never a smooth road for indie booksellers. Our margins are tiny and we are constantly fighting for market share against Amazon and big box retailers. On the other hand, what might have been seen as obstacles such as economic downturns and the pandemic proved to be opportunities for us to pivot and be a community partner in ways that larger and/or online shops couldn’t be. It is and always has been, our readers who help us overcome our challenges. We wouldn’t be here without them. Read more>>
Brynlie Peay

Fast forward to about a year ago: I started my own business as a makeup artist and was absolutely loving it. Which I still do and love. I’d do makeup for other models and found myself always asking about their experiences in front of the camera. Then one day, everything came full circle—a photographer reached out and asked if I would model for a bridal shoot. I was thrilled. Read more>>
Julie Sheriff

I was raised in a home without faith. God, prayer, spirituality—none of it was part of how I was taught to see the world. So for much of my early adulthood, I tried to figure out life on my own, relying on self-will and survival instincts. It wasn’t until I reached a place of total exhaustion and surrender that I had a spiritual awakening—and everything began to change. Read more>>
Nya Jonele

I am a total Barb Wire, if she lived in the world of a John Waters movie. I’m a spring breaker with absolutely no fear or loathing of Las Vegas. My campy, chaotic life is balanced out by true grit, resilience, and a deeply ambiguous source of income. At the end of the day, I’m destined to live the life of a weird, tragic, and trashy western darling with a touch of whimsy and a strong heart. Read more>>
Benji Ward

There’s always and will be learning curves and adjustments that need to be addressed. For us, we’re very real and knew that before going into it. We live near a US ray based named Fort Leonard Wood. They rotate most of their service members every 2 years. We are near the Mark Twain National Forest and there’s plenty of disperse camping and trails people can take advantage of if they choose to do so. We’re also 3.5 hours away to the heard of the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas. Read more>>
Hatin
March 31, 2022 at 11:57 am
Congratulations for post! Nice article 🙂
Brenda Martinez
May 6, 2022 at 1:46 pm
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Jose
September 18, 2024 at 11:03 pm
🙏 Congratulations