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.

Angi Larsen

Back in 1993, one year after my husband Keith and I were married, I was finishing my last year as a competitive dancer and Keith & I were at a competition and some of us started talking about ways it could be done better and someone mentioned that dance competitions were decent money-makers. Read more>>

Rick Brunson

My bookkeeping business started in 2009, the same year I began my Master’s program in accounting. I was looking for a side hustle in accounting to support myself through school, and bookkeeping seemed like a good fit because it was both enjoyable and practical. Read more>>

Rebecca Lucille

I actually started out as a registered nurse and learned a lot about life in that capacity. Thinking about young me, I had a certain idea of what nurses, physicians, and other clinicians were about. For anyone out there that is old enough, remember Michael Landon? I thought health care providers would be a bit like Michael Landon with scrubs on. Read more>>

Ezra Vaoifi

My wife Sabrina and I both studied Entrepreneurial Management at the BYU Marriott School of Business, and it was one of the hardest, most rewarding experiences of our lives. We were full-time students, raising our daughter, and Doordashing 8–10 hours a day — driving about 100 miles for roughly $100 a day just to get by. Read more>>

Susan Schreiner

I started playing piano at age 3 and violin at age 5, and have never stopped playing, singing, and/or teaching since! I got my minor in music alongside earning my bachelor’s degree. I started teaching piano and violin in the early 2000’s when we lived in the Midwest. I started teaching again approximately 4 years ago here in Utah. Read more>>

Barbara Irwin

I started in the Real Estate industry in 1994 in California. My now ex-husband was in the Navy and attending San Jose State. I worked in the banking industry and migrated into Real Estate as many do, first as a Loan Officer, then Real Estate agent. Through the years, Real Estate has changed tremendously. Read more>>

Jeffery Allen

I grew up with my grandfather and all 4 uncles on my dad’s side of the family making very good livings as dentists, orthodontists, or endodontists. I believed I wanted their teeth filled type of life. My high school sweetheart and me decided to get married very young. We did 6 months of pre-marriage therapy with a man named Charles. Read more>>

BYRON RAMOS

My art journy really got started because of my mom. In high school I was really into science. I ended up taking summer school classes, after school classes, even my lunch was dedicated going to class. I ended up coming out of high school having taken all the math, science, and history classes offered except one. Enviornmental Science. Read more>>

Elena Thomas

I launched this little dream right after my own engagement. I’d spent months searching for a wedding dress that felt like me. I wanted something beautiful, timeless, elegant with certain details. After trying over 20 gowns, I realized none of them matched my vision. I like the bottom of one dress and the top of another, and the sleeves of another one. Read more>>

Gastón Calone

From Uruguay to Utah: The Story Behind Golden Phoenix Martial Arts By Master Gastón Calone, 4th Degree Black Belt Owner & Head Instructor, Golden Phoenix Martial Arts My journey in Taekwondo began when I was just 11 years old, back in Uruguay. From the very first class, I was captivated by the discipline, energy, and spirit of self-improvement that Taekwondo represents. Read more>>

Kim Ngarupe

Duke’s Jewelers began in 1948, when J. Melvin Duke, freshly home from serving in World War II, decided to take his wartime training as a watchmaker and open a jewelry store. With a jeweler’s bench, a few tools, and his family by his side, he opened Duke’s Jewelers in the heart of Springville. Read more>>

Julie Dixon

Next Level Boost began as a family journey toward better health. It all started when my daughter and I began searching for healthier alternatives to the everyday drinks we were consuming. Around that time, my mom was diagnosed with cancer, which opened our eyes to how much what we eat and drink can impact our long-term health. Read more>>

Michaela Archer

Archer Holistic was created from a place of struggle and wanting to achieve optimal health and wellness. We were physically, mentally, and emotionally tired. Nothing brought lasting relief, so we dug deeper. We knew there had to be more to health than chasing symptoms and temporary fixes. Read more>>

Vanessa Noel-Kemp

Pleasant Grove, Utah has been my home for eight years now. The story of my vocal studio however really began in my hometown of Zurich, Switzerland where I saw my first opera at the age of twelve. From that moment, there was no question in my mind — singing would be my life. Read more>>

Kami Asay

Our story doesn’t start with a business plan it starts with our friendship. We have always loved to do life together. We’ve shared just about everything over the years. Family vacations, girls trips full of shopping and endless laughter, to weddings, funerals, and baby showers. We have always just loved doing life together and now this beautiful dream called Deeply Rooted Plant Co. Read more>>

Aaron Carrillo

I was born and raised in Mount Shasta, CA. I joined the Air Force right out of high school in August 1997. While in the Air Force, I did air traffic control (ATC). I was stationed at Edwards AFB, CA, Eglin AFB, FL, Osan AB, Republic of Korea, Aviano AB, Italy, and retired out of Travis AFB, CA, in January 2018. Read more>>

Emily Burney

I was born in the midwest to a traditional family that encouraged white collar jobs in big cities, but I knew that lifestyle would never work for me. Instead, I dreamt of owning a bakery in a small mountain town. I went to college at the University of Iowa and spent my summers as a raft guide on the Arkansas River in Colorado. Read more>>

Karmen Tuivai

I formed Mgnolia Tree counseling after my son was missing and died on a hike and our neighbours in Provo gave us a Magnolia Tree as community support for our loss. I decided to make it the name of my therapy practice. With the same feelings of wanting to support our community. Read more>>

Shani Jensen

Our Story Julie Swensen and Shani Jensen’s friendship began in the early 2000s while working as medical social workers at Logan Regional Hospital, in Logan, Utah. Over the past 25+ years, they have supported one another through the growth of their careers, families, and continued education. Education has always been a shared passion. Read more>>

Camera Meyer

We are a yarn and tea shop that opened in 2021. I have been knitting and crocheting for 20 years and wanted to share my knowledge with others and encourage them on their own yarny path. With fiber arts, community is a big part of the learning process. Read more>>

Kurt London

Kurt is originally from Southern California and graduated with his Juris Doctorate from Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School. Kurt served an LDS mission in Moscow, Russia and Almaty, Kazakhstan. Following his graduation from law school, Kurt worked as an attorney for the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center, a chapter of the Innocence Project, to correct wrongful convictions in Utah, Wyoming, and Nevada. Read more>>

Rhianna Anderson

Before I started Saltwater I was a full time mom to my son Jack, who was 18 months old when I started researching permanent jewelry. I had just recently stopped my content creation business creating UGC & working with brands and needed something sustainable that I was able to fit in my schedule as a mom! Permanent jewelry is everything I needed and more. Read more>>

Crystal Mitchell

I started my journey in the beauty industry because I’ve always loved teaching, mentoring, and helping others grow. After 6 years behind the chair, I took over Aspen Salon to create an environment that was more than just a workplace. I wanted it to be a space built on collaboration, education, and support. Read more>>

Jan Badertscher

I did a lot before medicine. I have a minor in Geology and a BS degree in Electronic Engineering, but I did not feel that I was meeting my potential. I enjoyed my colleagues but I knew I could not be happy and stay working in the electronics industry. I spoke with my son’s before making any final plans. Read more>>

Pamela Grau

I grew up watching my family work in the bakery, I always watched my aunt mix the ingredients creating recipes. Read more>>

Devin Robinson

I’ve always been drawn to design, marketing, and social media, but it took years before I actually pursued it professionally. Before starting my business, I explored all kinds of paths: selling cars, working as a barista, getting my real estate license, even selling yoga courses on TikTok. Read more>>

Jonathan & Patty Horne

Jonathan and Patty Horne purchased “Old Lincoln Storage” in the fall of 2023. It was in foreclosure. It was run down, mismanaged, and in disrepair for several years. The structure is well built, and the bones were good, so we decided to invest in this instead of building storage units somewhere else. Read more>>

Twila Abrams

Set within a tranquil desert and botanical garden, our beautifully designed spaces reflect a magical wonderland-inspired vibe crafted by Twila Abrams, the owner. Our charming 1910 home boasts six unique rooms, each thoughtfully designed for comfort and infused with whimsical touches. We are committed to sustainability and local practices, focusing on using eco-friendly goods throughout your stay. Read more>>

Haley DeLapp

My journey into design began long before I officially called it a business. From the time I was young, I was always creating—painting, sketching, designing murals for youth camps, even volunteering at charity events doing face painting just for the joy of bringing a smile to someone’s face. Read more>>

Venus Cardinale

Venus Rings – My Story: My story started in a big jewelry manufacturer company in Utah, surrounded by the sound of machines and metal dust in the air. When I first applied, the manager almost didn’t hire me. He said the job might be “too tough for a woman” — after all, I would’ve been the only female in a shop full of men. Read more>>

Steven Tran

Our story is based on family — many of us initially come from Asia. My name is Steven Tran, and my uncle and I noticed that there were not as many nail salons in Wasatch County. My Uncle Jason and I saw the growth in Wasatch County. Read more>>

Larry Salazar

Our story really begins with two people—each driven by a shared belief that the path to owning a home changes lives. Cheri has been an entrepreneurial spirit her entire life. Before entering real estate, she owned and operated a dance studio, channeling her creativity into building something from the ground up. Read more>>

Jamie Chlarson

School was only around 4 months. There was an online portion, then the in person course. It was a class of four girls and they are still some of my best friends to this day. I gained an education, financial freedom, and more self confidence. I created an Instagram while I was in school and my LLC, and opened my business the month after graduation. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Read more>>

Autumn Hoover

My Story: Journey to Advocacy My story begins in a home that didn’t feel fully comfortable. There were expectations—spoken and unspoken—that shaped how I showed up. It wasn’t a place of advocacy or adaptation at first; that came later, after things shifted. As a young teen, I helped adopt my three younger brothers, each with significant disabilities. Read more>>

Rick Krebs

I began my career as a CPA, spending my days counting other people’s money. Eventually, I decided I wanted to build something of my own. I transitioned into the mortgage business, where I spent more than a decade. We launched a mortgage brokerage that later grew into a bank. Read more>>