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.

Brittany Horne

Through that healing process, I started learning about digital marketing and web design. I’ve always been creative and loved helping people, so it quickly became a passion. But along the way, I noticed how many small business owners were being taken advantage of by marketing companies that promised the world and never delivered. I knew I could do better working and creating with honesty, heart, and results. Read more>>

Ahnika Angle

I love the outdoors, hiking, camping, snowboarding and paddle boarding. I absolutely adore animals. I have two dogs; a boarder collie named Juniper, a blue healer named Buckaroo, and a tuxedo cat named Hendrix. I have so many hobbies, including; gardening, baking, knitting, embroidery, wood burning, sculpting, jewelry making, and drawing. Read more>>

Harley Hernandez

My journey with Sand & Sun Floral began in 2023 when I took a floral arranging class. I’ve always loved flowers and would play with them on my own, but this class sparked something deeper and gave me the confidence to start my own business. Read more>>

Andrew Finlinson

Sports have always been a huge part of my life. I remember waking up excited to grab the newspaper in the mornings just to read all the stats and recaps from the previous day’s games. I have played tennis, baseball, basketball, and ran track, but I have always loved watching football, gymnastics, and nearly every sport you can think of. Read more>>

Kristin Fellows

I’ve spent my entire career in the health field, beginning in corporate wellness, cardiac rehabilitation, and health promotion. About eight years ago, I discovered health coaching and it completely changed the trajectory of my life and work. My passion for preventive health was deeply personal. My father passed away from breast cancer at age 52, my mother struggled with obesity, and my sister battled addiction. Read more>>

Stevie Kinnear

We actually met because of our kids. Mike had done martial arts as a kid and got back into it with his son, and I started in my 30s after my son joined. I had no idea what I was doing, I was just trying not to fall over while kicking (meanwhile Mike was already a third degree black belt). Read more>>

Michael J. Bingham

You can learn a lot about me. And my organization by watching the PBS news hour Feature. Find it by going to my website. JumptheMoon.org and clicking on the PBS newshour button at the top of the page. I have been a professional artist for over forty two years. I hold a master’s degree in painting a drawing from Utah State University. Read more>>

Brad Gerratt

I actually started out thinking I was going to be a builder. I studied Construction Management at BYU, did a few internships, and went on to work for about four and a half years with two large commercial contractors — Balfour Beatty and Big-D Construction. Read more>>

Victoria Montano

I’m Victoria—though most know me as Vee—the founder, lead planner, and heart behind the magic. My journey into event planning began in the summer of 2019, sparked by a deep love for celebrating life’s most meaningful moments. What started as a passion project quickly blossomed into a full-fledged business, specializing in wedding coordination and creating unforgettable experiences for couples planning their wedding. Read more>>

Rachel Roberts

My career began in the fast-paced world of startups, where I thrived on energy, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Over the years, I worked in marketing and sales roles at companies like Real Salt Lake, Loveland Innovations, and JobNimbus before eventually stepping into the role of Vice President of Marketing at Solo. Read more>>

Matthew Gluckman

My background is in sports, and I hold a BS in Psychology. During college, I interned at a physical therapy office and had an “aha” moment — realizing we spend so much time reacting to problems instead of preventing them. I wanted to be on the proactive side of health. Read more>>

Frankie Yang

Palm Massage Spa started from a simple belief — that relaxation and wellness should be both accessible and deeply personalized. When I first began, it was just a small team with a passion for genuine care. Over time, I realized that what truly makes a difference isn’t just technique, but the environment, consistency, and connection we create for each guest. Read more>>

Jared Carson

I was at Salt Lake Community College in 1999, trying to learn website development, but the classes were pretty thin back then. We all figured out that the real education for that kind of thing was online and usually free. Read more>>

Preston Perry

My name is Preston Perry, and I am the owner and founder of Weighted Apparel. I am a 22-year-old full-time student at Utah Valley University. Here is my story. Growing up, I witnessed the detrimental effects that mental health had on the ones I loved. I saw depression transform people into individuals now unrecognizable as their joy faded away. Read more>>

Whitney Horrocks

My name is Whitney Horrocks, and at my core, I’m a painter. After years of refining my own artistic practice, I eventually found myself teaching art in charter schools. Teaching came naturally and was something I loved, but always felt was only one piece of my calling. Read more>>

MONICA VELAZQUEZ

My story began with a simple desire to help my community understand and succeed in a system that often feels overwhelming. When I moved to Utah, I noticed that many families and small business owners—especially within the Hispanic community—struggled to navigate taxes, business registrations, and legal paperwork. I wanted to change that. That’s how Velázquez & Associates was born. Read more>>

Mallorie Sorce

When I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to become a therapist, but at the time, I didn’t really understand what that path entailed. The idea of earning a master’s degree felt intimidating, especially since I hadn’t done particularly well in school. So instead, I decided to pursue something creative and people-oriented and enrolled in cosmetology school. Read more>>

Caru Das

Their Journey to Devotional Service Initial Spiritual Search: Vaibhavi Devi Dasi grew up in England and, after graduating from university, began traveling the world searching for something greater than herself. Her husband, Charu Das, was also on a similar quest. Discovery of Krishna Consciousness: They met while traveling and later discovered the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON) in Australia. They became disciples of A.C. Read more>>

Roberto Arana

Highland Taekwondo Academy (HTA) was founded in May of 2015 by Master Roberto Arana and Master Angel Arana. Master Arana has dedicated his entire life to Taekwondo. He is originally from Guatemala and came to the United States when he was 17 years old to compete in Taekwondo. Read more>>

Claudia Munoz

After years in the medical field, I found myself longing for something more — the freedom of entrepreneurship. I wanted to build something of my own, to be in charge of every detail rather than working for someone else. In 2024, I discovered my passion for French macarons and began practicing nonstop, determined to master the craft. Read more>>

Joy Bouchard

In 2012, I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Social Work and began an internship with a hospice company in Orem. I loved working with the elderly and found meaning in helping families navigate grief and loss. Those experiences taught me how powerful it can be to simply sit with someone in their pain. Read more>>

Billy Hales

My name is Billy Hales, I’m 25 years old, a wife, and a proud mom. My beauty journey started early, I knew I wanted to go to cosmetology school when I was 13. I enrolled in cosmetology school when I was just 17 and graduated in 2018, only two months after finishing high school. Read more>>

Brooke Goulding

I’ve always loved photography, even as a little kid. My dad taught me how to use basic features of photoshop (and html) when I was only in 1st and 2nd grade. I loved using whatever camera I could get my hands on, a disposable camera, to an old broken flip phone. Read more>>

Lizzy Sawyer

Growing up in a tumultuous household, the only safe place I had was with the family pets. They were my constant source of comfort and the reason I learned just how powerful it is when an animal feels loved. That bond only deepened as I got older.  Read more>>

Rebecca Kayne

You could say it was meant to be. My grandparents on one side of the family were wedding photographers, and my dad is a landscape photographer. My other grandmother was known for her penchant for photographing everything- and then mailing out copies of the photos to family and neighbors near and far. Read more>>

Melanie Roemer

My journey into functional nutrition started pretty personally. I spent years struggling with anxiety, depression, and skin problems and a range of debilitating digestive symptoms that no one could explain — until I was finally diagnosed with celiac disease. The disruption to my gut health had taken a real toll on my mental health, and healing my gut became a huge part of my recovery. Read more>>

Christotopher Sorensen

Why I Started Healthy Ascent I was previously a part-owner of several FedEx routes. After selling my routes, I began looking for a new investment opportunity—something that could replace my income while making a positive impact. Initially, I explored food-based businesses, as I’ve always enjoyed food. At that time, I weighed 283 pounds, and that realization made me reflect on my own health and lifestyle. Read more>>

Tommy Butler

I think one of the greatest things about human beings is that we can change. We have seasons, and because of this we have more than one story. The story of the season I’m currently in is one of growth, personally, professionally, and artistically. In the last year I’ve done productions in major cities around the continental United States and also abroad internationally. Read more>>

Angela Amundsen

I’ve always been drawn to spaces that make people feel something — places where design, comfort, and connection come together. My husband is British, and through our businesses in the UK, we’ve been fortunate to invest in commercial real estate within the Bountiful/Woods Cross area. Read more>>

Tara Lynn Snow

My Story — How Hazel Blues® Came to Life Fashion has always been what drives me. It’s about finding those one-of-a-kind pieces you just can’t live without — the ones that make you feel confident, comfortable, and totally you. Honestly, it all started with a little too much online shopping (can I get an amen? ) and a big love for fashion. Read more>>

Kylie Mackey

I have always been into film and started making films about my life since I was 13. I would make a monthly video as kind of a video journal of my life and did that up until my 20s. Read more>>

Laurie Erickson

Andrew Van Dongen and Laurie Erickson are the owners of Landmark Grill in Midvale, Utah. We bought the restaurant in February 2022 — and honestly, it kind of felt like a shotgun wedding. Andrew has always wanted to own a restaurant or bar. He grew up in the food industry. Read more>>

Werner Angell-Schau

I’m not just a bookkeeper; I’m a former hospitality business owner who’s been in the trenches. I know firsthand what it’s like to run a business where the days are long, the margins are tight, and every decision matters. Read more>>

Craig Tyrrell

I have a background in History, and I have always had an interest in miniature wargaming. We started off by offering pre-painted historical miniatures and eventually opened a retail store that is now GAJO Games. GAJO Games is a game store that focuses on miniature tabletop games, based on historical periods and also fantasy and science fiction backgrounds. Read more>>

Zuriel Morah

I started out like a lot of people, checking all the boxes that were supposed to lead to success, but quietly feeling like something deeper was missing. My body, my relationships, and even my work kept reflecting a truth I couldn’t ignore. I wasn’t living in alignment with my real design. Read more>>

Kavety Bloss

I began my journey in Caracas, Venezuela, with a clear dream: to build an extraordinary life. I’ve always been passionate about understanding how emotions and the mind influence the results we create. That curiosity led me to study marketing with a focus on sales, never imagining that, years later, life itself would become my greatest teacher. Read more>>

Ryan Archibald

Honestly, getting into web design and development was almost accidental. It wasn’t something we’d been dreaming about since childhood or planning for years. After finishing my bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science — which has nothing to do with web design — I started working as an independent contractor for a good friend who ran a marketing agency. Read more>>

Ida May Grant

I’ve been in the marketing industry for over 10 years. I started my career as a copywriter for a software company, then expanded into all areas of marketing – working in industries like mortgage, professional education, and construction. Along the way, I’ve also done freelance work supporting small businesses. Read more>>

Alexa Hanson-Wagner

We grow up watching births in movies and media where the mother is screaming and yelling at her partner ‘You did this to me!’ Everything is rushed, painful, traumatic, scary, etc., and that was just not how my moms birth story was. Read more>>

Samantha Fox

Being diagnosed with Breast Cancer was never on my bucket list. There is nothing more heart stopping than hearing those three little words “you have cancer”. I was diagnosed with advanced stage IIIC Beast Cancer, with not very good odds of survival, In a moment I knew exactly what I was going do to. I chose traditional treatment, a bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. Read more>>

R.J. Slade

Absolutely. My journey really began in the U.S. Army. I served as an elite Army Ranger, and like many who’ve worn the uniform, I came home carrying a lot—physically, mentally, and spiritually. In 2005 I was injured in combat, and that moment changed the entire trajectory of my life. Read more>>

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>>