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.

Hazel Sage

I got into entrepreneurship when I was still attending college at the University of Utah. I was and still am an ideas person, as many entrepreneurs are. But one thing I realized quickly is there are so many nuanced obstacles business owners face alone. Structure, systems, failures and I realized we don’t have coworkers to turn to who understand… The only people who understand are… Read more>>

Scott Glenn

I’ve always been drawn to books and to the communities that form around them. I grew up moving between states, and books became the most reliable place to find a sense of belonging. After college and an MBA from BYU, my career took me through a mix of entrepreneurial and operational roles—launching products, leading teams, and helping small companies grow. Read more>>

Katya Mattingly

I grew up in the Soviet Union — life was simple, structured, and in many ways, heavy. The land carried a quiet weight, and even as a child, I could feel it. People worked hard, lived in routine, and rarely spoke of dreams. I got married young and became a mother at eighteen. Read more>>

Nate Soelberg

I graduated from Granger High School in West Valley, UT in 1999. During my senior year I played Football (2nd team all-state), Basketball, Club Volleyball, and ran Track. Read more>>

Tina Chadwick

My story begins in Salinas California where my grandmother was a florist. I would visit her during the summer and help around the flower shop playing with flowers and doing odds jobs here and there. Fast forward about 20 years. Because of my story working with my grandmother, everyone thought that I naturally did flowers and I was asked to do weddings and events. Read more>>

Trudi Perkins

Crossing Arrows Ranch was born from both of our healing journeys. I (Trudi) came into this work after surviving domestic violence and rebuilding my life with the support of therapy, faith, and education. That experience shaped my calling to become a trauma therapist and help others find the safety and connection I once needed. Read more>>

Alan Jackson

Throughout my life, I have encountered numerous experiences that have profoundly shaped my personal and professional journey. I recently authored a book chronicling many of these experiences, titled Say Yes to the Lord, If You Dare: One Man’s Reluctant Journey to Africa. I view life as a series of finish lines. Read more>>

Cara Bitton

In 2007, when I was working towards an Associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies, one of my professors told a story about his serial entrepreneurial brother. Read more>>

Evelyn Lopez

I started at Helping Hands Inc. as the Secretary. While I was working, I was also working toward finishing my degree in science. I had never heard of Helping Hands before or truly understood their mission until I started here in 2009. I still remember December 16, 2009—the office had recently suffered a fire in the building, and I remember going home smelling like smoke. Read more>>

Carolyn Stevens

My love and obsession with the healing arts and natural medicine began at an early age. Read more>>

Cole Hodges

I initiated my career in the electrical trade in 2006, focusing initially on high end custom residential installations where I developed strong foundational skills and attention to detail. I subsequently joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 354, spending three years gaining comprehensive experience across various large scale commercial and industrial settings. Read more>>

Raul Perez

I grew up in San Diego. After I graduated, I came up here to St George to go to Dixie. I served a mission, got my associate’s degree, & moved to Vegas to finish. I lived in Vegas over 20yrs until Covid hit and I moved back to San Diego. Read more>>

April Estel

I grew up in the Coachella Valley in Southern California where my family had a construction business for about 30 years. My dad was the general contractor, my mom was the bookkeeper and I was eventually the office manager when I was older. I learned the intricacies of homes from start to finish, and all that goes into them. Read more>>

Jim Apodaca

I’m an OKR coach, agile thought leader, and the president and founder of Apodaca Consulting. My firm provides Fractional Operations Services specializing in Objectives and Key Results, Scrum, and AI. On average, our clients achieve 3–5x increases in ARR, accelerate go-to-market by up to 50%, and realize efficiency gains as high as 40%. Read more>>

Kristen Fuller

Our story began almost 2 years ago when Crystal Miller and Kristen Fuller became the new owners of Wasatch wellness. At that time, it primarily functioned as a general primary care office run by an all-women provider team, with an emphasis on care that went beyond traditional medical approaches. Over time, the clinic naturally grew into a more comprehensive hub for women’s wellness. Read more>>

Lisa Roundy

I grew up working with my family on our cattle ranch in Manila Utah. I loved being outside and was always very interested in the aspect of growing and nurturing the land. Whether it be with the animals or the hay. This leaked over to growing gardens and learning how to grow flowers in this harsh climate. Read more>>

Lorrie Schmanski

Just Girl Stuff started as a children’s boutique after I was blessed with triplet daughters. As my daughters grew so did my business. We started with blessing, baptism, and flower girl, and added on school dance, prom, pageant, and eventually bridal through the years. We have now been in business for 23 wonderful years. My daughter Payton Mackey is my manager and partner in business. Read more>>

Emily Rosen

As a child I struggled with being overweight and was often teased for it which left me feeling deeply insecure. Those feelings eventually contributed to an eating disorder in high school and I became severely malnourished. Over time I was able to recover and that experience sparked a deep appreciation for health and well being. Read more>>

Grace Bithell

I started Peaceful River because I wanted the chance to do therapy my way: I wanted to take as much or as little time as I needed with clients and focus on the issues I felt most passionate about. Read more>>

Brandon McBride

I grew up in Preston Idaho, where Napoleon dynamite was filmed. My young men’s leader in my church out of high school asked me what I was going to do with my life. I did not know. He told me to shadow him as he was a real estate agent. I’ve been doing real estate ever since. Read more>>

A. Tempest Young

Over the past four years, I’ve expanded our offerings to include specialized services such as Pet Taxi, extended overnights, in-home boarding, and my most meaningful addition – Animal Reiki. I’ve also partnered with other pet care providers, including Alta Dog Rehab, to support clients’ pets with post-surgical or therapeutic rehabilitation at home. Read more>>

Nancy Taylor

Today, as a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA), and Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), I combine clinical expertise with advocacy — designing personalized healthcare action plans, attending appointments alongside clients, and educating families on how to take charge of their care. Read more>>