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.

Marinda Bowen

Then just a decade ago , we returned to Utah and opened our first massage & medicinals business , which eventually became natural law apothecary today. We bring ancient ways of healing from all around the world to salt lake city , where we have created our own gardens , handcrafted our own space and grown in ritual craft and alchemy. Read more>>

Kristen Johnson

Our story really begins with termination—funny as that may sound. It was post-COVID, and for the first time in a while, it felt like progress was being made in the world. But behind the scenes, I was running on fumes. At the job I was in, I was stretched thin, burned out, and completely overwhelmed. Read more>>

Pro Pet Care Clinic GeriLyn Beard

Pro Pet Care opened its doors in May of 2023. Starting with a staff of 10 we hit the ground running hoping to provide some pet care relief to our community. We began with helping a handful of rescues and clients focusing on spay/neuter services with some dentals. Read more>>

Rob Bennett

I’ve been in the I.T. industry for 35+ years now. I’ve worked for corporations, government, the private sector and tech firms. The one thing I noticed in all my years in the field is that individuals, families and ma and pa businesses didn’t have the same access to the huge tech resources that many large companies have with their staff of I.T. Read more>>

Francesca Mintowt-Czyz

I grew up in Sandy, Utah, a first-generation American. Home was a place where creativity showed up quietly and consistently. I loved and still love cooking alongside my dad, recipes evolving through instinct rather than instruction, and playing fiercely competitive Scrabble matches with my mum, where words mattered and winning mattered just a little more. Read more>>

Amanda Mulia

Kelli and I opened Ebb & Flow in January 2025 using a combination of our savings, maxed out credit cards, and a dream. We believed in creating something that didn’t exist yet in Salt Lake City. Read more>>

Tammra Goodrich

I have been a Registered Nurse for 40 years, I have done everything from ER to OR, management, administration, and working as an RN educator for Medical devices. When I got close to retirement, I decided to do what I always wanted to do and start a business. At the same time, my mother began to need in-home senior care. Read more>>

Mandy Clayson

My story is very nonlinear. I ended up as a wedding florist by happy chance. I never thought about being a florist and it wasn’t a goal I had when I was younger. I have a PhD in Sociology and I worked teaching undergraduate classes for 10 years. Read more>>

Gimenia Palmer

I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and moved to Utah at the age of 24 to pursue higher education and professional growth. Coming to a new country meant learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, and proving myself in spaces where I was often underestimated. Still, I was determined to build a meaningful career in education. Read more>>

Jennifer Hill

When my youngest was probably around 3 years old my husband suggested that I go back to school. That way when my son was in school full time, and I wanted to get a job it could be something that I enjoy doing. Read more>>

Douglas Wilson

I’ve been in this field for about ten years now and I’ve seen people overpay for services for underwhelming work and I just want to save people money where I can and really give them there moneys worth with good honest hard work . Read more>>

Kellie Webb

What began as a small garden experiment in 2018 quickly grew into something more. I started growing flowers purely for the joy of it, and by 2020, that passion turned into a full-fledged business. Today, we farm two acres—including a 96-foot high tunnel—growing cut flowers for the public and for florists. Read more>>

The Reverend Ashley Wright

I am a native of Utah who grew up in Ogden. I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. God was always an important part of my life, as was my faith community. In my late twenties I began the process of deconstructing my faith and building a new framework of belief, for many different reasons. Read more>>

Zach Arnold

My name is Zach Arnold and I am the MFCEO of Arnold Quality Metal Works, an Ornamental Metals Fabricator for Commercial Construction, based in Logan, Ut. I live in Logan, Utah with my Gorgeous Wife of 17 years and our 4 amazing children. Read more>>

heidi simper

I grew up with herbal remedies and natural medicine and then was introduced to energy work about 10 years ago. I went to counseling most of my adult life from a traumatic childhood. I worked with a life coach starting 8 years ago and it totally changed the way I learned to heal from trauma. Read more>>

Ronnie Schmitz

I am a newer to this beautiful state of Utah ( born and raised in Southern California), and my journey started in November 2023 after I came to visit my mother, step-father, and younger brother and his family in Lehi. Read more>>

Skip Weeks

From an early age, I’ve been fascinated by the intersection of people, technology, and storytelling. I began my professional journey studying Political Science at Brigham Young University, but my career quickly evolved into entrepreneurship, technology development, and business leadership. Read more>>

Tiara Vail

It’s an interesting concept sharing my story in the middle of my life, when my story is still evolving, but I’ll give it my best shot.  Hi! I’m Tiara Vail, or you can call me T — I am a business owner, Yoga Teacher, mother of two, and married to my husband + business partner. Read more>>

Amber Powell

On April 15, 2023, I was on a walk through a local neighborhood, thinking about my life and how I was going to get out of working late-night bar shifts while also juggling a 9–5. I wanted more, but I didn’t know what that looked like yet. Read more>>

John Siggard

John Siggard is the founder and owner of two MSPs (managed service provider) companies based out of St. George, Utah: Superior Technical Solutions and IT4Eyes, which primarily serve the Western United States but also have clients in the Southeast. He is also a co-author of the Amazon best-seller The Silent Battlefield, a book on cybersecurity awareness and defense strategies. Read more>>

Rebecca Yund

I didn’t come to owning a boutique through a traditional retail path. For much of my life, my work focused on education and access. My background is in Higher Education and I have worked as a college financial director, created college access programs for marginalized groups, a grant writer, and a financial counselor. Read more>>

Steve Tracy

My path into music and community work wasn’t linear—it was shaped by loss, responsibility, and a deep belief that creative spaces can save lives. Years ago, I lost my close friend Kate to suicide. Not long after, I was stabbed in the chest with a pair of scissors while stopping a teenager who was attempting to take their own life. Both moments changed me permanently. Read more>>

Julian Gomez

My story started when my cousin Joe Flores talked to me about becoming a barber. Never did I think about it until he put it into my mind to consider pursuing a career. It’ll be 7 years this upcoming April since I’ve been apart of his business and it’s been a great experience that I never would’ve imagined. Read more>>

Joseph Bishop

I started my career in the construction industry at 19 as a framer in 2004. This work was grueling, but some of the most valuable when it came to knowledge of the structure of homes and buildings, and my work as a general contractor later on. Read more>>

Coulson Rich

I first became inspired by metalwork in 2006 during my first adventure to Burning Man. I was completely overwhelmed by what could be created and accomplished with steel. Read more>>

Robert Dutton

I’ve been in the hospitality industry for over 25 years, long enough to know what works, and humble enough to still be learning. I didn’t graduate high school, and started in construction. I didn’t come up with a résumé or a roadmap. I came up in the kitchen, behind the bar, and in the trenches of real-world service. Read more>>

Lindsey Heinig

I always knew I wanted to be an educator- as a child, I would set up school for my stuffed animals and was always the first hand up to be a helper in the classroom. I went to the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan, to study both Art Education and Fine Arts. Read more>>

Seth Sorensen

It started with a Central Utah kid, a case of ADHD, and a massive dream. I have always been captivated by history, and I knew early on that if I had such a deep passion for the past, others out there must feel the same way. Read more>>

Jen Dean

I started out renovating homes with my husband—I focused on the design while he handled the building side. Together we built a strong business, but over time I realized I was feeling drained. I loved the design work, but I wanted to stand on my own and build something separate. Read more>>

Keaton Schrank

Pantry to Porch was founded by Brigham Young University students during the COVID-19 pandemic as a volunteer initiative to deliver groceries to individuals experiencing food insecurity. What began as an emergency response effort quickly revealed an ongoing critical need within the community. Read more>>

Kaylie Meccariello

Utah State University’s Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC) was organized in 2010 by a USU student. It was begun with the hope to serve students who had a hard time getting easy access to nutritious food. SNAC has taken that original dream and grown to make it a reality. Now the university’s own food pantry, SNAC serves nearly 25% of the USU Logan student population. Read more>>

Victoria Hodgkins

Our family moved to Utah in 2014 from the East Coast in search of a better quality of life for our children where they would have less pressure and more time outdoors. The move was wonderful but it took me a while to find my professional footing. Read more>>

Cherith Shiba

I started in Taekwondo as a kid as I thought it would be cool to do martial arts. Turns out I was not bad at it. I competed in the first ever US Open taekwondo Championships and have been competing and or coaching ever since. Now most of my focus is on coaching as I get great joy from that. Read more>>

Mindy Pack

I’ve always joked that my childhood dream was to be the world’s first singing heart surgeon. I was completely fascinated by the human body, but singing was just as central to who I was. Medical school didn’t quite work out the way I imagined, but that original idea never left me. Instead, I found a way to bring those two passions together. Read more>>

Mary Bevins

It definitely wasn’t a straight line. I became a mom in my early twenties, and for several years my priority was being a stay-at-home parent. I’m incredibly grateful I had that time. While my daughter was young, I still took on small remote and part-time roles when I could. It helped me stay mentally engaged, continue learning, and contribute financially in a modest way, even though my main focus was raising her. Read more>>

Sara Vaz

Even as a kid, I’ve always been interested in careers and owning a business. At first, I dreamed of becoming a screenwriter and winning an Oscar in middle school and then helping patients as an anesthesiologist in high school. But after more thought, I realized my creative skills would ultimately land me in my dream career. Read more>>