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.

Jacob George

During that summer I began working on a brain-computer interface solution for individuals with limb loss. But before I dive into my work, take a minute to think about how your life would change after losing a limb. Imagine you’ve just woken up in the hospital to find out both of your hands have been amputated. How would you go about your daily life? How would hold a fork to feed yourself? How would you tie your shoes in the morning? Read more>>

lesley Smith

37 years ago, Lesley opened her studio at the age of 18 in a small pizza store. Elite continued to grow and now with 5 studios, offering all ages, levels and genres, ELITE DANCE STUDIO is one of Salt Lake Valley’s most well-respected institutions for the study of ballet, jazz, contemporary, acro, hip hop, tap, and aerial silks. Read more>>

Anita Clay

Varsa Studios came from a season of loss, love, and taking a really scary leap. My dad passed away in 2023. After he died, his life insurance gave our family the ability to do something we never could have otherwise. For a long time, we didn’t know what that something was, we just knew we wanted it to matter. Read more>>

Chace Seegmiller

Top Shot Dixie Academy was founded after long prayers during Covid lockdowns. As a private Chef, everything crashed. Following that, I put in the work to start a personal protection/survival academy. I’ve always been the type of person who wants to have a sustainable lifestyle where me and my family provide mostly for ourselves. Read more>>

Shalay Andrus

I grew up in a small town in Arizona, and from as early as I can remember, music spoke to me. When music was on, I always started dancing. Music made me feel something when words couldn’t. Read more>>

Pritha Lal

Hello I am Pritha, and I am a mom before all else. I also am a global citizen. Born in Kolkata, India, I have lived, worked, and been educated in various cultures and countries. Read more>>

Jason Cook

Growing up, my life was a whirlwind of cultures and borders. From my early years in Mexico to a pivotal middle school year in Ecuador, followed by high school in Germany. Read more>>

Monica Walston

I’ve been an entrepreneur my entire adult life. I started my first business at 17, went on to own a web design and photography business for over 25 years, and later built an artisan jewelry brand alongside my work in past life regression hypnotherapy. Creativity has always been central to who I am. If I’m not creating something, I feel restless. Read more>>

Kate Lubing

I grew up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where my family’s interest in cooking and hospitality influenced my early career path. I began working in restaurants at a young age — starting as a hostess — and quickly becoming fascinated with how restaurants operate. That sparked a lifelong passion for hospitality and food & beverage. Read more>>

Velvet Ant Studio

Laura and Brianna met while working at a local flower shop where we learned the basics of floral design, gained a deep passion and love for floristry and built a lifelong friendship with one another. After Laura had her baby boy in 2023, she started her own floral business and Brianna followed shortly after. Read more>>

Tony Lawson

Started working at age 8 and working commercially at 10 mowing lawns. My father was a heavy alcoholic and was done working at 11:00 during the day. I was dropped off at my jobs and pushed the mower home with all my equipment and a head lamp. Started my own business at 13 and got into contracting at 16. Read more>>

Kris Lamoreaux

My sister-in-law and I opened the store in June of 2013 with the goal of providing healthy dog food and treats for dogs and cats. In April of 2025 my sister-in-law passed away unexpectedly. Along with the heartbreak of her loss I was then faced with running the store by myself. My amazing retired Mom stepped in and has been with me ever since. Read more>>

Jenn Karr

Jenn Karr DNP, FNP-c began her career in healthcare with her deep desire to care for people during life’s most vulnerable moments. Starting as a Registered Nurse, she built a strong clinical foundation in high-acuity settings, where she developed not only technical skill but also a profound respect for compassionate, patient-centered care. Read more>>

Ian Kirkpatrick

I started tattooing in Houston, Texas, bouncing around and learning from as many artists as I could while building relationships and developing my skill set. With the help of some incredible friends, I eventually opened my own shop there. Later, I moved into a private studio working alongside the crew at Monumental Ink, which was an amazing experience. Read more>>

Dennis Alm

I started working in the welding and industrial gas business in 2013 directly out of college. The welding supply distributors are the companies that sell welding and industrial equipment in addition to the cylinder gases used for a variety of purposes such as welding, cutting, and even all your medical gases. Read more>>

Katie Clifford

My name is Katie Clifford, and I am a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and Epigeneticist. I began my career in post-operative care, helping patients recover from joint surgery. While this work was meaningful, I often felt care was focused on a single body part, while the interconnected systems and environmental factors influencing healing and long-term health were rarely addressed. Read more>>

Natalie Williams

Seventeen year ago, I walked into my very first Real Deals in Great Falls, Montana. The store was welcoming, affordable and had the most unique items I’ve ever seen. I had no idea at the time that moment would plant a seed for something so amazing in my life. Read more>>

Skyler Baird

I’ve always been drawn to building things that solve real problems. My background is a mix of entrepreneurship, real estate, and nonprofit work, and most of what I’ve built has come from seeing a gap firsthand and deciding not to ignore it. Read more>>

Alex Rogers

I started my career in the electrical field right out of high school in 2008 – all thanks to my brother, Derik, and his father-in-law, Dave. I was living with Derik and his wife Mandy during my senior year of high school. While I was still 17, Derik brought home an application for me to fill out to join the union apprenticeship program. Read more>>

Maria Veber

I have been in healthcare since the 1980s, working in Nursing Homes, Homecare, and then ICUs, ER, and the OR as a RN. Those years at the bedside shaped how I see people, illness, and responsibility—especially during moments when clarity, skill, and calm truly matter. Read more>>

Zach Toothaker

I am a tattoo artist I am working on mixing realism with graffiti style artwork so I can be known for specializing in that I want that to set me apart from other artist but I also love learning from other artists seeing how they create art is fascinating to me I am proud to be able to do art every day and see the world with a artistic vision Read more>>

Klara Han

I loved baking since I was twelve. While other kids asked for clothes or makeup, I asked for baking tools and ingredients for my birthday. As much as I loved baking, I loved desserts even more. I grew up moving between the U.S., Singapore, and Korea, but Korea shaped me most as a baker. Read more>>

Erica Ethington

Growing up, my dance studio was so important to me. It was the place I always felt like I belonged, even when school was hard or friends had drama. Dance was stable. The studio always felt welcoming. I loved it there and I knew then that I wanted to create that experience for others. Read more>>

Angela Curtis

I had studied ballet for most of my life. I was asked by a neighbor to teach her daughter how to dance. My parents allowed me to use their basement for a studio and I began teaching at the age of 14. Read more>>

Mark Chaney

MARK CHANEY Mark Chaney is a life-long musician and band leader, a staple of the northern Utah music scene for many years. The Saliva Sisters, the JazzBros, the Johnny People, Twisted Brother and the Bel Airs are a few of the bands that Mark has worked with. Read more>>

Delgermaa Enkhbaatar

Royal Suits was founded in 2024 and opened its first location in Pleasant Grove, Utah. The idea grew from both family experience and a real, everyday problem we saw in the community. My mother-in-law spent over 15 years in the men’s suit industry, working in San Francisco, where high standards for fit, fabric, and craftsmanship are expected. Read more>>

Denise Crosier

About Southwest Dance Company Southwest Dance Theatre was founded in 1982 by Candy Lish Fowler in St. George, Utah. Her vision created a place where children could experience the joy, discipline, and artistry of dance in a nurturing environment. Read more>>

Josie Anderson

I never planned on teaching music – and now I have 42 private piano students, manage a youth music group, and play the music at church. It’s been a wild ride that has been led by God. I’m so grateful to be where I am today! Read more>>

Ryan Quinn

I was working on a PhD in geochemistry at UW-Madison. I decided I didn’t want the life of a professor after all so I left the program. I took a job with a local arboriculture service and loved it. I worked there for two years and then moved to UT in 2018. Read more>>

Jesse Trani

After a 10 year long self inflicted battle with addicition, it was time to grow up and be who I really wanted to be. Someone took a chance on me and 5 days clean I ended up with a shovel in my hand landscaping. I’ve been clean from substances for 7+ years. Have owned and been part of operations at Trani’s landscaping for 5+ years. Read more>>

Tim Irwin

I’ve been a freelance documentary DP and director for over 25 years. It’s a job that I absolutely love. I live for the moments where split second creative decision making and naturally occurring moments come together in front of the camera to make something special. Those moments are so satisfying to me. Read more>>

Pamela Beach

I began making art as a little kid, and always felt like creating was my primary language. Though I got a BFA from BYU in 2001, and exhibited for a time afterward, when I began having children, the art making had to shift. I wanted to involve my children and so every project had to be something that we could all do. Read more>>

Jayson HaslamBrock

I studied audio production in college and interned at a recording studio for three years. During my senior year of college, I decided to build a mobile recording studio in my car and drive around the Salt Lake Valley doing recordings for different local bands. Read more>>

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>>