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.

Shannon Wilson

It definitely wasn’t something I ever planned—it felt like a very natural path that unfolded one unexpected step at a time. After the birth of my youngest daughter, I experienced debilitating anxiety and became determined to find the root cause instead of simply managing the symptoms. Read more>>

TESS Myers

I have been learning new crafts since before I could walk I think. I have always loved to learn new things. I love a good challenge. While driving school bus, I had split shifts. So, in between runs I would teaching myself new crafty things. I joined a quilting guild. Read more>>

Ashley Marie LeBaron

I started making soap as a hobby and now sell online retail and wholesale all over the USA Read more>>

Jimmi Toro

I have always been drawing on things, even as a child. The advise I give to younger artists now is to be curious and prolific. You will learn the most by just showing up and creating all of the time. This has served me well and resulted in an evolution of style and medium that now comes from deep within. Read more>>

Riley Ridd

I learned to appreciate the construction of human environments while wandering through my father’s job sites. He was a fourth generation finish carpenter that, even at the end of his fifty year career as a GC for high end custom homes, still framed his own projects. Read more>>

Thomas Wayne Riley

I am from Northern Georgia but at 16, my parents moved us to Oklahoma. When I was at the University of Oklahoma and studying Archaeology, I fell in love with the American Southwest. I began to visit as often as I could to explore, camp, hike, and enjoy the incredible wilderness of the American Southwest. Read more>>

Ralph Woodward

Coming from a family of singers (my parents both being voice teachers at BYU) I was well aware of principles of correct vocal production. I was also aware of the beauty of children’s voices when they are allowed to develop naturally. Read more>>

John Wessling

My story starts with finding a passion in competing in sports at a young age, which led me to a career in training and coaching athletes. I have always been an athlete; competing in everything from basketball, soccer, skateboarding, hockey, motocross, cross country running and skiing, and all of that eventually led me to cross country mountain bike racing in my 20’s. Read more>>

Ronnie Thomas

I started creating content when I was 13 years old, making funny skits on Facebook just to entertain my friends. At 17, I realized I wanted to take it seriously, so I began investing more time into improving my videos and learning everything I could about content creation. The biggest turning point came in 2019 when I expanded from posting only on Instagram to TikTok. Read more>>

Trina Barkle

I’m a hard working mom and grandmother. Dragoyle.com was built to have something to pass down to my kids and grandkids. This is hard work, but worth it as I love my family more than the sleep I’m missing out on. Staying up late, after a full time job, working to make sure my customers are happy! Read more>>

Sarah VanDam

I decided to become an illustrator in high school—I loved charcoal, watercolor and portraiture. In my junior year (2014-2015), my school’s police officer (David Gomez at Mountain View High School, Meridian, ID) asked if an interested art student would create a portrait of a meaningful interaction he’d had with a teenage girl arrested in handcuffs. That sounded like a job for me. Read more>>

Alexandria Bailey

I’ve always wanted to be an artist. I used to paint and draw frequently growing up, and while I was decent at it, I was too fickle — I’d redo things over and over, get frustrated, second-guess everything, start from scratch. Looking back, that’s a wild amount of perfectionism for a child. I just didn’t have the patience for it. Read more>>

Joshua Elijah

My name is Joshua Elijah, and I’m an AI filmmaker and the founder of DGR8 Studios. My creative journey started with a passion for storytelling. I’ve always been fascinated by the way great visuals can make people feel something, whether it’s through film, photography, or commercials. Read more>>

Angela Johnson

I’ve always enjoyed writing and making up stories, but I never really thought about writing novels that was until I couldn’t get my mind off the characters and their stories. I earned a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis in literature from Utah Valley University. Read more>>

Misael Gutierrez

Hi, I’m Misael Gutierrez. I’ve been a photographer for over 10 years, with the last 8 years focused on capturing weddings. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had a passion for the arts, and I bring that same creativity and attention to detail into every wedding I photograph. Read more>>

Caleb Smith

Honestly, my story isn’t some perfect straight line. It’s been a mix of places, people, mistakes, growth, and God pulling me forward even when I wasn’t really paying attention. I grew up in Utah, but had the opportunity to visit much of the U.S. Read more>>

Stephanie Harmon

Utah Honor Flight is part of the national Honor Flight Network, a movement that began in 2005 when founders Earl Morse and Jeff Miller realized that many aging World War II veterans would never be able to make the journey to Washington, D.C., on their own. Utah Honor Flight launched its first mission in October 2013. Read more>>

Steve Simmons

Childhood spent near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. At age 10 moved to western Montana. Graduated high school in 1968. Started out as an art major History minor in college than switched to Elementary ed. with an art teaching minor and a history specialty. With Medieval history being the area of emphasis. Read more>>

Rachelle Pierce

About 11 years ago the dance studio where my daughters used to dance was closing as the owner was moving back to her hometown. At this time it was the only dance studio in our town. My oldest daughter was moving back to Moab, we got together with some incredible dance teachers and talked about opening a dance studio. Read more>>

Dallin DeLoach

My journey began as a dentist with a vision to create something more than just another dental practice. Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of building and growing a dental group in Utah, now with three locations across Salt Lake County. Read more>>

Sarah Navarre

My career has never followed a traditional path, and for a long time I wondered if that was a disadvantage. Looking back, I now see that every chapter has been connected by a common purpose. I’ve had the opportunity to work in professional sports, medical technology, enterprise product management, nonprofit leadership, consulting, fashion design, photography, and the arts. Read more>>

Kory Sagendorf

The Catalyst & The Hustle ​’I didn’t take a traditional path into the body modification industry; I was forged into it. In 2012, after my stepmom executed a hostile takeover of a tattoo shop, she desperately needed backup. I stepped in, applying obsessive, self-taught medical and anatomical knowledge directly to the needle. That hustle eventually took me on the road. Read more>>

Dan Reese

People often ask us how Homeward For Heroes began. The truth is, it wasn’t created in a boardroom, through a strategic business plan, or because we wanted to start another nonprofit. It was born from our own experiences, our own struggles, and a desire to make sure no veteran, first responder, or family member ever feels like they have to face life’s battles alone. Read more>>

Allen Davis

My path has been anything but linear, which I think is actually what makes it interesting. I started in dentistry — 8 years active duty as a dentist. Read more>>

Tania Bizzarro

I have always loved horror movies since I was little, since social media exist I have always had in mind, to create a page dedicated to my passion, in 2017 I created Ore d’orrore a social page dedicated to Italian and international horror and thriller movies, but at a certain point I wanted to get out of social media, creating something new, unique. Read more>>

David Mercieca

My first camera was a used Canon A1. I picked it up just before i moved to the UK to base myself in London and travel. I traveled to many places and the more off the beaten track the location i was visiting, the more content i seemed to be. Read more>>

Shytei Corellian

I wrote my first short story at age nine. I began writing novels at fourteen with a pen and college-ruled paper. I filled up reams. It was a wonderful time. No thoughts of writing for pay or publication, just pure need to narrate the stories in my head. Read more>>

Jessica McAllister

My introduction into the event industry started in 2015 when my friend needed someone to perform along with her at a wedding. The harp and violin make a stunning duo, so I readily agreed. Even though I had played the violin for decades at that point (including studying music education at college), it had never occurred to me to offer my services at events. Read more>>

Jessica Strang

Jessica Strang is the founder and designer of coco + peach jewelry, a Chicago-based, Latina-owned jewelry brand known for its modern, attainable luxury and effortlessly wearable designs. Read more>>

Peter Rork

After I closed my orthopedic surgery practice in Jacksonville Wyoming I founded the nonprofit Dog Is My CoPilot the organization tasks itself with saving as many at risk dogs and cats as possible. Read more>>

Jani Rogers

I came to the United States when I was 7 years old, not speaking English and stepping into a world that felt entirely unfamiliar. From a very young age, I had to learn how to navigate a new language, culture, and school system while also trying to find my place within it. Read more>>

Donna Walker-Muhammed

My travel story began with family road trips through the Deep South. I am originally from New Orleans, LA, and exploring my visit was filled with unexpected and amazing surprises, the best food (not to mention my dad was a chef). Read more>>

Jennifer Nielsen

I was always a writer, but growing up, it never occurred to me that I could be an author. To me, authors were super special people living super special lives. I wasn’t that person. Growing up, I never saw an author or met an author, so they weren’t even real to me. So writing for me was always a hobby, but nothing more. Read more>>

Sara B. Larson

I’ve been writing stories my entire life. In my author bio, it references a ‘Little Mermaid’ notebook that I wrote ‘books’ in when I was in 3rd grade and that is real–I still have it! Read more>>

Kirsten Fowler

Hi, my name is Kirsten Fowler and I am 37 years old. I have been married for 16 years to my amazing husband, Jeremy, and have four wonderful children. From oldest to youngest, their names are Millie, Isaac, Eliza, and Evelyn. The three youngest have what is called Fragile X Syndrome. This is a genetic syndrome passed on through the X chromosome. Read more>>

Angelic Arana

I’ve been a nurse for more than 20 years, building experience across a wide range of clinical settings including medical-surgical, cardiothoracic, home health, hospice, and assisted living. Throughout my career, I developed a strong interest in analyzing medical records and understanding the details behind patient care. Read more>>

Melissa Rosenbusch – Spicer

I am a retired ag teacher in Texas of 29 years. I met Pete Hexter and Jessie Stewart while in that role and experienced tremendous success for our FFA chapter. But it was more than just increased revenue, it was the purpose behind the business, the team. The giving back and doing good which really spoke to my servant leader heart. Read more>>

Shannon Runyon

I like to sing. I grew up singing with my family. We were a decent sized family – 5 kids, and our parents were very musical. Dad taught us piano at a young age and my mother was always singing while working, cleaning, baking.. it didn’t matter… and she had a beautiful voice. Read more>>

Seidler Rodrigo Santos Ziser

I was born in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and today I live in Utah with my wife, Daniela, and our son, Pedro. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been part of my life for many years, but what it has become today is much bigger than a personal journey. Read more>>

JILL FINLEY

I was always a seamstress and eventually became interested in quilting. I started by writing and selling a few quilt patterns. I wanted to start a business selling my patterns, and I hoped to be able to design fabric. I have no special training for this but I enjoyed it, so I thought I would try it. Read more>>

Megan Brown

I read voraciously as a kid and teenager. Stories, I think, let my brain chew on interesting problems instead of spiraling around the same anxious worries. I had time, then, for luxurious binge reading—like reading all of The Lord of the Rings in one day. Read more>>

Patrick Voeun

How I started tattooing is an interesting story because it all began with discovering my passion for art and the universe leading me toward my purpose. It all started with my good friend Tama (David Rhythm), the chef and owner of Sweets, located in the heart of Provo, Utah. Over the years, he gave me the opportunity to paint murals for his business. Read more>>

Roger Motzkus

I have always loved drawing from when I was a child, mostly cartoons. I had a very good High School instructor that fueled my desire to learn and gave validation. There I was exposed to various mediums of acrylic, oil and using an airbrush. The artwork I did earned a full-ride scholarship and a Bachelors in Fine Art from the University of Utah. Read More>>

Shwa Laytart

I’ve been writing my whole life. Poetry was my first love. Along with my photojournalist wife, I spent over a decade as a counter-culture journalist covering everything from cannabis, entertainment, activism, and social issues. I self-published my first book in 2019, right before COVID. I found it would be much easier if my wife started our own publishing house. Read More>>