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.

Leena Sombath

I’ve been in the beauty industry since 2014, and looking back, the lash and brow world has completely transformed since I first picked up a pair of tweezers. When I started, my whole philosophy came down to one thing: precision work that never compromises the health of the natural lash. Read more>>

Clayton Blue

I started on accident and almost out of necessity. I had a procucer approach me that was interested in recording my band at the time but I already had a place I was going to that I was happy with. In order to sweeten the deal he told me he would do all my demos for free so I agreed. Read more>>

Nashelle Jackson

Performing Arts has always been a big part of my life – in our home, in my community, through school both K-12 and college. When an opportunity came to take over the running of the local TaVaci Performing Arts Studio, we were excited to do so. Read more>>

Carol Whitaker

My story began with my own healing. As I learned to nurture my mind, body, and spirit together, I felt that I was getting my life back. That experience sparked a deep love for health and fitness. I modeled in high school and again after I married, eventually becoming a fitness model as a young mother. Read more>>

MINDY HAMILTON

My journey with BONDED Jewelry began in 2022, when I entered the permanent jewelry industry as a territory license owner for Las Vegas and the Monterey/Carmel area. I was immediately drawn to the concept because it was about so much more than jewelry—it was about connection, experiences and giving people a way to commemorate the relationships and moments that matter to them. Read more>>

Griff Neilson

I started out as an independent Personal Trainer working as a contractor at Gold’s Gym. In 2007 I opened my first brick and mortar gym as an exclusive Personal Training Gym. My intention in doing so was to offer local people an option to get into the best shape of their lives using a lifestyle based approach. Read more>>

Jolene Walker

My career path began at a very young age, when my mom had me perm her hair at 12. Soon, my brother’s friends and my own friends were asking me to cut, style, and perm their hair. I remember thinking, “Do I just look like I know how to do hair? Why does everyone keep asking?” That’s when I realized I’d found a hidden talent. Read more>>

Marc Nelson

My wife, Shelbe, and I have always believed there are three things in life that matter most: faith, family, and health. Over the years, our own experiences in healthcare helped us realize how complicated and intimidating taking care of your health can sometimes become. Read more>>

Dhannylle Swalberg

Here’s how I’d fill it out: When I decided to start my business, I was actually in college working on my general education. I quickly realized that traditional school just wasn’t clicking for me, and if I was going to leave college, I knew I needed to have a plan for what came next. Read more>>

Gabriel Johnson

Martial arts has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started training when I was two years old and entered my first competition at four. At that age, I obviously had no idea where martial arts would eventually take me. I just knew that I loved being on the mat. Read more>>

Taylor Olson

I started pursuing art as a career back when I went to Southern Utah Univeristy around 2016. I ended up dropping out to start tattooing the following year and later on I moved from Cedar City to Salt Lake City to work for 27 Tattoo. Working there helped me grow immensely as an artist and build connections in the community. Read more>>

Aubrey Phillips

My name is Aubrey Phillips, when I was 16 I had a very particular idea about how my life was going to go. I would win American Idol and sign with a record label. I believed down to my core that was my path. When things didn’t play out the way I wanted, I was devastated. Read more>>

Travis Casper

Alpine Loop was born in Pleasant Grove, Utah, when three brothers decided to start a band. Travis Casper on guitar and vocals, Brian Casper on bass and vocals, and Logan Casper on drums began Alpine Loop with a simple goal: make music, play shows, and see where it could take them. Read more>>

Kimberly DowDell

When I last interviewed with Voyager two years ago, I was honored to be named one of their ‘Rising Stars in Utah.’ Since then, the journey has been an absolute whirlwind. I was recently ranked as the #4 Top Utah Mom Influencer by FeedSpot, and the past two years have truly been a next-level experience. Read more>>

Anthony Abdelmalek

Kate and I started Stitch Design in 2016 to help startups and small businesses turn their ideas into real products and give them a legitimate shot at bringing those products to market. We’re a husband-and-wife design team, and we’ve always shared a love for making things, solving problems, and helping people build something they believe in. Read more>>

Marc Christensen

My entrepreneurial story started with a very different kind of proof: crash testing. I founded OTW Safety and spent 28 years building it into a national manufacturing and distribution business. Eventually, I took that experience into spirits. From highway barriers to whiskey barrels—it’s an unusual résumé, but both businesses require patience, precision, and a healthy respect for regulations! Read more>>

Geni Marie Senary

I grew up in Tropic, Utah, right outside of Bryce Canyon National Park. After high school I moved away and went to college. When I started my own family we moved back to be able to raise our kids in a small town environment. Read more>>

Joel Carson

I got into real estate in 1991 when I was 26 years old. Before that, I was working as a CPA and also doing some door-to-door sales. It was an unusual combination, but I discovered something about myself during that time—I really enjoyed meeting new people, sitting down with them in their homes and getting to know them. Read more>>

Adam Diener

Vegan Daddy Meats, started on January 1, 2021 out of my home kitchen. Located in Salt Lake City, UT . Passionate about animal rights, environment, health and cooking, I started Vegan Daddy Meats as an online retail store, where you could purchase local handmade artisan seitan, and have it hand delivered to your house . Read more>>

Diena Riddle

As a child, I began crocheting at my Dutch maternal grandmother’s knee at age five. I have been eternally grateful for her patience and diligence in teaching me this skill. Since that time, it seems I’ve always had yarn in my hands. As a child I could be found creating clothes for dolls, making scarves, rugs or edgings for pillowcases. Read more>>

Matt Nickle

I’ve been a percussionist for most of my life, and music has always been at the center of what I do. I went to the University of Utah for Percussion Performance and have spent more than 20 years performing with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. Read more>>

Mark Dickey

Our story started in the 1970s, when 14-year-old David Dickey attended the Wurlitzer Sales School in Logan, Utah. Soon after, he began selling pianos and organs out of his mother’s shop, House of Originals, in Payson. Read more>>

Shao Long Lei

First off – thank you so much for this opportunity. I’m sincerely humbled and honored that VoyageUtah asked me for this interview. My martial arts journey actually started when I was around 8–10 years old at Johnny Aranda’s Karate. Read more>>