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.
Heather Bedell
I spent years pouring into everyone else while quietly feeling like I was disappearing myself. I’m a wife of 27+ years, mom of two boys, entrepreneur, health advocate, alpine ski instructor & race coach, trail runner, mountain biker, and someone who genuinely believed for a season that feeling exhausted, inflamed, unmotivated, and “old” was just part of getting older. Read more>>
Jim Hough
Liberty Pole Spirits really began as a family passion project rooted in history, craftsmanship, and a love of whiskey. My wife Ellen and I had long been fascinated by the rich distilling heritage of Western Pennsylvania, particularly the story of Monongahela Rye and the role this region played in shaping early American whiskey culture. Read more>>
Candy Hoehn
I founded SugaShoc Photography in April 2013 with a passion to document the chapters of your life that matter most. Based in my Doylestown studio, I specialize in capturing timeless newborn, maternity, family, and empowering boudoir photography. My journey has been about creating a welcoming space for clients across Bucks County, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware, focusing on genuine moments of joy and celebration. Read more>>
Carri Sola
I grew up in Southern Lancaster County in and around what is considered the Amish/farming community. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and started several businesses throughout the years in between working for others companies, including property management, real estate, wedding rentals and wedding planning. Read more>>
Kelly Sanders
love, Pittsburgh was founded in 2017 by Kelly Sanders and Monica Grunick. Kelly and Monica serendipitously met at a Pittsburgh Technology event in late 2016, instantly bonding over the talent of the Pittsburgh artist and maker community. When the sunny space on Shiloh Street became available, they envisioned a gift shop to serve the visitors taking in the breathtaking city view from atop Mount Washington. Read more>>
Kelsey Smoker
My story started pretty simply: I wanted to learn how to make sourdough. I started baking at home, sharing with friends and family, and before I knew it people were asking if they could buy loaves from me. What started as “let me just try this” slowly turned into a full business that I never really saw coming. Read more>>
Jackson Latimore
My story begins in East Stroudsburg Pa in December 2000. While playing high school basketball, Greg Moyer, suddenly collapsed on the basketball court. It would take an ambulance almost 10 minutes before they arrived on scene, and attempted to restart his heart with an AED. Greg suffered from sudden cardiac arrest and unfortunately did not make it. Read more>>
Will Nguyen
My professional background is in chemistry, having graduated with my degree in 2018 and immediately entering laboratory research. However, when the pandemic disrupted the global economy in 2020, I unexpectedly lost my position. At the time, my wife was working full-time as a nail technician, and like so many others, we found ourselves navigating an incredibly challenging economic landscape. Read more>>
Connie Chen
My name is Connie, and I have been interested in photography ever since I was a little kid. I used to have a Sony point-and-shoot camera that I would bring with me everywhere. Read more>>
Heather Williams
I always knew fashion was in my bones from a very young age. I do think my mother influenced this. I designed many dresses that she then sewed for me during my teenage years. She also made all my bridesmaids dresses for my wedding. I was a textile design major at Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now Thomas Jefferson). Read more>>
Jaxon Fox
My path into photography was far from a straight line, but storytelling has always been at the center of it. I’ve been a photographer for more than 17 years, beginning with a camera in hand and a curiosity about people, places, and the moments that often go unnoticed. Read more>>
Adrienne Mansfield
I’ve never followed a traditional career path, and honestly, that’s probably been one of my greatest strengths. My professional journey has always been driven by curiosity, problem-solving, and a desire to make things better than I found them. Early on, I found myself drawn to roles that sat at the intersection of people, strategy, operations, and communication. Read more>>
James Big Money Murray
Most people are chasing attention. I became fascinated by what happens after attention. I watched creators go viral and disappear. Businesses generate traffic and still struggle. Talented people build audiences without building assets. That observation eventually became the foundation for Monarch Minds Co. Read more>>
Daniel Hawkes
I didn’t start out as a business owner. I started out as a caregiver. I grew up in a small rural community in South Central Pennsylvania and was raised primarily by my grandparents. We didn’t have much money, but what I did have was a front-row seat to the importance of caring for people. Read more>>
Keca Ward
My journey with Forward Pickleball started as a pickleball instructor teaching lessons in a small indoor facility with just one court. As I worked with new and experienced players, I quickly saw the incredible growth potential of the sport and recognized the need for larger, dedicated indoor spaces where people could play year-round. Read more>>
Julia Leslie
I have always been an avid reader and lover of literature. Since I was a young girl I remember thinking that owning a bookshop would be the absolute dream career so much so my parents always thought I would become a librarian. To their shock I became a NICU nurse and have a deep passion for connecting with people and caring for them. Read more>>
Michael Agwu
I’m Michael Agwu, a Nigerian-born, Philadelphia-based artist. I began drawing at a young age and spent years developing my skills as a pencil artist, creating highly detailed portraits. Over time, I became interested in finding new ways to tell stories through portraiture and started experimenting with discarded electronic waste as a medium. Read more>>
Lindsay Batista
For years, I thought about starting something that would allow me to share my interests and connect with others who enjoy the same things I do. I’ve always loved exploring new trends, discovering products, and talking with family and friends to hear their thoughts and recommendations. In December 2025, I finally decided to stop thinking about it and start building it. Read more>>
Nancy Yurescko-Suhan
GlamAyre was born out of our experience running Lotsa Laffs Photo Booths. As the event industry evolved, we saw the huge rise in popularity of 360 video booths and immersive event content. Read more>>
Joseph Thomas
My story starts in Philadelphia — born and raised. I grew up between Germantown, where I went to elementary school and high school, and the Kensington and Allegheny area, where I spent most of my teenage years. Those neighborhoods don’t hand you anything. We were poor. Read more>>
Nikkia Tanisha
Comedian NikkiaTanisha born Nikkia Stewart in the small town of Farrell, Pennsylvania, she is a mother of three, has been doing comedy for the last 10 years although her mother said she’s been funny since she got here! She believes her greatest accomplishment is opening up for Slick Rick in the summer of 2017! Read more>>
Meghan Jackson
My dream growing up was to be a professional ballet dancer. After graduating high school I did just that, but early in my career I suffered several chronic injuries. On physical therapist #4 I finally found relief when a therapist felt that my issues stemmed from muscle imbalances – and prescribed Pilates exercises. Read more>>
Matt Kay
I first discovered Float Therapy while looking for natural relief from chronic pain following a serious car accident. At the time, floating was much more common on the West Coast than it was here, and after my first float I immediately knew there was something special about it. I booked another session two days later. What stood out wasn’t just the physical relief. Read more>>
Justin Hershey
I started in construction 24 years ago with my grandfather helping him with his contracting business. He did a little bit of everything so I gained a lot of experience in all aspects of the construction field. Once I graduated, I started in the commercial construction field for a large outfit out of Lancaster. Read more>>
Mike Drew
For more than a decade, I worked in the residential mortgage industry as a loan originator and sales manager. I built a successful career helping people navigate some of the biggest financial decisions of their lives — working in high-pressure sales environments, building referral partnerships, helping lead teams. I learned early how much trust matters when people are sitting with uncertainty. Read more>>
Julie Kahlbaugh
My passion for photography started at 15 I began capturing the beauty of nature, cityscapes, and people who were close to me, like my friends and neighbors. Fast-forward to 2016 (age 21), I began working as a photographer for Local Pittsburgh magazine, where I had the opportunity to photograph diverse subjects like food & beverage, art, theatre, and portraits. Read more>>
Meghan Waals
Raised by two entrepreneurs, I have been building businesses for as long as I can remember. Entrepreneurship always felt natural to me. As a kid, I sold handmade pom-poms with googly eyes, charged neighbors admission to view my seashell collection, and eventually started a neighborhood pet-sitting business charging clients just $1 per visit. Read more>>
Shawn O’Donnell
Building Skills, Restoring Lives, Strengthening Community: Local Social Enterprises and Outreach Efforts Continue to Transform Bucks County Doylestown, PA — What began as one man’s second chance has grown into a network of local businesses and community programs dedicated to restoring lives, strengthening families, and building a skilled workforce throughout Bucks County. Read more>>
Alisa Tantsyreva
My journey into photography started completely by accident. I was born in Bashkortostan, Russia, and earned two higher education degrees – first in education as an English teacher, and second in organizational management. Photography was never part of my original plan. While working in banking, I unexpectedly received my first camera, and that moment completely changed my life. Read more>>
Jaime Burgos
was born in Colorado Springs and spent much of my childhood moving from state to state because my father served in the Army. Constant change taught me resilience, adaptability, and how to rebuild from the ground up more times than I can count. I originally pursued a completely different path and worked in interior design before chronic health issues forced me to reevaluate my future. Read more>>
Katie Dubow
I grew up watching my mom mix horticulture and storytelling, she founded Garden Media Group when she put me on the bus for kindergarten. I watched her turn ideas into campaigns, press hits, magazine cover stories, and speaking on stages around the country. Read more>>
Jennie Groff
In 2008, friends of ours had the idea of making Dutch Stroopwafels, a yummy European treat, (a cinnamon waffle with a homemade caramel in the center best rewarmed on top of your favorite hot beverage) in order to provide meaningful employment for our resettled refugee friends in Lancaster City. Read more>>
Sherri Sulkowski
The National Duncan Glass Society was established in 1975 and, since then, has maintained a permanent collection of ‘the loveliest glassware in America’, now displayed at the Duncan & Miller Glass Museum at 100 Ridge Ave, Washington Pa. The museum is open from March through December, Thursday through Sunday 10 am – 4 pm as well as by appointment. Read more>>
Mikhail & Darya Tskhay
Clickit Studio was born through a long friendship. Our wedding photographer and close friend opened a very similar studio in Dallas and encouraged us to bring the same idea to State College. He guided us through the process and supported us every step of the way. Read more>>
Jill Fink
Having traveled a bit of a winding road, I’m not entirely sure where to begin. Following grad school (a Master’s in Women’s Studies), I moved to Philadelphia in 1998 and began working in the nonprofit sector. Following the 2000 election, I accepted an offer from The College of New Jersey to build out their newly established Women In Learning & Leadership program. Read more>>
Jenessa Norton
Although I’m not originally from Erie, I’ve lived here for the majority of my life, and this community truly helped shape who I am. After graduating high school in 2012, while I was in college, I became a mother in 2014, and that completely changed the trajectory of my life. Read more>>
Paul Guarino
I grew up outside of Rochester, NY before moving to Pittsburgh, PA to go to college at Duquesne University for Music Recording. Switched majors to business and then went on to get my MBA. Meanwhile, while I was a server/bartender/manager for over nine years at the Harris Grill, a popular bar and grill in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside, I fell in love with climbing. Read more>>
Stella Singleton
I’m the owner of Needles & Bolts, a modern quilt shop and Maker Space in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia. What started as a love of sewing and quilting slowly grew into something much bigger: a desire to create the kind of creative community space I wished existed when I was learning. Read more>>
christian woods
I’ve always been the kind of person who likes building things and making spaces look better. What started as helping with yard work and learning hands-on over the years slowly turned into something bigger when I realized I genuinely enjoyed transforming outdoor spaces and taking pride in the finished result. Read more>>
Sanchel Brown
I am a Baltimore native who began dancing at the age of 6 in church. I understood the power of creative expression and ministry from a young age. I would choreograph dances to Aretha Franklin and many other greats in my living room. Then put on shows for my mother. Read more>>
Wendy Drummond
Sweet Paige Baking Co. was born out of both heartbreak and hope. In 2012, my daughter, Paige, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After an incredibly difficult journey, we lost her in 2013. Like many families walking through childhood cancer, we were faced not only with unimaginable grief, but also the financial strain that comes with medical care and loss. Read more>>
Isaiah Johnson
Started producing at 13 when my friend rj showed me FL Studio. The first genre I started making was jersey club music because my best friend Azim who was from jersey told me to try to make club music for the parties. Read more>>
Amanda Harrell
The story of Mandee’s Treats is really a story about community, nostalgia, family, and creating warm experiences through desserts. Located in the heart of downtown Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Mandee’s Treats was born from a vision shared by Amanda and André — to create more than just a dessert shop. Read more>>
Laura Turner
After 25 years working in retail and working up the career ladder I decided to follow my entrepreneur goals and opened up my Photographer business. I started with photographing family, newborns, weddings, headshots, and stumbled onto Boudoir. My love for boudoir started in 2018 when I had my very first session. Read more>>
Faery Jones
I starter working in the wedding industry when I was 18 as a server for a catering business. At the time I was in an extremely abusive relationship. One day I showed up to work with a bruised face. The owner of the company saw me and took me under her wing. Read more>>
Michelle Gobbi
I started my career in the mid-1990s as a receptionist at a large corporation, just as the internet was beginning to take off. The moment I discovered the World Wide Web, I was hooked. I immediately saw its potential and knew I wanted to become a web designer. At the time, web design courses were almost nonexistent. Read more>>
Raymond Farrell
My father started the business in 1980 started out as a small family business. My father passed away in 2003 and i made a promise to keep the business going . I turned a family small business into a much bigger establishment. We have a great name in business for years now. Read more>>
Julian De Jong
Our Story It all started with a passion for better health. When my wife Rachel switched to a vegetarian diet, we began experimenting with superfoods and building vibrant bowls at home. Once we discovered how incredibly delicious they were — and felt the real difference in our energy and well-being — we dove deep into research, flavor development, and perfecting recipes. Read more>>
Mark Peterson
Coming from a family of eight children, I was always comfortable with a little chaos. Originally from Pittsburgh, my family moved to Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) when I was in sixth grade. I graduated from Jim Thorpe High School and spent my first two years of college at Penn State Hazleton before transferring to Penn State’s main campus as a Spanish major. Read more>>
Faith Scott
I’ve always been passionate about the beauty industry and dreamed of owning my own business. While earning a Business Management degree from West Chester University, I pursued that goal by attending Jean Madeline Aveda Institute in Philadelphia after graduation and becoming licensed in Pennsylvania after completing 1250 hrs of study. Read more>>
Hannah de Groot
I’ve been an athlete for as long as I can remember. I started swimming at age four and began competing more seriously around 12. Swimming became a big part of my identity growing up. Read more>>
Gloria Cherny
Our story started with our dog, Finley. Penn Grows began after Finley was diagnosed with cancer. Like many families, we were faced with painful choices and not many great options. Mitch started researching ways to support him naturally and came across broccoli microgreens and sulforaphane, a compound studied for its potential health benefits. Read more>>
Lee Calfo
After growing up in a good public school in Central Pennsylvania, where they mainly taught math and science, I was first exposed to investing when I inherited a small amount of money from my great-grandmother that was held at Vanguard. I learned to follow stocks and bonds in the financial markets when I went to college. Read more>>
Danielle Brumm
I became involved with Revival Athletics in the spring of 2023 after Spooky Nook abruptly ended the program. As a previously established non-profit Revival Athletics worked to find a new location that led us to working with Red Rose Arena who were incredibly kind and helpful. After a continued search we were able to find our current location at 341 E. Read more>>
Karen Henery
Currently, I am mom to my amazing 3-year-old daughter, along with co-owning and managing a large wellness center with 6 independent contractors on staff. We also have a remote Operations Assistant that supports our overall business operations and client retention. Read more>>
Dawn Flower-Webb
The Mooreland Garden Inn is a B&B located in historic Carlisle, PA. The inn is ideally located to provide accommodations for visitors to area attractions including Dickinson College, Penn State Dickinson Law, Central PA Youth Ballet (CPYB), the US Army War College, Carlisle Car Shows and other special events. Read more>>
