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.
Zack Jarosz
I’m a young photographer that came from a small town in central Pennsylvania. I studied in Orlando at Full Sail. After a cancer (and covid) diagnosis in 2020, I moved back to PA to start treatment. Throughout my treatment, I dove deeper into my creative expression in an effort to inspire those who were watching. Read more>>
Amy Manson
My journey with clay started more than 20 years ago, and what began as a creative outlet quickly became a lifelong passion. I was drawn to the way clay connects artistry, craftsmanship, and everyday life. Read more>>
Lawrence McCoy
At just 18 years old, I operate as a multidisciplinary artist and tech strategist, blending web design, multimedia production, IT consulting, and social media strategy. My journey began during my sophomore year of high school when I landed a web design internship. By senior year, I had climbed the ranks to Senior Web Designer, managing high-value client contracts before I even graduated. Read more>>
Francisco Gomez de la Torre
I am a Peruvian immigrant who came to the United States 25 years ago in search of a better future for myself and my family. When I arrived, I came alone, leaving behind my wife and my older daughter, Daniela. My first job was as a banquet server at a hotel, and that’s where I fell in love with the hospitality industry. Read more>>
Shelly Hughes
I always knew I wanted to start a company. I just did not know which one yet. As a kid, I was already moving. Selling bracelets, running a lemonade stand, getting certified in hand massage therapy to make money at my mom’s office. I was shampooing hair at a local salon before I was even legally old enough to work. Read more>>
Christina Hasaan
I started my life journey as a young women who became a mother at 16 year old in the 11th grade. Growing up in west philadelphia and moving to north philadelphia in 5th grade I had been through my fair share of pivoting by the time my son was born but nothing could have prepared me for parenthood. Read more>>
Jeff Burkholder
BURK Digital’s journey began quite organically when our founder, Jeff Burkholder, agreed to build a website at no cost for a local nonprofit where he served on the board. Another nonprofit came forward with a similar request. The requests kept coming. Read more>>
Jason Shaffer
I grew up in the Lancaster County Area and at an early age became obssed with music. I played trumpet in grade school but when the 90s rock wave hit all I wanted was a guitar and begged and begged my parents until I finally got my first guitar. Read more>>
Brandon Pizzola
Thanks! I was living in Los Angeles and was starting to get tired of the entertainment world (acting and some production) and started scouring the market for something that would interest me. I’ve always been an artist in one way or another, painting primarily, and I came across a job offer for a painting instructor. Read more>>
Caterina Buehler
Growing up – I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be. Even after highschool I felt a little lost! I went to college for a business marketing degree because I did enjoy the digital space, that was one thing I felt sure of. After being in college for a bit, I started marketing myself through a blog. Read more>>
Max Lorei
I was living in Los Angeles, aspiring for Hollywood. I moved back to Erie PA, worked for a portrait photographer in Erie. I learned a ton from him and his business. Realizing I had a huge passion and excitement for photography I moved to Pittsburgh in 2017. I had a studio in Southside for a little bit and now my studio is in east liberty. Read more>>
Dr. Kimeka G. Campbell
I remember being in a church in Brooklyn teaching adult education courses. I thought to myself. I want to do something like this for real, for a living. I was already a teacher but I wanted to reach adults, under stand how adult work, and what kinds of approaches communities took to document and understand how their people learn. Read more>>
Iris Reynoso
My journey started during COVID when I began doing nails from my home. What started as a creative outlet quickly turned into something much bigger. I discovered that I genuinely loved helping women feel confident and providing a service that combined beauty, self-care, and personal connection. As my skills and clientele grew, I became committed to continuously improving my craft. Read more>>
Blake & Sarah Ziegler
Diamond Fruit Farm began with a dream to create something meaningful for our family, our community, and future generations. My wife Sarah and I both come from farming backgrounds and have always enjoyed working with animals and growing crops. Sarah grew up on a dairy farm, while I raised 4-H market hogs and spent much of my youth helping on my extended family’s farms. Read more>>
Stevon Barnett
My story really starts with a camera, a lot of curiosity, and a deep need to capture the moments people do not always realize they are going to miss someday. I have been behind a camera for about 15 years now. What started as a creative outlet slowly became something much bigger. Read more>>
Steph Moraca
My art journey started at age 10 when I had a strong interest in drawing. I’d check out books about animals and nature from the library and sketch what I saw in those pictures. My mom recognized my interest and put me in formal still life drawing classes at an art studio. Read more>>
Caleb Madison
R3House began in 2016 out of a very personal place. After addiction directly impacted their family, John and Wilma Roberts, along with their son Paul, recognized a critical gap in Lancaster County, there simply were not enough high-quality, structured sober living environments for individuals serious about recovery. Read more>>
Victoria Abadir
In 2023, the space at 100 North Queen Street had been sitting vacant for a couple of years after the bank on the first floor moved out. Given its location—right on the corner of Queen and Orange, one block from Gallery Row and the city square—it felt like too important a corner to remain dark and underused. Read more>>
Francesco Dall’Antonia
I am an Italian artist and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in decorative finishes, custom wall art, and luxury interior design applications. My journey began in Milan, Italy, where I developed a passion for art, painting, and handcrafted decorative techniques. In 2003, I started working professionally, combining traditional European craftsmanship with contemporary design. Read more>>
John Asch
In 1955, my father, John Asch Sr., started mastering the roofing trade while working for various new homebuilders across central New Jersey. Back then, there were no air compressors or nail guns—roofers mastered the art of swift hand-nailing or had to find a different trade altogether. Read more>>
Tiffany Smith
In 2019, I took a leap of faith, left my corporate career, and opened my photography studio. Just eight months in, the pandemic forced a global shutdown. Instead of stepping back, I used that time to give back, launching a project that offered free senior portraits to students across three local high schools. The initiative caught widespread attention, landing features on both WTAE and CNN. Read more>>
Kyle Park
Neshaminy Creek started back in 2012 with three of my friends who were really into homebrewing and wanted to see if they could turn that passion into something bigger. Early on, we thought distribution would be our main lane – just focus on making great beer and getting it out into the world. Read more>>
Kate McCord
I’ve always been the kid with a camera in her hands. I got my first digital camera for my 12th birthday and I was constantly taking photos of everything. However, I really got into photography again later in life. I got married, started a family, and eventually found myself navigating infertility and IVF. Read more>>
Ginny Colella
I started working in the tourism industry shortly after graduating college in 2013. And I’ve been here ever since. I’ve learned not only is this industry fun, but filled with amazing people. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate Communications and once I took this job, they paid for a course to earn my certificate in non-profit management. Read more>>
jane hodson
I started baking as a hobby 15 years ago and learned primarily by watched youtube, We briefly moved to Arizona and that is where Jane Baked It was born. I sold to the local community. In 2025 we relocated to Media and reworked our business model with a focus not only on custom cake design, but also community events and retail. Read more>>
Coultan Lucas
My journey into photography started as a creative outlet during high school when I was around 16. It began as a hobby taking photos of friends and all of our hiking/camping adventures. Eventually, I started doing sessions for people ranging from family photos, couples, and seniors. Read more>>
Michael m hughes
I started coaching striking at High Voltage during Covid. We shut down so I kind of picked it back up in my driveway. Training 6 feet apart had an opportunity to get space in the Pottstown athletic club building on the second floor we grew and evolved into Kingstreet there. I met my future wife who is also a Muay Thai fighter. Read more>>
Jennifer Montgomery
Jennifer Montgomery began business as CrazyFaces Face Painting in the Philadelphia PA area in 2003. She was looking for an outlet for her creativity, independence, and freedom from the constraints of a typical 9 to 5 job. She started out with a passion for painting….. and alot of hope. Initially,CrazyFaces offered only face painting in the Philadelphia area for kids parties and events. Read more>>
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>>
