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.
Cody Zickler
Surge began from a personal journey with mental health combined with a passion for woodworking. Cody began following Wim Hof and taking cold showers and doing his breathwork in 2020. Then, built his first barrel sauna in 2021 from wester red cedar. As a full time middle school teacher, I (Cody) grew to desire working and helping adults through my dissertation research. Read more>>
Kelly Collier-Clark
My love for interior design started early during my childhood years, heavily influenced by my mother and grandmother. Their homes were both layered with custom upholstered furnishings & window treatments and beautiful, unique decor. When my first home was purchased at 21yrs old, naturally I had already developed an innate passion for dwelling in a home that looked and felt luxurious. Read more>>
Josefina H.
Hi! I’m Josefina (some people call me Red) and I’m a multifaceted artist who has been moving through art mediums for work and as hobbies my whole life! While I think I’ve done a little bit of everything, my three main focuses right now are Crochet, Jewelry Making, and Photography. Read more>>
Janine McFadden, MA, LPC, CEAP
My journey into counseling has been shaped by both professional experience and a genuine passion for helping people navigate life’s most difficult seasons. I began my career working as an Employee Assistance Professional during the time of the 9/11 tragedy where I had the opportunity to support individuals and families during one of the most challenging moments of their lives. Read more>>
Shyheem Thomas
Blvck Lion Express was founded and started by Shyheem Thomas growing up always love fashion always had like you know a taste for it and as I got older, I grew more in love with it so I decided to start my own clothing, although it took me a minute to find some names etc , but I finally found the perfect one Blvck lion express black for the culture you know, lion because I believe we’re all kings and queens within ourselves. We just have to find it & be it and express part I believe everyone should be able to express their self through fashion without fear. Read more>>
Anson Craig
I’ve always had a passion for cars and knew I wanted to run my own business like my father, Michael, who ran a carpet and tile cleaning business, FloorCareMD, since the ’80s. I worked with my dad starting as a young teen, and I also took the automotive repair & technology course at Greater Johnstown School District. Read more>>
Annemarie Dralus
My journey began over 25 years ago with a needle, thread, and a deep fascination for transformation through clothing. What started as costume design became a lifelong devotion to construction, fit, and the quiet power of detail. Read more>>
Caitlyn Miller
If you had asked 12-year-old me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would’ve told you I wanted to do nails. I spent my summers painting American flags on my family members’ toes and practicing on anyone who would let me. Looking back now, it’s funny to think that what started as a childhood obsession would become my life’s work. Read more>>
Kristina Luzzi
Small Town Girl Boutique began online in 2017 as a creative outlet and a dream I wasn’t quite sure would become what it is today. Read more>>
Chaza Banda
I was born and raised in Zambia before immigrating to the United States as a kid. Like many immigrants, I grew up believing success meant following the traditional path, so I built a career in banking while always dreaming of creating something of my own. Read more>>
Anthony Mankoski
If you would have asked me 20 years ago if I thought I end up being a barter I would have said something along the lines of that’s great, but I really don’t think there’s very much money. That section of the haircutting industry has changed considerably in recent years. The funny thing is, I actually started cutting hair when I was 14 years old. Read more>>
Theresa Glenn
I have always loved to take pictures. When I was a kid, my parents gave me a 110mm-film camera that my Dad got by turning in cigarette points. In the 80s you would send in the labels, and you would get a free gift. So, my first camera was green and said NEWPORT in orange real big on the front. Read more>>
Talia Manning
Looking back, I don’t think I ever questioned the path I was meant to take. Every experience throughout my life has simply built upon the one before it. When I was young, my great-grandmother was living with Alzheimer’s disease. Every week, my grandmother would take me with her to do my great-grandmother’s hair and spend time with her. Read more>>
Nyere Aumaitre
Nyere Aumaitre brings a rare combination of elite athletic experience and educational leadership to youth development. A Division I college graduate, former professional football player, and NIL Certified Mentor, Nyere’s mission is to prepare student-athletes to thrive both athletically and personally—on and off the field. Read more>>
Pingping Li Fleming
My name is Pingping li Fleming, and I’m originally from Chengdu, Sichuan, China. I am a self-taught cake artist and the owner of Ping’s Cake Design in Pennsylvania. My journey into cake decorating happened by accident. 15 years ago , while teaching myself English in China, I came across a Western baking TV show. Read more>>
Tara Treloar
Photography has been a part of my life since high school, when it started as a hobby. I spent those early years photographing sports, traveling with my camera, and capturing the outdoors whenever I could. About two years ago, I decided to take the leap and get my LLC. once my daughter was born I decided to turn my passion into a full-time career. Read more>>
John Majersky
We founded 3DReactions in 2016 with a passion for combining technology and creativity. In the beginning, we explored a variety of emerging technologies, including 3D printing, 3D scanning, and software development. One of our early projects involved creating 3D scans of people and pets, allowing customers to interact with digital versions of themselves through voice commands, augmented reality experiences, and even simple holographic displays. Read more>>
Dale Laszig
Writing was always my first love, but I wasn’t sure how to make a living at it. I learned graphic design at my father’s ad agency in New York City and moved to California where I got freelance work and eventually became an art director for a small agency. One day, while watching an account executive give a presentation, I realized I wanted to sell. Read more>>
Morgan Ehrenzeller Capital
My journey began at age 14 when I co-founded a profitable software company, providing custom-built technology solutions. Within a year, I successfully automated the business model and scaled online sales to over $1,000 a day. Read more>>
Jennifer Marcella
I was in the automotive industry for 20 years as a single mother of 2 when my daughter graduated high school she stated she wanted to go to massage School. we talked it over and visited a couple schools all over an hour from our home the next struggle was how she would get there as she didn’t drive. Read more>>
Tynecia Wilson
My career has been built at the intersection of education, media, and entrepreneurship. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Literature, Linguistics, and Latin American Studies from Temple University, followed by a Master’s degree in Advocacy and Organizational Development and a Graduate Certificate in Public Relations. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on making education more accessible while helping people build confidence, financial literacy, and community. Read more>>
John Gallo
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset. Back in 2012, I started organizing local events, which quickly turned into co-owning a brick-and-mortar game store in New Cumberland, PA. That was my early playground for local marketing and customer retention. From there, I wanted to anchor my hands-on experience with formal strategy. Read more>>
Jordan Jenkins
I’ve always had a lowkey fascination with cameras/photography, but it didn’t click for me until my Junior year of college in 2017. Read more>>
Mark Robinson
Relentless motivation, a small farm boy growing up in Africa, moving to England and then settling in. America. Sales led me to Aviation and the rest is history after Flight training and becoming one of a hundred people in America to do pilot examinations. Read more>>
Elle Speed
My Story: From Acne to Purpose My journey into skincare began long before I became a licensed esthetician or entrepreneur. It began as a little girl learning one of life’s simplest yet most powerful lessons: take care of yourself. At just five years old, my mother and grandmother instilled in me the importance of self-care. Read more>>
Lori Wesmiller
Sticks & Stones Artistry was born shortly after COVID, when I found myself searching for a creative outlet. Like many people during that time, I needed something positive to focus on—a way to slow down, relieve stress, and create with my hands. What began as a fun way to release stress quickly became a way to share that joy with others. Read more>>
Ashley Gounaris Anderson
Overall, Gounaris Housekeeping has itself a relationship-based, detail-oriented housekeeping service rather than a large franchise, with an emphasis on trust, consistency, and taking the stress out of maintaining a home. Read more>>
Kegan Hertz
My story started by growing up without a strong role model. My father struggled with addiction, so I had to grow up quickly and learn a lot of life’s lessons on my own. That experience shaped my mindset and taught me resilience from an early age. Sports became my outlet. Read more>>
Ayana Swanson
My journey to founding Pure OrganiKs began with my own health and wellness experiences. After struggling with hair and scalp concerns and becoming more intentional about the ingredients I used on my body, I started researching natural botanicals and holistic wellness. Read more>>
Traci Fick
In 2022, I found myself out of work. Burned out from healthcare leadership, I began exploring my creative side. I’ve always loved desktop publishing and designing; without employment, I had the mental bandwith and time to begin creating. I started with designing t-shirts and planned to expand my offerings beyond that. Read more>>
Jesse Lapp
Our family has lived on this farm for four generations. For many years it was a working dairy farm. To help provide for our family, we started inviting visitors to the farm to see what life is like on an Amish farm. We never expected it to grow the way it did. People enjoyed their visits and told their friends and family. Read more>>
Hannah Morris
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved telling stories. I earned my master’s degree in Film Studies thinking I might end up in the film industry, but life took me in a different direction. After becoming a mom, I found myself wanting a creative outlet that also fit this new season of life. Read more>>
Page Morahan
I’ve had a creative bent for decades, but for most of my career it lived alongside — rather than instead of — a full-time career in academic health centers, including years at the leadership level. Read more>>
Brett Mason
I’ve been a creative individual as long as I can remember. As a kid it was usually about drawing, making videos, playing with Legos..my wheels are always turning. When i got a little older I started playing/writing/performing music and then got back into visual art. Read more>>
Nathan Dreschel
I’ve been animating since I was 8 years old. My dad bought me a camera, and when I hooked it up to the computer, it had a stopmotion animation software on it. I was instantly hooked and started telling stories with little lego stop motions. A bit later, he downloaded a program called Pivot for me, which as basically a 2D stick figure animation software. Read more>>
David Huisken
I grew up in rural Minnesota, where my parents owned a small hardware store. After college in Michigan, I served as a VISTA volunteer in Philadelphia—the U.S. equivalent of the Peace Corps—and later worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. A lifelong interest in the arts has been a constant throughout my life. Read more>>
Tiara Dinkins
I’ve always had an affinity for art. Even as a child, I loved experimenting with bold color combinations that most people wouldn’t think to put together. As I grew older, my passion evolved into creating portraits that capture the unique essence and personality of each subject. Read more>>
Leanna Cameron
Nineteen years ago, my life changed forever. I lost my twin sister, Alissa, in a tragic hit‑and‑run. We were only twenty. One moment we were college students dreaming about our futures, and the next, I was standing in the aftermath of something no one should ever have to witness. The trauma stayed with me, quietly shaping my life until it surfaced years later as PTSD. Read more>>
Alivia Tagliaferri
The story of Tag’s began long before I ever owned the business. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, my grandfather, Aldo Tagliaferri, returned home and married my grandmother, Ilivia ‘Leah’ Tagliaferri. In 1959, they opened Tag’s Bar & Grille on Memorial Avenue in Williamsport. Read more>>
Lady Syren
Philadelphia girl, born and raised, and subsequently challenged in many ways. I leaned on words, writing, and reading very early into my childhood, as a means of escape. My mother suffered from addiction and left an unreasonable amount of responsibility on me to care for my siblings. Read more>>
Dwayne Walton
I am the son of a 15 year old mother and an athlete with aspirations of playing national and professional soccer. I was born in Guyana South America and my mother’s pregnancy was unintended, unexpected and met with much derision and pressure to have an abortion. This pressure came from her parents and my father parents. This led to incredible trauma and suffering. Read more>>
Lucas Keener
I was born and raised in Lancaster, PA After graduating high-school i moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL to pursue an art education and post graduation I moved back to Lancaster where I currently reside and work. I have always loved drawing and telling stories and that naturally combined well into illustration and comics. Read more>>
