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.
Elena Mia
I have always been interested in modeling since I was a kid. Read more>>
Seth Holmes
‘You’re no good at art. Just stop trying.’ This is what I told myself over and over for years before I started my business and opened my watercolor studio. I used to aim for perfection. I tried to capture every detail. I had to remember the joy I discovered as a kid in order to find success with my art. Read more>>
Dawn Lombard
My path to becoming a jewelry artist wasn’t exactly a straight line. Before I became a full-time artist, I spent many years in the corporate world, building a career and doing what I thought I was supposed to be doing. I learned a tremendous amount from that experience—about business, marketing, selling, communication, and, perhaps most importantly, how to make things happen. Read more>>
Erika Stepter
It’s interesting looking back at my journey now because so much of what I do today grew out of simply discovering what made me feel my best. Movement and wellness have always been a part of my life, but as I got older, fitness became something more personal. Read more>>
Emily Alba
I had my first child in 2023 and decided I wanted to be able to spend more time personally involved in her care so I decided to leave my job and purchased the mobile bar after I had seen some TikToks about the business. Read more>>
Krista Massi
My path to owning Rebel Hound wasn’t exactly a straight line. I spent most of my career working in retail and leadership, including 14 years with Starbucks, followed by roles with companies like Chewy and Giant Eagle. I learned a lot during those years about running a business, taking care of customers, building teams, and creating spaces where people genuinely enjoy spending time. Read more>>
Carlton Lieberman
Back in 2020 my brother Liam had a video production business. Then Covid came and business dried up pretty quickly. What he did have was a two car garage and a decent amount of free time. Around then Facebook Marketplace was really taking off. And since everyone was cooped up in their own home. Read more>>
Shane McCaulley
Sure! Based out of Pittsburgh, PA- After overcoming addiction in 2023, I took the plunge into doing art in the freelance and Animation spaces full-time. I decided that I didn’t want to spend a day longer NOT doing the thing I was born to do! Read more>>
Rachel Mummert
I have always been interested in photography, but never had the opportunity to learn to use my camera. Between college and then a demanding office career, it was always a someday project. In 2012 I married my husband, and we became pregnant a few months later. I have always wanted to be a mom, and it was such an exciting time. Read more>>
Peggy Schneider
Since 1892, the Erie Humane Society has been a place of hope for animals in need. What began as a mission to investigate abuse has grown into a promise: to Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Rehome homeless pets in need of compassion and shelter. We believe every animal deserves a second chance. Read more>>
Jessica Corrigan
I was raised in a home where natural and complementary medicine were part of everyday life. My mother introduced me to homeopathic medicine, and I always knew I wanted to work in a field that offered people alternatives and complements to conventional medicine. While completing my undergraduate studies, I became fascinated by the foundational theories behind acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Read more>>
Frank Mitman
I graduated from Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA in 1976 with a major in journalism and photojournalism. I apprenticed with three commercial photographers specializing in three different genres; wedding, product, and fashion. All through the 80’s I worked as a fashion and beauty photographer for local and New York modeling agencies and created the photography program for the John Cassablancas modeling school system. Read more>>
GEORGE HARPER
Common Ground Podcast 22 was born from a simple realization: in a world full of noise, genuine, unfiltered conversations are becoming way too rare. We wanted to build a platform right here in Philly where everyday people, creators, and community figures could come together to talk about real life, culture, and the issues that actually impact us. Read more>>
Sabeen Zia
With a background in cosmetic formulation, production, and marketing, I launched Muskaan Makeup only to face the steep financial barriers and retail gatekeeping that challenge independent brands. Recognizing how difficult it is for unique formulas to gain traction without massive ad budgets, I created a dedicated retail space to give high-quality indie beauty labels the shelf space and visibility they deserve. Read more>>
Melissa Andrews
Even though I’ve only been doing professional photography for the last five years, I’ve always been fascinated by it. Capturing memories forever and having them to look back on has always meant a lot to me. Read more>>
Jacklyn Diedel
It all started when I was gifted a camera for my birthday in 2016. I knew once I snapped the first photo, this was what I was destined to do. I dove in headfirst learning the ins and outs of Photography. After about 2 years, I was able to leave my full-time job in the medical field and start taking photos full-time. Read more>>
Albert Arslanov
Our story began shortly after we moved to the United States. My wife and I started working on food trucks owned by our relatives, traveling together to festivals and events throughout the area. Read more>>
Beck Ravenswood
My name is Beck Ravenswood! I’ve been a practicing Witch since my teenage years, and a professional Tarot Reader. In 2023, I opened my store- The Serpent’s Key Shoppe and Sanctuary- in Hanover Pennsylvania. The Serpent’s Key is a collective space that now hosts the artwork and wares of over 40 different local artisans. Read more>>
Brandon Maristch
We started in 2020, with a fundraiser for local businesses who were shut down due to Covid. We would donate the majority of profit from each shirt sold to the business who’s customer purchased the shirt(s). Local businesses started reaching out to see if we could print their apparel after seeing our fundraiser shirts being printed. Read more>>
Perri Shaw Borish
I started my private practice over 20 years ago, initially specializing in maternal mental health. I practiced on my own for about 12 years, until Ana Gelman convinced me to hire her—and that was really the beginning of Whole Heart Reproductive Mental Health. Around that same time, I realized that the work needed to expand beyond maternal mental health alone. Read more>>
Alexander Shulzhenko
From Misguided Veteran Buyer to Division Leader: How a Flawed Real Estate Transaction Defined My Purpose When I transitioned out of the U.S. Army into civilian life, I assumed utilizing my earned VA Home Loan benefits would be a straightforward, rewarding process. I was wrong. The first agent I hired—a representative from a major traditional brokerage—pushed back the moment I mentioned using my VA loan. Read more>>
Tammy Murphy
My love for pilates began in 2008, at Bodemotion in Phoenixville, PA. My mom had convinced me to try a private session with Andrea Littlewood, who she had been seeing weekly. I fell in love with the work and decided to go through Andrea’s comprehensive teaching program, alongside my mom, which was based off the Romana lineage. Read more>>
Eric Steininger
I actually started my practice about three and a half years ago while I was working full-time at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, assisting students with their mental health. I made the brave jump to private practice full-time after things picked up about a year and a half in. Read more>>
Tracey Secoli
My story has had a lot of different chapters, and I truly believe each one helped lead me to where I am today. I started my career in the beauty industry as a licensed aesthetician and makeup artist, working with women and helping them feel confident and beautiful. Read more>>
Stephanie Michael
I began my career as a physician assistant in 2010, spending most of those years working in emergency medicine. I have always loved medicine, especially procedures, but after years in the emergency department, I began to experience burnout. So much of my work involved caring for people during some of the most difficult and frightening moments of their lives. Read more>>
Alexander Hood
As a soccer coach, I have had multiple players stop and ask me, “What is it?” – only for me to catch myself shaking my head and smiling as I watch them progress through a newly taught skill. Read more>>
Jeff Schaller
The County Studio Tour started as a single open studio in 2006 with one location and one artist, that was me. I had built my studio in 2004, too appease curious neighbors and an ever-growing group of art patrons I opened my studio for two days. Read more>>
Natalie Feinberg
I started my career working at PR agencies in New York City, which gave me a great foundation and exposed me to all different kinds of brands, clients, and PR strategies. I loved the work, but eventually I started wondering what it would look like to build something of my own. Read more>>
Michele Colonna
Tallmadge Avenue is a real street in Chatham, New Jersey. My wife grew up on it. That’s the whole beginning, not a concept, not a mood board, a street a kid walked home on. The business started the way most of these start, which is to say by accident and then slightly out of hand. Read more>>
Dayle Kendall
In the few year leading up to th epa remix Pittsburgh had 2 local yarns shops in the city. Both closed in a short amount of time- 1 to a bad landlord, 1 to rising rent due to gentrification. This left a large hole in the city. Read more>>
Shamaar Coates
I always loved to draw. Drawing picture was my get away and it always made me feel so comfortable. Since I could remember I always had a pencil a pen a couple pencil or even a paint brush in my had…The freedom I have to create whatever I wanted Since I enjoyed art so much why not do it for a living. Read more>>
Tim Tepes
I found several strong public references that support and strengthen your story. I could not locate a meaningful **Intervest.com profile specifically tied to you**, so I would not use anything from that site unless you send me the exact page. Your own website, GLVR, Homes.com, Zillow, Realtor.com, Marquis Who’s Who, and other public profiles provide plenty of verified material. Read more>>
