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.
Lauren Cross 
I’ve always loved people and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into bringing people together. I love managing the logistics, organizing the details, and seeing all the little pieces come together to create a meaningful experience. When you combine that with my faith and my deep value for the commitment of marriage, wedding planning really feels like the perfect fit for me. Read more>>
Luisa Quigley 
‘Good morning, and thank you so much for having us. I’m Luisa, the proud owner of Fat Boys Deli in Bridgeport. When people ask what I do, I always tell them that while I run the business side of things, my real job is keeping our family united and feeding our community the way I feed my own kids and grandkids. Read more>>
Shaina Bailey-Mills 
My entrepreneurial journey began with a decision to choose myself. After dedicating nearly two decades to the human services field, I found myself at a crossroads. I loved my career and the work I did, but I realized that the organization I was working for no longer aligned with my personal and professional growth. Read more>>
Satenique Ingram 
As a young girl, finding tasty sweets that were safe for me to eat was hard to come by. My mom always made sure to make me something so I would never feel left out. As I got older, I started to experiment myself with different sweet recipes at home, which became a dangerous but ultimately successful hobby! Read more>>
Morgan Pallas 
I’ve been drawing and painting as far back as I can remember. There’s always been a natural draw to want to keep improving my skills. When I was a kid I checked out a lot of ‘how to draw’ books from the school library, and my parents had a set of Encyclopedias with fantastic illustrations in them that I’d copy. Read more>>
Mark Prinzinger 
Happy Hour Philly started with the pandemic. I was working as a marketing director at the time and when the pandemic hit I was immediately laid off. Like most Americans I was stuck at home, unemployed and waiting out the lock downs. During that time I had a friend who was an Anesthesiologist at Temple hospital. Read more>>
Jordan Baxter-Trevethan 
My journey as a creator started back in 2017 when I began building JTREV VISUALS. I’ve always been drawn to creativity, whether that was photography, filmmaking, storytelling, or finding ways to bring an idea to life visually. I’m largely self-taught, so a lot of my journey has involved learning through experience, experimenting with different styles, and figuring things out as I go. Read more>>
Laura Orrico 
My career as a professional actress and model began when I was just 14! Although I was the shyest little girl, I knew I had to do something to come out of my shell as this was my dream! Read more>>
Fiona Golden 
For me, content creation has really been about sharing experiences and helping people discover things they might not have known existed. I’ve always enjoyed exploring, whether that’s food, travel, culture or finding something new right here in Philly. I shared an online clothing boutique with a close friend. We were our own models and we handled the editing, photography and overall presentation. Read more>>
Nomi Foxxx 
I discovered burlesque around 2018–2019 on YouTube lol, and I came across the amazing Raquel Reed and Mika Romantic. When I first saw Raquel Reed in her green award-winning costume and act, I remember being completely captivated by how incredible she looked. I also remember immediately thinking, ‘Well, I could never do that. Read more>>
Sahron Amir Barkley 
My journey began with a passion for fashion and a desire to understand how creativity, culture, and business intersect. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and Management before pursuing my master’s in International Fashion Design Management, which included international industry study in Milan, Italy. After graduating, I built my career across different areas of the fashion and luxury industries. Read more>>
Tanner Geesey 
As long as I can remember I always had a passion for creativity and storytelling! When I was young I used to draw comics, these comics were about original characters and some were even about the characters I loved from various media. Read more>>
Grace Ignatz 
After working as a pediatric physical therapist for many years, I began to recognize a significant need for convenient, in-home pediatric therapy services that also accept insurance. I saw how valuable it could be for families to receive quality care in the comfort of their own homes without the added stress of traveling to appointments. Read more>>
Brittney Pagone 
I started my social media platform (@PAmoms4change) about three years ago. My son was home sick and I was scrolling while he napped. I noticed these other moms had created pages in other states and were advocating for gun violence prevention. This was just a few months after the Uvalde, Texas school tragedy and so I was still very upset about this issue. Read more>>
Domenique Comparetto 
My career has taken me through a variety of creative and strategic roles, but the common thread has always been storytelling and finding ways to connect people with ideas, organizations, and experiences that matter. I started with a background in art and eventually earned my master’s degree in Marketing and Communication Management. Read more>>
Saniyyah Bilal 
My story started with a love of fashion. I earned my MBA in International Apparel Business Studies, then spent years working in styling and luxury retail. I worked as a bridal stylist in bridal salons, helping brides find their gowns and guiding them through fittings, and I also worked as a freelance stylist with clients on both the East and West Coasts. Read more>>
Anthony Matz 
Berks County Views began with an idea inspired by a growing network of community-focused social media pages. In July 2021, I met the creator of West Chester Views through a mutual friend. He had already established a model for showcasing local businesses, events, and the people who make a community unique. Read more>>
Monique DeLeo 
I went to college for fashion marketing, and right after graduation I landed a job at a digital marketing agency in Center City. A few months in, I already knew working for someone else wasn’t for me. I loved the work. I just wanted to do it my way. Read more>>
Ana Heras-Castillo 
My professional journey began long before I entered real estate. I built my career in brand and consumer marketing, working with several Fortune 500 companies. With an MBA and a background in marketing, strategy, and business development, I learned early on the importance of understanding people, building relationships, and creating value. Read more>>
Tito Ford
I got started making motivational content about 2 years ago. I created my brand Ford4Thought bringing daily/weekly motivation on all social media platforms. I pick different topics each month to discuss with my followers and I upload videos to my social media and my YouTube channel. Read more>>
Taylor Borelli 
I always knew I loved the entertainment aspect of life. Growing up I was always the family comedian, telling jokes, acting out my favorite scenes from movies, singing, and always saying what’s on my mind. I always knew I loved making content as I was always the one filming funny moments with family and friends. Read more>>
Mark DeNinno 
I began my culinary career at the age of 13 as a dishwasher at a little bistro in my hometown of Collingswood, New Jersey called The Mustard Seed. I worked in fast food during my high school years and at the dining hall while attending Rutgers University. Read more>>
Johnny James 
I grew up never really knowing what I wanted to do with my life. My home life was unstable, and I was constantly distracted, never taught to chase passions or explore what I was good at. After high school, I bounced from job to job — bagging groceries, construction, whatever paid the bills. Read more>>
Eugenia Orlova 
My name is Eugenia Orlova, and I’m the founder of Civicamag.com, an independent online media project about contemporary art and culture in Philadelphia. I moved to Philadelphia just three years ago, straight from Eastern Europe, from a city called Minsk. Back in Minsk, I spent most of my life organizing cultural and social projects and events. Read more>>
Brandon Cisneros 
I started TriStateSips during National Craft Beer Week last year as a way to combine my love of discovering new beverages with my passion for content creation and storytelling. Read more>>
Hayley Forgatch 
I graduated from King’s College in 2019. I was presented with the opportunity to open a flower shop in Mountain Top, PA and continue the legacy of what was previously known as Barry’s Floral. I decided to proceed with this opportunity and learned Floral Design for about 3 years before opening a new flower shop in the ‘old-school’ location. Read more>>
Zachariah Bigelow 
I started playing music at 15 years old, when I was gifted my first guitar from my mom for Christmas. I got my first guitar lesson on my birthday, which is in March. I became rather hooked, having been a kid who has a hard time sticking with something. Read more>>
Denise Gesek 
Chef Denise’s culinary journey began in her grandmother’s South Philadelphia kitchen, where her Italian grandparents taught her the meaning of hard work, discipline, and pride in one’s craft. Their successful family business and dedication to quality shaped her values and fueled her passion for cooking. Denise is a classically trained chef, graduating from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island. Read more>>
Matthew Hamilton 
From a young age I knew college wasn’t going to be for me. What I did have was an interest in video editing that started in high school, and once I got my hands on my first camera I started shooting music videos for musicians around Philadelphia. Those artists needed photos too, so they started asking me to shoot those as well. Read more>>
Tiara King 
In a creative landscape that often tells creators to pick a single lane, I have chosen to build a three-lane highway. By splitting my time as an elementary school art teacher, a creative studio owner, and a public muralist, I am proving that community impact, childhood education, and entrepreneurship don’t just coexist—they fuel one another. Personally, art has always been a survival mechanism. Read more>>
Kim Pomasan 
My name is Kim Pomasan and I am the business owner of La Chic Boutique by Kim. As soon as I graduated from high school I immediately went to be a cosmetologist and have been a hairdresser since I was 18 years old. I have had my own salons over the years and even had a boutique area in them throughout that time. Read more>>
Ana Andraos 
My journey as a fitness coach started with how I grew up. My family home is surrounded by woods which kept us active as that was our main entertainment as kids. We would sprint through the trails and climb trees. Read more>>
Jeff Lovett 
Lovett Sundries is a family company working out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We offer a line of handcrafted soaps, grooming, and cleaning products that are carefully measured, mixed, and packaged by our own hands. We like doing things the old-fashioned way; it’s slower but more satisfying, and in the end, it makes our products better and more meaningful. Read more>>
Latiayna & Pamia Tabb-King; Hilliard 
The founders’ gardening journey and the beginning of Black Girls With Green Thumbs started with a simple gift. In spring 2014, Pamia gifted Latiaynna a box of seeds (and a cute dress!) for her birthday. That same year, they both began gardening at home. Read more>>
Cristina Martinez 
Chef Cristina Martínez was born in Capulhuac, in the State of Mexico, where barbacoa is deeply connected to family life and local identity. Her father, known in the community as the “King of Barbacoa,” introduced her to the craft when she was a child. Read more>>
Colby Agostinelli 
I would say my career/ practice is a story of happy accidents (but not without intention and work of course)! I had always dreamt of going to medical school and becoming a surgeon. Reaching the end of my undergraduate training I realized I wanted something different for my life but I didn’t know what. Read more>>
Aurora Teasley 
Zenn Hair Care was born in 2020, shortly after I graduated from college, during a time when I was struggling to find employment. Rather than allowing that challenge to define my next chapter, I decided to create an opportunity for myself by turning my passion for hair care into a business. Read more>>
Jaime Lee Newman 
I’ve spent my life seeking to interpret the fleeting beauty and bounty of the world around us. I grew up in the Midwest with a curious and adventurous heart, endlessly digging in the dirt, gardening with my mom and hunting/camping with my father. Outside was our babysitter and teacher. Read more>>
Marco Matranxhi 
Our story began with two brothers, Florin and Marco Matranxhi, who share a passion for Italian cuisine, hospitality, and bringing people together through food. Florin, the chef and owner, has always been driven by his love for cooking and creating memorable dining experiences. Read more>>
Daniel Hill 
When I left active duty in the Marine Corps in 2020, my plan was to complete a master’s program in Erie, Pennsylvania, and pursue a career in the intelligence community. With the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing, I had built a small gym in the garage of my rental house to continue working out. Read more>>
Michelle Donato 
Founded in 2026, Fancy Fête blossomed from a passion for creating imaginative, themed celebrations for my kids – where backyards became kingdoms, living rooms turned into enchanted forests, and every party told a story. Over the years, I fell in love with the power of flowers and the way they completely transform a space. Read more>>
Opotija Williams 
**Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.** I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and attended NYC Public Schools before graduating from high school. I went to college but didn’t finish the first time around. Read more>>
Meaghan Dunn 
My story begins on Hongdo, a small island off the coast of South Korea, where I was born. I was adopted from an orphanage at nearly five and grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in a Jewish family. Navigating different cultures, I often struggled with belonging, but art became a language I could rely on. Read more>>
Gloria Ross 
I was born and raised in Philadelphia, and I love my city. The culture, the people, and the way Philly shows up for its own play a huge part in my content, and it’s a big reason my brand feels the way it does. Read more>>
Jeremy Ruby 
I’ve always had a passion for art and creating things, but my journey into tattooing came from wanting to find a way to make a living doing something I genuinely loved. I realized early on that the average person wasn’t going to spend $1,000 on a drawing of their car or a custom logo. Read more>>
Crystal Mendoza 
My holistic healing journey began when I became pregnant with my daughter in 2017. Something shifted within me and I felt this deep love and connection to the Earth. Read more>>
Sandy Soyke 
Hi – I’m Sandy and I am known for my love of crystals and my forever smile. I believe whatever you give out in this crazy world of ours that eventually people will see it and give it back to you. Read more>>
Stephanie Castillo Sarpong 
My journey is a story of faith, perseverance, growth, and discovering my purpose. I was raised by immigrant parents who taught me the importance of hard work, determination, and creating opportunities, even when the odds are against you. Growing up as the daughter of immigrants, I witnessed firsthand the sacrifices my parents made to build a better future for our family. Read more>>
Rich Dunoff 
I became interested in Photography when I was a junior in college. I was totally obsessed; it was the only thing I was truly interested in. I attended Penn State University which is in a beautiful part of Pennsylvania, and I immediately began shooting the landscape and nature. Landscapes and nature are still my favorite thing to shoot. Read more>>
Sugene Hong 
I was on my way to starting a radiologic technology program to become an X-ray tech. About a month before my program was supposed to start, I ran into an issue that meant I had to wait until the following year to begin. In the meantime, I decided to learn a skill that could potentially become a side hustle. Read more>>
Isaiah Littleton 
Hi, I am Isaiah Littleton. Originally born in Portland OR and raised in Chester PA, just outside of Philadelphia. My journey has always been rooted in creativity, self-expression, and a desire to become the best version of myself. As a kid, I always dreamt about being in fashion. At that young age I just didn’t know what exactly. Read more>>
Brooke Brunson 
After graduating high school in 2009, I felt lost. I knew college wasn’t for me, but I also worried about disappointing my mom. And so, to appease everyone, I enrolled at Community College of Philadelphia. After a year and a half, I decided to leave and work in retail. During that time, I rediscovered my love for writing and began searching Craigslist for writing gigs. Read more>>
Casey Tantala 
Five years ago, I started making chocolate-covered pretzel rods as a fun hobby, gifting them to family and friends for holidays and birthdays. Over the years, I was told countless times that I should start selling my treats, but I never had much interest because I simply loved making them as gifts for the people I cared about. Read more>>
Robert Malissa 
I grew up in Northeast Philadelphia. When I was about 10 years old, I found a magic book in the school library. At the end of the book, it said, pick several tricks from this book and find somewhere to perform. I told my Mom I needed an audience. She got me my first gig performing for a family friend with a six year old. Read more>>
Pat LaMarche 
I’m a former broadcaster and a journalist. I spent my career focusing on issues of poverty and homelessness. After decades as an on air performer who tried to use her voice to mitigate suffering in our communities, I started working directly with persons in extreme distress. Read more>>
Samaiyah Muhammad 
My path to becoming a CNA started with motherhood. I had my first child very young, and I carried the weight of feeling like I’d disappointed the family that had given me everything. So at 17, with a one-year-old, I stayed in school — studying, graduating, and working all at the same time. I didn’t have the luxury of sitting around wondering about my future. Read more>>
Samantha Wismer 
I started covering the Philadelphia Flyers and their minor league affiliates in 2021. At the tail end of the 2022-2023 season, I started to complete player interviews to get the stories out there of minor league hockey players. Read more>>
AJ Howland 
Twisted Iron has been an extended effort of the last 15 years. Everything started when a friend of mine, Jason Kemerer, gave me the opportunity to try welding for the first time. He has always built off road vehicles and has fabricated his own parts so he gave me a chance to try it out. Read more>>
Syreena Jackson 
Reena’s Sweet Shoppee started in 2020 from my love for baking and creating sweet treats for the people around me. What started as something I enjoyed doing quickly turned into something I realized I could build a business from. In the beginning, I was learning as I went trying new recipes, practicing my decorating skills, taking orders, and figuring out what my customers loved. Read more>>
Lexi Styga 
I started Sip and Shine when I was 4 months post partum with our daughter. It was hard to imagine going to work and not spending my time with my our baby. So I called my mom and asked for her advice. She drove 16 hours and brought me everything I needed to start Sip and Shine. Read more>>
