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.
Shaja Joyner
I’m Shaja Joyner, founder of Table Dress Boutique and inventor of the patented Brogil™ 6-in-1 Convertible Chafing System. My background is in interior decorating, but hospitality and design have always been part of who I am. Long before I understood tablescaping as a concept, I was always the go-to person for parties and events. Read more>>
Ellen Carroll
I grew up in a large Irish-American family with a mother who gave me the freedom to be creative. In my attic bedroom, I spent hours covering the walls and ceilings with drawings, poetry, stories, and songs. that instinct eventually became the foundation for a career in art and design. Read more>>
Maria Llanos 
My story began long before I arrived in Washington, D.C. It began in Venezuela, with an Industrial Engineering degree, a passion for entrepreneurship, and a belief that education can change the direction of a person’s life. When I arrived in the United States in 2016, I was starting over in many ways. Read more>>
Branden Hudson 
My story definitely isn’t a straight line. I was born and raised in Salisbury, Maryland, and a big part of who I am today comes from both the good decisions I’ve made and, probably even more, the bad ones. Earlier in my life, I was involved in the streets and the drug trade, which eventually led to incarceration. Read more>>
Nicole Rate 
I never set out to become a Decluttering Coach. In fact, the early years of my decluttering weren’t really about decluttering at all. I was a single mom coming out of a toxic marriage with a LOT of debt and a paycheck that barely covered living expenses. Read more>>
Julie Geyer 
Ever since I was a kid, I have always loved art, fashion, architecture and design. When I was a teenager I would always rearrange my room and tell my parents how I thought the house should be painted and designed. In college I studied art history and had the opportunity to study abroad in Paris. Read more>>
Tia Dennis 
Grazing on the Go was born during an unexpected turning point in my life. After years of working in corporate America, I unexpectedly lost my job—on my birthday, of all days. What could have simply been a setback became the push I needed to seriously think about what I wanted the next chapter of my life to look like. Read more>>
Dr. Charlotte Phillips 
This story is a bit unconventional, which is valid considering it involves hiding glitter-covered gnomes around Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Professionally, I’m a professor, researcher, writer, clinical supervisor, and dissertation chair. I was born in Baltimore and as a young child, moved to Ocean City where I grew up surfing and covered in sand and rebellion. Read more>>
Collins Idedevbo 
My journey into photography started with a simple love for capturing moments. I began taking photos of friends from school, church, and the people around me. Seeing their reactions and how confident they felt after receiving their photos made me realize photography was more than just a hobby—it was something I truly loved. Read more>>
Robert Jackson 
I became an attorney because I wanted to help people during some of the most difficult and uncertain moments of their lives. After gaining courtroom experience, I decided to build a firm of my own and founded Jackson Law Firm. Read more>>
Nathan Rhinesmith 
My story really starts long before Guardian Rescue Academy existed. I’ve spent much of my adult life in roles centered around service, preparedness, and helping people when things go wrong. I served in the U.S. Army as a Cavalry Scout, including deployments to Kosovo and Iraq, and later continued serving in the Army Reserve. Read more>>
Shantel Charles 
I started Visions by Shay in 2021 as a way to earn additional income while creating something meaningful for myself and my children. What began with smaller balloon arrangements and intimate celebrations gradually developed into a full event-décor business serving clients Read more>>
Beth Borrego 
Rod and I already owned a business in an entirely different field when I began thinking about what we might build next. I’ve always loved traveling and exploring the world, so I suggested that our next business be in the travel industry. We researched several franchises before choosing Cruise Planners. Its technology and home office support were far superior to what we saw elsewhere. Read more>>
Niki Pearson 
Kuties & Kupcakes has always been a dream in the form of entrepreneurship. I have always wanted to own my creation and blaze my own trail. The idea was given to me later in 2020 by my mother. I had a daughter of my own and I constantly searched for experiences that catered to her interests in self care and beauty. Read more>>
Gary Pilarchik 
My path to becoming a garden social media influencer really started when I was in 2nd grade. My grandfather would come over every spring and plant a garden for us. I started helping him and from those experiences with my grandfather, teaching me the miracle of planting a garden and growing food, my passion for gardening began. Read more>>
Mike Martin 
Renaissance Rumble was born from the drive and passion of like-minded veteran trainers to create a place that not only provides world class professional wrestling training but does it in a safe, supportive, and student development focused manner. Read more>>
Shavon Ware 
’m Shavon Ware, a homeschooling mother, technology professional, and the founder of two education-focused organizations: #1 Maryland Homeschool Oversight Program and St. Virgo Education and Technology. My work grew from seeing how much families are expected to manage behind the scenes of education. Read more>>
Chasity Jones 
Absolutely—content creation is another unexpected part of how your voice expanded beyond the worship platform. Here is the full version with that incorporated: My journey began long before I ever imagined myself working in full-time ministry, leading worship, creating music, or becoming a content creator. As a young child, I was naturally talkative, expressive, and outgoing. Read more>>
Senthil El Amador 
I come from Chidambaram, a temple town in Tamil Nadu in southern India. My beginnings were fairly ordinary. I went to local schools, played a lot of sports — kabaddi, basketball and cricket — and represented my school and later my polytechnic. I also enjoyed singing and oratory competitions. I was probably interested in too many things even then. Read more>>
Isabel Quintana 
I’m originally from Spain, and my professional journey actually began very far from the world of textiles and home décor. I trained as a civil engineer and later completed an MBA, building my career in infrastructure and finance. Read more>>
Jazlyn Sligh 
Growing up in Frederick, Maryland, music and community were built into my life from the very beginning. My parents brought a rich musical background with them from Philadelphia and established a music ministry called Treasures of the Heart Worship Center. Being surrounded by a diverse community united by music laid the foundation for everything I do today. Read more>>
Lisa Branham 
I signed up for the Cosmetology program at my high school, seemed like a ‘fun’ course and worst case, something to ‘fall back on’. Turns out, I fell in love with it, but I didn’t fall in love with color or cutting hair, I fell in love with styling it. Read more>>
Julie Eurice 
Hello! Well I guess my career started in theater. My family ran a local community theater and let’s just say I grew up surrounded by the arts. I was fully immersed in it at starting at such a young age. I learned everything and anything theater, whether that be acting, tech, set design, etc. I knew I like to communicate to people through the arts. Read more>>
Philippe Bonhomme 
My journey with music started early behind a piano bench, but the latest chapter has been about taking full ownership of my voice as a solo artist and performer. Read more>>
Crystal Short 
I have always wanted to contribute to something bigger than myself. In the era of 2019 where we all found ourselves with time we didn’t know what to do with, I discovered how much I enjoy photography. Read more>>
MUSU MUSU 
I have always loved music and I have always loved performing. I remember being in preschool and clamoring for the microphone to sing the national anthem in front of the whole school at the weekly morning assemblies. Somewhere along the way, I began to battle anxiety about performing, but my love for it never went away. Read more>>
Ami Aladdin
Hair was always something I loved until, at some point, it wasn’t. My journey with hair has had its ups and downs, and there was a time when I had to step back, reflect, and find the strength to fall in love with it again. Read more>>
Moondog Revival 
Moondog Revival began with singer/guitarist Sean Lawrence and guitarist Jackson Hall, who were already close friends and shared a passion for playing guitar together. The two decided to take that friendship and musical chemistry a step further by starting a band. Read more>>
Sesilia Conchola 
Founded in 2021 by Sesilia Conchola, a licensed clinical social worker and advocate for mental health, our practice began with a clear mission: to provide a safe and empowering space for women and individuals of color to embark on their healing journey. Read more>>
Kenneth Graves 
My love for art began when I was about four years old, growing up in Maryland with my father. Whenever I visited my mother, I would sit beside her and watch her draw. I was fascinated by her passion for creating and the way she could bring something to life with nothing more than a pencil and paper. Read more>>
Shaun Gomban 
I was born and raised in Hawai’i, and for most of my life, the islands were all I really knew. Music was simply part of growing up. It’s not unusual for a child in Hawaiʻi to pick up an ʻukulele and learn to play, and I was no exception. Read more>>
Marissa Harmon 
I started our food page on my 30th birthday while we were in Miami. We were trying some amazing restaurants, taking tons of food pictures, and I wanted somewhere to keep all of those memories, so I created an Instagram that was basically a food diary. Going out to eat and trying new foods has always been a way of us bonding as a couple. Read more>>
Danalia Irizarry 
Creativity has been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember. As a child, I was constantly finding different ways to express myself. I studied ballet, explored instruments including clarinet, viola, drums, flute, guitar, and piano, and loved painting and creating artwork. Read more>>
Laura Martinez 
It all started once upon a time when I was working as a Parent Engagement Assistant for PGCPS at an Early Childhood Center for children with special needs. I noticed that a lot of parents felt overwhelmed, and teachers were struggling to connect with the families. Workshops were bland. Read more>>
Joe Swam 
Music has always been a huge part of my life, and I’ve played guitar casually for about half of it. But for most of that time, it was something I did at home for myself. I never practiced with any particular purpose, and I certainly never imagined I’d play music in front of people. Read more>>
Brooke Bralove 
From a very early age, I learned to value mental health. Unlike many other families, my parents were supportive of therapy, and when I was struggling during elementary and middle school, they sent me to therapy, which was an extremely positive experience for me. I loved my first therapist and enjoyed going to talk to her. Read more>>
Jarett Woodbury 
My journey into fitness started with a desire to challenge myself and see what I was capable of. It really began when I joined the Coast Guard in 2013. I was a solid 145 pounds soaking wet after boot camp, and at first I was lifting here and there with little to no consistency. Read more>>
Treena Wetsel
It began as a matter of necessity. When my middle son was born, I wanted to buy a nice layette set for his crib. I went to a high-end store to shop. The store representative asked if she could help and I told her what I was looking for. Read more>>
Juwan Blocker
My story really started when I was about 13 years old growing up in Prince George’s County. At that age, I didn’t really see myself as a leader. For a while, I didn’t even know that my voice mattered or believe that I could make a real difference, especially being so young. Spoken word poetry was really what opened that door for me. Read more>>
