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.
Amelia Diaz 
For the entirety of my life, I’ve always experienced the world through a creative lens. As a kid, I was obsessed with those Velcro coloring posters that changed color, and my favorite books were always the interactive ones. I can still vividly remember this little 2D brown bear from one of them. Growing up, I always said I wanted to be a veterinarian. Read more>>
Melanie Mezzancello 
This question made me laugh because I found myself staring at the words “how you got to where you are today” and thinking… where exactly is that? I’m not entirely sure I’ve arrived anywhere just yet. The funny thing is, the first time I chatted with you back in 2022, I remember saying that I felt like my story was just beginning. Read more>>
Jennifer Dang 
I grew up in the nail industry. As a little girl, I spent every day after school at our family salon, watching my mom work, being surrounded by creativity, and meeting amazing people from all walks of life. I started doing nails at a young age and quickly realized that I loved so much more than just the art behind it. Read more>>
Nileyshka Collazo 
My name is Nileyshka, I’m 32 years old, and I’m originally from Puerto Rico. I’m a home baker and the owner of Glen Sugar. I actually stared making quesitos around 2018, after I had my first baby. At first, I was just making them for us at home and for my family. Then, little by little, I stared making them to sell. Read more>>
Nneamaka Nwosisi 
My journey into entrepreneurship started in 2011 with an idea, a love for creativity, and a desire to build something meaningful in Nigeria. Mak Nisy began very simply—our first production happened on my front porch, making bags with a small team and a lot of determination. Read more>>
Selina Rodriguez 
Hello, my name is Selina. I am the owner of La Cocina De Sely mobile food trailer. My love for food has been in me since a child. I used to watch my grandmother cook. Every day when I came home from school, I had a home-cooked meal. Read more>>
Petula Truly Flavius 
I was sitting alone in my bed, weeping. After years of holding it together, being strong, pushing through and continuing to show up no matter what life brought, I had reached a point where I didn’t have anything left to pretend with. I cried out to God: “Why me?” Why so much? Why one thing after another? Read more>>
Ana Cuellar 
My journey as an artist began in Monterrey Nuevo Leon, Mexico, where I first discovered movement through gymnastics. I became a member of the Mexican National Team, and that experience gave me a strong foundation in discipline, physicality, and performance. Eventually, my path expanded beyond gymnastics into Contemporary Dance, Acting and Aerial Arts. Read more>>
Lisa Amoresano 
I’ve been building, operating, and sometimes selling retail and restaurant concepts for about 25 years, so I think entrepreneurship has always been in my blood. Gypsy Moon started in 2019 as another one of those ideas that I just couldn’t get out of my head — but it has probably evolved more than any business I’ve ever owned. Read more>>
Brianne Griffis 
My journey began in 2012, when I started supporting families through pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and the newborn stage. Over the years, I became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and expanded my training in perinatal mental health, newborn care, birth and bereavement support, oral-motor function, and infant feeding. Read more>>
Michaela Guzman 
Barrel racing has always been something that was in my heart. It was something I dreamed about doing, but growing up, my family didn’t have a lot. They did the best they could and, even though we couldn’t always afford all the things that come with the sport, they supported me by getting me my own horses. Read more>>
Fabi Gutierrez 
I’m originally from Copiapó, a small city in northern Chile, and I’ve always had this huge curiosity about the world. Since I was a kid, I dreamed about traveling, discovering new places and experiencing different cultures. I think that curiosity has been the thread connecting almost everything I’ve done. Read more>>
Melissa Parker 
My heart has always been for service; I am the oldest of six kids from a military family, a Registered Nurse, and a business owner. My husband Ted and I live along the beautiful East Coast of Florida along with our two children, Brendan and Carson. Read more>>
Elizabeth Javier 
My journey with music started long before I ever became a DJ. Music was always around me growing up, and my dad played a huge role in paving the way for the relationship I have with music today. He exposed me to so many different sounds and gave me that curiosity to explore music beyond whatever was popular or right in front of me. Read more>>
Charlie Williams 
I started my career as an assistant to a Pro Organizer in Richmond, VA and fell in love with the art and science of Organizing almost immediately. As soon as I began working with Clients on my own, I knew I never wanted to do anything else… and after well over a decade, I still won’t. Read more>>
Leyla Colon 
More Than a Smoothie: How TSR (the Smoothie Room) Is Reimagining Wellness in Orlando We thought we were buying a smoothie shop. What we didn’t realize was that we were about to discover a much bigger purpose. When we took over The Smoothie Room in Orlando’s SoDo District in November 2023, we inherited a neighborhood business that had served the community since 2011. Read more>>
Trevor McQuillen 
I started out in Tae Kwon Do when I was a child, around 7 years old, and it was my first introduction to physical training. I didn’t do it because I was forced (maybe not at first), it was something I genuinely looked forward to and stayed proficient at as I grew up. Read more>>
Natalie Reid 
My story is a bit unconventional. I’m a 20+ year educator with a decade in the classroom — mostly middle and high school (in three different states – NYC post 9/11, New Orleans post Katrina, and Florida)— and another decade in ed-tech, helping schools nationwide integrate technology. The funny part is, teaching was never the dream. Read more>>
Leah Theresa Nieves
I am a biracial Filipino and Puerto Rican American artist, curator, and arts and museum professional based in Winter Garden, Florida. As a first-generation Boricua and Filipina, I grew up navigating a complex relationship with culture, identity, and belonging. Read more>>
Mel Fiorentino 
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember, but my path has been anything but traditional. I’m largely self-taught, and over the years I’ve built my career through persistence, experimentation, and a constant desire to understand painting on a deeper level. Read more>>
Jessica Beltran 
O-Town West Coast Swing started with a simple idea: make West Coast Swing dancing accessible, affordable, and welcoming to everyone. What began as a small local dance community has grown into a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping dance affordable while creating a place where people can learn, connect, and feel like they belong. Read more>>
Juliana Caiaffa 
I’m originally from Brazil, and my journey has definitely not been a straight line. I actually have a degree in Law and an MBA in People Management, and I worked in the legal field in Brazil before discovering a completely different passion: the beauty industry. What started with makeup eventually became a career that has been part of my life for more than 15 years. Read more>>
kender roman 
Our vision arose from the dream of creating Premium Cigars using only the best tobacco leaves from different regions and manufacturing private brands with the highest quality standards. Thanks to this, our cigars have achieved remarkable success and have been appreciated by the cigar aficionado community worldwide. Read more>>
Karla Ray 
I’m a veteran broadcast journalist who has spent nearly two decades mastering the art of storytelling, the microphone, and executive presence. Now, through Unprompted Strategies, I put those skills to work as a professional emcee, on-camera talent, and communications coach, helping leaders communicate with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. I grew up on a farm in the Midwest, and I always wanted to expand my worldview. Read more>>
Jalisa Ann 
My path started in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, where I grew up immersed in Caribbean culture — the creative seed was planted early through performance, design, costumes, and simply the beauty of the natural world around me. Read more>>
Johnathan Hamilton 
I am originally from Daytona Beach, FL I graduated from Mainland High School and went on to the University of Central Florida. At UCF my freshman year I pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Read more>>
Kiara (kiikii) Morales 
I think my story with beauty started long before I realized it was something I could turn into a career. I’m the oldest of three girls, and growing up I was always the one doing my sisters’ hair. Read more>>
Teodora Hercegovac 
My journey has always been centered around working with people, building strong connections, and constantly striving for personal and professional growth. For many years, I built a rich career in Serbia in retail sales and store operations. Read more>>
Yohanna Lozada 
I started my journey in my home country, Venezuela, where I’ve always had a deep love for crafting and hands-on artistry. In 2012, while I was pregnant, my mother suffered a stroke, and I took on the responsibility of caring for her. Read more>>
Jaia Bright 
Since I was a child, my father and Meme have always encouraged my creativity ,even if that meant dedicating an entire room in our house for me to color on the walls, paint, and make all the mess I could dream of. Fast forward a few years, and I lost interest in creating. Read more>>
Yohann Le Bescond 
I was born and raised in France, and my passion for baking started in my mom’s kitchen. When I was six, my elementary school took us on a field trip to a local bakery in Le Guilvinec. I still remember the colors, the smells, and how amazed I was by everything around me. That visit planted the seed—I wanted to become a baker. Read more>>
Leesa Marie Benz
My story is unique because its other people that have got me where I’m at now. I was discovered in 1995 by the mailman….yes, the mailman! This mailman would see me everyday at my job when he would deliver the mail. Mr. Mailman would often comment on how much I resembled Marilyn. So, one day he informed me that they were going to have a “Marilyn Monroe Look Alike Contest” before June 1, (Marilyn Monroes bday) which was the day the postoffice was going to launch the stamp dedicated to Marilyn & have a huge party w the media there. Read more>>
Ellie Martin
The Story of My Enchanted Events Venue The story of My Enchanted Events Venue began years before we ever had a venue to call our own. In 2013, I founded Tutu Tales Party Productions as a mobile character and party entertainment company. But even then, I knew I someday wanted a space of my own. Read more>>
