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.
Jared Melhado
It is honestly kind of funny. I remember when I was in school working on my undergraduate degree at Broward College, and throughout the semester, I started posting funny yet factual astrology videos on TikTok and then it just took off. Years later, I have developed a wide assortment of lifestyle, vinyl and music, fashion, and astrology content for my supporters of different niches. Read more>>
Sharon Fuentes
My name is Sharon and I was born and raised in Florida. I guess you can say that I have always been a creative person. I’ve performed on stage, had my own puppet show business, even wrote and had a book published! But during the pandemic when everyone was stuck in doors, the words on paper seemed to get stuck as well. Read more>>
Lara Tapia
I studied journalism and interior design at university in Puerto Rico. Later, I was in a car accident, and that was when I discovered the science of yoga; while reading a magazine—since I could no longer run, which had been my natural form of exercise—I came across it, and that marked the beginning of my transformation through yoga. Read more>>
Jenny & Ernesto Caballero
Ernesto Caballero and his wife, Jenny Rios, are partners in both their Alboreá Dances flamenco company and in life itself. And as is the case with many great love and success stories, theirs is a case of parallel tracks coming together. Read more>>
Ben Lloyd
I am 43, married with 5 kids under my roof:) When I was younger I worked for chick fil a for 8 years working my way up from part time to store manager. Then I worked at Publix as a deli manager for 5 years. Read more>>
Alexis Jennings
It all started shortly after COVID, I was sitting at home after clocking out of my 9-5 corporate job and I just had this sudden realization that I wanted to do more. Read more>>
Kristin Weissman
Originally from Philadelphia, PA, my career began in Public Relations working in the casino industry. I represented Harrah’s Entertainment, as well as the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, and later, the Miss America Organization, serving each in executive leadership roles in PR/Marketing in Atlantic City, NJ. Read more>>
Dominique Ziegler
My journey with somatic healing began in 2022. I was in a really dark place and didn’t want to continue on, and then I found breathwork. The first session put me back into my body for the first time since 2014. After that I enrolled in an 8 week course to do it 8 more times. Read more>>
Chris Goodnoe
I’ve been in hospitality almost twenty years — hotels, dive bars, airport lounges, all of it. I’ve never been the bartender looking for the exit; I genuinely love this business. Nothing beats watching someone’s face light up over a drink they love. People always ask my favorite drink to make, and my answer’s always the same: whatever’s going to make you happy. Read more>>
Ayuna Williams
My journey has never been a straight line—it has been built on resilience, creativity, and the belief that purpose can grow from passion. More than a decade ago, I started Yani B Collection with nothing more than a sewing machine, a vision, and a determination to create beautiful designs that made women feel confident. I didn’t have a traditional fashion school background. Read more>>
Joyce Di Pardi
I moved from Brazil to the United States in 2016, and my journey in the digital world started in a very simple way: I began using Instagram to teach people how to use coupons and save money. Over time, I expanded my content and started sharing more tips about saving money and living more affordably in the United States. Read more>>
Caly Ocando
My journey in the aesthetics industry began with a genuine passion for helping women feel confident and comfortable in their own skin. Over the years, I have trained in the United States, Spain, and Venezuela, continually expanding my knowledge and refining my techniques. My experience living and working in different countries allowed me to understand diverse beauty standards, skin types, and client needs. Read more>>
Derrick Collins
My journey began with my own life experiences. I know firsthand the difference that positive guidance, support, and believing in someone’s potential can make. Those experiences shaped my passion for serving others and inspired me to create something that could make that same difference for young people in my community. Read more>>
Ericka Sobrack
I’ve always been drawn to visual storytelling, whether through film, children’s books, or painting. I became serious about making art during my undergraduate years, when I fell in love with painting and it quickly became the center of my practice. Read more>>
Troy Harris
I discovered my passion for the saxophone at the age of 14, and from that moment I knew music would always be a part of my life. After graduating, I worked full-time as a technician for 13 years while continuing to perform whenever I had the opportunity. Although I had a stable career, my dream was always to become a full-time musician. Read more>>
Tomas Botero
El Nido del Cóndor started without a master plan. My family, the Botero Vargas, are architects, and we bought a 50-hectare property in Villamaría, in Colombia’s coffee region, looking mainly for distance from the city. Read more>>
Joann Vanié
I am a puertorican woman who grew up in a ‘barrio’ from Naranjito Puerto Rico. My parents and my family lived very close, so we were raised with a lot of family love, traditions and culture. Since I was born, I was taught about God, christianity and I would confidently say that’s where my belief system, values and morals come from. Read more>>
Lorticha Turnage
I was born and raised in a small town in North Carolina, where my love for music and performing started at a young age. Growing up, I was always singing and knew that I wanted to use my gifts to inspire people. Read more>>
Hendrix Briggs
Walking around Central Florida I had learned that there were crystals dispersed through the trails and started finding gems on these walks. The garnet being my first stone to find. It was in a cube shape form. One night I was gifted an entire aquarium of crystals, filled with Tanzanites and other crystals. I had decided I was going to sell these crystals. Read more>>
Nikkira John
My journey into the beauty industry started with a passion I had from a young age. I was always drawn to everything involving beauty, creativity, and self-expression. My love for braiding began early on by watching my mother braid my sisters’ hair. Watching her create different styles sparked my own curiosity and inspired me to learn more. Read more>>
Jamila Muhammad
I’ve always had a passion for baking and pastry. In 2011, I decided to finally take the leap and go back to school for Baking and Pastry Management at Valencia College here in Orlando, FL. As I continued to learn at Valencia, I made a clear choice to start my career at Walt Disney World working in Park Event Operations as a pastry cook. Read more>>
Adris Davis
My story began with a simple belief that success should be used to create opportunities for other people. As I built my businesses, I became increasingly aware of how many individuals and families were facing difficult circumstances without the resources, guidance, or support they needed. I knew I wanted my work to be about more than generating revenue. I wanted it to have a purpose. Read more>>
Steven Pierre
My name is Steven Pierre, born and raised right here in Miami, Florida. After high school, I headed up to Tallahassee to attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). Honestly? My first stint there didn’t last long, I got way too caught up in the college party scene, ended up dropping out, and moved back home. Read more>>
Antuan Wright
I got started on this journey in 2013 understanding that Black American culture is the most dominant and exploited culture worldwide with so many different groups outside of our lineage and culture having their hands on our images and likeness. Read more>>
Maria Valdez
My journey into wellness has been anything but traditional. I’ve always been passionate about helping people, but my path has evolved through several seasons of growth. I became an Esthetician in 2008, and a Licensed Massage Therapist in 2010. I had the pleasure of working in the most luxurious places in Orlando. Read more>>
Thomas Milovac
I was born in 1997 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Growing up, I was surrounded by music. My father is a guitarist and my sisters were in band in middle and high school. My grandfather, also named Thomas Milovac, lead a Tamburitza group called the Adriatic Serenaders which was a successful group in the Pittsburgh area and I grew up hearing his music. Read more>>
Kiley Damone
I was working a corporate job, and by most measures it was fine. That was the problem. I was pouring an enormous amounts of myself into something that wasn’t mine. The area I was living in at the time was unfulfilling, and I wanted my days back, the freedom to work from anywhere instead of building my whole life around someone else’s schedule. Read more>>
Joshua Goldberg
The story I will be sharing is about my service initiatives with the Miracle League. My involvement with the Miracle League begins in Pennsylvania, where I first volunteered with the organization. I have played baseball for over a decade, and it is one of my greatest passions. Another one of my passions is community service and helping others in need. Read more>>
Angel Carlson
The first cookies I sold were to my neighbors and I really just fell in love with all the beautiful cookies and the endless creativity cookies provided. Being a former math major and someone who was always good with numbers, seeing my creative side blossom and be something I was actually good at was a surprise. Read more>>
Richard Johnson
I grew up in very rural Missouri and went to college, receiving a BS in Geology. I started in hotels as a way to work through college, and then stayed in hospitality. After 35 + years in hotels, ending with managing several hotels, I got into another side of hospitality, being a travel advisor. Read more>>
Allison Wilson Lee
I’ve always expressed myself through writing, first with a lavender diary featuring a unicorn on the cover as a child, to writing devotions and inspirational stories today. My first paying gig as a writer involved a moment of grace from a former elementary school teacher of mine. As I prepared to head overseas for a year as a missionary after college, Mrs. Read more>>
Kaylea Smith
When I was young, I was always drawing and making art, but I was never sure how to go about making a career with it. I remember as a teen, those shows like Miami Ink were popular and I thought, ‘Could I do this?’ I was fascinated by how tattoos worked and the lifestyle of being a full-time artist. Read more>>
Jade Presley
I’ve wanted to be an author since my second grade teacher walked into our classroom with a stack of blank hardback books and gave us an assignment: write and illustrate a story. It could be about anything we wanted. I wrote about a girl who finds a random bag of seeds, plants them, and grows a crop of aliens. Read more>>
Nathania Guerra
I have a background in Graphic Design, I’ve worked in the marketing and creative fields for almost 10 years now. My preferred work specialties are Art Direction and Branding. I always knew early on, I was not meant to be a doctor or an engineer, too many words and I’m not great at math either. Read more>>
Lisa Poirier
Highways of Hope Florida actually started with a dream my daughter, Jacqui, and I talked about while riding around after buying Powerball tickets. We always said that if we ever won, we wanted to help people in our community. Then one day I realized we didn’t have to wait to win the lottery to start making a difference. Read more>>
Dia del Trus
Two questions I always struggle with are: ‘Where are you from?’ and ‘What do you do?’ The former, because I’m a military brat with a beautifully diverse family – I’ve moved all over the world all my life. The latter, because… a little bit of everything! Surprisingly, the easier question to answer is: ‘Who are you?’ I am a multidisciplinary with an eclectic personality. Read more>>
Shaan Guru
Green Guru Project began with a simple idea: reduce food waste while helping people in need. What started as a small local effort quickly grew into a larger initiative focused on connecting surplus food with communities facing food insecurity. Read more>>
John Holley
Music caught my ear early through car ride radio sing-alongs, church hymns, and a soulful outlier among my family’s album collection—Bob Marley’s Exodus. What began as a mild interest was fostered by my amazing parents through piano lessons, which were unique in that they focused on playing by ear rather than solely reading traditional sheet music. Read more>>
Courtney Hovinen
I found fitness in my early 20s, through an invite to the new CrossFit gym in my hometown. All it took was one workout and I was hooked. Daily WODs, trips with the gym, competitions, I did it all. Even starting Rise by Courtney, my online nutrition coaching business. Read more>>
Sharon da Cunha
When Orlando Voyager first featured my story in 2022, I had just taken one of the biggest risks of my life. I had left my bookkeeping career of thirty years in the Netherlands to move to Florida as an English student, hoping to improve my photography skills and discover where life would take me. Read more>>
Desmond Thomas
My journey into music started early on. I grew up singing in the church choir and playing the saxophone, which really gave me my sonic foundation. But my passion for DJing and production was sparked when I started experimenting with making mixtapes on an old boombox. Read more>>
Naomi Nelson
Naomi Joy is an award-winning saxophonist, vocalist, recording artist, television host, executive producer, journalist, educator, and inspirational speaker based in Central Florida. Through music and media, she is dedicated to encouraging people to discover hope, purpose, and joy. Read more>>
Alexander Mierisch
It started when my brother and I recreated Peter Jackson’s “King Kong” in our backyard as kids using our parents’ camcorder, neighborhood friends and random figurines. That’s a fun memory. In high school, I dove deeper into filmmaking by creating YouTube videos with my close friends. I think they’re still on the website. Read more>>
Casey DeMott
On October 10, 2015, my sister Keri was killed in a crash caused by a drunk driver. That day changed my life and my family’s lives forever. Ever since, we have been on a journey to turn our pain into purpose and help others affected by similar tragedies in meaningful ways. Read more>>
