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.
Hayden Miller
My name is Hayden Miller and I am a drummer, composer, and bandleader from Miramar, Florida. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida and received my master’s degree in Jazz Performance at New York University. Throughout my academic tenure, I have been mentored by drummers such as Clarence Penn, Ari Hoenig, Jason Marsalis, and Billy Drummond. Read more>>
Dante Fleming
I’ve had an interest for movies since I was a child. I wanted to be an actor. Started by taking classes at 13 and made skits to hone the craft and did comedy. In my late teens, filmmaking started to come in; so I made my first short film when I was 19. Read more>>
Josie Brooks
I started my career without even realizing it. I began getting paid to take photos in 2011, though at the time I was also photographing models and creating fine art inspired fashion shoots simply because I loved being creative. Read more>>
Luisa Irizarry
I was born in Colombia and moved to the United States when I was 12 years old. My father had come here seven years earlier and worked incredibly hard to bring our family here legally. Read more>>
Katherine Norris
I am a native Floridian. I grew up in Jacksonville, we loved vacationing in St. Augustine when I was a kid, but one thing I knew…I did not always want to be a Floridian. But, something always brought me back. I married my husband after my first year of college. We moved around some, then came back to Florida. Read more>>
AJ Gonzalez
My name is A.J. González, and I am the President of AJ Production Events and the Founder of DYB Foundation. My journey began in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where I developed a passion for the arts at a young age. I studied sculpture and later pursued studies in computer science, but my true calling was always creativity and bringing people together through meaningful experiences. Read more>>
Talii
I grew up in a musical family so music has always been apart of my reality since I was little. My father and uncle were in a Rnb group in the 90s called ‘ The committee’ and after that he worked for 102 jams here in Orlando. I started to learn piano from ages 6-12 years old and i also started writing songs around 11. Read more>>
Carlos Yadiel Andrillon Tolentino
My story has been shaped by a curiosity to explore, connect and grow. I’ve always been someone who enjoys stepping outside my comfort zone, whether that’s through traveling to new places, taking on fitness challenges, or getting involved in experiences that bring people together. Read more>>
Emma Jones
I didn’t take a traditional path into real estate. Before becoming a Realtor, I worked in interior design, banking, and hospitality. Looking back, each of those experiences taught me something I use every day now. Interior design taught me how to see potential in a space, banking gave me a strong understanding of finances, and hospitality showed me how important relationships and service are. Read more>>
Leonardo Araujo
My story is a bit long, but it all started back in Venezuela when I was around 13 years old. I used to spend my free time playing around with Adobe programs just as a hobby, editing videos for my friends, their university projects, and some YouTube channels. By the time I turned 16, I touched a camera for the very first time. Read more>>
Valery Zarichna
My story really starts with a value I’ve always held close: quality time. It’s actually my love language, and looking back, it explains almost every career move I’ve made. I’m originally from Ukraine, and that’s where it all began. I was running outdoor escape rooms for kids and teenagers — building in teamwork, camaraderie, and genuine face-to-face connection. Read more>>
Will Landis
Crossroads’ founders John and Will had both studied HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) independently before meeting in the HEMA Florida Facebook group and deciding to start a sword fighting club in the West Orlando area. Our first meetups were held in a public park in Winter Garden– just a handful of folks sword fighting under the trees. Read more>>
Luca Maddaloni
I was born in Brazil and moved to the United States when I was 12 years old. Like many immigrant families, adapting to a new country came with challenges, including learning a new language and adjusting to a completely different culture. Those experiences taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of stepping outside of my comfort zone. Read more>>
Yaryna Levytska
I was born and raised in a small town in Lviv region in western Ukraine. From a young age, I was involved in music, dance, and theater. I was always the person who wanted to help, organize something, and I always loved bringing people together. I never imagined that one day this passion would become such an important part of my life. Read more>>
Ashley Edwards
I grew up in Alabama and initially chose to stay in-state for college. I came from a progressive, creative community and spent nearly every spare moment immersed in the arts through competitive dance, cheerleading, theatre, and musicals. Storytelling through creativity was always something I loved. Read more>>
Daniel Fuqua
My name is Daniel ‘Saxman’ Fuqua, and music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I picked up the saxophone as a young man and quickly realized it was more than an instrument—it was a way to connect with people. What started as a passion grew into a calling. My journey hasn’t been a straight line. Read more>>
Roberto Olivero
I’ve been doing photography since 2004 sport has been my life especially baseball. Baseball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been obsessed with the game, but the reality is, my own path on the diamond didn’t go exactly how I expected it to. Read more>>
Danny Forester
Having been a chef for several years, I felt burnt out by the constant long hours, underpay, and lack of respect you get from working in kitchens, from there though I found coffee. It allowed me to continue to serve, be creative, while still utilizing my kitchen knowledge to keep things interesting. Read more>>
Bella/ Cari Rivera/ Cano
Our story started four years ago in the kitchen, cooking meals together and discovering a shared love for creating new recipes and content that felt unique to us. Being together expanded our palates and pushed us to step outside our comfort zones, which naturally led us to exploring new restaurants. Read more>>
Blake Guyre
Blake Guyre is a dynamic full-time entertainer based in Orlando, Florida, known for delivering high-energy performances that engage audiences of all ages. His impressive performance résumé includes appearances at major state fairs, special events for NASCAR, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Read more>>
Tuilla Barros
My entrepreneurial journey began in 2008 when I created a blog called **Vida Cor de Rosa** (pink life). At the time, I shared women’s lifestyle content, fashion tips, beauty advice, and affordable clothing finds. Over time, I built a loyal audience and realized that people trusted my recommendations. That led me to use the same brand name to open my first women’s clothing store. Read more>>
Rev. Dr. Paul Meckes
Dr. Meckes is a #1 bestselling author of The Great Awakening, an ordained minister, and a metaphysician with nearly three decades of academic research and study. He earned his Ph.D. in Metaphysical Science, graduating summa cum laude, and received his ordination through the Institute of Metaphysical Humanistic Science and the priesthood of the Order of Melchizedek. During his doctoral work, Dr. Read more>>
Vagner Boca Cruz
I started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil 32 years ago, and what began as a hobby quickly became a passion and a lifelong calling. Through Jiu Jitsu, I learned discipline, resilience, respect, and the importance of community. Read more>>
Kristian Colon
I have a background in dentistry and was helping develop dental offices and processes for 10+ years. And the mist of that I had created a manufacturing and distribution company for medical uniforms jackets and lab coats. Read more>>
Lashonda Geffrard
My journey in the pet industry began fresh out of high school when I started working as a professional groomer. What started as a simple career quickly became a calling. Over the past 20yrs, I built businesses, served pet families, advocated for animal welfare, and developed a deep understanding of how the industry worked and who it often left behind. Read more>>
Donna Paternoster
My journey began in the mortgage industry over 25 years ago, where I built a career helping families achieve the dream of homeownership. Throughout the years, I developed a passion for serving others, guiding clients through one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. Life took an unexpected turn when I lost my only daughter, Nicole, to mental illness and suicide. Read more>>
Caitlyn Delis
Becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist was definitely what I was meant to do, but not my original intended career. I heard an advertisement in 2013 for a local massage therapy school and thought, ‘Huh, that sounds cool,’ and went to check out the open house that was promoted. After touring the school I fell in love and signed up right away. Read more>>
Angelica Flagg
I started The Kaleidoscope Effect Fitness Festivals (@TKE_fit_fest) because I saw two worlds I loved—rave culture and fitness—being misunderstood in completely different ways, and I knew there was a more intentional, inclusive way to experience both. Read more>>
Ki-Jana Garmon
I’m truly only here by the Grace of God. I was first introduced to filmmaking in 2018, when a friend pitched an idea in my living room that would soon become my first experience bringing a story from script to screen. I instantly fell in love with the process. Read more>>
Christine Marte
I became a Licensed Massage Therapist in 2010, and my career started in chiropractic offices, where I gained a strong foundation in therapeutic and corrective bodywork. Over time, I worked my way up into a lead position and spent about six years , building experience, confidence, and a deeper understanding of how massage can truly help people feel better. Read more>>
Irina Arefeva
I was born and raised in Russia, where I developed a strong appreciation for beauty, precision, and attention to detail. After moving to the United States with my family, I faced the challenges many immigrants experience — adapting to a new country, learning a new language, and building a new life from the ground up. Read more>>
Christopher Charles
My journey has truly been years in the making. I’ve always been a creative person, but everything really started when I bought my first camera in 2020. What began as a hobby quickly turned into a passion and eventually opened my eyes to the world of storytelling, photography, videography, and content creation. Read more>>
Zac Wolf
When I moved to Boston, I realized photo booths at weddings made sense as a natural add-on to my photography services, so I launched The Danger Booth in 2014. We spent the first couple years doing traditional weddings and parties, but around 2016 we pivoted hard into corporate work. That’s where we found our lane. Read more>>
Denis Ramos
My journey in the restaurant industry began more than 16 years ago in Brazil, driven by a passion for hospitality, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Over the years, I built my career from the ground up, eventually founding Kenzo Sushi Lounge in Santos, São Paulo, an award-winning restaurant recognized for its innovation, culinary excellence, and customer experience. Read more>>
Glorianne Diaz
I graduated as a fashion designer in Puerto Rico in 2013, and that is where the name Luminika comes from. That was the name of my first collection to be presented on the runway. I continued sewing for special events—such as graduations, proms, and weddings—until 2016, when I finally decided to start looking for clothing and fabric suppliers to launch a boutique. Read more>>
Michel Napolitano de Almeida
My name is Michel Napolitano de Almeida, and I have dedicated my life to the beauty industry for more than 25 years. Born in Brazil on January 10, 1985, I grew up in a family of hairstylists. Read more>>
