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.
Amanda Fischer
When I started sharing on Instagram, I didn’t have a big plan—I just wanted to create the kind of space I once needed. Whether it’s fashion, beauty, or faith, my goal has always been to help women feel confident and encouraged. Over time, that approach has resonated, and my platform has grown to over 300K followers, filled with women who, in one way or another, have been where I’ve been. Read more>>
Molly Stark
Art has always been a big part of my life since as early as I can remember, Ive been drawing. After high school, I studied and worked as a massage therapist, which taught me the ins and outs of tissues, muscles and general human anatomy (which I am fascinated with). I loved doing massage and connecting with my clients through touch but I was definitely longing to express my creativity and explore more of my personal self-expression. I wanted to still be able to connect on a deep and personal level with others and for me tattooing met all of those elements, so it came very naturally into line for me. Read more>>
Jeff, Loiuise, Austin Zumbrunnen
Overall the ramp up for I Love Bouncies has been very smooth. 2013 – current time Read more>>
Aaron Brand
While at the farm, customers will realize quickly they are not just at a plain ole apple orchard. They are at a real working farm with chickens, cows, ducks, and real farming happening which is hard to find with an apple orchard experience in the Fall. All customers who come out and take the hayride will get to hear the tractor driver explaining different aspects of the farm as the wagon leaves the loading area all the way out to the apple orchard and activities area elevating the guest experience. Read more>>
Beth Brown
I would have to say my story truly began around 10 years ago in the fall of 2015! Freshly out of high school and ready to face the world, I began my college education at Hamline University with the intention of pursuing a double major in English and Theatre Arts. Everything was absolutely wonderful in the beginning! I loved my professors, had a fantastic group of friends and worked a job on campus welding for the University’s theatre department, that I absolutely loved. Unfortunately half-way through the first semester my life was flipped completely upside down. Read more>>
Warapisseme Mouta
Before that, in 2019, I was part of the Togo Culture Link-Up team, further strengthening my passion for cultural event planning. Through my experiences, I developed a deep love for organizing events and helping others bring their visions to life. That passion led me to create MN Diversity Experience (MNDEX), an event company dedicated to bringing people from different cultures together to celebrate and embrace diversity in Minnesota. Read more>>
Kahlil Permenter
Becoming a Chiropractor was a journey. I fell in love with movement while playing sports. After sports I joined the military and served as an Aircraft Mechanic. One of my additional duties in the service was Unit Fitness Manager and I loved it. I ensured that my unit was physically fit and prepared to perform their duties. I also have a background in health education and personal training. Through my journey and work as a trainer. I found most people had the same obstacles obstructing their goals. Time, Knowledge, and Injuries. Time was a tough one to tackle but I knew I could do something about the knowledge and injury components. Thus I set out to better educate myself and learn how to prevent and treat injuries for the sake of others. That Journey led me to become a Chiropractor. Read more>>
Venus Darling
One of my favorite patients was a COVID vaccine-hesitant elder, he used to bring his granddaughter to the pharmacy every so often. At the time, children weren’t yet eligible for the COVID vaccine, and she was about to return to in person learning. So after six months of conversations and debunking Facebook myths he got vaccinated to protect his granddaughter. I have many stories from my time at the pharmacy just like this– this job that reinforced for me the power of patient, community-driven education. Read more>>
Queenie Von Curves
An ongoing challenge being a performer is that ones body is constantly observed, critiqued and compared. I was told I didn’t have the right body to be a dancer, especially in the ballet world, I was pigeon-holed into roles because of my size in theatre, and repeatedly told I was too fat, too weird, too much. Discovering burlesque was truly a moment of reckoning for me, a performance art in which my body could be celebrated and I was completely in charge. Burlesque and Bare Book Club have been therapeutic for me and healing my relationship with my body and myself. Read more>>
Tanya Boigenzahn
Yoga teaching found me several years later – another story – and I knew I had found my Dharma. I’ve always been a seeker, and this beautiful spiritual science has continuously guided me towards the light, amazing teachers, and a grounded sense of gratitude and well being. I developed a plan to expand into yoga/wellness over several years, first working in the burgeoning tech/website start-up industry on the West Coast for several years. Then returning back to Minnesota in 2001 to be a full time yoga/wellness educator and practitioner. Read more>>
Maggie Bigalk
During all this, my love for working out continued but my relationship with food started to decline. I was becoming more and more obsessed with calorie intake, and burning off calories through workouts. I had little knowledge outside of “clean eating” and thought that was the only way! The goal was to become a smaller version of myself, not knowing that didn’t mean the healthiest version. I knew it was bad, but looking back now I don’t think I quite new how bad it was. Read more>>
Ryan Jones
About a year before I retired, I was on a fishing trip in Northern Minnesota, when my now business partner, Mike Youngs, approached me about starting our own residential construction company. Mikan Custom Homes was born on a boat in the water, with a shared vision of building the highest-quality homes and fostering strong relationships. Read more>>
Carrie Thompson Jade Townsend
For better or worse. For instance, temperatures, amount of light and soil quality are going to be pretty uniform on a larger plot of land that one would associate with “traditional farming. While our patchwork of properties spread throughout the neighborhood are wildly inconsistent in temps, amount of light per day and the quality of the soil. We’re not complaining though, it’s all part of the game we love. From the Squash Vine Borer to soil aggregate instability to emotional burnout, we take a wild ride through new challenges and obstacles every season. Read more>>
Sarah Cassavant
Running a small business definitely isn’t a breeze every day—especially since I have a full-time job in addition to running Stone Fruit! It can be a challenge to carve out time for all of the admin that goes into running a business, but that work is crucial in making this a successful and sustainable business. I’m lucky to have wonderful friends and colleagues in this space who I can turn to for advice! Read more>>
Natalie Jackson
I was happy and carefree. It was the chapter in my life that nurtured my love of playing with others in the outdoors and learning how to listen to my body. It allowed me to cultivate confidence, physical strength, curiosity, trust in nature, resilience, and safety. All qualities that assisted me in becoming an outdoor educator and wilderness guide, that eventually evolved into a wellness coach. Read more>>
Jeanna Tersteeg
PID brokered 5 construction companies and I worked closely with the general contractors so ensure not only good design, but I operated on the belief that we were a team and I was to have everything dialed in so they just had to come to demo day ready to swing a hammer. I built my business on being an asset, knowledgeable in construction, not just making things pretty. Read more>>
Heidi Hauck
I started my journey on Instagram in 2021. I have always been a mom who has done lots of adventures outside of the house with my kiddos but I finally decided to publicly start sharing in 2021. I really wanted to inspire other families to #adventureoverstuff. It started off slow, just sharing pictures of the parks or museums we went to. And then about a year ago (towards the end of 2023) I really started gaining traction on Instagram and started to get noticed more. Read more>>
Joell Boyd
From then on, travel became a big part of my life. By the time I was 10, I was already mapping out my own road trips, dreaming of the places I’d one day visit. I was enamored by the video game Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? which sparked an obsession with geography and countries. I pored over maps and began to familiarize myself with continents, cities, and landmarks that felt so far away but also attainable. I couldn’t wait to explore them. Read more>>
Kellie Ranae
The Lord truly provided and continues to provide. I was able to live at home for the first year of starting my business, which allowed me to invest in the gear I needed to take off. I am so grateful to have parents and people in my life who support my dreams. The artistic and relational side of things comes naturally to me, so I took many workshops to learn about the business side of things to get a well-rounded perspective for my own small business. Past clients, friends, and family have spread the word from the very beginning, and continue to do so. Starting my own photography business has been fun and exciting, and it has also taken a lot of work, education, experience, and prayer to build K.Ranae Photography. Read more>>
Fong Vang
Since I could remember, I have always been into art. I remember drawing all the time in grade school and in 2013, I graduated College and started my tattoo career. My apprenticeship began at The Truth Tattoos in St. Paul, MN. I was extremely nervous because it was the beginning of something new, but also excited for the journey ahead. After a year of working as an apprentice, I completed my hours and graduated as a full fledge artist AKA a licensed body art technician. After a few years, I relocated to another shop in Brooklyn Park. I didn’t stay there very long because I wanted to have a studio of my own. I knew it would be challenging, but it felt like the right choice. Read more>>
Bryana Cook
Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats began in February 2017 at Deep Portage Learning Center in Hackensack, MN. At the time, we had zero “grand plan” for how this passion project would develop. We wanted to bring women together in a welcoming environment for a feel-good weekend of yoga and outdoor experiences. Our very first yoga + nature retreat was nothing short of magical, and it left us wanting more! Read more>>
Nate Reiman
Life has not been easy, My sons mom died of cancer when he was 6, Being a single parent I put my focus on raising my son. I found it hard to be creative and find inspiration. I found my passion again, 5 years ago, shooting skateboard events, I started documenting skateboarders in our scene and started making new friends. I met Corey 3 1/2 years ago and approached him about helping him curate art and have been doing so ever since. Read more>>
Abby Dominguez
Eventually, I turned my passion into a business. I started working with clients, offering my services for everything from corporate events to weddings and lifestyle shoots. I also started creating content for websites, and this gave me a chance to refine my skills even more. As I took on more projects, I began to see the importance of clear and authentic communication with clients. That’s when I realized how much tone and language in emails could truly strengthen relationships, so I honed my style to reflect the professional yet warm vibe I wanted to convey. Read more>>
Alexa Jo Schafer
I found something that gave me a shred of hope: seeing the world. A big thing that got me through it was this dream to go adventure. I wanted to go back to Europe and go on all the trips I had planned for that semester abroad. I wanted to live in Hawaii and learn to surf. I wanted to go solo travel. I thought maybe if I went to see other worlds and met people from all around the world, I’d find purpose. After graduating college, I went on my first solo backpacking trip. Since then, I’ve done a lot. I went to Europe, Hawaii, Southeast Asia, Australia, back to Europe, Mexico, and now I’m moving to Australia! It has completely changed my life. Read more>>
Jennifer Johnson Lisa Jonas
Over the years we’ve expanded our line to include a host of bath, body, and hair products for kids (and kids at heart) to enjoy. I’m proud to say we’ve earned an excellent reputation, and our products have become necessities for people with various skin types ranging from eczema to allergies. My biggest take-away is that premium, high-quality ingredients make all the difference. The Rose & Petal line is completely handmade from scratch and I’m thrilled to be able to offer safer self-care options to my own kids and yours. Read more>>
Taylor Watermolen
Dogs have always played a huge role in my life, even as a child. While I was growing up, we fostered dogs through a local rescue, in addition to having four dogs of our own. When I was finished with high school and taking college classes, I got my first job working in a dog daycare and boarding facility. During that time, I got my veterinary assistant certification and began studying dog behavior and body language. It was my dream as a kid to have a Golden Retriever and once I was working with so many of them, it became a need. In 2015 my need was fulfilled, and I adopted Olive. Read more>>
Yair “Leo” Carvajalino
In 2018, I moved to Minnesota and noticed that while coffee culture was prevalent, many consumers were disconnected from its origins. Motivated to bridge this gap, I founded Norte Café Roasters in December 2020, aiming to share the authentic taste of Colombian coffee and its story. This venture allows me to bring high-quality, single-origin Colombian coffee directly from my family’s farm to consumers in Minnesota. Read more>>
Kalia Yang
Over time, my dedication led me to incredible opportunities, from working in MN Fashion Week to becoming a lead makeup artist for New York Fashion Week. My journey has also led me to collaborate with beauty brands like Milk Makeup, Milani Cosmetics, Lilly Lashes, Beauty Bakerie, and most recently, Starry! These partnerships have allowed me to expand my reach, furthering my mission of representation in the beauty industry. Read more>>
Kasha Parmeter
In the early 2020’s, I started Creations by Kasha after taking some time off from the photography world… because, burnout… I didn’t run my business wisely. Don’t worry, I learned what I love, and learned to do what makes me happy. So now I mainly focus on babies, kids, families, and senior portraits. This is where I can be more artistic and have more fun with it. My style is a little moodier and lifestyle, I would say. Occasionally, I take on a wedding/elopement because they can be fun. They are not my niche, however, and would prefer babies/families. Read more>>
Sydney Lin
Being cast in ensembles taught me that it takes a community to tell a story, not just one person. As a mixed Asian American woman, I did not fit the box of the classic ingenue. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and a skinny waist who can belt up to the rafters is often was is looked for (especially in the Midwest) and I wasn’t able to embrace these roles until university. There I was blessed with professors who created equal opportunities in their program for those willing to do the work and not just look the part. Read more>>
Leeza Ochsner
One of the things I’m most proud of is how we’ve helped both emerging and seasoned business owners refine their brand voice, own their story, and confidently step into the next chapter of their journey. From up-and-coming photographers, hair salons, and authors to well-established architects, contractors, and influencers, my team and I collaborate closely with our clients to build authentic partnerships that lead to meaningful results and lasting connections. Read more>>
Jacob Floer
I have always been an entrepreneur at heart. Even when I was just a young child, I had my own economy. That business was booming. I Had my own currency (Jake Bucks) and I would pay my little sister for helping me with things with this currency (like getting my chores done) and then I opened a store in my closet to her. And different items had different values, she would be able to buy my old toys with the money she made from working for me. Now if only business was that good. Read more>>
Michael Harding
At 12, I bought a National Parks Passport and my list grew with destinations like Yosemite and Voyageurs and Grand Canyon. My time in the Boy Scouts brought out in me a love of the great outdoors that was undeniable. When I was out camping or hiking or canoeing I felt like I could breathe better than I ever could in the city. I felt more alive out there. I still do. My camera of choice back then was the old Kodak Ektralite – you know, the ones that looked like an ice cream sandwich. I dreamed of taking great photos that would end up in books and magazines. It didn’t happen overnight, but tens of thousands of photos later, it did start to happen. Read more>>
Julia Chapman
Fast forward to my junior year of college, I had a vision for my capstone project that was bigger than anything I had ever done before: an entire fashion line made from upcycled materials. I designed and handcrafted every piece, documented the entire process through a magazine, social media and a documentary, and brought it all to life with a fashion show. After the show, I hosted an exhibition where the audience could see the designs up close. That moment, standing in a room filled with my creations and seeing my vision come to life, was when I knew—without a doubt—that fashion was my purpose. When awards were handed out at our mass banquet, I was honored to receive the Capstone Award for my project, cementing my dreams into reality. Read more>>
Indigo McDaniel
It hasn’t been not a smooth journey due to my mental health and close people to me and their opinions, made me doubt that I could do it. So for a long time I put myself and my dreams on the backburner due to certain circumstances that have happened to me. I spent a very long time not quite taking care and my needs. So I can take care of people who really needed me in that moment. I am now in a position where I can spend more time making content. Which I’m very excited to do more of. Read more>>
Hannah Hubbard
I worked at bareMinerals for about 3.5 years before starting my full-time job after graduation at Target Corporation. Being an extroverted social butterfly who loves to stay busy, I missed the creative outlet that makeup artistry provided. While still working at Target, a few friends encouraged me to start working in the wedding industry as a bridal makeup artist. This was the best of both worlds because I could maintain my career at Target while also being involved in the beauty industry. Therefore, I decided to start a business with a friend in 2022, specializing in freelance makeup for the wedding industry. Most recently as of late 2024, after three years of partnership, I decided to relaunch myself as a solo makeup artist and operate under my own name—Beauty by Mae. Read more>>
Stephen Lewis
I started out as a musician and music is still a big part of what I do. It allowed me to develop a creative approach and work with a lot of creative people. Music is part of a larger artistic eco-system and when you are releasing albums, performing, and sharing your work, you end up collaborating with graphic designers, videographers, lighting designers… the list goes on. I learned to be really interested in the holistic experience, which lead me to where I am now: running an art and design studio with a lot of my closest collaborators. Read more>>
Jeremy Miller
I knew while applying to the Cleveland Institute of Art that it had an undergraduate “Biomedical Art” program (one of the only undergraduate programs in the U.S. at the time), but I never researched or understood the background of the industry. In all honesty, I just thought it sounded cool and could be a nice backup if the standard illustration track wasn’t working for me. We had to apply to majors then, and I wanted to apply to a major that would best benefit the growth of my skills in becoming a tattoo artist; the illustration major was my go-to at the time. Read more>>
Brad & Christie Erickson
At the time, Northern Minnesota offered nothing like this. They decided it was the perfect concept to share with Duluth. With their very young daughter Luisa on their hip, they developed the business plan & found the perfect location in the heart of Duluth’s Canal Park. We were so excited to find a space right along Canal Park Drive. It’s an older building with great brick interior walls, front windows to watch the bustle of canal park, & a back area for a patio. A perfect spot for our vision of Vitta Pizza! After a complete remodel of the space, they opened Vitta Pizza Canal Park in June of 2011. Read more>>
Jamie Beebe
I’ve been playing in the kitchen my whole life. As a kid, I baked cookies with my mom and helped my grandma prep veggies from the garden. As an adult, I’ve baked in a couple local cafes over the years. Along the way, I experimented in my own kitchen, tweaking family recipes and adapting recipes I found online and in cookbooks, and eventually, I started creating my own. My blog (Northern Ginger) is where I share my favorite baking recipes, along with the lessons I’ve learned over the years (and occasional musings on life in beautiful Northern Minnesota). Read more>>
Stephanie Helsper
Owning a small business during Covid was no easy feat. There were so many unknowns—lockdowns, supply chain delays, and the constant uncertainty of what would happen next. It was a time when many businesses were closing their doors, and we were navigating a completely new world. The challenges of balancing a business from home with two young kids, while trying to keep up with the demands of everyday life, made it feel like a constant juggling act. There were days of frustration, fear, and exhaustion, but we kept going because we believed in the dream we were building for our family. Read more>>
Chris Johnson
As much as I loved what I did, I found my calling start to shift around the time I had passed the 5 year mark of owning my shop. I was looking for the next adventure and started my show. A big reason for why I loved having my shop so much was because I got to be a role model for kids and help inspire them to chase their dreams. Through the show I now was able to do that on a larger scale. As I got older, so did my audience. This past July after over a decade in business I closed my shop to focus on my show full time and have seen amazing growth in both audience and opportunities ever since. Read more>>
Lauren Hoof
I’ve been able to have so many amazing school supplies, materials, games, etc. donated to my classroom for my students. I teach at a Title 1 school so majority of my diverse community of students come from low income homes so being able to provide them with these kinds of things at school creates the most inviting, inclusive and most importantly FUN classroom environment. I love being able to connect with other educators, brands who can provide things for my classroom and know that people are relating to my videos. Read more>>
Jennifer Morrison
We had to weather this storm for about 18 months before we truly saw things go back to “normal” But like my mom says, “this too shall change” and it has. We are seeing a new generation of brides with larger entourages, fear of missing out on something else, even though they’ve been to 6 other shops and love a gown (tears and all) and shorter wear dates. Meaning the time they come in to find their gown to when their wedding is can be less than 6 months, making getting a dress a challenge. But we have been blessed with such amazing brides (couples) that make coming to work every day worth it all. Read more>>
Latoja Eld
Our salon started out combining two suites (one was a salon) with carpet and ugly walls! All while not taking a single loan out to do it! We had time to transform it into what we called home for the last 5 years. Now, starting March 1st, 2025, We are moving to Baxter to be closer to the hustle and bustle. Wanting to get back into that walk in vibe. Ironically, where Amber and I met! The old Fantastic sams in Baxter. Take about full circle! We love our team now and could not be where we are today without them as well. We both are strong willed women wanting to make a salon a second home to us, our co-workers and our clients! Read more>>
Becky McNattin
And our passion has been contagious! People who work with Becoming Together Therapy and Wellness in any capacity can feel it. It’s an experience unlike anything else currently out there. It’s unique, liberating, and most importantly, healing. Becoming Together started with nothing more than a vision, and in two short years it has grown from Becky alone, to a collective of 13 team members. After just one year, we doubled our office space and realized we needed a room specifically designed for expressive therapies. Our therapists have since developed therapeutic programming that provides an array of offerings including yoga, poetry groups, and community connection opportunities. Read more>>
Alyssa Andes
But with soup sisters I’m selling more of a concept, a community, a friendship, so it’s different feel! I do host events where I’m loading and unloading plates, tables, floral, bottles of NA wine, everything that goes into hosting. But it’s definitely a shift between the two! I would say I’ve been fairly lucky with my experiences. Knock on wood. I’ve had tents blown in the wind, people cancel from events last minute. But really nothing that catastrophic. Lucky me so far!! Read more>>
Laura Rogoski
The sense of community and individuals engagement with other members was a big predictor for their success in the program. Similar research with veterans shows that veteran led peer support groups reduced negative symptoms. We’re All Mental began to take shape. Not as a substitute for professional care, but as a free resource to strengthen our community and provide safe places for authentic conversation. 4 years later we are now a 501.c(3) tax exempt non-profit with a global presence. We have printed and distributed over 3,000 copies of our magazines, hold 2 free online peer support groups per week, and host a series of events across Minnesota, the US, Canada, and Europe. Read more>>
Jaimie Shrestha
After graduation I worked in a couple of chiropractic clinics and began to work more and more with clients who were pregnant, trying to get pregnant or who had just given birth. The more people I worked with, the more I wanted to learn and went on to get more education on fertility bodywork, prenatal bodywork and postpartum bodywork. Read more>>
Tanya Luellen
I mainly make beanies. But I also have a select amount of T-shirts, hoodies, and keychains. I also make stickers and prints. I like simple designs, with a more traditional tattoo style or cartoon style. I am definitely known for my beanies though. I am proud of how much I’ve done, and how much I’ve worked at growing. It’s a lot to do on my own, but I have figured it out as much as I can. What sets me apart, I think, is that I don’t see many other people doing what I do. I’ve looked, and I see similar things here and there, but not the exact same thing that I do. It’s kinda cool . Read more>>
Luis Morales
We both used to have regular jobs. Luis was a cook and part time cleaner and I was a daycare teacher but had always wanted to work on our own project. Our journey began 14 years ago when I started working in the cleaning industry. Inspired by my experiences, my wife and I decided to establish our own cleaning company about 10 years ago Read more>>
Kelly Loeffler
I started in photography right out of college. I didnt get started in pet photography until I had moved and was looking for a way to volunteer and found shelter photography. After photographing shelter pets for a year I started photographing peoples pets and the rest is history Read more>>
Just Jimi
And a lot of times people that support you don’t see all the growth because you know that’s happening behind the scenes, in real time. And the internet is not a direct reflection of real time. I have absolutely no idea how much time I’ve dedicated to studio time whether it was for my own music or collaborative efforts but a lot of that music hasn’t even seen a release. I’m sure majority of it won’t, but it’s like I’m working towards being able to make sure I have a solid mental and creative foundation first & foremost, and I think that’s just always been my focus and it’s how I’ve gotten to where I’m at musically. Read more>>
Meghan Lee
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but every challenge along the way has led me to where I am now. I fell in love with helping others feel beautiful long before cosmetology school, and when I finally started, I knew I had found my place. But after graduating, I struggled to find my footing in the industry. I felt lost, unsure of my direction, and eventually stepped away to try other careers. No matter what I did, though, my heart wasn’t in it—I felt unfulfilled and unhappy. Read more>>
Arlo Blue
Where were all these sounds coming from? I often asked myself when listening. It wasn’t just the rapping and DJing that captivated me; it was the layers of instrumentation, the intricate rhythms, and the way the music made me feel. I realized I wanted to create these sonic landscapes myself. But hip-hop artists often didn’t have traditional bands. So, I started experimenting. I downloaded music software, messing around with loops and samples, trying to recreate the sounds I heard in my favorite tracks. This sparked a whole new passion: music production. Read more>>
Sam Luoma
Parks & Rec (which was running the program at the time) was cut during the financial crisis of 2008 and the non profit organization The Chester Bowl Improvement Club, assumed control of the programming. To ensure that the programming continued into the future I joined the board, served on the Development, Programs, and Finance committees and when a position opened up as Thom’s assistant became a staff member. I then transitioned into working as a camp counselor, snowboard instructor, and general staff member responsible for supporting programming. Read more>>
Connor Church
Running a small business like Boyhome has certainly been a rewarding journey, but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. One of the main challenges we’ve faced is operating from a tiny apartment. Space constraints have made it difficult to manage inventory and streamline production processes. Every square inch has to be optimized to ensure efficiency, and this often requires a lot of creative thinking and adaptability. Read more>>
Soua Vang
It wasn’t until I came across travel creators on YouTube that my passion reignited. Watching them made me think, If they can do it, why not me? That question motivated me to take the leap and pursue a career in video production after college. The journey wasn’t easy—I faced countless challenges and made plenty of mistakes. But each setback taught me valuable lessons and shaped me into the filmmaker I am today. Read more>>
Tony J.
I was born in New Haven, Connecticut and spent most of my life there. It was great because I was only a few hours away from New York City. I drew all my life. I was mostly inspired by underground comic books and horror comic books. I graduated from Paier College of Art (small college in CT. Our graduated class was like 30-35) with a BFA in Illustration. I had a pretty good career as an artist since there summer of 2000. Made a lot of comical paintings that did very well. Exhibited and sold all over the world. And also did a lot of side projects which were fun too. Read more>>
Bobbi Karg
I was born and raised in Willmar, Minnesota, and my photography journey began right after high school in 2017. I enrolled in a two-year photography program at Ridgewater College in Willmar without any prior experience—I didn’t even know how to operate a camera. Now I am over six years into my professional photography career, and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Read more>>
Jesse Yeakle
My love for photography started when I was serving in the military. I was traveling all over the world experiencing new places and new people almost constantly. It came to my attention that documenting these places, people, and experiences was important to me, so I went ahead and purchased a small beginner-type camera with one lens and took pictures as a hobby. I took pictures of my friends, landscapes, cityscapes, fun experiences, and just about anything that caught my eye. Read more>>
Theresa McCahey
I grew up in an Italian family where a healthy lifestyle wasn’t at the forefront of our lives. Food was always the centerpiece of our everyday joy – the homemade pastas, pastries and sweets always brought us together and made us happy. Everyone in my family was obese, so it was always hard for me to see the suffering my Mom and her siblings dealt with as I was growing up and even throughout my adult life. Though I knew I didn’t want this reality for my life, as long as I can remember, I never felt comfortable or happy in my body. I always felt thick, sluggish, and struggled with my weight, I had consistent brain fog, allergies and never really knew what “good” sleep was. Read More>>
Trinity Jabas
For years, I borrowed equipment, soaking up everything I could. Then in 2023, I finally took a huge step and bought my first camera. It was such an exciting and empowering moment—no more borrowing gear, no more waiting for the next opportunity. This was my start. From that point on, I took my camera everywhere, photographing anything and everything, constantly pushing myself to improve and gain confidence behind the lens. Read More>>
