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.
Tianna Ahrens
started small – I had a lot to learn, so I joined a networking group, built a business plan, and got to work. My first clients were local businesses who needed more than just marketing materials -they needed someone to manage their entire marketing efforts, coordinate with outside industry partners, and ensure every campaign was aligned with their goals. Read more>>
Marky Bergeron
With Sibilance, finding the right manufacturers to execute my vision—especially with the intricate details like crystal embellishments and tapestry work—was a learning curve. Quality control, production delays, and the high costs of luxury streetwear all posed challenges, but I’m learning how to navigate them over time. Read more>>
Bridget Westrum
Growing Our Future is an organization that I started when I was 16 years old. It was just after Covid-19 broke out and it felt like everyone needed purpose – something productive to do with their free time. I was just a kid and I had just learned about the art of gardening from some active community members, so I thought it would be cool to teach other youth what I learned about. As the organization developed, I realized that Bemidji has one of the Highest poverty rates in all of Minnesota, and perhaps gardening and sustainability were more important skills than I had initially thought. I started asking around and found there was a real need for this knowledge. Read more>>
Leo Fortune
The winter calls for hibernation, a return home. This bilingual book does just that. It is a meditative journey for our inner child using original art with tree, spiral and hand imagery. The language is open and asks broad questions like: What are the trees saying? What can they teach us? This allows the book to be re-read and experienced differently each time. For every book sold, a tree is planted by northern MN non-profit – Let’s Plant Trees. Read more>>
Brandon Mccannel
We started small, selling at local markets and craft shows. Then came our breakthrough moment last spring at the Huffman Production in Canterbury, where we received an invitation to the State Fair—a tremendous opportunity for our company. This growth meant I (Brandon) could no longer handle production alone. We upgraded from our church basement workspace to a larger kitchen facility to produce the 1,000 gallons needed for the fair. Read more>>
Luke, Sari Dewees, Brakke
First, a little bit of background on us. Luke is a personal trainer and has worked with hundreds of private clients across the twin cities metro. Not only does he focus on strength and cardiovascular training, but also the critical role nutrition plays on overall wellbeing and performance. Sari is a Doctor of Chiropractic with extensive education in nutrition, specifically its role in disease prevention. We both share a very strong passion for healthy, yet delicious eating which is where the idea for BuffBite Nutrition stemmed from. Read more>>
Jess Kreuser
The last year I have been in the thick of that first-year-of-business grunt work and committing most of my free time and energy into building a passion project from the ground up. I still offer a variety of readings and host events in the Minneapolis area with the intention of sharing my wisdom and introducing others to the amazing tool that astrology can be. Currently, I am working through a hypnosis and energy healing certification and am really looking forward to what this new modality will add to my astrology practice. Read more>>
Ben Wales
I’ve been a coach, personal trainer, and group fitness instructor for almost 15 years. I’ve managed and built gyms and in 2022 opened my own health and wellness-focused gym and coworking space in Minneapolis called The Wilderness. Read more>>
Barbara Lager
Together we created our distinctive line of whimsical jewelry each adding our own magic. Our greatest creation was our beautiful son Nick. In 1995 Tom left this world. Leaving Nick and I. I pushed on in face of this horrific tragedy thinking that Nick already had lost one parent. I had to stay positive and strong with self determination to carve out a life for both of us. I self taught myself everything Tom did and stayed with the lifestyle of being a self-employed artist. Which brought me a sense of deep solice. When I look back at that crossroad, I’m ever so grateful that I followed my heart! It gave me a place for my soul to walk back to after my world was shattered. Read more>>
Sara Zschernitz
Zach has since been working in coffee for the last 16 years and I(Sara) have been in business operations and management. When the Covid pandemic hit in 2020, Zach lost his job and I was furloughed for a time. During that season, we decided we could either binge watch Netflix, or see what it would take to get our coffee business up and running (Netflix breaks included). We said we would take it as far as we could and if the doors closed, we would leave it at that. The doors haven’t closed on this yet, and we are still going strong over 4 years later! Read more>>
Heather Christianson
Nothing ever stuck but I’m so appreciative of all those experiences. I ended up getting a job at a popular YouTube channel, iHasCupquake, where I worked on a small team of funny, creative, and supportive friends and family members of the channel owner. I created designs for clothing, animations for the channel, graphics for socials, and more fun merchandise like coloring books, keychains, pins, hats, etc. When 2020 came around, we all worked from home for about two more years before I eventually decided to head back to Minneapolis and focus on my own art business! I’ve been creating my own products and videos on YouTube ever since. And NOW I’m learning how to tattoo! I’m currently an apprentice studying under my good friends Sean (@pokeapolis) and Rachel (@rachelradiant). My art life is continuously changing and growing. I love it. Read more>>
Zach Zurn
I’ve always wanted to write songs and make records. I started Carpet Booth Studios as a small songwriting and production space in Rochester, MN. At the time, it was just me in a make shift studio, working with various artists. Over time, I started producing larger scale projects, which led to building out my own recording studio. In 2018, I moved into and renovated a larger space, a former church, and officially turned Carpet Booth into a full-service studio. Since then, it’s grown into something way bigger than I originally imagined. We’ve worked with artists from all over, had projects hit gold and platinum milestones, and built a reputation for helping independent musicians make records that kickstart their careers. Read more>>
Tina Schlumpberger
Sugar Belly started as a hobby during the restaurant shutdowns from Covid 19. All I was trying to do is learn how to make a macaron! While I stayed home with my 6 year old daughter, I baked and baked for an entire month to perfect my macaron recipe. This happened to be around Mother’s Day, so I packed them up and dropped off about 8 set to the fellow mother’s that I knew around town (Contactless delivery of course). Everyone told me that I should start selling them because they were so good. That turned into people inquiring about cupcakes, then cakes and here we are! Read more>>
Jessica Shannon
Now my understanding before chiropractic school was that chiropractic is for pain. That’s why I never personally got adjusted myself. I quickly came to realize adjustments support the whole body. Our body is one and everything affects everything. There’s chemical stressors on our body like diet and the products we choose to use everyday from cleaning and hygiene. There’s emotional stressors like our relationships and family dynamics. Then of course there’s the physical stressors like strains/strains and concussions. They all show up in our spine and nervous system. I address all three in my office for a whole person approach. Read more>>
Alessandra Silva
Samba is a vibrant and lively dance that reflects a rich cultural heritage. While it may not be on everyone’s radar in certain areas, there is a world of joy and creativity waiting to be discovered. Introducing people to the rhythms and movements of Samba can be a gradual process, but the rewards—such as fitness, fun, and a deeper appreciation for this beautiful art form—are well worth the effort. Read more>>
Alexi Hansen
Fast forward to my professional career as a high-needs special education teacher, and I realized that my growing collection of photographs, paintings, and handmade crafts could do more than just bring me joy—they could help support my classroom. For over 20 years, I’ve worked with children and adults with autism, communication disorders, behavioral needs, and other disabilities. The work is deeply rewarding, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges, stress, and financial strain. Art has been my way to navigate both. Read more>>
Cort Bulloch
In 2014, I started Sauce Toss as a passion project, with the help of my parents and their company at the time, PoweringAthletics, as well as my college teammate Brad Krueger. I wanted to bring hockey into tailgating culture—specifically at my alma mater, Iowa State. With all the bean bag toss and other classic tailgate games, I thought, why not put a hockey stick in your hand? What started as a fun idea quickly grew into something bigger. Read more>>
Baily Soderlund
I quickly discovered a natural talent and deep passion for lashing. I became obsessed with perfecting my craft, constantly researching techniques and striving to be the best I could be. About a year later, I faced an unexpected setback—I was fired from my job. It was tough, but I refused to let it define me. That very evening, I started drafting a business plan for what would become Fire Lash. Within a week, I had launched my own lash extension business. Read more>>
Payton Walker
Pawnd’r is more than just a company – we are a family, united by our passion for animals and our dedication to making a difference. This is why I take pride in moral code by only partnering with no-kill animal shelters as we are able to help support the animals that are sometimes overlooked by other organizations. We also believe in working with kind, caring, and passionate people who share our mission. Our goal is to create strong partnerships with like-minded companies to make a positive impact on the world. Read more>>
Kirsten Desmarais
When I returned to work after by third child was born, I found the support I received (or mainly lack thereof) on the corporate side of things made my decision to resign fairly easy. I wanted to find a job that allowed me to serve patients in a way that was sustainable for myself. I was so tired of how insurance dictated how patient care went and how much time and energy went into arguing with them about the most basic requests. So, I also knew I wanted a practice that wasn’t dictated by the ongoing cost management strategies of insurance companies. And, lastly, I wanted a practice where I could offer both Physical Therapy and Wellness services through, but also birth doula services too. Read more>>
Hannah Olson
During the pandemic, I experienced significant burnout from my social work job. I needed to find a hobby and passion for myself—something that would bring me peace and happiness. I knew I wanted it to involve animals, as they have always been a source of comfort in my life. That’s when I started volunteering at a llama farm. Spending time with these gentle, curious creatures helped me regain a sense of joy and purpose. Their calm nature, silly antics, and therapeutic presence made them the perfect companions for those in need of emotional support. Read more>>
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>>
