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.
Pamela Jones
Yes, I escaped Mexico in February of 2000. I was married to misogynistic / prejudiced man who was a cult member and lived amongst cartel territory. I came to America with my nine children and a five dollar bill. With no more than a fifth grade education, but with a determination to save my children from the lifestyle they would’ve inherited if I had stayed. I’m the second child to my mother‘s 13 children and I started raising my siblings when I was seven years old, I was taught from my father that I existed for one Read more>>
Kevin Abbott
Over the years, we grew from a single paint shop into a full-service home design destination. In the 1980s, we expanded our offerings to include flooring, allowing us to better serve customers looking to transform their homes from the floor up. As our reputation for quality and service grew, we opened additional locations in White Bear Lake and Stillwater, giving more Minnesotans access to our experienced team and thoughtfully selected paint, flooring, and design solutions. Read more>>
Carolyn Anderson
Around that same time, I was introduced to a woman named Robbin. She was a friend of a client, in the early stages of terminal pancreatic cancer, and needed a wig for her son’s wedding. I remember feeling so conflicted about charging her knowing what her prognosis was. I wanted to just give it to her for free but I couldn’t afford to absorb the cost back then. Read more>>
Carrie Nelson
When she passed, I wanted to keep her memory alive and help the community at the same time. At Precious Paws, we had a lot of calls each day asking if we could help a person with cat or dog food. It was a need in the community and the idea of a pantry was forming. Read more>>
Saulaman Schlegel
Working openly as a non-binary person also comes with vulnerability. Even in the arts, many employers hesitate to represent people who exist outside the cisgender or heterosexual binary. That’s why I speak to this explicitly in our mission and hiring practices. For me, working toward greater harmony and inclusion is not separate from the work—it is embedded in the work. And it’s a value I share with the incredible teammates and collaborators I get to work with every day. Read more>>
Alyssa Voegele
The Siren of Superior was created as a persona for our first Airbnb. As an illustrator, I created a character who is half walleye, half human—a true Minnesota mermaid. From there, the rest of the space was inspired by all things Duluth and served as a gallery for my art and illustration work. Read more>>
Kristi Krebs
Then one day I looked at my husband and said you know, I think I could start a cotton candy business and make it successful. My husband is an amazing man and immediately said ” go for it”. From that moment I ordered a commercial cotton candy machine and started Krebs Kandy Co and never looked back. It continues to amaze me daily how much we’ve grown over the past 3 years and all the events we have been part of. This is the perfect balance for me of filling my creative bucket along with allowing me to be a stay-at-home mom to our 4 kids. Read more>>
Sari Green
Through it all, I’ve been blessed with an amazing husband who has stood by me and even helped me build out another salon space. His support, along with my determination, has allowed me to continue creating the kind of welcoming, one-on-one salon environment I’ve always envisioned. Read more>>
Teri Smith
I see a continuation of functional movement and longevity-focused practices. As our society becomes more sedentary, practices like Pilates, Yamuna, and mobility training will continue to play a bigger role—not just for athletes, but for everyday people who want to regain movement, strength, and joy. Read more>>
Riku Desai & Namrata Shah
Together, we created Savor to celebrate the richness of plant-forward cooking. Through our classes, we aim to help people feel confident in the kitchen, embrace the health benefits of a plant-forward lifestyle, and enjoy meals that are good for both people and the planet. What has been most rewarding so far is seeing the curiosity, enthusiasm, and joy on people’s faces as they discover new flavors, learn simple techniques, and reconnect with the joy of cooking. Read more>>
Heather Schultz
I did get fairly decent engagement with those videos, and I always had something to post, which was nice, but once my training was over, I was stuck again. In the meantime, I have been using the app Benable. This has been my biggest success thus far. I still am not able to get paid yet, but I have earned several commissions on my product recommendations through this app. All in all, I have learned that while you CAN make a lucrative business out of social media, it is SO HARD. I’ve been at this for awhile now and still feel defeated most of the time, but I am not giving up. I know there is a lot of money out there; I just need to keep pushing until my time comes. Read more>>
Miikeal Kaotic 1 Smith
KMHP is an ecosystem, not just a station. We run KMHP Digital Radio 24/7, giving indie artists and major voices a platform, and KMHP TV on YouTube, where real commentary and hip-hop culture live. What sets us apart is authenticity—we don’t water it down. From radio to events to film, KMHP is about building real lanes for the culture. Read more>>
Autumn Keel
I became a Mama at the young age of 16. My son was born at 24 weeks and 1 day, weighing 1lb. 8.5 ounces. He was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for 4.5 months. When he was first born, the only thing we could do was look at him, put lotion on his tiny little body, and take pictures. So we (my parents and I) have THOUSANDS of photos we took while he was in the hospital. And of course as your kiddos grow up, you take more and more photos. Read more>>
Nicole Fenstad
Two weeks later, while sitting in my hotel room, I got a call from Norwegian Cruise Lines to see if I would be interested in doing a lead singer contract on a ship that sailed out of Hawaii. A job offer in paradise to get out of the cold winter in New York, while escaping the nightmare of a devastating fire seemed like a gift from heaven. So 2 weeks later I was off to do a 3 month contract throughout the Hawaiian islands. Read more>>
Nadia
She is passionate about cooking and feeding people good, healthy food that nourishes the soul. Nadia has a background in media production and performance art, and loves being able to capture life around the farm in ways that enable her to connect with more people online and in person. Together, we are absolutely in love with the work we get to do here, tending to animals, growing food and flowers, and connecting with members of the community through our offerings. Working on a farm forces us to get creative every day, and we absolutely love it through all of the challenges and wins. Read more>>
Ujae Kang
My wife and I run a comprehensive financial planning firm, providing what is often described as full-service wealth management. While a core function is managing our clients’ investment portfolios—including IRAs, brokerage accounts, and other savings—our relationship typically expands beyond asset management. Read more>>
Dr. Vincent Miles
My story is really a testament to the power of understanding the deep connection between mind and body. It began here in St. Cloud, where I studied both psychology and biology at St. Cloud State University. That dual focus helped me hone a unique lens, allowing me to see people not just through a mental or physical lens, but as whole human beings, and the existing interplay between these two areas. I pursued my doctorate at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Chicago, IL), and specialized training at renowned pain clinics in Illinois and the VA hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, which cemented my passion for helping people navigate the complex intersection of chronic illness and mental health. Read more>>
Mary Fagan
My mom, who at 55 launched her own staffing agency and absolutely knocked it out of the park, gave me a chance to work with her. I started out helping her clients and eventually moved into the office as a recruiter. That’s where I found my niche — I became known as the person who could connect with candidates for whom English was a second language. It wasn’t something I had ever imagined doing, but it grounded me, gave me structure, and taught me a tremendous amount. Eventually, we even opened a second staffing agency, which I ran for ten years. Read more>>
Tamara Sparrow
In 2022, the previous owner asked me if I would ever consider purchasing Landmark. My first reaction was “absolutely not.” I told myself I had no business running a business. But then life handed me some challenges that forced me to step back and really reflect. I realized that you’re never truly “ready” for big, scary, life-changing opportunities. Sometimes you just have to dive in and trust yourself to figure it out along the way. Read more>>
Theodore Kidd
Often times I’m using these stories to work out my own feelings on things I’ve experienced in life. I find werewolves and selkies to be very compelling creatures in folklore and I really enjoy using them in my stories. My illustrations tend to focus on animals and blending them with my love of patterns and line work. I find doing illustrations to be very meditative and to be a nice break from all the thinking I put into comics. I find wolves and sharks to be some of my biggest inspirations when it comes to animals but I love all animals if I’m being honest. Read more>>
Blake Beatnik Le Saint
From my first student in 2015 to today’s 70+ weekly swimmers, I’ve seen how compassion tempered with encouragement can refine anyone regardless of age and ability. What began as traditional swim instruction swelled into something larger: a calling to serve those who are tragically underserved, i.e., individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities. Swimming became a vehicle for confidence, therapy, and transformation. Read more>>
Crystal Cavalier Nicholas Schizzano
Their Sound Healing Baths have an immensely full sound due to multiple instruments being played. Crystal plays the Triple Barrel Native Flute, Drum, and Sings (like an angel), while Nick plays the Guitar and they both play the Tibetan Singing Bowls & Crystal Singing Bowls. Read more>>
Christy Coulter
Philanthropy has always been part of my story. Growing up, my parents encouraged generosity and hard work. When opportunities came my way, they said, “We’ll support you in raising the funds to make it happen.” They didn’t give me the resources, they encouraged me to craft an inspiring message, with rationale, to invite others to support the cause. That early experience taught me both the value of giving and the creativity it requires. Read more>>
Jeffrey Sullivan
The ‘Boys in the Nest’ started talking some NHL hockey, but with both our sons having played youth hockey in the emerging Florida market and then both playing Junior hockey, the conversations quickly started to change. Jeffrey and Kevin would have other coaches, hockey directors, board members, mental performance coaches, players, and team owners on to talk about what it took to grow and develop as a player. Conversations would encompass training, mental training, team building, guidance, and knowledge for youth hockey parents, in a market where more rumor than fact was flying around. Read more>>
Shannon Wilson
When the time came to launch A2iV Med Spa, I carried that same entrepreneurial spirit into the wellness and aesthetics field. For me, A2iV is more than just a med spa—it’s the merging of innovation and care, designed to help clients not only look their best but feel their best, too. Every step of the way, I’ve drawn on that original spark of entrepreneurship: taking risks, embracing change, and always keeping people at the heart of the work. Read more>>
Joe and Jameson Johnson
We look forward to the future, where we will unite these two worlds by creating a permanent home that can house both Mythic Mercantile and the coffee shop of our dreams. It will be a unique space where people can find a rare piece of their past and connect with a like-minded community. Read more>>
Dusty Wahl
Every day I learn and grow as a person and business owner. There have been challenges, as I have no background in coffee or business and I’m learning how to operate as I go. My passion for food and community has carried me and led me in a positive direction with Cosmic. Read more>>
