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.
Jessica Schaum
Floral design is my second career, but my love of nature started much earlier. After 15 years in natural resource management and restoration, I made a big leap into the world of florals. It wasn’t random; it felt like coming full circle. My very first job was at a garden center alongside my mom. She passed down both a love for gardening and the middle name “Rae,” which now lives on in my business name. Read more>>
Katrina & Erica Hammer & Holaday
I decided to bring up working together to Katrina at dinner one evening. My original idea was doing small scale in-home dinner parties as we both had hospitality & event backgrounds. Katrina, as well, had been thinking of starting her own business and countered with the idea of home organizing and decorating. Organization is a skill that comes naturally to the both of us and we enjoy doing it. So I was excited to do something I love as a career, but still have the flexibility of being there for my kids and to be the mom I always wanted to be. My husband’s career and work schedule also made this possible to pursue. Read more>>
Cailee Lines-Ericson
I decided after 15+ years of working for someone else, I had a small vision of what I wanted to do for me and to make my clients comfortable. I think I was born an entrepreneur, as both of my parents kind of made their own businesses for themselves. Read more>>
Adam Smith
Years ago when I was working for Best Buy, early in my time as a manager, they were doing one of those anonymous 360 surveys to help identify strengthens and weekenesses. I dont remember much of the results except 1 verbatim comment. ‘Adam’s a manager now, if he wants to be taken serious he needs get rid of those geeky toys at his desk’. Read more>>
Mary Lorenz
Mary Lorenz, RN: From Bedside to Boardroom—A Journey of Care, Compassion, and Courage When you meet Mary Lorenz, RN, you quickly realize that her story is not just about nursing—it’s about resilience, vision, and the courage to reimagine healthcare. Mary’s path into nursing was anything but ordinary. Read more>>
Gitona Berg
I started decorating cookies about 4 years ago. I had been seeing pictures and videos of other people making these beautiful cookies and I thought- it can’t be that hard! Turns out, it really was that hard. But I was determined to keep trying. I had so many failed attempts, but I kept persevering and slowly learned and improved. Read more>>
Jill Pavlak
Someday is Now: The Story of Minnesota’s First Woman-Owned Microbrewery Urban Growler Brewing Company opened its doors in St. Paul, Minnesota, in July 2014, founded by Master Brewer Deb Loch and me, Jill Pavlak, co-head honcho. Together, we combined our skills, passions, and competitive drive to create something that mattered: great drinks, amazing food, and a welcoming space for everyone. Read more>>
Alicia Lokke
My history is in radio sales and management. I started that career right out of college and quickly climbed the corporate ladder. Read more>>
Kevin Rojas
Los hermanos de Morelos, formed in March 2025, We all had been playing music since we were younger. We shared a common dream of forming a band and performing live. The success of other groups, such as Alta Consigna, inspired us. They have achieved accomplishments, and we aspire to follow in their footsteps. Read more>>
Sarah Tee
My interest in the field of dietetics is deeply rooted in my own personal experiences. During my early years, I struggled with body image concerns, borderline disordered eating patterns and eating disorders, and the constant cycle of redefining my worth based on appearance, fast forward to living with Hashimoto’s / Hypothyroidism. Read more>>
Corie Haverly
My name is Corie Haverly, and I serve as the Executive Director of Atlas of West Central MN—a role I love because it allows me to give back what was so freely given to me. I grew up without a father and didn’t have a lot of stability as a child. I had abandonment issues, and trauma that left me feeling unlovable and invisible. Read more>>
Natasha Givens
My journey really began long before NattyKake Artisan Edibles had a name. I grew up watching my mother and aunts bake, meanwhile learning stories of my grandparents. How they worked with herbs, fruits, and plants to create healing tonics and salves for their community in Trinidad. That connection to culture and ancestral wisdom has always been part of me. Read more>>
Kaitlin Cassady
I come from a family with a strong musical background; my father is an accomplished songwriter and musician who has performed in bands and toured since his early twenties. I started playing guitar at age thirteen and participated in jazz bands/ensembles in high school and college. Read more>>
Brian Johnson
The story I’ll focus on is Over Yonder, the duo I reached out about. The band is comprised of Martha Larson, who sings and plays cello, and me, Brian Johnson, who plays guitar and also sings. We’re both composers and write much of the music we perform. We first met about two and a half years ago, shortly after I moved back to Minnesota. Read more>>
Patrick Atkinson
When I was 13 years old, I drowned in a canoeing accident and was underwater for about seven minutes. I had a near-death experience that left me absolutely certain of two things: there is an afterlife, and there is a God. That certainty removed all fear from me at a young age, and it became the foundation of my life’s work. Read more>>
Margaret Raether
I spent years disliking my fine, thin hair and wanting it to be better. At first I made several attempts ordering online without success, then I visited a couple of shops and was still disappointed. Eventually I got so frustrated with the lack of help that I decided to become the solution. Read more>>
Beth Fisher
I spent the first 25 years of my career in a ‘man’s world’ – corporate software sales. I was raising my now 28-year-old daughter mostly alone, having been divorced twice, including once from her dad and then being diagnosed with leukemia and told there was no cure. Read more>>
Anna Pexa
My journey really began when I was a little girl. I always loved helping others. My mom showed me the value of hard work. She was my rock and believed in me even when I did not always believe in myself. Read more>>
Jody Maier
Two friends, Jody Maier and Joesph Jurgensmier, share a passion for creating evocative flavors, and creating welcoming community. They are also passionate about Lake Superior and its lands. All of this was able to come together when a shop on the Cornucopia harbor became available. The building originally was utilized for commercial fish cleaning operations. Read more>>
Danielle Landa
As an only child, I spent a lot of time in my own head—deeply reflective, wildly imaginative, and highly observant. I was always trying to make sense of the world around me, especially emotions and relationship dynamics, long before I had the language to name them. Read more>>
A T R I E L
Hi, my name is Atriel Durio. I go by the stage name A T R I E L. On social media I am @totallyatriel and I am an up and coming artist from Brunswick GA. I am most known for my songs Mom (Black Beatles Remix) & Cause I Am. Those are my two biggest songs. Read more>>
Amy Wieser Willson
I’ve always been a writer. When I was still in elementary school, I was writing my own stories and poetry to gift to family members. That love continued through college into journalism and military public affairs and now with my own small agency, where I’m fortunate to be able to continue to tell my clients’ stories under the umbrella of Neon Loon Communications. Read more>>
Allison Fleming
I was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and from an early age, I was fortunate to be surrounded by strong role models. My mom has always been a pillar of kindness, patience, and support, while my dad exemplified hard work and dedication—especially through his involvement in our sports lives. Read more>>
Courtney Schur
I started selling on Etsy in 2011 to help pay my college tuition and as a way to supplement my income after graduating from college. I had spent years working for local businesses, helping them grow, and decided I wanted to focus that energy on my dream of opening a vintage shop. Read more>>
Malcom Potek
Biography My work began some 28 years ago in the spirit of self-determination. At an early age I was purposeful to be passionate about the work I did in the world. Inspired by the rebelliousness of punk rock’s will to power and Gandhi’s advice to be the change you want to see in the world, I ventured to create beauty. Fast forward to 1999. Read more>>
Dylan Spicer
My martial arts journey began in 1999 after watching one of the early UFC events. at a cousins house I was so intrigued and surprised by the calmness and skill of the elite fighters. At that time in my life I was looking to for something to satiate my competitive needs as I was a few years out of high school hockey and tennis. Read more>>
Angela Brazil
I became a Massage Therapist to help people thru pain and trauma. I graduated from Aveda Institute in 1999. Over the years I’ve traveled to people’s homes/businesses and I lost out on a lot of my kids growing up. Being a single mom it is hard to juggle so many things in the air. Read more>>
Aaron Bergman
I’ve always had a passion for travel, but the spark really started when I studied abroad in college. I loved planning my own itineraries, exploring new places, and realizing how much the world had to offer. Read more>>
Zachris Haataja
My first memorable experience with pottery was sitting in on a community ed pottery class with my mom. I was really interested, and decided to take a class at the highschool. My mom bought a wheel, and we both enjoyed continuing to learn on our own. She eventually offered lessons and asked if I would help teach a class. Read more>>
Solomon HAILIE
Being in the restaurant business was my wife Rekik’s dream. At first, it was her and my mom who were cooking, and I was the lucky one enjoying their food. Over time, I realized how much joy my mother’s and my wife’s cooking brought to people, and the idea of opening a restaurant started to grow in me as well. Read more>>
Emily Gray Koehler
I do not remember a time when I was not making art or creating something. Growing up in Northern Michigan, I went everywhere with a sketchbook and pencils. Read more>>
Amanda Thooft
From a young age, I’ve been fascinated by human connection, the invisible patterns that shape how we relate, communicate, and thrive together. This fascination naturally led me to social work, where I could turn curiosity into action, helping people navigate life’s challenges with insight and skill. Read more>>
Todd Trettel
Sunrise Finance & Consulting helps Twin Cities small businesses get calm, clean, and compliant with their money—then grow on purpose. I combines day-to-day bookkeeping with proactive tax strategy and CFO-level insights, giving owners a single, accountable partner for everything financial. Read more>>
Matthew Tramm
My journey into estate planning has been shaped by both personal and professional experiences. Early in my career, I made over 400 court appearances in Ramsey County District Court handling child protection cases. Day after day, I watched families torn apart in moments of crisis, often without the planning or support that could have made those transitions more manageable. Read more>>
Craig HeinenTessa Gittleman
Hello, we are Dana and Craig Heinen, the owners of Flock Sitting MN. We live in Richfield, Minnesota and have spent the last 10+ years helping care for chickens and ducks. Our family currently includes 5 ducks (Lefse, Gilly, Tanooki, Epona, and Chelan) and 1 chicken (Esty). Read more>>
Tessa Gittleman
If you had asked me as a child what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have told you, “anything but a therapist.” I had seen quite a few clinical specialists before I was even in high school. Read more>>
Jesscia Johnson
My story in the beauty industry started right after graduating from cosmetology school, with a strong passion for hair and for making people feel their best. Early on, I worked behind the chair in a large salon in woodbury, learning the technical side of styling and color, but also what it means to connect with clients and build trust. Read more>>
Mariya Kemper
Founded in 1988 by Jackie Payne-Noetzelman, Dancin’ Off Broadway has been a vibrant dance studio in the Alexandria & Sauk Centre area for 38 years. In 2015, Mariya (Lawinger) Kemper and the Lawinger family took over the legacy of the family-owned and -operated business. Read more>>
Angie Jenkins
The Story Behind DexaFit Mankato Hi, I’m Angie — longtime Realtor turned health advocate. After 23+ years of living in the nonstop real estate “go mode,” I knew my overall health was suffering. I started noticing that my stress levels were always maxed out, sleep patterns disturbed, I was forgetting to eat meals and overall, I just wasn’t feeling good. Read more>>
Addison Cameron
My journey into interior design has been both a lifelong passion and a natural extension of my upbringing. Raised by entrepreneurs and realtors who had an eye for design, I was immersed in a world where creativity and business intersected from an early age. Read more>>
Jennifer Rohweder
Our Journey to The Journey Inn We’re Brett and Jenn, and after 25 years of raising three wonderful kids, we felt called to begin a new chapter together. For many years, we dreamed of creating a place where people could find rest, connection, and renewal surrounded by nature. That dream led us to the Driftless Region of Wisconsin, where we discovered The Journey Inn. Read more>>
Emily Gerde
Sugar cookies for me began as a tradition, then into a hobby, and eventually into a business. My husband’s family is very German and with that come a lot of traditions! His Grandma Delores was known for her cooking and baking – especially the German dishes (which I am still working on perfecting myself). Read more>>
Kelli Mankowski
We (my husband, Mike and I) started as a party rental and supplies company in 2004. We rented tents, tables, chairs, dance floors, inflatable games, etc. We quickly found that not many people want to get married under a tent, in MN, in the winter! As such, we were looking for a way to bring in additional income during the winter months. Read more>>
Jonathan Wells
Without a incredibly long narrative, my father was a tax accountant and I started working for him at a very young age running ads door to door and replacing tax code pages in books before the internet was a thing. All I remember was getting a nickel per page I replaced. Read more>>
Natalie Hirsch
I’ve always had a deep passion for plants and their positive impact on mental well-being. Nature Nook Café is my way of sharing that love—creating a cozy, plant-filled space where people can relax and reconnect. Every corner of the café is a reflection of my belief that greenery brings peace, joy, and a breath of fresh air to everyday life. Read more>>
DaBrownDoll
I first discovered my passion for rap when I was sitting with my cousins writing a rap together. After we finished, we were given a beat to perform over, and I felt like I naturally took the lead. While everyone else played it off like it wasn’t that serious, I felt something different. Read more>>
Leika Schmidt
When I was 15 years old, I started my adventure into long term care by volunteering at my local nursing home in Waconia, MN. I ended up falling in love with nursing and throughout high school and after college, I would work as a dietary aide and CNA with the goal of becoming a nurse. Read more>>
Bryant Slack
Different occasions call for different expression. For example, I practice hyper focused- finely tuned shots when it comes to music/stage photography. It picks up more details in jewelry, clothing threads, hair texture and even sweat. I keep editing to a minimum with these shots as I’m a firm believer in “showing what you got”. We don’t want to fake the funk. Editing can really encourage misinterpretation of what the actual mood or energy of a show was. Read more>>
Justin Minea
I was born into an affluent, upper middle class, musical, joyous family. I played as many instruments I could find from as soon as I could reach them. I fondly remember the piano in my grandmother’s home in which my mother grew up. In fact, the piano behind me while I write this was a gift from my grandmother. Read more>>
