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.
Bryan Schumann
Beyond performing my own music, my works have also been performed by groups like the Saint Paul Civic Symphony, the Augsburg Symphony Orchestra, and the Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble. And whether I’m writing for an orchestra, an indie band, or my instrumental project Ambient Embrace, I’m always chasing that same spark — music that connects, heals, and inspires people. Read more>>
H.T. Altman
I probably got bit by the “acting bug” all the way back In Utero, but more specifically in the 80’s when a little known t.v. series called “Family Ties” was on air. The first actor I ever admired was Michael J. Fox, who was the star of that show and later went on to become an even bigger star on the Big Screen. I liked Fox’s voice, look and charm but most of all his comedic appeal, even though I was too young to fully “get” the jokes. Read more>>
Katie Tlougan
In 2022, I decided to get serious about photography. I took an online course to really understand natural light and the impact it has on images. This new information was transformative in my art and led me to taking more courses. I upgraded my equipment to the new mirrorless technology, opened my LLC, and started putting into place all the extra pieces that are behind the scenes of a small business. Read more>>
Madeleine Lee
Hello! My name is Madeleine Lee, but you can call me Maddy. I am the proud owner of Madlee Beauty Bar LLC, a Hmong women owned business, where I combine my passions as a Makeup Artist and Tattoo Artist right here in the Twin Cities. Read more>>
Nadia Zamoida
I started Little Mix of Everything Photography with the sole intent of capturing all of the things in my life that I’m passionate about. Read more>>
Angela Marie
The path to becoming who I am today as an author, healer, psychic, and teacher began long before I realized. Growing up on a dairy farm in small town Minnesota, I knew I was different or at least that I saw the world and the people in it a bit differently. Read more>>
Maddie McMahon
After Covid hit, I began taking all my classes online or at Century College. I enjoyed the flexibility that online school allowed me. I began working at The Wild Bean in 2021 during the spring of my Junior year of High School. I really took to the job and enjoyed the atmosphere. Read more>>
Connie Anderson
I have always enjoyed learning about other people’s lives, so editing books–especially memoirs–was a perfect match for me. It’s all about one author client referring me to another author whose book is done. I had been writing for businesses, doing a lot of print-out newsletters common years ago so editing is my second career. My dad taught in a country one-room schoolhouse. Read more>>
Kathleen Krueger
After working as a bookkeeper in the construction industry for over 20 years, I was wanting to find an opportunity that would allow me more flexibility in my schedule without decreasing my income. I discovered that opportunity in a field I had never considered before: writing. I had joined a writing community online to share my poetry in 2009. Read more>>
Laurie Zaepfel
I have been a singer with Caritas Vocal Ensemble since the 2012-13 concert season. I also currently serve on the board as vice chair, and act as volunteer manager of the group. I am passionate about participating in a vocal chamber ensemble, and in promoting the group to the wider community, both for our performances and for our partnerships with other local non-profits. Read more>>
Cornel Beard
I’m originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, and after a lot of early life transitions, including a few tough years in high school, I joined the Army and served for several years. That time gave me space to reflect and reset. When I came back to Minnesota, I was focused on building a new chapter for myself. Read more>>
Marin Laukka
My background is in positive psychology, and for more than a decade, I’ve been fascinated by the part of money that spreadsheets can’t fix, the emotional and psychological side that everyone feels but few people talk about. Early in my career, I started coaching clients who were financially stable on paper but still felt anxious, guilty, or disconnected from their money. Read more>>
Anna Smith
It’s kind of a long story, but my husband and I owned an indie movie theater and I was working at the public library. The building next to us opened up, and we were trying to get other businesses to move in. We really wanted a bookstore. Read more>>
Christina Wood
I have been involved in music since being a little girl – my parents made many sacrifices with early morning piano and organ lessons, driving me to music competitions around the state, and starting to play for church in 5th grade. I also was raised volunteering in our local nursing home where my mom worked and knew I enjoyed helping others. Read more>>
Jason Root
That perhaps, there was a intricate interconnection and interdependence between the two. I also realized that it wasn’t really a career change I was looking for, but a different approach to life A lived experience that was not only fulfilling, but honoring of myself, my children, family community and the world around me. I graduated last year in the Spring of 2024 and have decided to dedicate my life moving forward to helping others work through physical/mental/emotional health challenges and improve their overall state of wellness. Read more>>
Kevin Shain
I grew up as a Lego-addicted kid in Atlanta and knew I wanted to do something similar as my career. Read more>>
Ryan Dick
I have always known (ok, since 7th grade) known that I wanted to be a family doctor. And not any kind of family doctor- but the ‘old school’ kind. The kind of doctor who makes their patients feel truly heard. I have done everything within my power the last 30 years to be that kind of professional. Read more>>
Alice Bunn
I worked in Aviation all my life. My kids always encouraged me to start a bakery or restaurant. After I retired from Delta airlines December 13, 2019. I could not find a job as COVID was in full force. I started with American Inn, in June of 2020. And told my husband I am working so hard for everyone else. Read more>>
Nick Guettler
In many ways my story will have a familiar arc to anyone who’s seen an episode of The E! True Hollywood Story or VH1 Behind The Music, except I am not famous or uniquely talented, nor is anything I’ve done in my life particularly noteworthy. Read more>>
Alicia Olsen
In short, in college I was playing D3 tennis and had to make some money so I started taking pictures of people and posted my work on Facebook. It didn’t take long once people started to see my work; I got more calls and it turned into a small business. Read more>>
Richard Strohmeyer
In the early 90’s I was trained as a renaissance painter and abandoned the practice upon entering the University of Texas at El Paso. While at UTEP I received a double major in Printmaking and Graphic Design. After leaving college corporate america scooped me up for my amazing graphic design skills. In 2005 I started down the path of public education. Read more>>
Paityn Adams
flo. was founded by two friends who shared a common vision , to help our community elevate and bring creative ideas to life. We started by connecting with small businesses in our area that needed creative marketing support while expressing our own goals as a new business. After countless conversations with like-minded individuals, flo. built meaningful connections and partnerships with other local businesses. Read more>>
Erin Maurelli
I moved back to the Twin Cities in 2010, after completing a graduate degree at the University of Iowa. As a fresh-faced graduate, I became involved with the Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA), first as a volunteer and then as an employee. There my love of book arts blossomed into a confidence. Read more>>
Jubilee Walls
I started Holy Buckets Inc. as a sole proprietorship in 2021 I was going through some very major family changes and had topush my very casual Cleaning into a more established business. In 2023 my husband Aaron joined with me and we changed our business into a C Corp., allowing us to bring on employees and obtain larger commercial accounts. Read more>>
Rob Clapp
I’ve been an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember. I was born in Florida, and after getting into a little too much trouble in my younger years, I found myself with two choices—Boys Town in Omaha or moving to Saint Paul to live with my dad. That was an easy decision. Read more>>
Drew Miller
I last had a fulltime job over 20 years ago. As the music business moved away from CDs, and having had my best job ever running my label and two others, I decided to see if I could make it on my own. So far so good! Read more>>
India Johnson
In 2022, my partner and I started an imprint called Late Night Copies Press out of our South Minneapolis apartment. We publish zines about LGBTQ archives and DIY culture. We ended up getting our own copier because there just wasn’t a local service that really met the needs of self-publishers. Read more>>
Abbey Lang
I began my career rooted in education and community development, working within Adult Basic Education where I managed data systems, coordinated regional transitions programming, and supported statewide professional development. These early roles taught me the importance of collaboration, accountability, and creating programs that truly serve the needs of learners and communities. Read more>>
Dustin Black
I didn’t grow up with knock-off toys because we couldn’t afford the real thing. I chose them. While other kids wanted Mickey Mouse, I was all about Rick Raccoon and the Shirt Tales. Everyone else had Legos; I had Construx. They went to Disney; we did Worlds of Fun. Even as a kid, I instinctively zigged when everyone else zagged. Read more>>
The Book Keepers Linda Karkhoff – Owner, Jackie Fuchs – Manager
It has been a serendipitous journey from the beginning! Sitting outside on our patio a sunny afternoon in July 2025, my college roommate was sharing an independent bookstore experience she had on their recent trip around Lake Superior. She casually commented, ‘Hutchinson could use a place like that!’ We both paused, thoughts racing, and the idea was planted. Read more>>
Patricia Kolner
My sourdough journey began twenty years ago when my family moved to Switzerland. We lived and worked in Zurich for over ten years, and loved experiencing and embracing the local foods and customs. One thing that really struck a chord with me was the bread culture we experienced in Switzerland, Germany, and France. Read more>>
Gena Taillon
I started out in corporate for 6-7 years behind a desk and computer and I just didn’t feel like I could express myself or my art and helping others all at the same time until I tapped into my young self and went for my goals I had back when I was about 12. NOW! Read more>>
Sara M Haase
We purchased the property back in 2012 from a local farmer that was ready to be done farming. We were living 8 miles away from the dairy farm in a house I loved. This property is only 2.5 miles from the dairy, and came with acreage so was a lot more convenient for my husband and late night calls from the barn. Read more>>
Elizabeth Naglak
It all started 15 years ago, when I was in college, and my first roommate left a loaf of bread on the counter. It sat and sat. And sat. For months. Two and a half months later, this loaf of bread hadn’t molded nor was stale. Read more>>
Melanie Shirley
I started my career in digital marketing more than twenty years ago and eventually grew into sales leadership and marketing executive roles. Along the way, I was lucky to have incredible mentors and coaches who shaped me as a manager and helped me grow into the kind of leader I wanted to become. Read more>>
Jill Kaufenberg
In 2020, Chopper Mill was founded when my son refused to go outside because he lost his favorite mittens. I researched everywhere to see if anyone had mittens where I could just purchase a single, or if they would ensure my mittens if my son lost them. Well, I couldn’t find one single company that would do that. Read more>>
Luke Anderson
I’ve been interested in music almost my entire life. I started with percussion in grade 5 and started guitar in grade 7. I was always drawn to music and remember my first recording experiences of using an old school tape player and dancing around making ‘ooo, girl’ songs like Boyz 2 Men when I was like 8-10 years old. Read more>>
Micah & Yellie Chermak
My wife and I met as dancers with Ballet Tucson and toured the country together with such companies as Alabama Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, The Portland Opera and Ballet Austin. Read more>>
Kelsy Osterman
My story in the world of hair has touched many sides of the industry. It began at the Aveda Institute, followed by advanced training at Juut Salon, and then a move to New York City in 2009 where I joined Cutler Salon. Rodney Cutler, the Australian owner, sponsored artists from around the world, and I found myself surrounded by incredible international talent. Read more>>
Anisa Khan
It all began after welcoming my daughter in February 2020, just before the onset of the pandemic. Having the drive to start my own business, I was initially unsure of what direction to take. In April 2021, I launched AniBells, starting with a collection of anklets. Gradually, I expanded my offerings and began curating pieces that I believed would resonate with people. Read more>>
Ronald Berglund
I have owned and operated a solo law practice in central Bloomington for the past seven years. My story is rather unusual as I started the business- essentially from scratch- at the age of 67! after I ran into difficulties being paid by my former boss for the services I rendered on his behalf. Read more>>
Emma Johnson
La Senda Spanish center was founded in 2018 by Emma Johnson. She was teaching Spanish classes and working in Spanish immersion classrooms when she began to notice that students were lacking passion that sparked her love for Spanish. The following summer, Spanish Camp was created with the goal of showing students that Spanish is fun. Read more>>
Thazin Thaung
Thazin a.k.a T has been a passionate florist for over 20 years, creating floral arrangements that speak the language of beauty and emotion. In 2022, she and her family moved to the United States from Burma (Myanmar) as refugees, bringing with them a deep resilience and a love for creativity. Read more>>
Kristi Eicher
It was never my plan to be in the beauty industry. I was going to school at the U of M Minnesota at the time I decided to treat myself to a manicure which I did not do often as a poor college student .the nail technician at the time asked who did my nails and I said I did. Read more>>
Shannon Sires
Hello! I am the photographer behind Shannon Sires Photography. I am a bold and colorful photographer located near La Crescent, Minnesota. I started my photography journey around 9 years ago by taking photos for friends and family. I remember my first paid session I made $25 and I thought that was just the coolest thing ever. Read more>>
Jennifer Kelzenberg
That’s right, fun at a mortgage signing table:) I have a lot of energy and I try to stay focused on the positive. I think what sets me apart from other people is my ability to be adaptable in all situations. And as far as acting goes, I really love improv work.It’s so fun when you just show up to set and get to goof around I really think I’d like to do more comedy. Read more>>
Naveen David Meagher
Later in life, my curiosity to learn about how businesses work and make profits inspired me to go to business school. I went on to get an MBA in finance from the University of Florida in Gainesville, and was recruited by NextEra Energy, a fortune 200 clean energy company based around West Palm Beach, Florida. There I learnt about renewable energy, solar, and wind power generation. I worked on utility scale projects worth hundreds of millions in capital investments and also worked as business manager for one of their biggest nuclear power plants based in the Northeast. Read more>>
Rebecca Aadland
Please refer to my EPK at https://rebeccaaadland.com/music/epk/ for a ton of information to answer this question. Short answer is that as a kid popular music of any kind was nearly forbidden. Classical music was all that was permitted to be played in our parsonage home. Read more>>
