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.
Todd Monger
It also goes without saying, that when traveling a road those you choose to bring along and surround yourself with on the journey will often determine how “bumpy” it will be when the bumps and potholes do present themselves. My traveling companions are the reason I find joy in every new day. Read more>>
Leanne Reichhoff
One thing we’re especially excited about, and currently in the trademark process, is The Blind Brand™. It’s a strategy-led brand process built on trust, clarity, and decisive execution. It begins with deep foundational work—clarifying identity, positioning, audience, messaging, and direction. That foundation is agreed on and locked. From there, the creative phase moves forward without ongoing reviews, revisions, or checkpoints. Read more>>
Chiafukam Okoroji
Bussin Birria Tacos was born from a deep love for Mexican cuisine—especially the rich, soulful comfort of perfectly made birria tacos. Founded in 2023, we proudly opened our first location in the Mall of America with one simple goal: bring bold, unforgettable birria flavors to our community. Read more>>
Zachary Campbell
Owl Moon Mental Health focuses on healing from trauma and addiction with a foundation of counseling in community. After years of healing from a near death experience and complex trauma, Zachary Campbell decided to offer solution focused options to people in need of clinical services. Read more>>
Jacob Klatt
My name is Jacob Klatt and I wouldn’t say my life is very interesting, but it’s not very boring either. Over the years everything that I have done has seasoned me to this point and this business. Becoming my person after high school was no picnic as is the case for most young adults. Read more>>
Tricia Andrews
Regarding my role as executive director at Headwaters Music & Arts, it all started when inclination met opportunity. I had been in management for a Girl Scout council for about 20 years, and had been thinking about what would be next for me. Stay with this job until retirement? Consider something new? Read more>>
Big Ice
My journey began with music as my primary form of self-expression. From a young age, I used music to process my experiences, emotions, and identity, and it quickly became more than a passion; it became a purpose. Creating allowed me to find my voice and build confidence in telling my story honestly. Read more>>
Evie Berberena
n June 2020, amid the economic uncertainty and widespread layoffs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I faced a pivotal turning point when I lost my job. Rather than allowing that setback to define my path, I made the courageous decision to invest in myself and my future. Read more>>
Cheryl Lais
I was laid off from my corporate position and wanted a reset of my career options. I took sometime to contemplate how I could utilize my skills, education and passion.. Thus, Heirloom Jewelry was established, 20+ years ago and counting. Read more>>
Selah Smith
I completed my Master’s degree in 2018 at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, in Counseling and Human Services, with an emphasis in addiction and school counseling. I was drawn to the counseling profession through my own lived experience and the healing that can occur when people are given space to share their stories. Twin Cities Lighthouse Therapy was born out of those experiences. Read more>>
Erica Boe
I have planned events professionally since 2009, everything from country music festival sponsorships and crisis drills to kids’ triathlons. I worked in public relations, and I loved the event-focused aspect of my job, but I always felt like something was missing. I planned my own wedding in 2012, and my only regret is that I tried to act as my own planner. Read more>>
Javelia Morrison-Galimore
My early life required responsibility before I understood what safety was, before I had language to name instability or harm. I grew up in environments shaped by dysfunction, trauma, and unspoken abuse, places where strength was expected but support was scarce. Those conditions taught me grit and discipline early. Read more>>
Rick Montgomery
I am a recovering addict. I started this business because nobody would give me a chance to prove myself. I had to make my own way. Started with a lawn mower in my girlfriends shed. I basically went door to door asking if i could mow lawns at 43 years old. Read more>>
Tonya Phelps
Like most college freshmen, I had no idea what I wanted to major in when I arrived on campus. I still remember sitting in Winona State University’s auditorium, staring at a packet of available majors with absolutely no plan. Then I saw Mass Communication: Photojournalism and thought, ‘I like taking photos, why not?’ That one small choice changed everything. Tonya Hjort Photography began slowly. Read more>>
Tricia DeMarais
My path into early childhood education really started when I began working for a large nonprofit organization. I spent many years there, and that experience is what truly sparked my passion for this work. Read more>>
Melanie Danner Marissa Lenarz
VS Designs was founded around 1997 with a focus on women’s clothing and home décor. In 2020, the boutique entered a new chapter when it was purchased and reimagined as 6th & Broadway Clothing and Decor. In June of 2026, Marissa and I had the honor of purchasing the store from its previous owner. Read more>>
Rebecca (Becky) Schueller
I’ve worked in the nonprofit world nearly my entire professional life. Read more>>
Leann Latus
When my two boys were very little, we were not sleeping well at all. My younger son especially had a very difficult time sleeping well as a baby and toddler and then when he turned 3 we realized we had a big problem that wasn’t taking care of itself. We had moved him out of his crib and into a big kid bed. Read more>>
Angie Lynch
I grew up in real estate, so in many ways this industry has always been part of my story. My parents were Realtors, and from a young age I was surrounded by conversations about homes, clients, negotiations, and the importance of doing business the right way. Even with that foundation, my path was not a straight line. Read more>>
Jora Bart
I spent nearly two decades working in sports and entertainment, always drawn to creative work and building community. After the birth of my third child, I reached a point where I wanted more flexibility, more purpose and the chance to build something of my own. Read more>>
zach sussman
After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2005, I held marketing roles with International Dairy Queen and Lifetime Fitness before spending 10 years as the VP of Marketing for Kaskaid Hospitality. After leaving Kaskaid Hospitality in 2017, I Co-Founded Brick x Mortar, a members-only social club and shared workspace, and become a Partner at Imprint Engine. Read more>>
Natalie Marose
I’ve been in ECE since receiving my B.S. in Elementary/Early Childhood Education in 1987. Received my M.A. in ECE over a decade ago. Have been classroom teacher, center director, and elementary school principal. Read more>>
Kelsie Kristen Conant Hirsch
After ten years as a dental hygienist, Kelsie realized something had been quietly true her entire life. She had a deep passion for organizing and creating order out of chaos. No matter where she was or what season she was in, she found herself naturally decluttering and creating order. Even as a child, it was just part of who she was. Read more>>
Lynnette Nash
The Chocolate Shoppe was started in 1976 as Debbie Lees Candies. In 1984 a new owner took over and my mother Lynne Kenworthy and I worked for them until 1989 when my mother purchased the business. In 2010 I bought out my mom and my daughter is planning on someday taking it over from me. Read more>>
Cordelia Karn
I am the owner and teacher at Brillkidz Edventure in Otsego, Minnesota. With 10 years of experience working with children and families, including 5 years in early education, I have dedicated my professional life to nurturing the future. As a stay-at-home mom, I recognized the importance of quality care for my children. Read more>>
Casey Golden
I moved to Minnesota in 1996 and got involved with the local hip hop community not long after. That scene pulled me in fast and ended up shaping a big part of my life. I eventually signed a production deal with Prince Board from the Black Eyed Peas, which had me splitting time between Minnesota and Los Angeles. In 2006, my first album came out. Read more>>
Bryan Fikes
My first business was a mistletoe stand when I was eight years old. It taught me early lessons about location, presentation, and human behavior—long before I knew words like “marketing” or “conversion.” What started as a childhood hustle quietly set the direction for an entrepreneurial life. That instinct carried into my professional career, where I began building and scaling digital marketing agencies. Read more>>
Bee, Eden , Ricky Fever Dream Tattoo
Fever Dream Tattoo is a women and LGBTQ – owned tattoo studio in Fargo, ND, established in 2022. We believe that tattoos are for everyone, and the experience should be fun and welcoming. We understand the intimidation that can come with being in a tattoo shop and we wanted to create a space where people can feel comfortable, confident and safe. Read more>>
Sandy Anderson, MS, ACC
Growing up in northern Minnesota in a small community nestled by Lake Superior, the outdoors was a big part of my life. Camping with my family from infancy, my parents echoed the importance of leaving environments better than you found them. Little did I know that wisdom and training would be central to my work years later. Read more>>
Linda Newman
In 2007, Scent from Nature officially began in a western suburb of Minneapolis, MN. I was on a quest to make the most green/sustainable pure beeswax product that I could. In 2012, I cashed it all in and moved into the remote north woods of Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region, close to the Canadian border, to handcraft my pure beeswax candles using solar energy. Read more>>
AWET OKBAY
My journey began with a deep love for music and a desire to tell stories through sound. Growing up, music wasn’t just entertainment, it was a way of expressing identity, resilience, and hope. I started creating music with very limited resources, learning by listening, practicing, and trusting my instincts. Read more>>
Talia Singer
My journey into this work is deeply personal. Thirteen years ago, my dad died suddenly from a massive heart attack. Our family was thrown into grief, shock, and heartbreak — and at that time, I found it incredibly difficult to get connected to a grief counselor or find the kind of support we so desperately needed. Read more>>
Casey Frensz
I have always been a songwriter and recording artist. I made my first albums when I was in high school with my band Fforte Adore, and we produced it ourselves. Since then, that has always bee my strategy for everything I’ve made. Read more>>
Soroush Naji
My story begins in the city of Mashhad, Iran. Growing up, my dad was very focused—and admittedly a bit strict—about helping me build a strong foundation in piano, chess, and English. He knew that in the long run I would likely move to the United States, and he wanted me to have something valuable in my “backpack” when that time came. Read more>>
Kp Skizzo
The take off of KP Skizzo wasn’t about chasing a spotlight. It was about building a lane where artists, brands, and hustlers could actually win. Music was the entry point, but business was always the foundation. I studied the game, learned how deals really worked and focused on building a table we can all eat at. Read more>>
Samantha Nesse
I didn’t always plan on owning a business. I took a photography class in high school because my dad encouraged me to, but I didn’t love it at the time. Years later, while working at a coffee shop, I was offered a job with a photography company and decided to try it. That’s where everything clicked. Over time, I kept dreaming about owning a studio. Read more>>
Marique Moss
I have always been a writer, even before I knew that was a thing you could grow up to be. For a long time, I thought I would become a nurse or go into the medical field, just like my mom, who was a nurse extraordinaire. But alas, I know absolutely nothing about math, and that feels like a pretty big liability. Read more>>
Joe Meurer
It all started with a conversation between me and one of my friends at Bethel University. We were talking about different businesses in the service industry, throwing ideas back and forth, and eventually we landed on junk removal. Something about it just clicked. From there, I went all in. I officially started my LLC on my birthday—May 8th, 2025. Read more>>
Ada Yang
I went to Culinary School for 2 years at Saint Paul College, graduated 2012. I started as a grill cook with Taher Inc. About 6 months after graduation, I got promoted to be a Chef Manager and still currently with Taher for 14 years. Working with the best Chefs around town! Read more>>
Kejia Yu
I grew up in China, and I’ve always been interested in how space tells a story. When I came to the U.S., I started studying theatre set design, and that was the first time I really understood how physical environments could shape emotion and narrative in a live setting. Read more>>
Jeri Prigge
A benefit of being a senior citizen is that you have a lengthy past to ponder. In doing so, I have found that I am fortunate enough to be living my best life! While some would argue that my life has been a bit unconventional in terms of success, this college drop out would disagree. Read more>>
Lowell Johnson
My martial arts story didn’t begin in a gym. It began in an incubator. Born three months premature in 1964 The year of the Dragon, and fighting pneumonia through my first six months of life, I learned early that breath is not guaranteed. Survival came before discipline. Resilience came before technique. Long before I ever tied a belt, I was learning how to live. Read more>>
Natasha Rosario Wylie
Creola’s began as a way to honor the women who came before me—my mom, her mother, and her grandmother—and the legacy of the original Creola’s boutique that meant so much to our community decades ago. My mom was adopted, and her story, along with the stories of so many young women who gave their babies up for adoption, has always stayed with me. Read more>>
Marquise Moore
My path to business ownership didn’t start in an office or a shop. It started in service. I served as a United States soldier and later as a state trooper, experiences that shaped my values around discipline, integrity, and accountability. Those years taught me how to lead under pressure and how much trust matters when people depend on you. Read more>>
Emily Oh
NACE Foodshelf was founded through a grassroots partnership of local churches in the East Bethel area, led by Pastor Hammer of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. The original partner congregations included Ham Lake Baptist Church (now Oak Haven Church), Cross of Hope Lutheran Church, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Glen Cary Lutheran Church, Cedar United Methodist Church, West Bethel United Methodist Church, and St. Read more>>
Sandy Forseth
Sandy Forseth is a self-taught community mandala artist. What started ten years ago as a volunteer role to support a local chalk festival, turned into a female owned business called ChalkUNITY. “I believe in the power of community, art, music, play & mindfulness.” is Sandy’s mantra. The community mandala’s are universal, ageless & inclusive. A chalk reacher makes it possible for those in wheelchairs or walkers to participate. Sandy has created at chalk & art festivals, grand openings, businesses, community education centers, park & recreation, the University, churches, farmers markets, events, etc. Read more>>
April Arnason
I grew up in Deer River, Minnesota, and like a lot of small-town kids, I couldn’t wait to spread my wings. In 1999 I moved to Bemidji to attend Northwest Technical College and earned my degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. My plan was simple: start working, learn the field, and someday return for a master’s degree. Read more>>
