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.
Lily Woods
Before I dive into the powerful strategy that’s completely transformed how people like you are accelerating their health and vitality… I want to take you back and share a deeply personal story about how I discovered this myself. It all started with the birth of my disabled son. At twenty weeks pregnant I was told to abort my child. Read more>>
Rebecca Opdahl
Back in 2005, Bergeson Nursery (a local flower nursery) was in need of a new supplier for donuts, being their current donut supply lady was ready to retire. They have served free coffee and donuts to their customers during the spring busy season for generations. Jane Opdahl, my mother-in-law, thought she could fill that role. Read more>>
Julie Blake
I grew up training in the Washington D.C. area, and later continued with the Houston Ballet on full scholarship and stipend. From there I danced professionally with The Hartford Ballet, Montgomery Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theater, and finally The Minnesota Ballet. Once I started my own family, I transitioned into teaching Ballet full time. Read more>>
Katie Christensen
The Peters Memorial Fund was established in 2019 to honor the lives of Tessica and Sawyer Peters. Tessica was many things to many people—a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished daughter and sister, dedicated teacher, and loyal friend. Sawyer, the beloved son of Tessica and Mitch Peters, was known for his infectious giggle and joyful spirit that brought smiles to everyone he met. Read more>>
Lukas Eisen
Hi, my name is Lukas Eisen, husband, father of 4, and I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist residing in Moorhead, Minnesota. I’m the founder of Restoration Therapy & Counseling, a private practice located just across the river in Fargo, North Dakota. While my office is physically in Fargo, about 60–70% of my clients live in Minnesota. Read more>>
Jen Clark
Jen and Company Too started from my need to quit smoking cigarettes and my partner Dennis felt the same way. One day, he came home with some hemp and plastic beads with large holes and asked if I knew how to make anything with them. Read more>>
Emily –
Hyperbarics gave me my life back. Now, I’m committed to giving that life back to others. “Suicide Disease.” “One of the most painful conditions known to medicine.” “No cure.” “The medical field doesn’t really understand it.” These are words you never expect to hear—especially in the prime of your life. My story didn’t begin with illness. It began on an ordinary day at work. Read more>>
Anna Everhart
I began my career in music education 18 years ago with a deep belief that music is not just a skill to be taught, but a way to build connection, beauty and humanity. In the early years, I built my work alongside motherhood. Read more>>
Jennifer Tietz
Coaching has always been a part of my life for a long time but has looked different in different seasons of my life. In my 20s I was a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer from ISSA. I lead aerobic classes at Fitness and Motion and water aerobics at the Faribault Community Center. Read more>>
Candee Clausen
I am a seasoned fashion stylist based in Minneapolis and passionate about making people feel amazing through the power of fashion and great TRANSFORMATIONAL experiences for my clients. Read more>>
Sandi Gustafson
Barn on the Hill was born from my love of repurposing items and having garage sales. My husband Jim and I live on what used to be a dairy farm in rural Prior Lake. When we purchased the farm, the hayloft of the barn was full of hay. We spent many summers cleaning all the hay out the hayloft of the barn. Read more>>
Stacy Lossing
My 3 daughters inspired me to turn our shop into a venue, it was my late husband’s shop for his construction business, and it sat empty for a few years. My one daughter said, ‘Mom you should do a venue’! My first thought was, nobody is going to want a wedding out here, thinking I lived to far in the country haha. Read more>>
Ross Paumen
I began my journey in the mattress industry in 2008 when I was laid off like many many other people due to the economy in 2008. I opened my first little mattress shop. Through the next 10 years I had a few stores in the St Cloud and Brainerd Lakes area. Later I began reviewing mattresses on realmattressreviews.com where I have reviewed hundreds of brands. Read more>>
Shawn Pehrson
Jessica and I purchased Trails Inn Quadna Mountain Motel & Campground in June of 2023, and since then we’ve focused on steadily improving and reinvesting in the property each year. We’ve remodeled motel rooms, expanded RV site sizes, upgraded electrical infrastructure, and added a new pavilion in the campground to create more gathering space for our guests. Read more>>
Erik Grams
I started installing tile in 1999 during my summer break from high school with my neighbor Ken who owned a residential tile installation company. After a full summer of apprentice work I then went on to installing tile with a union company that completed large commercial tile projects. Read more>>
Krista Scanlan
Agape316 came as an idea on and off for many years as I didn’t know exactly what to do with my life. All I know is I wanted to serve Jesus and others through practicality. I wanted people to see Jesus as I do, my savior, and my life. Read more>>
Anthony Jacobson
I’ve been in non-traditional out of home advertising space since 1987, when we launched AJ Indoor, one of the first indoor advertising networks. We started in St. Cloud and Fargo, by placing framed print ads in the restrooms of bars and restaurants. Read more>>
Spencer Haag
My first real introduction to physical therapy wasn’t in a classroom it was on a treatment table. I had just undergone knee surgery and was fighting to get back on the field to continue my college football career. I remember the frustration of not being able to move the way I used to. The uncertainty. The doubt. Read more>>
George LEWIS
I grew up in Harlem, New York, and that was my world until I was drafted in 1964. I served four years in the Air Force and, upon returning, I struggled with heroin addiction. My high school friends, whom I had left behind, had entered the drug distribution business, and I unfortunately became involved in the drug industry in Harlem. Read more>>
Ryan Cornell
I’ve played sports my whole life and fell in love with lifting weights and working out, after college my step mom and dad and I started Pump Republic Gym in 2022 just down the street, I started training Blake Pendzimas and after a few years we decided to go in on a gym together to make it bigger, with more specialized equipment. Read more>>
Faith Eby
From Instinct to Intention: Building a Business by Raising the Standard I’ve known I wanted to be in business since I was a young child At fourteen, I attended a Minnesota business camp at St. John’s University. While other kids were going to the lake during the summer, I was learning how businesses worked—how ideas turned into operations, and how ownership created independence. Read more>>
Dan Hamlet
I’ve been a financial advisor for 16+ years. About 5 years ago a client asked me to help them invest in a biblical way, avoiding gambling, pornography and abortion. I spent the next few years become a specialist at this. 3 years ago I discovered an advanced certification called the Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) that teaches financial planning through the lens of scripture. Read more>>
Heather Teichroew
My story really starts way back when I, like many of us, went through some challenging times. During those times it was specific relationships and people in my life that supported me, taught me, and helped me through. I learned the value of relationships, and the importance they have on our healing and growing. Read more>>
Allison Kocak
I was teaching when I started walking dogs as a way to supplement my income. I wanted a job where I could bring my kids with me. I was making $90 per day as a teacher. With daycare costs at $40 per day per kid, I have two, my net profit from teaching was $10. Read more>>
Julie Hardy
I started out as a volunteer for Box of Balloons in 2022. In January of 2025, there was a call out for new leaders for Box of Balloons. I decided I was ready to raise my hand to take on a leadership role with this wonderful mission. I came on board in March of 2025 as a tri-leader. Read more>>
Harold Enamorado
This is from our website- Harold was born and raised in San Pedro Sula, Honduras which is the industrial capital of the country. His parents are from a small, quaint village named Ceguaca and moved to the big city for better opportunities. With little education and money, but plenty of determination, his father began a furniture business called ‘El Trapiche’. Read more>>
Heather Lorenz
My journey into this work didn’t begin as a business — it began as a search. Like many people, I moved through seasons of stress, self-doubt, overachievement, and the quiet feeling that there had to be something more. On the outside, life could look “fine,” but internally I knew I was craving deeper peace, alignment, and understanding. Yoga was one of my first doorways. Read more>>
Aundrea Westin
I worked at Timber Pins when the original owners had it in the early 2000’s. Roxe and I had a standing joke that she’d sell it to me when she was done with it. The alley felt like it was home back then. In 2007 I moved away and had watched it switch hands a few times. Read more>>
Michael Cripps
I worked at Timber Pins when the original owners had it in the early 2000’s. Roxe and I had a standing joke that she’d sell it to me when she was done with it. The alley felt like it was home back then. In 2007 I moved away and had watched it switch hands a few times. Read more>>
Amy Miller-Strand
My story begins with a deep curiosity about the human experience — the intricate relationship between the body, mind, and spirit. From a young age, I found myself fascinated by how the body moves, how the mind works, and where the soul connects to create a whole and integrated system. Read more>>
Andy Lyon
I grew up outside of St. Paul, MN and came to the University of North Dakota for college. I did a year of college ministry after graduation and have had a passion for specialty coffee and sharing about my faith in Jesus since early college. Read more>>
Anai Primeau
I was certified in vocal pedagogy in 2019, but my path into this work began much earlier honestly out of frustration. I had been trying to learn how to sing with a healthy mixed belt since I was about 12 years old, yet no one could truly explain how to do it in a way that worked for my voice. Read more>>
Melissa Cohrs
I am a photographer and 2 years ago we purchase a beautiful building in downtown Glencoe, Minnesota to be my photo studio. While touring the building, I realized how much I loved the space and not only did I want to do my photography there, I wanted to share the space with the community. Read more>>
Devon Alwin-Rodriguez
I have been a nurse for over 13 years, with nearly six of those dedicated to specializing in Aesthetic Nursing. From the very beginning of my nursing journey, I knew I wanted to blend my strong medical background with my long-standing passion for aesthetics—and I’m grateful to be living that vision today. Read more>>
Fancy Clam
We started in 2016 as a side hustle and now we’re a full-time agency. Read more>>
Nick Groshong
In 2013 I was attending CLC for law enforcement degree, I had injured my shoulder and had surgery. I had been told by the front desk nurses at northern orthopedics on south sixth street that if I have surgery, I’ll never be able to become a cop. I guess subconsciously it bugged me. Read more>>
Teal Foster
I’m a nurse practitioner and the founder of Refine Wellness Clinic in Stillwater. Starting the clinic came from a mix of frustration and wanting more freedom in my life. I was working in traditional healthcare where visits felt rushed and care often stopped at quick fixes. At the same time, I wanted more flexibility to actually be there for my kids. Read more>>
Kelly Weldon
With over two and a half decades of experience, I specialize in portraiture that spans the full spectrum of life. Based in St. Paul, I work with families, newborns, high school seniors, and couples to capture the moments that define their history. Having started my career in the era of film, I bring a refined eye for light and composition to my modern digital work. Read more>>
Caleb Horner
My brother (Luke) and I took over MH Plumbing about two and a half years ago, but in reality, we’ve been in this business our entire lives. We grew up learning the trade from our father (Mark). Read more>>
Trisha Kubasek
Through my own journey of healing and finding myself through the chaos of life I found it has been a collective of things that have helped the Whole me. In 2016 life got heavy and stressful, my mind and body was telling me something needed to change and I knew I was the only one who could make that change. Read more>>
Dury Nelson
Todd Hanson opened a used bookstore located in Hayward, WI in 2017. He had a few crates of used records at the front counter that quickly accumulated as he bought collections and selected records from his own listening library to sell. In 2019, he opened another location in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Read more>>
Chris Leibel
The Smokey’s Story: From Backyard BBQ to Community Staple Every great restaurant has a story, and Smokey’s Pub N’ Grill began long before its doors opened in October 2012. Owners Chris, JT, Jeremy, and Kat each traveled a different road, united by a shared passion for food, fire, and community. Read more>>
Erik Brandt
I have been a musician as long as I can remember. I started with the piano and at some point in middle school I realized that I could create my own music and not just read what was on the pages provided for me. From there I started playing in bands and creating my own bands and making lots of lifelong friends through creating music. Read more>>
Danny Mathews
I started my artistic journey on a bit of a different path than photography. In high school I was in bands and we would play at coffee shops and outside of businesses. Playing coffee houses turned into playing local bars in college. Read more>>
Kaylee Schloegel
I started Euphoria immediately after graduating from esthetics school, driven by a passion for helping women feel confident and beautiful, and grounded in faith. With the support of my grandparents, who generously funded my business, I was able to turn my vision into reality. God is at the center of every decision I make. Read more>>
Terry Hagensen
My story of becoming a pastor began in 1976 during a Bible class at my home congregation in Camas, Washington. One day, my pastor said something that surprised me — he told me he believed God might be calling me to attend Bible college. That simple comment stayed with me, and before long, I took the step to go. Read more>>
Laurie Troumbly
I’ve been in the mental health field since 2002, driven by a lifelong curiosity about human behavior—why people do what they do, and how change truly happens. That curiosity led me through years of education, earning both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and clinical counseling while working full-time raising my two daughters. Read more>>
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>>
