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.
Jason Erickson
We’re a church that’s about 4 years old. We started with about 20 people in my sisters living room in January of 2022. In June of 2022, we began to meet at the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd, MN. After beginning to outgrow that space, we were at a church planting conference in Houston in March of 2025 for 3 days. Read more>>
Poiab Vue
I’m a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and the founder of Your Own Pathway. I started the business about four years ago with a pretty straightforward plan: build a therapy practice, do good clinical work, and grow from there. But the journey didn’t stay straightforward for long. Read more>>
Paul Tatro
I got into nonprofit work the way a lot of people do: not through some grand master plan, but by following the work that felt meaningful and then slowly realizing it had become a vocation. For more than 20 years, I’ve worked in nonprofit development, grant writing and strategic planning, mostly with organizations serving people who are too often pushed to the margins. Read more>>
John Amann
I was born and raised in Mankato, MN, by parents who were both educators. After attending 11 years of Catholic K – 12 schooling I attended Minnesota State University where my dad taught and coached golf. While in high school I taught myself to play guitar and was able to co-found a rock and roll band that helped me pay my way through college. Read more>>
Julie Shannon Williams
In a previous chapter of life I was an educator. I taught elementary education for 16 years in the metro area, and was attending yoga during that time. Yoga quickly became more than ‘a class to attend’, as I learned it is more of a lifestyle choice. Read more>>
Tasha Eriksen
My interest in esthetics started when I was a teenager struggling with acne. I know firsthand how much your skin can affect your confidence and how you feel about yourself, and that experience is what first drew me into this industry. Read more>>
Amelia Sullivan
I was born and raised in Colombia in a humble household. We definitely faced struggles growing up, but thankfully we always had what we needed. From a very young age, I was extremely independent and motivated to build a better future for myself. I started working at 17 while also studying, which was challenging at times, but it taught me discipline, resilience, and determination. Read more>>
Sean Alter
I studied music business and interned with a music placement company for commercials and sync work. After years of trying different paths in music, I realized I cared more about creating meaningful music and helping others record than chasing the industry side. Read more>>
Allison Gonzalez
My yoga teaching journey began in 2018 after completing a 235-hour certification through Devanadi School of Wellness in Fargo, North Dakota. Little did I know at that time that over the next four years I’d teach hundreds of classes across FM-area fitness centers and build a close community of regular students—many of whom I am blessed to say still practice with me today. Read more>>
Jay Pee BSW, LADC, LSW, CPRS
My name is Jay Pee, and my story is one of pain, purpose, recovery, and hope. I come from the streets, which was where God shaped my heart for the people I serve today. Eight years ago, I experienced addiction and homelessness. I know what it feels like to be counted out, overlooked, judged, and still be trying to survive. Read more>>
Amanda Ochs
A Fresh Start was founded in 2020 by Amy Klugherz after seeing a major gap in support for individuals and families emerging from homelessness in southern Minnesota. While many people were able to secure housing, they were often moving into completely empty spaces with little to nothing to make it feel like home. Read more>>
John Arms
I got my start in fractional work in 2018 after years as an entrepreneur, agency founder, and marketing leader, when I began to see a major shift in how experienced talent could create value outside the traditional full-time model. What started as my own move into fractional leadership quickly became something much bigger. Read more>>
Baatarchuluun Nyamdechin
My name is Choka and I am a designer, carpenter and intrapreneur – founder of Hammer Works llc. Hammer Works llc specialized in custom build-ins and fine carpentry. I do design my own build-ins – cabinets, shelving, storage units or anything homeowners wanted to make fit for their lifestyle or specific usage for their daily life. I started my career in 2006 as painter. Read more>>
Natalie Sudberry
They say when one door closes, another door opens — and that truly describes my journey. I have worked in retail my entire adult life, in many different roles including sales associate, management, custom clothing, and account representative. Fashion and customer service have always been a passion of mine. At one point, I was helping another boutique owner when she decided to close her doors. Read more>>
Emma Sventek
I started in social media management after seeing how many amazing businesses struggled to consistently show up online in a way that actually connected with people. What began as content creation quickly grew into helping wedding professionals, beauty brands, and female entrepreneurs build strategy-driven social media that creates trust, connection, and real growth. Read more>>
NeTia Bauman
My path hasn’t been linear, but there’s been a very consistent throughline, I’ve always been a builder. Read more>>
Alex Johnson
Making good food for my family and friends while has always been where I find the most joy in my life. I have always enjoyed challenging myself to cook as completely from scratch as I can, so this has led me down some weird pathways in my kitchen. Read more>>
