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.
Penni Brenke
What is Cowabunga Cresties? Cowabunga Cresties is located in Southern Minnesota. Primarily focused on breeding Correlophus Ciliatus, commonly known as the crested gecko. My 3 main focuses on breeding crested geckos are Olives, Tigers, and Dark Phantoms. I take a lot of pride in my animals, and how they are represented. Read More>>
De’Andre ‘JaeMyth’ McKee
I started out rapping and making my own music at the young age of 8 with my older cousin WestMo producing and making my beats. This would go on for 10 years straight until I started to do my very first show at the age of 18 at the Profile Center in Minneapolis. Read More>>
Sydney Wilton
My journey into the wedding industry started long before I officially launched my business. As a teenager, I began working in marketing and quickly discovered a passion for creativity, branding, and connecting with people. That passion led me to earn my degree in Design from the University of Minnesota, where I further developed my skills in visual communication and design. Read More>>
Steffen Sharikov
I grew up around ministry and storytelling. My father, Vladimir, founded Sharikov Ministries in Jordan, Minnesota, and I started working alongside him there in 2016. That experience taught me early that a camera is never just a camera. It is a way to capture something that matters and hand it to someone in a form they can hold onto. Read More>>
Allynne Noelle Brown
Thomas and I met back in 2016, when we both started dancing for the renowned Balanchine ballerina Suzanne Farrell – at the time her company was the resident company of the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. At the time, we were both well into our own careers. Read More>>
Alison Van Dam
I’ve always been drawn to storytelling and the people behind it. I studied Theatre, Marketing, and Film & Media Studies at Northwestern, then spent four years helping grow and produce content for The Viall Files, where I developed a deep understanding of audience engagement, content strategy, and digital media. Read More>>
Leigh Polodna
I suppose my story into somatic therapy starts with my career in social work. I worked in homeless services for 12 years and while the work was rewarding and meaningful, I had started to feel like nothing I was doing was changing anything. I worked for an organization that oversaw and disseminated federal and state funding for programs serving those experiencing homelessness. Read More>>
Ryan Tischer
I first became interested in landscape photography my senior year of high school and then minored in photography at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. While in college in 2006, I decided to try selling my photography at some art festivals. Read More>>
Josh Jones
The driving force behind starting Halcyon House was to gather a variety of holistic care practitioners who have honed their modalities to create a holistic wellness hub that focuses on all aspects of personal wellness, for both practitioner and client. We ask ourselves: ‘How would your ideal practice look? How can we make the most positive impact on your clients? Read More>>
Karin Kraemer
I began Glassblowing in art School in the early 80’s. I also did pottery then. I worked for glassblowers for about 8 years, also making my own work. I moved to West Virginia, and found it hard to work in glass, so I started pit firing clay in the yard. Read More>>
Cindy Merriam
My journey into healing work has been anything but traditional. I grew up in Superior, Wisconsin, and have always been drawn to helping others. For many years, I focused on family, supporting my husband through law school and helping raise my son, who has special needs. Read More>>
Amy Frederickson
I’m Amy. I’ve been happily married to my husband, Keith, for over 25 years, and we’ve called Lakeville home for more than two decades. Together we’ve raised three children—one grown, one heading to college in the fall and one who attends Lakeville South High School. Our family has been deeply involved in the community through school activities, sports, volunteer work, and local events. Read More>>
Irve Dell
I was born on St. Paul Minnesota in 1961 to parents from western New York. I went to Kenwood Elementary School and Jefferson Junior High. I graduated from West High School in 1979. I have always been interested in science, math and art. I attended numerous art classes at the Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Institute of Arts as a youth. Read More>>
Sasha Howell
My background is in costume design, theater, education, and creative production, so I have spent a lot of my life helping people use clothing to tell stories, solve problems, and feel more like themselves. Rebel Threads grew out of that work, but also out of a bigger question: what if sewing, repair, costume, and fashion could be more accessible to regular people? Read More>>
Jessie Rudi
I never thought in a million years I’d be doing what I do today – I thought I was going to be a professor! When I look back at how I came to be an energy healing practitioner, every step makes perfect sense. I was born and raised just outside of Washington, DC. Read More>>
Miranda Klemmensen
Over 13 years ago, I walked into a med spa for a consultation regarding my own skin concerns. During that visit, I was met with compassion, trust, knowledge, and a personalized treatment plan. It was in that moment that I knew I wanted to pursue a career in esthetics. Read More>>
Marissa Torres-Bertram
I was initially introduced to massage as a general form of rest and relaxation, but after my mother went through breast cancer in 2010, I learned about other modalities and styles of massage, and came to view bodywork as a much larger part of self care and well-being. Read More>>
Theresa Baker
I’ve been a hairstylist for over 10 years, but before entering the beauty industry, I earned my degree in Speech-Language Pathology and worked with autistic children and adults. While I loved that work, I eventually followed my passion for hair and built a career behind the chair. Over the years, I realized I could combine both of those worlds in a meaningful way. Read More>>
Terence Penister
I’m Terence “TP” Penister, owner of TP Photo Studio. My work is built around Legacy in Motion — documenting real work, real people, and real presence. I started photography because I saw how powerful it was for people to see themselves clearly. Over time, my work became more than taking pictures. Read More>>
Ben Pauley
My journey into jewelry started long before I ever made my first ring. As a child, I was fascinated by gemstones, minerals, and rocks, and I spent years building collections and learning everything I could about them. Around the age of 12 I discovered blacksmithing and quickly fell in love with the art of shaping metal with my own hands. Read More>>
Chad Sypnieski
My story really starts at childhood. Some of my favorite memories are visiting my grandfather in the Seward neighborhood who had a wood shop in his basement. He would encourage me to play around and create in the shop while I visited with him. Read More>>
Patcharin Nuankhao
’From working as a chef and restaurant manager in Thailand to becoming a business owner in Bemidji, my journey has always been fueled by a deep love for authentic Asian food and community. After moving to the U.S. Read More>>
Matt Graves
I heard about escape rooms back in 2018 and had to learn more. I played a few in Duluth, MN and was hooked. It sounded like a fun business, but living in the sparsely populated area of Northern Minnesota, I wanted to get more information. Read more>>
Savannah Leyde
My husband and I met when I was 15 years old at South Saint Paul High School. After graduation, we were married in 2003 and welcomed our first child, a son named Dylan, in 2004. I had always had the desire to participate in a pageant. However, as a married woman I thought my opportunity had passed. Read more>>
