{"id":262098,"date":"2026-05-07T15:00:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T15:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/262098\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T15:00:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T15:00:19","slug":"jacksonvilles-most-inspiring-stories-voyage-jacksonville-magazine-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/262098\/","title":{"rendered":"Jacksonville\u2019s Most Inspiring Stories \u2013 Voyage Jacksonville Magazine"},"content":{"rendered":"

The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we\u2019ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can\u2019t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below.<\/p>\n

Olivia Reid
<\/p>\n

My journey into this business really started long before I realized it could become a career. As a little girl, I loved going over to friends\u2019 houses and seeing all the different types of homes\u2014how they were laid out, how they felt, and what made each one unique. I didn\u2019t know it at the time, but that curiosity would stay with me. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Erica Joy Siegel
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Throughout my life I\u2019ve been drawn to helping people heal naturally and understand the body on a deeper level. That calling led me to study Traditional East Asian Medicine at Pacific College of Health and Science in San Diego, where I completed extensive training in acupuncture, herbal medicine, and integrative care. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Paula Bell
<\/p>\n

I always thought I was going to become a veterinarian. I started college studying animal science and earned my associate degree with that path in mind, but somewhere along the\u00a0 way, I realized the medical side of things wasn\u2019t where I felt most at home. What never changed was my love for dogs and my drive to work with them in a meaningful way. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Shandon Benjamin
<\/p>\n

My story began in my grandmother\u2019s kitchen during the holidays. As a child, that kitchen was the heart of everything\u2014a place where my grandmother and mother created unforgettable meals for our entire family. Being the youngest, I was assigned the \u201cgrudge work\u201d: chopping onions, stirring batters, and of course, the highly important job of licking the bowl. Read more>>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Allison Rodgers
<\/p>\n

I grew up in Champaign, IL as the youngest daughter with three older brothers, in a home where education and creativity were equally valued. My father was a college professor, and my mother an elementary school principal, so learning was always at the center of our lives\u2014but so was gathering. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Nirav Shah
<\/p>\n

Becoming a family man, one thing I wanted to make sure I was there for, were my kids. So my business, CRASH Technicians, started shortly after my son was born. It allowed me the freedom to be there for them, while still being able to work and support my family. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

John Rossi
<\/p>\n

As a trained field biologist and veterinarian, I was out west researching snakes, when I sat down to rest in an oasis at Joshua Tree National Park. While there, I heard the most wonderful and relaxing rustling sound above me. The sound was that of a California Fan Palm blowing in the wind. I was hooked! Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Jasmine King
<\/p>\n

Beauti Haus Collective is a reflection of my journey as a creative and a licensed beauty professional. I\u2019ve been a licensed nail technician since 2013, and over the years I\u2019ve dedicated myself to building my craft and creating meaningful experiences for my clients. Recently, I expanded my expertise by becoming a licensed esthetician, which allowed me to grow even deeper within the beauty industry. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Lynne Gokey
<\/p>\n

I have been living in Jacksonville for the last 9 years. I work part time as a substitute teacher preferring to teach special needs students of all ages. I get to set my days and get spending money for my true obsession- fishing. I fish from land, a kayak and a boat. I worked hard to make a name for myself here in northeast Florida. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Ann-Marie Kallio
<\/p>\n

I started with Woodsman Kitchens and Floors 12 years ago in the contract sales division as a customer service representative. At the time, I thought it would be a temporary role while I completed my degree at FSCJ, where I studied Communications and Media. After graduating, however, I found myself wanting to stay and continue growing with the company. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Denise Vitale
<\/p>\n

My husband, Darin, and I have been married for 35 years, and when we started out, we really didn\u2019t have much\u2014just a lot of determination and a shared vision for a better future. We both worked steady jobs\u2014Darin in law enforcement and I in the local school system\u2014while raising our two sons and saving as much as we could. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Douglas Pugh
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Find Your Coast\u00ae Apparel started as a simple idea I couldn\u2019t shake: the coast isn\u2019t just a place on a map \u2014 it\u2019s a feeling. After creating a Coastal Life\u00ae instagram page in 2012, I wanted to outfit that community. It\u2019s that pull toward open horizons, early\u2011morning light, salt in the air, and the kind of freedom you only get when you\u2019re near water. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Anthony Ray
<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been an avid podcast listener since 2016. I started out with the true crime genre. Soon after, I discovered there was this huge world podcast world out there. One day I was looking through the family section for fatherhood podcasts. I discovered that there were no fatherhood podcasts with a black host. So they didn\u2019t really speak to my experience. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Krista Jurkovich
<\/p>\n

I have always loved horses, and early in my teaching career I had a student involved in therapeutic riding who picked up on that and invited me to his barn. It took one visit and I was hooked! I began volunteering and eventually became their volunteer coordinator, but the teacher side of me still wanted to do more. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Susan Dyer
<\/p>\n

I was born into a Christian family, where my foundation of faith was firmly established from the very beginning. Growing up on a farm alongside eight siblings cultivated in me a deep appreciation for discipline, teamwork, and trusting God through every challenge. Life required commitment and perseverance, and those early years shaped both my character and my dependence on the Lord. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Alexis Rodriguez Cintron
<\/p>\n

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where I developed a strong sense of community, hard work, and the importance of helping others. I later moved to Florida and began my career in healthcare, working as a Registered Nurse in the emergency room. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Igor Davis
<\/p>\n

I have been curious about everything for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Brazil, I was the kid who always had a book in hand, always asking why, always wanting to understand how things worked, and then share what I found. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

John Bear
<\/p>\n

I\u2019m originally from Philadelphia, and my journey really starts with my decision to join the Navy, where I ultimately spent 32 years serving as a Surface Warfare Officer. I actually began my career enlisted as a Nuclear Surface Machinist Mate and later earned my commission through the Seaman to Admiral 21 program. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Carissa Vaughn
<\/p>\n

The Conception of Phi After working almost a decade in hair salons and urging others to start taking steps towards not only minimizing their carbon footprint, but incorporating more organic approaches for the sake of guests\u2019 health and stylists\u2019, I decided to give it a go on my own. I set out to create Jacksonville Beach\u2019s first fully sustainable and 100% organic hair salon. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Jeremy Ansley
<\/p>\n

I actually got started in this industry after seeing an advertisement on Indeed for kayaking in the bioluminescence. At the time, my only real experience on the water had been a guided tour with my family. My mom had booked a three-hour ocean kayaking trip, and I still remember her and my sister laughing the whole time while struggling a bit with the conditions. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Haley von Haven
<\/p>\n

As a new PA, I started out in an orthopedic sports practice which gave me so many of the skills I needed to be where I am today. I was extremely lucky to end up in a competitive specialty right out of PA school and get the chance to scrub in to surgery 3 days per week. Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Nadege Dolsaint
<\/p>\n

My journey into skincare and wellness didn\u2019t begin as a business idea \u2014 it began from a very personal place of struggle, healing, and purpose. After giving birth, I went through a season of severe hormonal acne, health challenges that deeply affected my confidence and made me start looking more closely at what I was putting on my skin and into my body. As I searched for solutions, I was surprised to learn that many beauty and personal care products marketed to women of color have been found to contain ingredients associated with endocrine disruption and other long-term health concerns.\u00a0 Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

Shawntrell Houston
<\/p>\n

I am a dedicated nurse with over 17 years of experience serving others through healthcare and education. In 2021, I launched Tiny Hands Academy with a vision to provide extended childcare hours for healthcare workers. However, opening during the COVID-19 pandemic presented unexpected challenges, including staffing shortages and a shift in family needs as many began working from home. Rather than stepping back, I continued to move forward.\u00a0 Read more>><\/a><\/p>\n

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