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.
Zachary Wilson
If I had to describe my story, I’d say it was handcrafted—woven together by God. I don’t have a textbook explanation for how I got here; I only know that even throughout the most traumatic, shifting seasons of my life, God had His hand on my back. Read more>>
Adriana López
My interest in photography was born thanks to my family. From a very young age, a cousin who was a photographer sparked my curiosity for this art, sharing his knowledge with me and even giving me my first cameras. While studying Fine Arts at the Central University of Venezuela, I chose the course Introduction to Photography, a decision that would shape my professional path. It was there that I discovered a true passion and even conducted research on Domingo Lucca, one of the pioneers of photography in Venezuela. Later, I had the opportunity to work at a contemporary art museum, where I photographed artworks for exhibition catalogs featuring important national and international artists. That experience taught me the value of light, detail, and visual documentation. Read more>>
Zee Bugatti
I began managing Bugatti Ristorante at its original location on Dallas’ Restaurant Row in the early 1980s. At that time, Italian dining was just beginning to gain popularity in Dallas, and Bugatti quickly developed a strong following. I purchased the restaurant in 1992, and moved it to Northwest Highway, where I managed it around my own vision for the food, atmosphere, and service. Read more>>
Dawna Haynes
August 26, 2025 my husband Patrick Haynes and I went in to deliver our beautiful baby girl. When we arrived for our scheduled c-section they had given us the worst news any parent could expect. They were unable to find her heartbeat, we felt her move the day before when we went in to do blood work. Read more>>
Alexis M.
My story begins in Memphis, Tennessee a place I know & love as home. Home is where my family, foundation, education, work ethic, discipline, are all rooted. My earliest experience is working in the retail industry, in the tax industry, in the financial reimbursement industry and as a promotional and commercial model and actress. Read more>>
Jenny Torry
I began my career more than 18 years ago as a makeup and hair artist with a background in fine art and graphic design. Before I ever touched a makeup brush professionally, I was a fine artist working in corporate America, painting on the side, and had already built JTorryArt.com. Art was never a hobby for me. It was how I saw the world. Read more>>
Yael VanGruber
My story has never followed one straight path, and I believe that is what made it so meaningful. I started my professional life in the travel industry, first owning a travel agency and later working in the airline business. Those years taught me so much about people, cultures, communication, service, and how important it is to make others feel cared for. Read more>>
Sherwood Henry
My desire to make a difference in the community comes from understanding what it feels like to need support, guidance, and someone who truly cares. Over time, I have learned that many people are not lacking the desire to do better; sometimes they are simply lacking the resources, encouragement, information, or support needed to move forward. Read more>>
Wayne Kirby
I grew up in a small town in South Carolina, and I learned pretty early that hard work and relationships matter. I’ve been in some form of sales most of my life—from selling cars and mobile homes to spending time around the NASCAR circuit and eventually working alongside my dad in the trucking business. Read more>>
Laura Le
My path into chiropractic actually started before I ever thought about it as a career. In high school, I worked for my cousin, who was a chiropractor, and I saw firsthand what chiropractic care did for me and members of my own family. What really stuck with me wasn’t just the pain relief—it was watching people’s whole quality of life change. Read more>>
Cathy Hollingsworth
I started as a little country girl born on 114 acres in a small town called Brooklyn Ga, as a teenager at age 18 I became pregnant after taking the ASVAB and scoring 97 points and deciding to go to the Air Force, my life changed, with this I became a certified nursing assistant at age 18 after graduating high school, I later met my husband and he proposed to me 30 days later, he was in the military, there was another shift in my life he transitioned out of the military and life began Read more>>
Mackenzie Dyer Hailey Thames
We’re Hailey and Mackenzie, best friends and the co-founders of The Daily Cheer! Our friendship story started long before The Daily Cheer! We met in college at the University of Arkansas through our sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma! We became close friends and roommates, and both graduated in December 2024. Read more>>
Ritsuko Borges
I was born and raised in Japan, in Kanagawa Prefecture, just outside of Tokyo. I have been working in the beauty industry for almost 30 years. I started my career as a hairstylist when I was 19 years old, and most of my career in Japan was spent working in Kanagawa and Tokyo. My original dream was actually to become a makeup artist. Read more>>
Whitney and Tiffany Bradshaw
Something Refreshing was born from a simple moment at a major outdoor event on a hot, humid day. Surrounded by vendors offering mostly fried, salty foods, sodas, and sugary drinks, my sister-in-law Whitney looked around and said, “I don’t want all that—I just want something refreshing.” And just like that, the idea—and the name—Something Refreshing was born. Read more>>
Teresa Dillon
Reluctantly Styled is technically my second career, but it’s something I’ve been preparing for since I was little. I was raised by what I like to call the O.G. of color analysis. My mom was doing color, style and body analysis in the 80s, so I grew up with the idea that what you wear can change how you feel. Read more>>
Maranatha Lee
My love for travel started long before I ever imagined it would become my career. My first flight was from Dallas to Houston when I was about three years old, and growing up, my dad’s church conventions gave our family the opportunity to travel around the United States. Read more>>
Karla Monje
Regina’s Modeling Academy For over 10 years, Regina’s Modeling Academy has been dedicated to empowering young girls to discover their confidence, embrace their individuality, and shine both on and off the stage. We believe that modeling and pageantry are about so much more than appearances. Read more>>
Autumn Wells
Studio 406 started as a ‘What if’ dream. Growing up, my grandmother and I would spend time crafting. So much so I did not realize how having a craft room at home might not be the most normal thing. We wanted to create an outlet for the community to experience the same freedom with creativity. Read more>>
Chef Essence
My love for cooking began in childhood. Food was always deeply rooted in my family, and I learned from my grandmother, a Sri Lankan chef who introduced me to the kitchen at a young age. I later completed a four year advanced culinary program in high school, which strengthened both my skills and my passion for the culinary arts. Read more>>
Ivan Plucci
In 2015, I moved to Dallas, Texas, where I was given the opportunity to open my own shop. My previous experience in sales gave me a strong foundation to take on this new challenge. I was able to use what I had learned about sales, customer service, and building relationships to develop my business and serve my customers successfully. Read more>>
Jared Deck
Jared Deck takes life one fight at a time. Raised on the dusty plains of rural Oklahoma, he worked the family farm and grocery store, learned grit in the oilfields as a roughneck, and saw firsthand the heartbreak of factory jobs lost to outsourcing. Read more>>
Kelsey Crystal
I got started in my industry through a personal life experience which helped create my business and bring it to life. When I started my business in 2019, I intended for it to be just a hobby. Read more>>
Domi @dailyglowfactor
Hola VoyageDallas! I am a Latina Content Creator. I am from Quito, Ecuador (I won’t stop talking about it, it’s amazing!). Currently I am living in Dallas. After many years, different states, and many adventures, Dallas stole my heart. My journey started with a degree in Early Childhood Education, but along the way I immersed myself in my passion for art. Read more>>
Usamah Rodgers
Before I ever understood leadership or strategy, I understood the joy of learning. As a little girl in Kansas City, I loved school, collected extra worksheets, admired my teachers, and came home to “play school.” Looking back, those early experiences foreshadowed my lifelong commitment to helping people discover their potential and access meaningful opportunities. Read more>>
Nick Guillory
I started out obsessed with journalism and social media. I went to the University of Missouri because I thought I needed to go to the best journalism school in the world, and I was convinced I was going to be the next Lester Holt—which is hilarious to me now, after I have changed and pivoted so many times after. Read more>>
Miyana Williams
I’m a dancer and creative originally from Seattle, Washington. Creativity and movement have always been a huge part of who I am, and dance became one of the main ways I learned to express myself and connect with other people. Read more>>
Thania Ramirez-Alvarez
I’ve always joked that being born with a thick, long mane of hair was both my biggest blessing and my greatest curse. According to my mom, I was vocal about how I wanted to come across from day one, literally screaming and crying until she dressed me up in a dress and fixed my hair. Read more>>
Tekeisha Bledsoe
On top of being a Realtor, I am also a 10+ year credit specialist. I was always a big help to real estate agents and loan officers before being an agent myself. I would help get client scores where they needed to be, and refer them off to a realtor to finish the home-buying process. Read more>>
Sarah Alpers
I had dreamed of starting my own oral storytelling program since I first heard The Moth on NPR as a teenager. I studied the history of Irish oral storytelling for my senior thesis in college and have been pursing personal narrative as a passion project ever since! Read more>>
bianca gonzalez
My life with flowers started over 15 years ago At my 1st job I randomly asked the floral manager at the time if I can help out for valentines day. Read more>>
Kayla James
The owner, Kayla, was introduced to the disability community at a young age, creating life-long friendships and experiencing how differences can bring people together. After volunteering in a “life skills” classroom, she quickly realized the lack of opportunities available to students that were capable of so much more and wished she could do something to change that. Read more>>
Martina Giles
I’ve enjoyed the creativity and joy centered around making scented concoctions and exploring the art of fragrance over the course of 6 years. After moving to Dallas four years ago, I found myself growing into another part of who God created me to be, shaped by the beautiful community throughout DFW. Read more>>
Brie Zabierek-DaCosta
I’ve been fascinated with collecting vintage and antiques since I was a young kid. Simultaneously, I’ve also always been incredibly interested in fashion. Read more>>
Charlie Lau
My husband, Dr. John Stowe and I started our practice, Resonance Chiropractic, together in June 2024. Before that, we were both associate docs in separate offices in San Diego for a few years prior. It was a great learning experience to understand what we like and don’t like when it comes to running a practice. Read more>>
Briona Thompson
My story began with a natural talent for braiding and a desire to create something that belonged to me. Over time, that talent became more than a way to earn extra income—it became a way to help women feel beautiful, cared for, and confident during seasons when life may already feel overwhelming. Read more>>
Paul Duesing
I always wanted to be an architect. I started my studies in architecture at the University of Texas in Austin, but I eventually transferred to England to study architecture and interior design. Part of that decision was inspired by my grandfather, who had always encouraged me to study abroad and experience a different culture. Read more>>
Stuart Blasingame
I began my career in the fire service with the City of Frisco in 1998 as a volunteer and then hired full-time before joining Prosper Fire Rescue over 24 years ago. At the time, Prosper was a much smaller community, and the fire department looked very different from the organization it is today. I’ve been fortunate to grow alongside both the community and the department. Read more>>
Richard (Prefer Rich) Specht
The ReesSpecht Life Foundation was born out of the most difficult moment of our lives—the loss of our son, Richard Edwin-Ehmer Specht (Rees), in October 2012. In the wake of that tragedy, we were overwhelmed by the support of our community – specifically a landscaper who volunteered to clean our yard after Hurricane Sandy devastated Long Island. Read more>>
Hector RODRIGUEZ III
Sure, I’d be happy to share a bit about my journey—it’s been a wild ride fueled by family, border life, and a deep need to see more of us in the stories we tell. I was born in Eagle Pass, Texas, right on the border, and grew up splitting time between there, El Paso, and College Station. Read more>>
Keisha Brown
My Journey in the Beauty Industry I have wanted to be a hairstylist since I was five years old. I loved the beauty industry so much that I even named my future salon KDL’s as a little girl. I earned my cosmetology license at Plano Senior High School and later returned to National Beauty College of Plano to become a licensed cosmetology instructor. Read more>>
Jen Land
I grew up with a very creative mother. She was a very artsy person and she was always making something- that became my normal. Her own mother, my grandmother, was creative in her own right- making clothes for her family, crocheting, knitting etc. By 13, I fell in love with making jewelry, not in a traditional way. Read more>>
Esmeralda Ledesma
Hello, my name is Esmeralda Ledesma and if I’m being honest dance was never on my career list. I knew I wanted to dance because I was a very expressive child but I wasn’t too sure if dance was the route I wanted to take. Read more>>
Tolu Roli
I started creating content because I’ve always loved sharing pieces of my life, connecting with people, and creating things that make others feel seen. As I got older, though, I realized that a lot of what I was experiencing in my late 20s wasn’t talked about as openly as I expected. Read more>>
Martha Macabare
Born and raised in Dallas, TX to immigrant parents from the Philippines, my mom knew I could sing since I was two years old. The moment she realized it was when she heard me singing along to the radio to ‘I Swear’ though at the time, I didn’t quite have my S’s down yet. Read more>>
Tani Lamb
Lamb Chop Publishing LLC was founded in the autumn of 2016 with the mission to make history, geography, and cultural exploration enjoyable for children in an increasingly shrinking world. I have visited over 45 countries, 37 U.S. states, and six continents. Read more>>
Andrew Matos
I came from being in the military, to being homeless, to becoming a stripper so i can make enough money to eat. From there I got in trouble and nobody wanted to hire me other than the construction industry so i went for electrician. Read more>>
Kay G.
Blank Canvas Couture was created as a space to reignite my love of the physical art that is modeling. I first had an interest in modeling in my teens. It wasn’t until I was a young adult that I had the space and agency to explore it. Read more>>
Maria De Cotiis
I grew up surrounded by both construction and a deep appreciation for beautiful homes. My family was involved in the construction industry, and growing up in an Italian family, there was always an emphasis on the home—how it looked, how it felt, and how it brought people together. Read more>>
Julián Cedillo WACHO!
My music journey began when I picked up the guitar at around eleven years old. As I slowly got better over the years I became obsessed with music and band lore and started forming and playing in bands with my friends. We listened to all kind of genres so we were always testing out new sounds; black metal, psych rock, punk. Read more>>
Hannah Ricks
I started in banking because my Aunt always told me I would be a banker just as she had, for over 25 years. Although, I never really wanted to attend college, I decided to enroll in my local community college in Little Rock Arkansas and work as a teller for Centennial Bank while in school full time. Read more>>
Nicole Dugan
I am in my 20th year doing hair. I started doing hair as a second option, I went to college first, but I was not inspired and I started partying a little too hard, and I dropped out of college. Hair school became a “fill-in” for higher education. It was during hair school that I realized I had a passion for all things hair. Read more>>
Rene Troy
I started my journey in the culinary industry, where I developed a passion for creativity, discipline, and helping others. Outside of work, fitness became another major part of my life. I began sharing my journey online, combining my love for anime, gaming, and fitness to create content that reflected who I truly am. What started as a personal interest gradually grew into a community. Read more>>
Kayla Moore
My name is Kayla Moore and I began my dessert business 6 years ago during Covid to make extra money . But soon it expanded from desserts to catering and meal plans . Read more>>
Ricky Garza
I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. My parents were only 16 and 17 when I was born, so in many ways they were growing up alongside me. We didn’t always have much financially, and as the oldest of five siblings, I learned independence and responsibility at a young age. Read more>>
Norma Argueta
We are co-owners of Southern Petals & Pour Lori Herrera, Norma Argueta, Hope Escamilla Southern Petals & Pour started with a shared love for flowers, creativity, and bringing people together. What began as an idea between three women quickly grew into something much bigger—a space where we could create beautiful floral designs while also creating experiences and memories for our community. Read more>>
Adi Campuzano
I started my answering service in 2000, transitioning from owning and operating a martial arts gym in NY. The concept for Dedicated Office Solutions was to provide small businesses with a turnkey staff that would become a seamless extension of their business. We wouldn’t just answer the phone; We qualify leads, book appointments, process orders. Read more>>
April Mabrey
I was raised by a single mother from about the age of 11. She worked three jobs to pay the bills and keep a roof over our head. I’ve worked full time since I graduated high school and was married and moved to Dallas at 21. My first job here was in homebuilding. Read more>>
Patti Saponaro
My story started 42 years ago, when I was 18 years old and read a book on health and nutrition that changed my life. I had suffered with headaches and stomachaches for most of my childhood, and after reading that book, I never felt better. I couldn’t believe that something as simple as the food we consume could matter that much. Read more>>
Laura Haley
My artistic journey has been a constant my whole life. As a child, I would enter art contests in elementary school, then always painting and selling t-shirts, sweatshirts, megaphones etc. in high school and college. I majored in art at Ouachita Baptist University and graduated with a BA in art knowing full well any career I chose would be in the art field. Read more>>
Desiree Rios
My story begins in Texas, about eight generations before I did. Those roots gave me such a deep love for this state and the land we call ‘home.’ It carries stories, legacy, and the memories of people that came before us. My Dallas story begins with my grandma who came here from Corsicana. Read more>>