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. In coming weeks we’ll be sharing some amazing stories from Tampa, St. Petersburg and the surrounding areas. Check out our favorite stories from across the Voyage family.
Chad Perry
I spent years on a trading floor learning to read patterns. The one that surprised me most had nothing to do with markets. During slow stretches between trades, I’d head to the gym. A few colleagues started tagging along. Then my roommates — investment bankers — wanted in. Then their coworkers. Read more>>
Luis Maldonado
I’m originally from NJ and met my wife through a video game in high-school online. We dated long distance for 4 years, getting married and moving to the Tampa Bay. The goal was to support her through college, medical school and residency, taking jobs that can meet those needs. Read more>>
Dustin Daprizio
I’m the owner of BIO Scene Care, a biohazard remediation company based in Tampa that specializes in after-death cleanup, crime scene cleanup, hoarding situations, and other hazardous environments that most people never think about until they’re faced with a crisis. My path into this industry wasn’t something I planned early in life. Read more>>
Ny’a Alicea
Since I was a little girl I wanted to become a Cardiovascular surgeon. I even went to Tampa Bay Tech and was accepted into the .medical program. When it was time for us to choose a specific path to be accepted in I was one of the few chosen to be in the LPN program. Read more>>
Doniele Disney
I didn’t plan on running a rescue, a sanctuary, and multiple businesses. It all grew from one instinct I’ve had my whole life — if something needs a second chance, I’m going to give it one. I started as a creator and a fixer. Repurposing, refinishing, and transforming things wasn’t a hobby; it was just who I was. Read more>>
Otto Strass
After seven years working for BMW Germany and numerous training courses and further education programs, it was my dream to run my own workshop. My wife and I traveled throughout the USA and fell in love with the country and its people, which is why we decided to realize this dream in Florida. Read more>>
Diane Chencharick
I have been an artist my entire life in one form or another. For more than 30 years, I enjoyed a successful career in advertising as a graphic designer, art director and creative director. I experienced the transition from hand drawing to digital and took up watercolor as a form of creative expression beyond the computer. I instantly fell in love with the medium. Read more>>
Jodi Northington
I always had a dream of being a mobile groomer. My husband was retiring from the Air Force and we decided it was the right time to pursue my dream. Although not required in Fl, I signed up for a Formal Pet Grooming College and completed all the requirements. Read more>>
Robert Booker
I grew up in south Florida, a typical Florida boy, dark tan, short pants and flip flops. Went to public school and got into as much trouble as possible. Was trained as a Surgical tech after high school. Meet the love of my life at that time and enjoy married life for 43years until she passed. I am a doctor of Chinese medicine. Read more>>
Crystal Canela
I began my journey in esthetics school in 2016, where I quickly fell in love with corrective skincare. Shortly after graduating, I secured my first position working under a plastic surgeon, performing microneedling, laser treatments, and advanced skincare procedures. That experience immersed me in the medical aesthetics world early on and gave me a significant advantage as I built my foundation in the industry. Read more>>
Tina Calhoon
Frescos Southern Kitchen & Bar continues to define the heart of Downtown Lakeland’s dining scene, led by Chef Tina Calhoon—a Florida native born in Jacksonville and raised in Ocala, whose earliest culinary education came from days spent cooking beside her mother. Read more>>
