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.
Supreme Nova
My journey started with a passion for helping people feel confident through grooming and self-expression. What began as an interest in cutting hair grew into a career and brand that I’ve worked hard to build. As a barber, I focused on perfecting my craft, building relationships with clients, and creating an experience that goes beyond just a haircut. Read more>>
Esther Castañeda
My journey to becoming a therapist was shaped by my own life experiences and the growth that came from navigating challenges along the way. Those experiences gave me a deep appreciation for the healing that happens when people are met with support, perspective, and hope. My faith has also been a strong foundation in my life, helping me approach difficult seasons with resilience and optimism. Read more>>
Kory Torjussen
To preface: I’m a native of Jacksonville, FL. Born and raised. Now, stop it. I know you’re saying “DUUUUVAAAAAL”. The Jags gotta win something first. This journey all started with a trip to Iceland at 18 years old, when I had to decide if a camcorder or camera would accompany me. Read more>>
Devony Wyatt
Posh Petals was built on faith, creativity, and the willingness to say “yes” before having it all figured out. I didn’t come from a traditional floral design background. In fact, I opened a flower shop with no background. What I did know was that I loved beautiful spaces, thoughtful details, and creating experiences that made people feel seen and cared for. Read more>>
Kimberly Randell
I’ve always been drawn to art. Growing up in Queens, New York, I spent countless hours flipping through my dad’s Architectural Digest magazines, rearranging my bedroom, and dreaming up new spaces. That passion led me to earn a BFA in Interior Design from The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City and begin my career in the design industry. Read more>>
Erica Campbell
I started Campbell River Cheese & Charcuterie because I wanted a different life—one where I could step away from the corporate world, be present for my children, and have the freedom to watch them grow while building something of my own. What began as a passion for creating beautiful experiences through food has grown into one of Tampa Bay’s most recognized charcuterie companies. Read more>>
Renee Bell
I built your career in healthcare first, not aesthetics. With over 30 years of experience in nursing and a strong foundation in women’s health, I’ve always been driven by a passion for evidence-based care. This approach has been the cornerstone of my career, and I’ve carried it with me as I transitioned into the field of advanced aesthetics. Read more>>
Felicia Barptelus
My name is Felicia, and I’m the owner of Exquisite Charcuterie LLC, a luxury charcuterie and grazing business based in Newark, New Jersey. I create curated boards and grazing tables that are not only beautiful, but meaningful. For me, it’s more than just food—it’s about creating moments where people can gather, celebrate, and feel special. Read more>>
Becky Moriarty
My path here has been anything but linear, but looking back, it all makes sense. I began my career in the wellness world over 20 years ago as a massage therapist and esthetician, working closely with people through touch, presence, and care. Read more>>
Ashe Aurora
For as long as I can remember, beauty has been a part of my life. Sundays were “hair days” in my Cuban, multigenerational household, so I was applying hair color on my grandmas roots from when I was so tiny I had to use a step stool. I was doing braids & updos out of my bedroom throughout middle school & high school. Read more>>
Luz Jimenez
My love for photography began when art felt like the only way I could express myself. At fourteen years old, I moved to a new country without knowing the language. Like many teenagers, I was already navigating the challenges of growing up, but starting over in a completely unfamiliar place brought a different kind of loneliness. Read more>>
Stephen McConnell
My early years were marked by a lot of movement and financial instability. We lived with what I now call an “early poverty mindset.” Food was tightly controlled: the pantry and fridge were literally kept locked unless it was mealtime. I grew up with a constant background sense of scarcity—of “there might not be enough,” not just physically but emotionally too. Read more>>
Traci Kegerreis
After graduating college, I decided to pack my suitcase and explore the tiny island of St John in the US Virgin Islands. My plan was to stay for 3 months. 11 years, 1 husband and a daughter later we moved back to the continental US and Florida became our new home. We have now been here for 22 years. Living in the U.S. Read more>>
Amorliz Arce
I was born in Ecuador and came to the United States at a young age, with one suitcase full of dreams of building a better future through education and hard work. Over the last 25+ years, I built a career in financial services, holding leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies and gaining experience in corporate finance, strategic planning, and business operations. Read more>>
Savannah Gilliam
Honestly, my story is one of those ‘I didn’t plan this but looking back it couldn’t have happened any other way’ kind of stories. I spent years working as a paralegal in probate and estate law. On paper it was a stable, respectable career. Read more>>
Liz Reyes
I’ve been tattooing locally for over 20 years. I started out as an artist first,I’ve always drawn and painted,and tattooing just became the path where that turned into a career. What I’ve always loved about it is the one-on-one connection with people. You’re sitting with someone and creating something really personal that they’re going to carry with them. Read more>>
Clarissa Soto
I’ve been in the beauty industry for 10 years and have proudly serviced the Tampa Bay area for the last 6. What I’ve always loved most about this industry is empowering women—whether that’s through brows, lashes, or simply creating a space that feels like catching up with your best girlfriends. Read more>>
Anna Markusenka
I came from a small European country – Belarus. I grew up in a simple working-class family. My parents worked at a factory. I never played tennis as a child, but tennis was my greatest love. I used to watch matches on a small television that stood on top of a freezer in our bedroom with my brother. Read more>>
Jennifer Kon
I’m a first generation American and started traveling abroad at 1 year old and haven’t stopped since! My passion for assisting others in their travel has also been a constant thread throughout my life. I had previously worked in study abroad at a university and also in travel insurance. Read more>>
Shianne Wisdom
I’ve always felt the tension between faith and creativity. Like, both were real in me at the same time and for a long time I didn’t know how to hold them together without one shrinking the other. And somewhere in the middle of sitting with that tension, I realized the space I needed just… didn’t exist. So I built it. Read more>>
Randy Cannon
It all started about 20 years ago with Manny’s potting soil business on Hillsborough Ave. Deeply inspired by their father’s green thumb, Manny’s daughters, Brenda and Jeimy, developed their own passion for greenery. Read more>>
Taylor Thrasher
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved photography. I received my first camera at the age of 11 (a hot pink digital zoom camera), and loved making art on my computer with my photos. In 2016, when I was 19, my good friend and her now husband had started a photo and video business (now called Everfield Creative). Read more>>
Claudia West
I’m Claudia, a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach with a passion for wellness, real ingredients, and sustainable healthy habits. I am Italian born and raised and I absolutely love whole food and homemade tasty treats. Power Cookies by Claudia are homemade protein cookies. Read more>>
Mariel Gallagher
My journey to becoming a business owner began long before I launched my marketing agency in 2018. I was born and raised in Venezuela and came to the United States at the age of 17. Leaving behind everything familiar was both exciting and terrifying. Read more>>
Jeanine Lum
My husband Jeff and I were driving to the desert for a weekend with a case of carefully selected wines packed in a cardboard box. One sharp turn on a winding road sent the entire case tumbling. In that moment, nearly $1,400 worth of wine was at risk, and I realized how vulnerable wine becomes the moment it leaves the winery, cellar, or wine shop. Read more>>
