The Most Inspiring Stories in St. Louis

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.

Austin Whitehead

I started welding in high school and never looked back. After trade school, I hit the road as a traveling pipe welder and spent years chasing work across 20-plus states and more than 50 locations. Plants, shutdowns, expansions, new construction. I ended up specializing in food and beverage, where sanitary tubing and orbital welding have to meet some of the toughest standards in the industry. Read more>>

Chelsea White

The idea for Circuit Black originated from my deep dive into techno music after attending Dweller Festival in NYC. I fell in love with all the Black techno and electronic artists, especially AMX, who’s from your hometown. The festival really piqued my curiosity about the world of techno, especially the Black artists who were spinning and producing the music. Read more>>

Laura Hammann

I like to think of my journey in three chapters, but the underlining purpose has always remained the same: helping people feel better in their lives, not just their body. My first chapter began when I became a personal trainer and business owner. Read more>>

REBEKAH LALGEE

I moved to Missouri in 2020 with my husband and kids right before Covid. I was working a medical coding job remotely and had no friends here. I started getting into digital art, then painting, then cross stitching and pretty much any other form of art I came across that kept me busy. I never considered myself an artist until I saw people showing interest. Read more>>

Dru Petty

I’ll be honest with you. Not many sat me down and taught me about money. Not my family, not my friends, not a single class in school. I grew up with South St. Louis roots and like most kids I learned the hard lessons about money by watching them happen more so than from anyone explaining them. That gap shaped everything I have built. Read more>>

Eden Holt

I don’t have a hometown. I grew up in foster care and moved more times than I can count, so for a long time ‘home’ was something I had to imagine rather than something I knew. Looking back, I think that is where my story really begins. Read more>>

Rachel Weaver

I didn’t grow up knowing that I wanted to work in sports. I had always been around sports, but for a long time, I thought I was going to become a lawyer. Honestly, I didn’t even know being a creative was a career option at that age. Read more>>

Kalief Francis

It all began during COVID as a Facebook group aimed at uplifting women during an unprecedented time. In April 2021, my wife stepped out of her comfort zone to turn her passion for fashion and her business background into something truly empowering. She wanted to build a brand that helps women feel confident, stylish, and sexy without feeling overly revealing—all without breaking the bank. Read more>>

Drew Dinges

I began my professional career as a graphic designer + illustrator, working with small firms in St. Louis’ Central West End. After several years of balancing design work with a full-time career in small-business retail, I met my now-husband, Jared Earnhart, an established creative director at Purina. Read more>>

Carolyn, Jared, & Ben Brynildsen

Jared Brynildsen comes from an entrepreneurial family with roots in the STL area (Alton, IL) – from paper routes and mowing lawns as a teen, to coaching and delegating to 4 younger brothers, his tenacity led him to join the US Army in 2004, ultimately leading to him becoming a Search and Rescue Blackhawk Pilot (Aeromedical Evacuation Officer). Read more>>

George Smith

At the time, I had been working for the same company for over 20 years when the company went on strike. Although work had stopped, my responsibilities at home had not. I still had a family to provide for, bills to pay, and I knew I had to find a way to continue bringing in income. Read more>>

deirra gross

You know when you have an ‘A-HA’ moment, realizing or figuring out something you’ve been pondering about? That’s how it was for me when I realized how mentally and emotionally traumatized I was during my freshman year of college at Truman State University, studying psychology. Read more>>

john Kreilich

I’m John Kreilich, and my story with bacon began long before Naked Bacon had a name. I grew up on a farm, where raising animals and preparing food were part of everyday life. Read more>>

Alaya Daniel

Three years ago I was co-owning a middle eastern restaurant with my husband in Virginia Beach. We knew we didn’t want to be in the restaurant industry forever, so I took a leap and launched my virtual assisting business. After three months I landed my very first client and shortly after I landed two clients in the same week! Read more>>