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.

Kelly Stover

We make 17 different flavors of fudge, 3 kinds of brittle, 9 different barks, popcorn candies, toffee, homemade caramel for our apples and turtles, and a large variety of hand-dipped chocolates. We also sell a large variety of candies that we don’t make on site, like taffy, Jelly Belly, and hard candies. We carry 16 flavors of ice cream year-round in our main store upstairs and an additional 8 flavors in our downstairs ice cream parlor in the warmer months. We also have seasonal gifts and decor that we change out throughout the year, that helps make our space look extra cozy. Read More>>

Rochelle Clayton

As a model, image consultant, beauty distributor, esthetician, and burgeoning brand, she is the embodiment of a driven, multifaceted woman determined to make her mark. Rochelle’s love for fashion and beauty blossomed around the age of 13, when she became captivated by shows like America’s Next Top Model, Ugly Betty, The Carrie Diaries, and Totally Spies. These programs not only entertained her, but also ignited her understanding that fashion was a powerful form of self-expression. Read More>>

Daniel Gonzalez

A good Friend of mine Murad Yacoub with Zacchi food truck brought it to my attention that a truck was available at a good price. I brought it to my wife’s, we talked it over and prayed over the idea of a food truck. We felt that it was time to pull the trigger and go for it. Read More>>

Tiff Tiff

The time I picked him up he continued to argued with me so I told him that I was done with the arguments, the fighting, the insecurities and more & once I said that all hell broke loose. He ended up taking me to a dead end and beating me to nearly death. I ended up defending myself & killed him . I was hurt by the situation I couldn’t believe it . I was literally lost for words . I was in the hospital for a week & after that I ended up moving to Miami Florida to further my career & spend more time with my daughters. Life been so much better & god been on my side. One thing I never did was give up . From the 314 to the 305 baby we outside ! Read More>>

Chris Stevens

It’s been challenging to say the least. I have always had confidence issues in my previous artistic adventures that really held me back. To the point where I thought I would never be able to do what I do. I have changed many people’s perspectives on getting quality photos taken, so much so it feels like Im doing what I was meant to do Read More>>

Shima Rostami

Human trafficking is a growing problem in St. Louis area as well as its neighboring communities. Last year alone, 42% of victims were children in Missouri. As you can imagine, identifying these victims is often challenging since some of our most vulnerable community members, children, are unable to speak for themselves and seek help. So, it is crucial to ensure those adults surrounding these vulnerable children as well as children themselves are trained to recognize the signs of human trafficking and how to report it. Read More>>

Robin Pagano

I attended Day Spring homeschool co-op where I went to class with other students twice a week and worked at home the other three. Working at my own pace was great for me. However, I often took longer to finish my schoolwork than my younger sister. After middle school, my parents decided it was best for me to attend the local public high school. I was used to a small group of people and was switching to Parkway South, a school with over two thousand students. Read More>>

Miranda Conley

My dad has always been a bit of a coffee addict but once I introduced him to the world of specialty coffee and taught him how to make his own pour overs at home–he really turned into a coffee snob. That was the start of conversation to start my own coffee shop in our hometown. He offered the extra space at the Trenton Sun building up (half of the entire square footage) and I started brainstorming and drawing up plans. We applied to TIF funding through the city to help offset costs of the remodel and I dove right in. Read More>>

Lauren Bates

My mom Carla started selling antiques in Kimmswick 25 years ago. This year will be our 25th year in business. I grew up helping my mom & hunting for treasures. In 2001 she purchased our current building, rebranded what is now Cozy Cottage. I’ve spent every holiday season helping her at festivals, going to market, and working the store. I learned how to work the register by age 12 haven’t stopped since. My dad has made many of our displays pieces and travels along on the buying adventures. We truly are a family business! Read More>>

Jenny Lin

When I’m not drawing or illustration away, you’ll likely find me rock climbing, cooking, or enjoying the great outdoors. My artwork often mirrors my love for dreamy clouds and “sky stuff”. I enjoy guitar, baking, reality TV (maybe one day I’ll apply to be on the Amazing Race), and a variety of creative projects. Moon&June Studio is my way of sharing my creations to the world. You could say I’m a jack of many trade, and a master of…some? It’s all part of the fun, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Read More>>

Emily Cella

Growing up in an Italian family, my mom was the ultimate hostess—always ready to feed anyone who walked through the door, with an endless supply of meats and cheeses on hand. Thankfully, she passed down that gift of hospitality to me, and now I take great joy in hosting and creating unforgettable meals. Over the years, I became known as the “Charcuterie person” among my friends and family, and their encouragement led me to turn this passion into a business. Read More>>

Rachel Phillips

In 2020, after having 2 children, I decided to explore the world of pelvic floor therapy. I wanted to be able to better serve the women I was seeing in hopes I could help them navigate pregnancy and postpartum with more support than I had. After completing all the necessary course work, I was amazed at all the things pelvic floor therapy could help with! I approached all my patients with a new lens and found I was able to offer a more holistic, whole body approach than ever before. Even better, my patients were experiencing better outcomes and achieving goals they thought weren’t possible. Read More>>

Brittany Johnson

I started creating custom apparel like t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other apparel in 2023. I had shared my desires and dreams with my close friends and family members, and by doing this, I received a Cricut machine for my birthday and a heat press for Christmas, so I had no other reason not to get started. Since starting, I have been busy creating designs and allowing customers to express themselves through my beautiful creations. I have found great pleasure in creating beautiful spaces and exceptional custom apparel. Read More>>

Tiffany Ruby

Another challenge was balancing the creative side of my work with the business side. Running a studio requires more than just talent—it’s about marketing, managing finances, and creating a consistent client experience. Learning how to wear all those hats was a steep learning curve. Read More>>

Nicholas Grice

I am a product of Church. I am a pastor and a funeral service professional. I wanted to endeavor into entrepreneurship alongside serving others when I thought about my future. During my tenure at the funeral home I noticed many families were searching for an upscale venue to host repast celebrations. My Wife is an event planner and we collaborated ideas to open a fresh and unique venue known as THE JADE EVENT CENTER. Read More>>

Jason Kozik

We’re all grown adults with jobs, families, friends, and everything else that you obtain with your time on this planet. So making sure that if something doesn’t jive with someone else, or that something is a hard no for someone, we talk it through and come to an agreement; or at the very least everyone is heard and understood. Read More>>

Kelvin Williams

After moving from St. Louis to DC in 2018, I started a new job in a new industry: Tech Education, working with George Washington University’s Public Health Program as an online admissions counselor. After COVID-19 in 2020, I decided to move to Baltimore, which was when Savant Kustoms was born. Initially, I started with a storage box while bored in quarantine, and when I noticed the attention my artwork received on social media, I began expanding into other mediums. Eventually, my footwear took off, and I have been on fire ever since! Read More>>

Leah Polk

Fifteen years ago, I began my career in mental health services in Mississippi. It was the start of two profound journeys in my life: my work in mental health and my relationship with my partner and spouse, Zach. As fellow mental health therapists, Zach and I shared a passion for helping others navigate life’s challenges. Together, we built a vision for the kind of meaningful work we wanted to pursue. Read More>>

Pastor Chad Mitchell

My story began with an African American man by the name of LaBarney Mitchell from St. Louis, MO who was serving in the United States Air Force who met a Caucasian Irish woman by the name of Roseann McLaughlin while stationed in the United Kingdom. Those two got married and began their journey together. First came love, then came their marriage, then came the baby that ended being a miscarriage. Their first pregnancy was not a successful on unfortunately. I lost whom would’ve been my elder brother. Read More>>

Karen Zelle

My photographic journey began in 2020 when Missouri and much of the world was in pandemic lockdown. Having received a camera for my birthday that year from my family, I began spending time on the weekends hiking and taking photos of the natural world. Becoming a nature photographer was a progression that came from spending time outside as a Missouri Master Naturalist and a docent for the Endangered Wolf Center. I quickly became addicted to the feeling of euphoria that comes from creating art with nature, your eyes, your spirit and a camera. Read More>>

Guy Matthews

I started detailing when I was 15. From then till I was 16 I was really just learning how to detail, working on various small airplanes and cars. In 2023, I would work under a car detailer learning from him while simultaneously working on turning my skill into a company. Later in 2023 I would get bids to work at some pretty big flight schools and even a huge international company. Read More>>

Lamondras Davenport

I have a very creative background my art did arts n crafts. So growing up i was cutting clothes up and throwing paint on stuff bleaching stuff drawing and I got into screen printing and it was basically over from there. I was to draw a lot the time but as I got older I got away from it for sports. Read More>>

April Lumpkins

In 2015, I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey with Beautiful Struggle, offering luxury hair and accessories for men and women. As the business evolved, I decided to expand its scope beyond mere product sales, instead focusing on building a brand that would positively impact communities. This vision led to the creation of Women on the Rise, a collaborative initiative with another young entrepreneur, dedicated to supporting small businesses and promoting community recognition. Through our travels and public speaking engagements, we inspired positivity and fostered support among fellow entrepreneurs. Read More>>

Modern Pasta

Our guitarist, Tim Luechtefeld, and bassist, Josh Zinck, were childhood friends and shared an interest in music. Both grew up in Mascoutah, IL, and met Chesney Cox, drummer, as teenagers. Tim and Josh played in a few other bands before reuniting with Chesney in 2022. We hit the ground running and started playing out where ever we could. We started trying our stuff in a jam space at the old Lemp Brewery, as well as the open mic night at The Conservatory in Alton. We’ve been playing around just under two years. Read More>>

Cindy OHare

I have always been a collector of treasures I find in nature. I enjoy pressing leaves in books, drying flowers, and finding cool rocks on my walks outdoors. The first portrait I created was after a nature walk with my granddaughter, Bee. We had collected acorns, sticks, etc. to make collages and I ended up making a portrait using some of our finds. It looked like one of my sons, so I snapped a picture of it and sent it to him. Not long after that, I made my second portrait, as a tribute to my mother using flowers from her memorial. Read More>>