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.

Lacy Shreves

For as long as I can remember, I have always identified as creative. My earliest memories of loving the arts include coming home from kindergarten, excited to watch Bob Ross paint on TV, while I drank sweet tea out of my mom’s Christmas wine glass. I spent my childhood and adolescence drawing and worked to build up a creative confidence in myself. Read more>>

Ann Kathryn Kehoe

I became interested in metalsmithing in high school, when a local jeweler who I met at an art fair took me under his wing & taught me a few basic techniques. I loved the challenge that comes with manipulating metal & decided to pursue a degree in jewelry design. Read more>>

Mary Kim Loeffler

I think my love for photography started when I was a young. My dad had a camcorder that he would bring to my games, holidays and school functions and by use of the camera, he instilled in me that there are always things worth remembering. Read more>>

Dawne Washington

My story starts with my father, Dr. Jack Washington. He earned his doctorate and was still questioned about his qualifications because of his race. Even with the degree in hand, his belonging was treated as conditional. He responded by requiring that the world call him Doctor and he never stopped proving himself in spaces that were not built for him. Read more>>

Emilee Fritsche

My name is Emilee Fritsche and I am the founder of Stay Good Studio. Art has always been an important part of my life, from creating independently to studying it in school, but I wanted to do more than make art for myself. Read more>>

Jilly Morey

For more than twenty years, I was married to my husband David before we discovered that we could write music together, and that creative spark eventually became the foundation of Lost on the Metro. We began pouring ourselves into songs and this turned into 80+ copyrighted songs so far, and one of the most meaningful chapters of our lives. Read more>>

Mary Clarke

It all started in Iowa doing fashion shows at the local mall. When the need for models for the shows grew, I began scouting for local talent. In 1993 I placed my first model with a NY agency and the fire was lit in me. Read more>>

Theresa Rubio

Charlotte Thompson (aka Grandma) started a clothing business back in the early 70’s on Main Street in St. Charles, Missouri. She had her dress shop called Grandma’s Folly downstairs and she lived upstairs. She made dresses for women and children. Grandma would make cookies and gave them away free to the little kids that came in with their parents to shop for dresses. Read more>>

Shari Whay

I always had a feeling real estate was something I could do well, even before I fully understood what being a Realtor meant. I would sometimes see listings in my neighborhood with neglected yards, fallen-over signs and would think, I could do better than that. Read more>>

Megan and Shane

Both of us before we met were in different music scenes and did a lot of touring and playing around the country. We met in MN running music schools for kids. We realized we really worked well together and we started talking about our love of Country, Punk and Ska music. So we did what any other co-workers would do and started 2 bands. Read more>>

Corey Tallman

My journey into holistic health started in a pretty unexpected way, a fascination with skin care and the human body. I wasn’t someone who naturally thrived in traditional school settings, but once I found subjects that genuinely interested me, I realized I actually loved learning. At one point I thought about going into nursing, but that path never felt quite right for me. Read more>>

Brian Randels

I’ve always been drawn to cooking, but it really started with my Granny. At first, I was just helping out, taking food out the freezer, getting things ready for dinner. Then it turned into seasoning, then actually cooking. She was big on taking your time. One thing she always told me was everything doesn’t have to be cooked on high. That stuck with me. Read more>>

Katie Willis

I started to work for a local animal control shelter where I started to work in 2000. After several years as working as a vet tech a new opportunity arose where they were hiring a Division Director in 2016. Read more>>

Jordan Palazzola

I taught myself how to do my own nails after having my son during COVID in 2020. I was a stay-at-home-mom, living in South St. Louis, doing my nails in my bathroom or in our spare bedroom whenever my baby was asleep. I watched YouTube and TikTok videos at home for over a year before I decided I wanted to go to school. Read more>>

Jeff Miller

My path started by earning my biology degree from Missouri State in Springfield in 2005. I moved home and I began working at a small environmental testing company in St. Louis in 2007, where I worked for 17 years. In late 2023 I decided to begin my own business. I began to lay the foundation for that idea and ultimately formed Scope Environmental LLC. Read more>>

Braden Rhodes

I grew up in a Christian household. My dad (Kevin Rhodes) was a minister and my mom (Stephanie Rhodes) played piano at church. We would travel to a new church every week for about ten years before they eventually stepped back from it and became a member of my grandfather’s church, Connection Point (CPC) in Jackson, Missouri. Read more>>

Shanise Johnson

A driving influence in my life has always been helping youth tap into their innate abilities, passions, and tenacity to actualize their full potential. As a student at Soldan International Studies High School nearly three decades ago, I learned about an opportunity to join an organization dedicated to positive youth development. Read more>>

Nicole Plair

Black Girl Motivation was born from both my personal journey and my experiences as a mother, entrepreneur, and woman navigating spaces where I often didn’t feel represented. As a Black woman working in the tech industry and raising four daughters, I realized how important it was for Black girls and women to have spaces that reminded them of their worth, beauty, strength, and potential. Read more>>

Bloom

I come from a background of musicians and mental illness. I experienced what was necessary for me to develop the precision I carry today. I discovered my voice at the age of three, and over time, I developed a mind capable of holding the enormity of my talents. Read more>>

Lindsey Tyler

Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve had a camera in my hand since I was about four years old, constantly documenting the people, places, and moments around me. My journey into professional photography really began after I transitioned out of active duty military service and became a mother. Read more>>

Brett Turner

I didn’t grow up thinking I’d become a florist but looking back, I’ve always been drawn to creating experiences that make people feel something. What started as a creative outlet eventually turned into something much bigger once I understood how powerful flowers are in marking life’s most important moments. That realization became very real in late winter/early spring of 2020. Read more>>

Mike LaTour

Soundwave Art was born in 2012 because of a question my friend Justin asked me: “Do you think it would be possible to turn sound into a piece of art?” I had recently left a position as project manager for Slackers, a local chain of record stores. Read more>>