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.

Ori Tala

I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember. As a child, I experienced the world as both a seer and a storyteller, expressing myself through visual art, performance, poetry, music, and writing. Creating wasn’t just something I loved—it became the language that helped me understand myself, my imagination, and the world around me. Read more>>

Clint Collins

Who Is Clint Skoney Collins ‘Changing His Community One Person & One Cause at a Time.’ From Tragedy to Triumph: The Inspiring Story of Clint Collins In life, some stories are defined by obstacles. Others are defined by how those obstacles are overcome. Clint Collins’ journey is a powerful testament to resilience, faith, and purpose. Read more>>

Angela Merridith

The idea started with the birth of my one and only daughter, my Ebonee Angel . After years of procrastination I became more focused on actually making some moves. This journey has been one of trials, errors, lessons and blessings.I definitely jumped out there having more passion than knowledge about entrepreneurship. But still I rise. Read more>>

Maria //Channing Hogrefe // Krichevsky

We (Channing Krichevsky and Maria Hogrefe) met in design school at Maryville University. Over a pitcher of sangria, we decided to build a company founded on our shared principles: the most beautiful spaces are a little bit imperfect, authentic materials are top priority, and the client should stand front and center. Read more>>

Cayla Butler

I always knew that I wanted to be a hairstylist and entered into cosmetology school at 17. I’ve started over many times in new cities and states and even taken some brief breaks in the industry but I have always found my way back. Read more>>

Ousmane Diallo

​Déclic Wear was born out of an overflowing passion. While running a thrift shop, I would take pieces of clothing that I cut myself and hand them over to a tailor near my shop. Gradually, I started designing and wearing my own models. The journey was not easy coming from a modest family. Read more>>

Danyel Poindexter

My original plan was to become an author post graduating back in the mid 2000s, as I majored in English and Creative Writing. But while in college, I started to get back into art and after my freshman year, signed up to minor in art. Read more>>

Gwen Pouncil

Amazing Grace Ultrasound was founded out of a passion for helping families experience one of the most meaningful moments of pregnancy. As a registered diagnostic medical sonographer, I spent years performing medical ultrasounds, but I realized there was an opportunity to create something different….a place where families could slow down, celebrate their baby, and make lasting memories together. Read more>>

Michaela Bennett

My career has never followed a traditional path, and I think that’s what has made it so rewarding. I began my undergraduate studies at Missouri State University, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Movement Science. While I loved sports, I eventually realized my passion wasn’t on the training or coaching side—it was in telling the stories that bring sports to life. Read more>>

Lynnae Tanner Ruff

I’ve loved jewelry and rocks as long as I can remember. After downpours during the rainy season in Belize where I grew up, I’d hunt for pretty rocks in the ditches. I’d imagine the little blue ones were turquoise. Jewelry is how I marked memorable occasions. My ears were pierced as a baby and I love seeing baby pictures of me wearing little pearls already. Read more>>

Beth Robinson

Hello, my name is Beth Robinson. I am a mixed media artist and art doll sculptor. I have been a professional artist for 23 years. My career as an artist began when my website, www.strangedolls.net, went viral in 2003 and I found myself thrust into a very unexpected career path. Read more>>

Tyesha Bunting

One of my earliest memories of falling in love with photography goes all the way back to shopping trips with my parents. While they were walking through Kmart or Walmart, I would head straight to the electronics department and spend what felt like hours looking at every camera on display. Read more>>

Holly Modglin

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that fear never really goes away—you just have to decide that your dreams are bigger than your fear. I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart. Ever since I was young, I loved creating, building, and finding ways to turn ideas into something meaningful. Over the years, I’ve owned online boutiques, brick-and-mortar stores, and explored different business ventures. Read more>>

Paul Jordan

Music has always been the constant in my life. I started playing guitar as a teenager and spent years fronting rock bands before stepping away to build a career in technology, raise four kids, and coach youth sports. Creativity never really went away, it just had to wait while life took priority. Read more>>

Kristine Di Grigoli Paige

My journey as a visual artist and photographer spans two decades, with the last 16 years dedicated intensely to commercial photography, video production, and abstract painting. Over the years, I’ve evolved from a generalist into a specialized creator operating ArtChick® Studio in Philadelphia, where I focus on high-end fashion e-commerce, editorials, professional branding, and dynamic motion content. Read more>>

Deangelo Robinson

I’ve always had a passion for the process and the inquiry and curiosity of how things worked so pursuing a career in (as well as growing in the knowledge) programming and engineering was the direction to go. Read more>>

Jeremy Genin

I got a temporary job as a bouncer at a piano bar. I already coached some of their staff kickboxing. One of the piano players was interested in kickboxing, and traded me piano lessons for kickboxing lessons. I stayed with it, practiced incessantly. Sought out an internship, and traveled around playing for strangers for free. When covid hit. Read more>>

Jeff Marconette Jr.

On January 7, 2002, my life changed in an instant when I was involved in a severe car accident. I spent two and a half months in a coma and three and a half months total in the hospital recovering. Read more>>

Antonio Higgs

I started Smiley’s Courier and Professional Services in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world. Like many small businesses, we faced uncertainty early on, but instead of giving up, I adapted, worked hard, and focused on providing dependable, high-quality service to every customer. Read more>>

terrance wafer

I first started playing violin in 3rd grade. i played until high-school where i decided to learn bass on my on as well as 1 year of guitar. My grandfather first exposed me to the world of recording and making music at a young age. Ive completed 80+ performances in a year. I written and produced music played on the radio nationally. Read more>>

Nikki Ahmadi

I’m the owner of Nikki’s Decor & Events, an event decorating business based in St. Louis, Missouri. My passion for creativity and event design inspired me to turn what I love into a business focused on helping people celebrate life’s most special moments. Read more>>

Petar Knezović

I don’t think that my story or rather the story of Playsupport is really important here. What’s important is the story of the tabletop hobbyists whose problems I’m trying to solve. My story is really just discovering and observing these problems and then trying to offer a solution for them. The problem is psychological. Read more>>

DominiQue McLucas

I’ve always had an interest in the beauty industry. When I first discovered eyelash extensions, they weren’t nearly as popular as they are today, and not many people knew about them. After getting my own lashes done for the first time, I completely fell in love with the process, the artistry, and the confidence they gave me. Read more>>

Barbara McGhee

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a long-time karaoke enthusiast, I’ve always used singing as my own go-to self-care routine to destress and recharge after a long week. Seeing firsthand how powerful that release was, I wanted to create something that blended my love for music with my commitment to emotional health and wellness. Read more>>

Alexia Bailey

Growing up, I’ve always like performing and doing shows, my mother had me in dance since I was three and would put me in other things like events and pageants . I started modeling back in 2020, it’s just always been my favorite thing to do and my happy place. When I was younger i was always self-conscious of my appearance. Read more>>

RealYungG

Born in the city of Chicago, but now repping his hometown of Joliet, IL, Greg Collins jr, better known as RealyungG found his love for music early. After many years of enjoying the music his parents exposed him to, G decided to start rapping at the age of 14. Read more>>

Spida Guru

I can assure that I got to where I am today by being consistent no matter what . Life is always going to play its cards and sometimes deal a hand that we have to work with under all circumstances. Adjusting and adapting to things when they become different knowing how to pivot in a moment where you need to move is important as well. Read more>>