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.

Tyler king

I moved to Saint Louis a little over five years ago with a couple of friends. We were all just out to find some new places to make comedy and music and found what we were looking for in one way or another. It was lots of fun and a ton of work to get in the right places but I’d say we’ve done alright. Read more>>

Katie Benyo

My career path to my current role has been a little unconventional. I started my career in healthcare for almost fifteen years, working in performance improvement and operational excellence. Most recently I was a vice president at a healthcare consulting company formerly known as Accumen. Read more>>

Nate Martinez

I started by being a party promoter in Saint Louis promoting bands rappers etc making a name for myself as a sponsor/ marketing agent than I connected with producers Artist videographers and came out the shadows to make my own sound Read more>>

Zoë Khristina

My story at this point isn’t about one moment where everything changed. It’s more about learning how to trust myself enough to keep moving, even when I don’t have a clear idea of where I’m going. There are periods where I feel very disconnected from myself and from the things I want to create. Read more>>

Lora Fritsche

I have always been an artistic creature. Always drawing & creating things since childhood. I went to school majoring in photography & art metals. Meanwhile I started teaching myself how to tattoo. It was hard work without a traditional apprenticeship but I persisted & eventually got hired in a walk-in shop. From there I soaked in as much information that my colleagues would share. Read more>>

Carlos Carcamo

I was born in Honduras, and as a young boy, I never imagined that my journey would bring me to where I am today. I came to the United States at a young age and first lived in New York. Construction was always a part of my family. Several of my relatives owned construction businesses and were involved in buying, renovating, and selling homes. Read more>>

Otivisit Fennell

My story begins around the Covid pandemic. I always had people reach out to me asking if I made wreaths and the answer was always “NO” but one day. So one early morning I decided to hop on YouTube and watch some wreath making videos. Half sleeping but video after video I started telling myself “I can do that”. Read more>>

Ian Albert

I never planned on getting into photography. To me, it always felt like textbook graphics, stock screensavers, and generic blurred-background portraits. I originally bought a camera for cinematography to complement my passion for film, but that was when I realized there was so much more to the medium. Read more>>

Taylor Clacks

Honestly, my story really started with me just wanting to pour love into a world/generation where love is looked at as weak. I’ve always been the person who wants to make the plans, find the spot, invite everybody, and make sure everyone is having a good time. I’ve always loved creativity, being around people, and creating moments that people actually remember. Read more>>

Benjamin Schiltz

My name is Benjamin Schiltz. I am a 20 year old junior at Truman state university. I was born and raised in St. Louis City, and that is where I completed my primary and secondary education. I grew up around music and had sung my whole life, but I regularly struggled with feelings of embarrassment being a young man who liked to sing. Read more>>

Florie Naomi

I started performing and recording music when I was six years old. Music was part of my life very early, long before I understood that it could become a career. I grew up performing with my siblings in a group called N-Jection, which later became 3NTITY. Read more>>

John Taylor

I Got Started In North City Saint Louis watching my Grandmother Do Hair From Her Kitchen To Make Sure My Family members hair was pressed, curled and looked their best. She was the house wife to a family of 9 children and a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren. Their was always alot of people at the house especially on holidays. Read more>>

Michelle Jahns

I always knew I would own a business of some kind someday, but with over 20 years in retail management, I never imagined it would be a photography business and that I would love it SO. MUCH. I’ve been a ‘memory junkie’ since I was a kid, always rewatching home videos, flipping through photo albums, and creating slideshows for birthday parties. Read more>>

Robert Dillard

CEO SOULO Artist • Music Executive • Manager • Entrepreneur My journey in music started as an R&B singer and member of the group 3G. We created some great music and eventually earned a single deal with Island Def Jam, giving me an early look into the music industry and what it takes to build a career in entertainment. Read more>>

Tim Murphy

I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy a 30+ year career as a creative professional in the St. Louis area, working at various ad agencies and in-house creative departments as a brand designer and Creative Director. Back in High School ,when I started thinking about a career, all I really wanted to do was draw comic books. Read more>>

Daisia Morgan

I learned how to do my own hair starting in middle school. My freshman year of high school I took an entrepreneurship in which I had to create a fake business, and a whole business plan. This said business has now been licensed in 2024 and I now offer braiding classes, maintained a consistent clientele and started working in a hair salon. Read more>>

Lilo Denise

Forever Valentine Productions started as an idea with my spouse and I had because of our combined skillset. I’m a filmmaker and she’s a photographer. We had no idea it would turn into an actual business plan. Read more>>

Ellen Mazur

In 2018, after learning about the hundreds of potentially harmful ingredients that can hide behind the word “fragrance” on personal care labels, I stopped burning my favorite scented candles. I missed the coziness, comfort, and simple indulgence they brought to my home, so in 2020, during the height of the COVID lockdown, I decided to make my own. Read more>>

Tristan Bell

I’ve always been interested in comic art, and creative story telling. My dad was probably most responsible for getting me into comics though. Read more>>

Travis Thomas

My professional journey has never followed a straight line—which, it turns out, is pretty fitting for someone who has built a career around the words “Yes, And.” I began as an improviser, fascinated by what happens when people step into uncertainty without a script. Read more>>

Delecia Coleman

I grew up in Oklahoma. My mother raised four children, three girls and one boy. I graduated from Frederick’s a Douglas high School. Went on to heritage college and got my associate’s degree in assistant and limited folk x-ray. Had my first son in 2007. Then I began to work at a doctor’s office and I did that for about 2 years. Read more>>

Pat McMahan

Grew up In Effingham IL catholic school upbringing, some volunteer work thete, GED reading literacy tutor, Chaired the Executive Board of Directors of American Red Cross (Disaster Services), started at USPS in 1981, Made Postmaster in 1990 at Farina IL, then successive PM jobs in St Elmo, Newton and finally Mascoutah in 2005 with many OIC (Officer-In-Charge) assignments in between. Read more>>

Kimberly Potsos

Social Graze started from my love of food, entertaining, and bringing people together. What began as a small passion project grew into a business serving everything from intimate gatherings to weddings, corporate events and large celebrations throughout the St. Louis and surrounding areas. Read more>>

Dakota McCaine

I’m a born and raised St. Louisan, and was raised in a small business household. I worked in my dad’s and grandpa’s small business as young as 4; I joke that it’s how I learned to count. I’ve always seen the importance of small businesses and how they impact the community and influence each other. I spent much of my time from 18-26 traveling. Read more>>

Takyria Jenkins

Many people know me as a business owner and phlebotomist, but more recently, I’ve stepped into a new chapter of my journey as an author. Writing has always been a part of who I am. Whether I’m creating business plans, journaling, taking notes, or simply putting my thoughts on paper, I’ve always found myself writing. Read more>>

Majo Aparicio

Well… my journey to design really started as a kid. My dad has been a graphic designer and artist for as long as I can remember, and he taught me to love art and design from a very young age. Read more>>

Sydney Walker

Sydney built Kinnect Collective on authenticity. The goal is to break down barriers, make mental and physical health more accessible, and create pathways that actually feel safe enough to pursue. Every space Kinnect offers is held to that same standard: intentionality and genuine care. Her path here wasn’t linear. She moved states, worked in restaurants, competed as a team captain in Division I athletics. Read more>>

Trayvia Iman R.

My love for art started when I was a little girl. I was always so grateful to go to art class, and my mom noticed how much I loved to draw. She always made sure I had plenty of art supplies, and I still have some of those early drawings today. After becoming a mother, I took a leap of faith and started painting again. Read more>>

Shawna Murphy Castro

For as long as I can remember I have been obsessed with tattoos and makeup. I have always loved the art of both. Being able to change your look with makeup is like magic to me. Also, tattoos you can transform your skin into a beautiful canvas. Read more>>

Lexi Boyle

Myself and Bev have collectively been dog training for about 30 years. Bev started training in New York as a force free trainer and then she came to St. Louis. Once in St. Louis she worked with some of the top trainers and moved more into balanced training. Read more>>

Royal Evans

This is my 7year old almost 8year old daughter business. It all started since she was almost 1 years old when I use too say ok Royal let’s go she would always grab a pair of glasses purse her binky and her phone came too my mind now if that’s not a boss what do you call that. Read more>>

Lara Kern

While I may now be a social media and image consultant, polyglot, yoga teacher, and Reiki practitioner who believes that how you energetically present yourself to the world matters, I didn’t get here until my late thirties. My story really began back in March 2020 while living in Austin, TX, I woke up one morning unable to move. Read more>>

Chelsea Ricketts

My story… where do I start. So I guess it all started after I had my son. I was in an abusive relationship at the time, I was struggling to leave and dealing with postpartum. I knew i needed to-for lack of a better way to put it… get my life together. So I went to school to be an esthetician. Read more>>

Tara Keune

A little over 9 years ago Not Jaded Boutique & Tea Room evolved. While visiting the coffee shop in downtown Wentzville I asked the barista if there was a boutique near by she answered with a no & I replied ‘oh there should be.’ When I walked out I immediately looked to my right & there was a for lease sign! Read more>>

Lee Steingruby

The idea for Voices Like Shadows started one night when me (lee) and Spider went to an open mic night and spider asked “ What do we call ourselves” That’s when i wrote ‘Voices Like Shadows” on the open mic white board. Read more>>