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.
Corey Tyree
After graduating from high school in Frenchburg, Kentucky, I pursued a chemical engineering degree from the University of Kentucky – something that was really more of a gut instinct, a curiosity about the unknown. I had an aptitude for math but had never met an engineer as there wasn’t much in the way of industry in rural Kentucky. Engineering represented something novel to me – something unconventional, which fit my eccentric personality. Truthfully, I was unprepared for the rigor of the engineering curriculum, but by the time I graduated as an undergraduate, I had proven to myself that I could be a good engineer. Read more>>
Patti Greek
The other buildings plus ours was a total loss of inventory and it took us 6 months before we could re-open. We had to paint and do other cosmetic inside work. Then the others took 12-18 months before they got back up and running in their buildings. We did learn that we are one of two oldest buildings in McMinn County. When you hear the County Mayor, John Gentry telling the fireman to keep water flowing on Greeks, one of the 2 oldest buildings in McMinn County, you are grateful. Read more>>
Brittany Hall
Around four years ago, my family and I made the decision to relocate to East Tennessee, bringing three generations together. We recognized that the dance community here was quite different from what we had experienced, and we knew we had the potential to offer something unique to the Knoxville area. This is how Evolve Dance Plex came to be—a living expression of over 20 years of experience, passion, and dedication to the art of dance. Read more>>
Kristi Burkhalter
When our girls’ boats qualified to race at the USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, FL in June, 2023 the team was famished one oppressively hot afternoon after they took a run at the course. Our nationally ranked TriStar rowing athletes expend such a tremendous amount of energy and everyone was particularly starving for a protein heavy meal of burgers or steaks that sweltering attention….wellllll, not our family so much! Read more>>
Marcus Hall
Knoxville native Marcus Hall followed his dream of designing and manufacturing custom-made menswear when he founded Marc Nelson Denim in 2011. The business, named after his grandfather who taught him to always look sharp, took inspiration from the Levi Strauss factory, which employed many of his friends and family members for 44 years before closing its doors in 1997. Today, Marc Nelson Denim continues the legacy of the Levi Strauss factory by providing local jobs, producing quality, American-made clothing, and maintaining a global presence. Read more>>
Dylan McGuire
I write songs and I can sing pretty good ,I write and record the songs so I can make albums and put them online ,I specialize in playing the guitar and drums and I’m most proud of how the melodies are so catchy ,usually I’ll be working and the ideas just pop in to my head randomly ,I’d say what sets me apart is that I don’t really care if other people like the songs at all because not everyone’s gonna like them but I really like them so it makes me feel complete Read more>>
Jo Blackman
I’ve made clothing completely from recycled goods. My Drip Line consists solely of secondhand goods that I give a new life. I recently taught myself to paint. Which led to working with found objects and putting this work in my very own art exhibit called, “Have A Nice Day!” on April 26, 2025 (Saturday) at 7-10 PM at Sassy Ann’s (820 N 4th Ave, Knoxville TN 37917). This has been a year in the making and I’d love to show you what I’ve created. I’ll be painting live with DJ DREWSKII and we’re gonna have a dance party and look at some art. You’ll be able to shop the event, in True C Jo Fashion. Read more>>
Grace Li
I started GraceCakeUS in 2021 with a passion for sharing authentic Chinese treats with people across the U.S. As an immigrant and skilled baker, I wanted to introduce traditional Chinese desserts to a wider audience. Today, we ship delicate, handmade pastries and mooncakes nationwide, allowing more people to experience the rich flavors of my heritage. Read more>>
