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.
Brooke Kitzhaber
With unwavering support from my husband, I took on Mrs. K’s Kreations full time, where I craft unique necklaces and bracelets inspired by natural stones and the world around me. Each piece is designed with the intention of bringing joy and meaning to the wearer. This journey has reaffirmed my belief in the power of pursuing one’s passions, and I am immensely proud of how far I’ve come, crafting pieces that not only adorn but also uplift and inspire. Read More>>
Kimberly O’Neal
My journey to Modern Day SAHM started with a mix of love, struggle, and an undeniable calling from God. After becoming a mom, I found myself in a place I never expected—torn between wanting to be fully present for my children and feeling the financial pressure of a one-income household.
On top of that, I battled postpartum depression, something I never imagined would hit me as hard as it did. It was isolating, overwhelming, and left me feeling like I had lost a piece of myself. I remember thinking, I love my children more than anything, so why do I feel this way? It was one of the hardest seasons of my life. But through prayer, support, and perseverance, I found healing—and in that healing, I found my purpose.
The more I reflected, the more I realized the real problem—most companies weren’t creating opportunities that truly supported the stay-at-home mom community. It wasn’t just about needing a job; it was about needing flexibility, understanding, and a chance to work without compromising motherhood. That thought stuck with me, and after a lot of prayers, late nights, and conversations with other moms facing the same struggle, Modern Day SAHM was born. Read More>>
Erica Sharp
I’m originally from Knoxville, and after graduating from UT, I went into pharmaceutical sales. After several years in sales, I decided I really wanted to get into the practice of medicine and went back to Nursing school. I have always loved this industry, and my father was an Internist at UT Hospital for almost 40 years, so I was always around medicine and was fascinated by it and wanted to be able to help people. I spent a few years in the Trauma OR at UT, but I really wanted to be in Aesthetic medicine, Dermatology, or Plastic Surgery, and have a little more say in patient care, so I went back to school to become a Nurse Practitioner. Read More>>
Rita Verreos
I went on to Coach 2 Miss USA’s: Nana Meriweather and Crystle Stewart-who can be currently seen in the Netflix hit show “Beauty in Black.” While Coaching the Miss California USA candidates in 2006, I was spotted by an Casting Agent for the CBS Reality Show, SURVIVOR. I became the 1st (and only to this date) Venezuelan Castaway on Survivor Fiji. Just a few months after having the experience on Survior, my children’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. This made my participation on Survivor even more poignant and I heard God’s voice “Rita, you have the strength to provide for your children, now as their mother and father.” He also Blessed me with EXTREMELY supportive parents without whom I couldn’t and wouldn’t have made it. Becoming their one and only parent, I didn’t want to accept full-time jobs, even though I needed to. I also made the decision to work in something that would leave me with a smile on my face whenever I would return back home from work to be with my kids. Read More>>
Rachel Renner
I would not say that it has always been a smooth road. For many small business entrepreneurs, there are always obstacles in daily operations. No day is the same, and I have learned to “expect the unexpected”. However, it has always been a fun challenge to figure out the best way to approach and work through many different scenarios. I have a great team that works with me and they definitely make the day to day struggles worth it! Read more>>
Emma Dickenson
Over the years, Friday nights were designated to making bouquets for the market and Saturday mornings to working the table. While my mom dabbled in providing wedding flowers for a short time, she discovered growing the flowers was her passion, not arranging them. Meanwhile, I was desperate to get my hands on anything to do with weddings! She wanted to turn down wedding inquiries, but instead I asked her to pass them on to me. During college, I interned with a local wedding florist and learned the ropes of the wedding industry. After that season, I decided I wanted to offer a local and more sustainable option for wedding flowers. Napping Cat Floral Studio was born! Read more>>
