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.
Jerry Burns
I have an associate’s degree in criminal justice, and throughout my career in law enforcement I’ve served in many roles with multiple forces. I began as a deputy with the Perry County Sheriff’s Office in Kentucky before moving to Tennessee in 2011 to work at the Gatlinburg Police Department. From there, I worked at the Blount County Sheriff’s Office. During my tenures with the three agencies, I’ve served as a field training officer (FTO), a defensive tactics instructor, and finally, as K-9 officer before I retired from the force in 2023. I still have Marley, the bloodhound I used at the sheriff’s department, and still find opportunities to work with her. Read more>>
RideMyVibe
Definitely not smooth. It’s been rough — rougher than I’ve ever made it look. I’ve had people doubt me every step of the way. I’ve been locked into bad contracts by managers who didn’t have my best interest at heart. I’ve had major features never see the light of day because labels refused to clear them. There are songs sitting on my hard drive right now with some of your favorite artists — and the world may never hear them. Read more>>
Kenny Moore
Thankfully, Momma Tia never gave up on me. With her encouragement and steady presence, I began seeking a relationship with Christ—not just the cultural Christianity I had grown up around, but something personal and transformative. Though I had always been in church—singing in choirs and playing instruments for congregations across Chicago and later Knoxville—this season was different. My musical gifts opened doors to serve in churches across denominational lines and racial divides, and I began to see how music could be a bridge between communities. Read more>>
Rosie Ruther
I also enjoyed Welding in high school and ended up making that my career for a few years, earning me the “Rosie” nickname, i.e.: Rosie the Riveter. When I began my tattooing apprenticeship at Vivid Tattoo in 2012 I adopted the nickname for good. After six years with Vivid Tattoo and building a loyal client base, I decided to pursue my dream of owning my own studio with a more modern booth rental business model. Industry standard used to be a 50% split between artist and studio, which I always felt was unfair. Read more>>
Haley Evans
Altachè’s story began in 2023 in the lobby of the Margaritaville Hotel in Ft. Lauderale, Florida where my umpteenth pair of NEW sunglasses fell from my shirt collar onto their beautifully tiled floor and cracked. With my beloved, broken glasses in hand, I looked around a bustling lobby with travelers, tourist, and fellow sales people ALL with glasses precariously perched on their shirt collars and on their heads, wondering why I could clip a pen to my shirt but not my glasses. My flight home that day was delayed and by the time I got home, I had the idea for Altachè almost baked in a spiral bound notebook I bought at the airport. Read more>>
Erin Morrison
Since then, I’ve built a full-time business. I photograph family sessions, weddings, elopements, and engagements in Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains. I focus on capturing real, unfiltered moments for all kinds of couples. Just recently, I started something new — a wedding podcast called Aisle Be Honest (https://aislebehonestpod.com/), where Brittany Sidwell and I talk about the real behind-the-scenes of the wedding industry. Read more>>
Lakehaven Devin Ross
Hailing from the bands original birthplace in the suburbs of South Clinton all the way to Seymour, Tennessee, Lakehaven is the final byproduct of multiple projects throughout the past decade that were heavily involved in Knoxville’s local punk/hardcore scene. The result being a dynamic set of friends who follow the path of bands stemming from hardcore, emo, pop punk, and other sub genres of the like. Lakehaven is an explosion of thick guitars, authentic drums, and bona fide vocals and lyricism that are memorable at the very least. Read more>>
