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.
Ashley Wangler
What started with a few small local shows quickly became something much bigger than I ever imagined. I realized early on that this business wasn’t just about jewelry—it was about people. My customers became so much more than just clients; they became friends, part of my journey. They return not just to see my latest chain or charm, but to share their stories, update me on their lives, and create new memories together. Every piece I weld holds a personal meaning, and I’m honored to be a part of those special moments. Read more>>
Drew Carson
At Armor Strategies, our mission is to develop transformational leaders by aligning vision, strategy, and culture. We design professional development experiences, build executive coaching journeys, and create organizational frameworks that help leaders and teams operate at their highest potential. Whether serving federal agencies, corporate teams, or nonprofit organizations, our work is rooted in a belief that great leadership is a full-contact pursuit—requiring mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual engagement. Read more>>
Jamie White
With our machines, passions, and product ideas the sky is truly the limit. From home decor to cabinetry to commissioned business signs or wedding decor and favors, we love working with clients to bring their visions to life. Our first major products are customizable wooden American Flags with the silhouette of the customer’s vehicle on it. We released the flags at a local Mustang event this Spring, and they can still be ordered on our website. We are working diligently to release new products to our website soon! Read more>>
Nina Rose
I didn’t want to go back to my nursing job because photography is my passion and I also wanted to be more present for my kids, so I gave myself an ultimatum…if I’m not making what I did as a nurse in 1 year, I’ll go back to nursing and keep photography on the side like I did before. I was determined to be successful. I started advertising in local Facebook groups, vendored at events and markets advertising my family and newborn photography. It went well, but honestly people didn’t want to pay more than $400 for a session. I totally get that! Having a newborn especially being young parents, that a lot of money! I knew that my skills were worth the money so I didn’t want to back down or quit. Read more>>
Anna Wiggins
I made the tough decision to sell Loveliest. I took a couple years of working part-time with other local female-owned businesses and facilitating business courses at Knoxville Entrepreneur Center to figure out what my next venture would be. When I realized I could style women not just for their wedding days, but for everyday, I knew that’s what I was meant to do. After taking personal styling coursework, helping friends with closet edits and personal shopping, and teaching styling, packing, and capsule wardrobe workshops, I’m now taking 1:1 private clients, in person in Knoxville and virtually worldwide. Read more>>
Whitney Evans
I never set out to own a salon this big—it truly just unfolded with time, passion, and the right people. But what fills me up every single day is mentoring young women in this industry and cultivating a culture where getting your hair done feels like something truly special. Whether you’re a client in the chair or a team member behind it, our hope is that you feel welcomed, loved, and right at home. Read more>>
Chris Zupo
My story didn’t start in a typical way, I grew up in North East Ohio and had always wanted to build robots from the time I was a kid. So I ended up going to college as a double engineering major at The University of Akron for Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, I worked for a pharmaceutical company as an engineer for a while before realizing it wasn’t what I had hoped it would be. Rather than creating and building the things I wanted to, it was just being told what needed to be done and executing on that. I had a friend who was a graphic design major at the time, and he had told me I should look into doing photography because I always liked taking pictures. At first I thought he was crazy, and I told him “you can’t make any money taking photos” but then I went and bought the cheapest digital SLR I could at the time, and began to teach myself. Read more>>
Dana Banks
At that time, my mom paid me with pizza and rental movie promises. Like most young people growing up, it was my goal to not follow in my mothers personal career aspirations, but after trying many other types of industries (such as: teaching at-risk youth, preschool, managing a corporate tax business) and some other along the way. I again found my true passion in the same place my family found theirs (numbers, haha). Through all this, I found that accounting make me truly happy. It fulfills the LOVE for math that I have. By nature, I am a curious person, so what better problem to solve daily than a real-life math problem to help clients like you! Read more>>
Marlie Holt
In high school, I started baking cakes—I’ve always loved cooking and baking! After graduating, I launched a small cake business to bring in extra income while I was in college. That eventually led to my first wedding catering gig. While I loved being in the kitchen, I knew catering wasn’t my long-term path. But stepping into that role gave me a glimpse into the wedding industry, and that’s when it clicked—I could actually build a career doing what I love. Read more>>
Caitie
I’m a 33 year old disabled business owner living in Knoxville, where I’ve built a life rooted in resilience, creativity, and healing. I’ve called this beautiful city home for the past eight years, but my journey started in Oak Hill, West Virginia, where I was raised as an only child by a single mother who battled both physical and mental illness. When I was 10, we lost everything in a devastating flood, a turning point that left my mother broken and placed me in the role of her caretaker until she entered a care facility years later. Read more>>
Kate
The more I thought about it though, I realized that I wasn’t very jazzed about the investment and risk involved in opening a brick-and-mortar studio. I was having drinks with my husband on a rooftop bar one night, and we met the cutest young couple. They were there discussing their wedding plans. When they asked what I did for a living, she said, “Oh wow! That’s so cool! I want to do yoga on my wedding day when we get married in Gatlinburg!” From there, the idea was born. I worked on a logo, purchased branded mats and blocks, set up a website and hoped this idea of a “mobile” yoga studio would work. Read more>>
Angel Octopus
After a long immigration process and loosing everything we had, my family and I arrived in the U.S. I began tattooing in a small, beautiful studio in Panama City, Florida. Two years later, moved to Tennessee and worked with a large, well known tattoo company in downtown Nashville. Three years after that, I settled in Knoxville, where I finally opened my own studio. Read more>>
Alisha Bacon
My photography career started in 2012. My husband was deployed that year with the Army and I took a photography class to help keep myself busy. at Pellissippi State Community College. I loved it so much that I started offering portraits sessions to friends and family, and finally taking clients within the same year. Read more>>
Jonathan Halley
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak. I started my first business at 16 and was constantly drawn to anything involving technology, marketing, and creative problem-solving. After a few semesters in college, I dropped out to join five friends in launching a tech startup. It didn’t go the way we hoped, but I got a crash course in business, leadership, and failure — and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. Read more>>
Sarah Reagan
We actually met as parents before we ever became business partners. Our kids are the same age, and we got to know each other during a local music class at the Gatlinburg Community Center. At the time, Taylor had already started Appalachian Wedding Company, and as we got to talking, we realized we shared a similar vision and work ethic. Taylor was a on staff at a local church, and Sarah was a public school teacher. We both saw an opportunity to offer simple, meaningful weddings that didn’t require a big budget or months of planning. Not long after, we decided to team up and run the business together. Read more>>
Nick Fitzgerald
Today, I specialize in luxury short-term rentals and high-end real estate, helping clients tell visual stories that increase bookings, elevate listings, and connect emotionally with viewers. What sets my work apart is the intentionality behind every shot—each image is designed not just to show a space, but to sell an experience. I’ve grown this business into something I’m proud of, serving clients across Tennessee and beyond, from individual Airbnb owners to major property management groups and developers. It’s been an incredible journey—and I feel like I’m just getting started. Read more>>
Jacob Leiser
Leiser Media Group didn’t take off overnight it’s been a slow grind, especially in the beginning. Breaking into the real estate space without connections or a big name behind me was tough, and there were plenty of quiet weeks where I questioned if it would work. But I never stopped pushing. On the days I’m not out shooting a home, I’m networking, promoting, and reaching out to as many agents and Airbnb owners as I can whether that’s in person, over text, or through cold calls. It’s been a process of planting seeds and building trust, one conversation at a time. Little by little, the momentum is building, and I’m seeing the results of that persistence. Read more>>
Debby Funk
During covid Debby Funk the owner of Embroidery Boutique began making her own beef jerky and later launched Funky’s Meat Snacks and Funky’s Snacks. Debby’s line of jerky, jellies, mustards and candy are available inside Embroidery Boutique, The Painted Perch and sold online at funkysmeatsnacks.com. Read more>>
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>>
