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.
Ben Bostick
After getting kicked out of the Naval Academy Prep School, in 2010 I go into a depression and had no idea. This continued at Campbellsville University in 2011 and I quit the team when my first season didn’t go as planned. Instead of going home to Birmingham, AL and facing the music, I decided to stay in Lexington, KY and take a break. That break turned into 8 years (2012-2020) of a whirlwind. It started with just drinking and snowballed from there. I couldn’t and wouldn’t do anything without alcohol or drugs. I worked in bars and hung out in bars. A big cycle of nothing. Read more>>
Mieka Schambach
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — starting a unique business like this comes with unexpected challenges. One of the biggest hurdles we faced was navigating zoning and occupancy regulations. Time and time again, we’d find what felt like the perfect location, only to discover that our type of business didn’t fit within the local zoning requirements. It was frustrating and disheartening at times, especially when we had momentum and vision but kept hitting roadblocks. Read more>>
Kennedy Jackson
But when the pandemic hit, everything changed. My former roommate and I decided to move back down South to be closer to our families. Once I got here, I applied to Pellissippi State Community College to pursue a photography degree while working at Sport Clips on the side. Read more>>
Tristyn Marrero
As a freshly single mom, I knew I needed to do whatever I could to provide for my two boys. What other option is there than to do what I absolutely love? Starting “For Them Tree Services” has been such a blessing in our lives. We’ve had an abundance of love and support from our family and school community. I’d love to take all the credit but it took a pretty powerful village, a lot of prayer, and the immense grace of God. I did not walk this journey alone. He opened this door for me and I am beyond grateful. I love what I do, my boys are very proud of me, and that is a true sense of accomplishment. Read more>>
Taila Cantrell
I’ve always loved reading. My grandmother and my father cultivated the love of stories and books in me from a very, very young age. I read voraciously the moment I was able to read. The summer before I started high school in 2012 I read Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon. This was one of the first books I truly saw myself in, the characters and story were so relatable to me. I will absolutely contribute a piece of my healing journey to that book. It awoke in me a desire to tell my own story, to build my own worlds. I’d always been creative and imaginative, but one day I woke up at 14 with my first story forming in my mind. Read more>>
Erica Mason
Now I have a business where I create paper and stationery pieces and signage for many different events. A place where I’m given the opportunity to put my love for design and art to use, and make peoples’ ideas come to life. I truly never could have dreamed up the places and experiences this business has taken me to. I am so thankful for the people who pushed and encouraged me, and cheered me on along the way. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them! Read more>>
Anthony Cespedes
Anthony Cespedes, owner, is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and wanted to show allegiance to his alma mater with the name Rocky Top. Originally started as a business officiating ceremonies, Anthony has grown his brand to include coordinating, planning, decorating into his wedding packages. Read more>>
Danielle Bornowski
Going through college, I planned to work in non-profit communications. I loved working for a mission-driven organization that was making an impact on the community it served. After a decade serving non-profit organizations, I was the Communications Director of an org in the foster care space. They were undergoing a strategic plan, and I had this quiet voice whispering that I wasn’t the person to lead them through that plan. But I didn’t know what to do about it, so I ignored it. Read more>>
Brianna Kaylece
I was able to make a living, but I knew that if I wanted to grow again, I would need to move back to Knoxville where I feel like I’m able to call home. The day I was driving up to Tennessee from Florida for my next grand move of life I got a call from a previous client who was a salon owner in the area. She was asking if I am willing to buy her salon and take it over. It was the craziest timing in the world! So as of January, I have been the owner of La Petit spa, which has now turned into Asia K spa Studios, that Has private rooms to rent to individual beauty businesses. I am now working on so many projects I am eager to share with the world soon! Read more>>
Susannah Treadway
Something shifted when I discovered more than an artistic passion but a depth of meaning in photography that I hadn’t understood before. Being able to freeze a moment through a photograph, capturing the emotion and personality and interactions of that time in a photo, is so meaningful to me as a mother and a photographer. I want to remember these days with my kids, and I want to have photos that I actually like of myself in those memories – This is what I want for the moms I serve as well. I specialize in family photography – I love photographing families in every stage! Read more>>
Kayla Swilling
I became a mom in 2020, and with the lack of available resources for moms during the Covid lockdown I struggled with learning to breastfeed. I received a lot of bad and wrong advice and treatments and made a lot of painful mistakes. It was miserable. I felt like the people I turned to for help weren’t listening or didn’t know what to do to help. Having been a nurse for nearly a decade I knew there had to be resources available, but I wasn’t finding what I needed. Read more>>
Mallory Bertrand
I’m Mallory Bertrand I am an artist, photographer, and unapologetic creative spirit. Growing up as a military brat meant constantly moving, but one thing that always stayed with me was my love for art. Whether it was painting, drawing, crafting, or just observing the world through an imaginative lens, creativity has always been my way of connecting, coping, and expressing myself. Read more>>
PJ Turner
So I started line dancing at the age of 12 at this club on family nights, which were held on Monday nights. Fast-forward a couple of years and I was in high school and without knowing it met the love of my life Lisa Turner who taught me how to do a couples dance, called East Coast swing, and the sweetheart Scottish. I was absolutely hooked on couples dancing. Main reason why because I got the had all that outattention of the girls. We would practice every single day after school and then show off all of our practice at the family night. Read more>>
Dr. Cheyenne Allen, PT, CBS
Working as a physical therapist takes a greater mental toll than many people realize—research shows that up to 82% of PTs experience burnout at some point in their career. Just three years in, I was already starting to feel it: constantly battling with insurance companies, juggling patient care and documentation, feeling restricted in the treatments I could offer, and carrying the emotional weight of every patient home with me. It didn’t take long for me to realize that something had to change. Starting my own business became the turning point. With the support of the right people cheering me on (looking you, Aught!) , everything began to shift—and the transformation has been incredible. Read more>>
Jennifer Johnsey
IN 2022 we moved to the Knoxville Convention Center and held the event in Hall A (the larger hall). In 2023, we expanded to Hall A & B (120,000 square feet) and in 2024 we introduced The Dark Side. The Dark Side is just that. It’s dark. The overhead lighting is turned off in the convention hall and our entertainment stage and attractions as well as vendors that sell light-up items, etc are located on this side. We are rapidly approaching our 2025 event (August 1st – 3rd) and already planning for our 10th Annual event in 2026. Read more>>
Maggie Parrott
We have been SO grateful to be supported by the community and foster incredible relationships with dogs and patrons. In the last year, we have added GG’s Food Truck, Oak Ridge Gel Tactical, and Hippie Dippie dog grooming to our property and continue to build an establishment for two and four-legged friends alike. We have two areas of the park for leashed dogs and families and a third area for off-leash dogs. We have yard monitors to help maintain a safe area for dogs to play and all dogs must show proof of vaccination to enter. Our focus is on building a comfortable and welcoming space to meet up with friends, let your dog run, listen to some music or play some trivia, and enjoy a cold beverage. Read more>>
Jennifer Welder
I turned to acupuncture during that time and found not only physical relief but a profound reconnection to myself. It was life-changing—and I knew I wanted to help others experience the same. I left my career, went back to school for Chinese Medicine, and eventually earned advanced board certification in fertility and reproductive health, as well as additional training in pain relief, anxiety, and trauma healing. Read more>>
Logan Graves
Living in my car trying to get an agent while doing extra work it was a constant effort trying to break through and get an agent and begin auditioning for first team cast member roles. Eventually I signed with an agency and started booking cast member roles as well working crew. I moved back to my home state VA and continue auditioning for cast member Roles via self tapes and have written my screen play Strange Skies. While recently finishing working crew on a documentary in D.C and currently working crew at a regional theater. Read more>>
Danielle Defayette Smith
Our locally grown flower collective was actually established over a year ago in 2024 when I asked several of my floral artist friends from the wedding industry to get together with a handful of local flower farmers I’d come to know. We met at a coffee shop in, quite possibly, one of the most peculiar meetings to come together to date. (I still have the handwritten contact list we made that day!) Read more>>
Macey Conwell
I’ve been lucky to be part of our family business since 2019, I began my career in Sports Marketing at Duke University in Athletics. Managing large corporate accounts, so I had a little background in client management. I did that for about 5 years and had an opportunity to join my parents in running The Magnolia. The rest is really history. I’ve been working in the wedding industry with our venues for the last 6 years! It’s quite different working in a small business after coming from the corporate world, but people are people and it’s been such a blessing to be part of something so special and meaningful. My parents and sisters are all involved in the business so it’s fun working alongside everyone! Read more>>
Kat Mahn
I have been a licensed aesthetician for over 2 decades! I attended the South Carolina Massage and Esthetics Institute, where I found my true passion for aesthetics. I began my career with Aveda, and while I still loves their products, I chose to move forward specializing in eyelash extensions and waxing. Read more>>
