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.
Jessica Moody
3 Generations started with my daughter getting us a clay class at Appalachian School of Craft. After that class, I bought a home studio, and quickly outgrew the space. I retired from my 9-5 job and started 3 Generations Art Studio with my mom and daughter. Read more>>
kaylah Whaley
I’ve wanted to run my own business since I was young. The idea of building something for myself always pulled at me. In college, I tried selling hair extensions, and that failed fast. I didn’t have the money to invest. I tried again with athletic wear, but the inventory costs stopped me. Read more>>
Angela Devine
I have had riding horses for most of my adult life. In 2014 I bought a little hobby sized farm in Loudon and took in several miniature horses that had been in a bad situation before being rescued. I absolutely fell in love with these pint sized equines and before long people were asking me to take in others that were in bad situations. Read more>>
Holly Van de Vate
Secret Shows really started in a casual conversation with a friend a few years ago. We were discussing all of the great local musicians in Knoxville and how it would be nice if there were more opportunities for the community to see them.My friend knew someone who was connected in the music scene who had a similar thought and connected us. Read more>>
Holly Vandagriff
My path into design wasn’t a straight line. I spent more than two decades in the corporate world, building a career that was steady and predictable… but honestly, not where my creativity lived. Design was always the thing I gravitated toward in my personal life — rearranging rooms, helping friends with their spaces, diving into anything that involved color, texture, or flow. Read more>>
Jessica Kirkland
I think I’ve always had a passion for creative things growing up, and for as long as I can remember, I have always dabbled in anything artistic. Then later on when I got my hands on my first computer ever (Which looked like one of those old Apple computers you used from school), ‘remember those? Anyway, I was hooked. Read more>>
Julia Wol
My story started back in Africa. I have come a long way to be where I am today.. Living the true American dream. I am a people person who likes to fulfil others lives with happiness. I was working in a factory knowing the Lord had bigger plans for me. I prayed and he sent me my first contract with Kustom Kleaning. Read more>>
Tom Farmer
I grew up with stories of sword fighting heroes, everyone from Aragorn to Link, and the mystique of it all shaped a lot of the fiction and even non-fiction I read as a kid. Read more>>
Sara Bakker
Common Grounds was inspired by our oldest daughter. When she graduated from high school, we realized there were very few opportunities for young adults with disabilities. We started asking around and found so many other families in the same situation—people who wanted to work, contribute, and feel part of something, but just didn’t have the chance. That’s really where the idea began. Read more>>
Marianne Boone
I am originally from Ohio. That is where I was born and raised. We moved to Knoxville in 2016 when my husband was offered a position at Oak Ridge National Labs. I didn’t know anyone here. I was used to a very rural lifestyle surrounded by family, friends, and a small town community where I grew up. Read more>>
Jacob Leiser
When I was 18, my plan was to become a realtor. I studied hard, passed the national exam… and then failed the state test on my first try. That moment shook me more than I expected. The pressure, the risk, the feeling that I wasn’t fully ready it all hit at once. Read more>>
Rebecah Taylor
My career in event planning began in 2002 as the Sales & Event Director for a high-volume, full-service hospitality company, where I gained hands-on experience in everything from sales and design to menu creation and contract negotiation. What sets me apart from other wedding planners is my experience in many faucets of the industry, not just planning. Read more>>
Einstein Simplified
In 1994 an ad was placed in the MetroPulse, simply asking ‘Do you think you’re funny?’ and a number to call. That number was to David Alley who taught an eight week, twice a week course on improv. Read more>>
Katrise Thompson
My path to becoming a therapist began while volunteering at a domestic violence shelter. That experience changed the course of my life—I knew I wanted to help provide hope and support to survivors, especially because I grew up in a home impacted by domestic violence and learned firsthand that healing is possible. Read more>>
Melissa Griffin
I started in medical billing and collections, where I saw firsthand how bad credit and financial stress were impacting my community. That’s what pushed me to launch CEO Credit Club and HB Financial Group — to bridge that gap with real education and support. CEO Credit Club helps people build and repair credit. HB Financial Group handles taxes, bookkeeping, business setup, and tax planning. Read more>>
Daniel Crane
Where do I even begin? My twin sister & I were adopted as babies from South America by American parents Lucille & Alan, fast becoming U.S. Citizens by the age of 3. Read more>>
Isaac White
It all began with my father, a History buff, who imparted the love of History and the outdoors to me at a young age; however, I believe I took the whole thing way further than he ever thought I would. Read more>>
Mateo Ilic
Growing up, both of my parents did hair for a living and being in the industry was the last thing I wanted to do. Got into quite a bit of trouble until early adult years until I had gotten sober at 22. Read more>>
Brisco Woods
In 2015 I was retiring from the military and wanted to go into business for myself. After researching a few businesses, I decided on Real Estate. I tested for my license and signed on with a team at Keller Williams. In 2017, I was recruited by a new brokerage in Knoxville, with a new pay scale for their agents. Read more>>
Alex Turpin
E&W Landscaping LLC has roots that go back to 2010, when the business first began as Turpin Lawn Care. What started as a simple side job—just one mower, a few yards, and a commitment to doing things the right way—quickly grew into a steady, trusted local service. Every yard was an opportunity to build skill, build relationships, and build a reputation for quality. Read more>>
April Warren
My Insurance Journey My insurance career began out of necessity. I needed a job that allowed me to work from home, and because of my disability, traditional employment wasn’t easy to find. While searching online, I stumbled across several insurance openings. I had zero insurance experience at the time, but something about it caught my interest. Read more>>
John Nelson
I have over two decades of experience in industrial maintenance and engineering. Raising a family of five was challenging, especially with the frequent late-night calls when plants were shut down due to equipment failures. For years, I said there had to be a better way to get technicians the data and support they need right at the machine. Read more>>
Teri Hamann
My husband, a retired police officer, and I, both children of veterans and police officers, founded our non-profit organization. Our mission was to give back to our community. Inspired by our personal experiences with special needs family members and the mental health challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we sought to create a unique therapeutic approach that transcended traditional methods. Read more>>
Katie Connatser
I started my professional career with a strong work ethic and a deep respect for what it takes to build something from the ground up—values shaped early by growing up in an agricultural family. That background taught me consistency, integrity, and the quiet pride of doing work that grows over time. Read more>>
Mike Kitchens
In the latter part of 2010, a few individuals, the Founding Friends, (Mike and Suzy Kitchens, Darrell and Heather Wilkerson, Elaine Lintner, Rhoni Standefer, Gail Alexander, and Tami Wyatt) gathered at the home of Mike and Suzy and laid out the original plan to begin a service dog organization with a mission to serve wounded Veterans with mobility assistance service dogs. Read more>>
Kutler Blackwell
I would say my story really started before graduating. By Senior year of high school, I had finally become an asset to our football team. 3 weeks before my first game of senior year, I was sitting at my desk playing Xbox with some buddies and my knee locked up. Read more>>
Lisa Jones
My path to where I am today wasn’t a straight line. It rarely is for any of us. I left an abusive partner with forty-eight dollars and no car. As a single mom, I navigated the justice system and a protective order, all while attending graduate school. I moved into a transitional housing program to help me finish. Read more>>
Sam Tollett
Crossville, Tennessee may not appear on many ministry maps, but for me, it’s the epicenter of a disciple-making movement that’s redefining what church can be. When I look back over the last several years, I see a trail of moments, some painful, some powerful, all woven together by God’s faithfulness. Read more>>
Penny Crook
When my father passed away in 2020, I found myself sorting through his belongings and came across a reversible bag he had gifted my mother in the 1950s. They were married for sixty-seven years, and that bag had travelled with her through every phase of their life together. It was timeless, sentimental, and beautifully made. Read more>>
Romelia Francisco
Hello, I enjoy taking pictures ever since I was a little girl. I remember capturing random photos with the disposable camera and eagerly waiting to receive prints from Walgreen. I had this purple digital camera that was seriously glue to my hand, anywhere we go I would constantly take pictures. I found myself signing up in a photography classes back in high school. Read more>>
Pj Barnes
I was raised right here in Crossville, and a big part of who I am comes from growing up surrounded by the community assets that make this place special — our parks, our golf courses, our local businesses, and the people who poured into me. Those experiences shaped my understanding of what community really means. Read more>>
Betsy Bonilla Jimenez-Hurst
My name is Betsy Bonilla Jimenez-Hurst, and I am originally from Costa Rica. I have lived in Tennessee for 23 years, and today I serve as the Executive Director of HOLA Lakeway. I hold a Master’s degree in Business Administration – Leadership, as well as two bachelor’s degrees—one in Nonprofit Organizations Management and another in Bible Studies. Read more>>
Jessica Moody
3 Generations started with my daughter getting us a clay class at Appalachian School of Craft. After that class, I bought a home studio, and quickly outgrew the space. I retired from my 9-5 job and started 3 Generations Art Studio with my mom and daughter. Read more>>
kaylah Whaley
I’ve wanted to run my own business since I was young. The idea of building something for myself always pulled at me. In college, I tried selling hair extensions, and that failed fast. I didn’t have the money to invest. I tried again with athletic wear, but the inventory costs stopped me. Read more>>
