ATL’s Most Inspiring Stories

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.

Carrie Michelle

Carrie Michelle is also recognized for her philanthropic efforts, hosting four yearly events in both Atlanta and the DMV, showcasing her commitment to giving back to the community. Currently, she holds the position of promotions/event manager for the nationally known brand, CRU Lounge, in Atlanta, showcasing her versatility as a one-stop shop in the entertainment industry. Read more>>

Desjanae Thompson

My name is Desjanae “Deja for short” and I am overwhelmed with joy to express my love and passion for BOOZGIE COCKTAILS LLC , we are more than a mobile bartending business, we bring and create special moments that will be imprinted in memories and impact your family and friends lives.As someone who thrives in fast-paced, people-oriented environments and has a natural passion for entrepreneurship, I’m excited about introducing you and the world turn my strengths into a successful career in being the #1 mobile bartending company in Atlanta,ga. Read more>>

Stefan Goddard-Johnson

I started Emerald Movers in 2014 after spending a few years working with/managing another moving company. During that time, I gained a deep understanding of the industry—what worked, what didn’t, and what customers truly valued. I saw an opportunity to build something better. When I first started Emerald Movers, it was truly a family effort. It was just my dad, my brothers, and a few close friends helping out on moves. We didn’t have a big crew or a fleet of trucks—just a strong work ethic, a commitment to doing things the right way, and a shared belief that we could build something great. As the business grew, we relocated to Marietta, Georgia, and expanded our services across the metro Atlanta area. Read more>>

Katrina Robinson

Once I enrolled in Atlanta Technical College to study Marketing Management – I became confident in how to present my skills to the masses for profit. I had the advantage of social media and I created successful business streams . I had my son five years ago and transitioned back to VA. Today I have my own brick and mortar retail store that also houses my service area, where I still braid my loyal clients. I look forward to traveling back and forth to Atlanta to service my clients there as well. Read more>>

Larry NUFACE Compton

But more than just the music, I think the culture’s gonna lean heavy into storytelling. That’s where people like me come in—historians, curators, collectors. Folks want to feel something again. They want to see where this came from, who paved the way, and how it connects to now. So I see a wave of hip-hop museums, pop-ups, documentaries, and platforms that blend education with entertainment. People don’t just want content—they want context. Read more>>

DeeJae Hann

For me my struggle was literally starting a new career in media with little to no experience, no job in the media field and no credentials. Although that’s where I started, I didn’t allow what I lacked to overcome my vision. I wanted it so bad that I enrolled back in school to work on my bachelors degree so that I could continue interning at Streetz945 ATL. I applied for remote Internships that pertained to radio and mass media so that I could help myself be better. I knew that everything I was putting in would get me to where I want to be eventually. I knew that I would get a job in media as long as i focused, worked hard and stayed dedicated. Read more>>

Bunny H

That’s where Hazy Bunny comes in. I wanted to create a brand that reminds people that self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential. You can’t pour from an empty cup, right? So I set out to make products that help people bring the luxury spa experience home. My bath and body care products aren’t just about smelling good (though they definitely do); they’re packed with ingredients that deeply nourish and moisturize, giving dry, dehydrated skin the love it deserves. Because taking care of yourself shouldn’t feel like a luxury—it should feel like second nature. Read more>>

Anastasia Peck

Working with women requires a great deal of patience, empathy, and strong communication, especially when you’re blending creative work with client service. Finding employees who not only deliver high-quality results but are also trustworthy, aligned with the brand, and committed long-term has been a constant challenge. This is such a detail-focused field, and it takes time to train someone who can meet those standards. But every struggle has taught me something, and I’ve grown a lot as a leader because of it Read more>>

Devaun Barnett

I have always loved art. I purchased a camera from a mutual friend of my wife and I. I started taking pictures and i began to see the photos through an artistic lense. I began my journey of learning how to work a camera along with how to dissect photos. Dissect them from aspects fo shadows, contrast, and color variations. From here Eye See You Photography was born. After that i figured out what my lane was and continued to get better at my craft. Read more>>

Elena Maas

I was completely overwhelmed. I hadn’t asked how many people would be in the session, and I hadn’t made it clear that I wasn’t a family photographer. I just sort of rolled with it (rookie move), and in the end, the photos were fine — but that was the day I realized I needed to get crystal clear on what kind of work I actually wanted to do… and who I wanted to work with Read more>>

Micki Price-Havard

In 2018, I launched a membership based Online Pilates Studio (MickiPhit.com) that offers 24/7 access to step-by-step instructional Pilates videos providing simplified Pilates for your home or on-the-go Pilates practice. I also offer the MickiPhit Fitness app for those who want a more athletic approach that features strength training and athletic Pilates workouts- for home or on- the-go. Read more>>

Ibby Robinson

Parenting has definitely had some bumps in the road. It does not come with a cheat sheet or a guide on how to be the perfect parent. You just have to do what works best for your family and your household. The goal is to raise your children to be great humans. Read more>>

Shawn Hutton

My name is Shawn Hutton. Vice President of marketing/sales for Junetini. I’ve been with the company since day 1. I’m most proud of us not giving up. There were enough opportunities for us to just say F$&% it, but we didn’t. We figured out that we needed to go another direction. And that’s what we did. I think what sets Junetini apart from the other (Ready to drink beverage companies is that we always maintained our commitment to working with minority businesses to help uplift both the culture and economy in the black community. Read more>>

Emi Evelia McCollum

I grew up on pop radio and YouTube lyric videos in the suburbs of Atlanta, writing heartbreak songs before I even knew what heartbreak was. I only knew how I felt when I listened to “Forever and Always” by Taylor Swift or “You Could be Happy” by Snow Patrol, and instantly wanted to create music that could make you feel something. When I was 14, I inherited my uncle’s old Johnson acoustic guitar and from there I was hooked. I made covers of my favorite songs in my bedroom and began playing shows around Atlanta at 15. It wasn’t until I moved an hour away to Athens, GA and went to the University of GA that I formed a band and started releasing my own music. Songwriting remains my favorite part of playing music—connecting with others by sharing a deeply personal story, but one that can resonate with anyone. Read more>>

Anthony Brooks

What started as a simple conversation about a book turned into something much deeper. I quickly became drawn to her spiritual mindset and how passionately she approached life and faith. Although we had never met in person — I was living in Texas, and she was in Newark, New Jersey — I felt strongly that she was my answered prayer. After a few honest conversations about life and purpose, I asked her to be my lady, which really meant I’m asking you to be my wife, and she said yes without hesitation. Read more>>

Terry Abromitis

I quickly realized this was the creative outlet I had been craving. I began booking more trips and documenting my experiences online, sharing both the beauty and the realness of solo travel—especially as a woman in her 40s. I wanted to show that it’s never too late to chase your dreams, explore new corners of the world (even if you have to do it solo), and completely reinvent your life. Read more>>

Artsy Elaine

It’s never a smooth road if you’re pursuing being a small business owner, especially today. There are lots of uncertainties around work and income stability as the seasons change and as the economy fluctuates. You just have to learn that there are up times and down times, and that it’s part of the journey. My biggest struggle at the beginning was just taking the leap to believe in myself to pursue being an artist full-time. Along the way though I’ve gotten burnt out a few times for doing too much, and I have to learn how to rebalance my workload and not take on too much. Read more>>

Stefany Benitez

One of my biggest challenges was learning how to trust myself—and trust the process. There were moments where everything around me looked uncertain. Financial struggles, self-doubt, toxic patterns, and trying to break generational cycles all hit at once. But it was through that pressure that something beautiful started to form: I surrendered. I leaned deeply into my faith, allowed the Divine to guide me, and started showing up for myself with more intention. Every challenge I faced became the foundation for the life I live now. I’m no longer just existing—I’m thriving with alignment, love, and joy. And if I can do it, so can every woman reading this. Read more>>

Courtni Jones

In that same year, my husband and I started Our Sweet Libations so that we could provide that ourselves. Our Sweet Libations is an artisanal beverage company that specializes in artificial-dye-free lemonades, teas, and punches. We are always delighted to see our supporters out and about and serving them our best. Adding food to our menu is on the horizon, and we are actively taking imperfect action toward our goal of someday owning a food trailer. Read more>>

Skyla Jenkins

That is also when said photographer inquired if I ever have done photography or thought about doing photography and never in million years would I have ever thought that I would be in something like that or even have a business as an entrepreneur. I knew I had a lot more to learn, but if you don’t try and put yourself out there, how will you learn? Therefore, instead of shutting out the idea or not being open minded, I took heed into it and ended up accompanying the photographer to another fashion show that she invited me to and actually captured pictures of my own on my own camera and from there, “Thee Unique Identity” was created, and the rest is history. Read more>>

Taylor Maher

Fast forward to two years ago—I met Dawn Heuer, and it was an instant connection. I began working at her design firm and had the incredible opportunity to be a design producer with her on the HGTV show Married to Real Estate. When I joined, Dawn shared her dream of opening a brick-and-mortar store—something that would bring more visibility to the brand and fill a gap in the community. We dove right in, scouting locations and sourcing one-of-a-kind pieces from places like Mexico City and London. Read more>>

Zeus

Zeus Da Comedian is a multi-talented entertainer, stand-up comedian, and content creator hailing from Columbus, Georgia. His journey began with founding an independent entertainment label Street Ambitionz Ent. in his hometown, aiming to spotlight local talent. Though the label hit a cold streak early on, it found new energy and direction in 2016 through the world of podcasting with The Match One Podcast—and that’s when Zeus Da Comedian truly found his voice. Read more>>

Darius Lewis

I’ll shoot it. I’ll shoot by myself. You know I did another challenge is bringing a building a team and have them believe in your dream and all you offering is IMDb credits and a meal because I can’t pay anybody right now but you know I’m offering Payment on the back end so that’s not a challenge trying to get people to work for you for free and promised them that this show is gonna be a hit Read more>>

Tanesha Jackson

There have definitely been a few risks, but the biggest one for me has been the sacrifice of time away from my girls. As we all know, it takes a lot to build a business from the ground up, and I worry that they may one day resent the moments I missed. I don’t know—we’ll see. But what I do know is that I believe in this brand and everything we’re doing to help people. Read more>>

Jody Nguyen

It wasn’t until I moved to Atlanta about 3 years ago that the idea sprouted again. This time, I felt more confident about it because there were so many different looks that were in demand. Certain photographers, brands, businesses and creatives looking for MY look. I’m now a little over a year into taking it as serious as I have and I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside some incredible people- networking and building up my portfolio. I’m truly blessed because not only has this become another form of income for me, I was also able to make the little girl in me happy and her dream come true. Read more>>

Nika Samples

I’m Nika Samples, founder of VDAY Premier Wellness, and my mission is to empower women to take control of their health, particularly when it comes to vaginal wellness and uterine care. Since 2017 I’ve dedicated my life to obtaining information and experience to provide women with the tools, treatments, and knowledge they need to prioritize themselves and live vibrant, healthy lives. Today, through my work as a vaginal health professional and consultant, I’m helping women everywhere step into their power by understanding one of the most vital, yet overlooked, aspects of their health. Read more>>

Kendrick Webber

Through networking and connecting with various individuals, I began filming for entertainers and rappers in the city. This was a pivotal moment in my career. I eventually linked up with a friend from my hometown who owned a club in Atlanta. This connection proved invaluable, as he would book different entertainers on weekends, and I had the opportunity to film their performances. This exposure helped me establish my name in the entertainment industry. Read more>>

Cinthia Almeida

With over 20 years of experience in Marketing, Branding, and People Development — including 15+ years in global corporations, advertising agencies, and consulting — I’ve led diverse teams, built strong networks, and developed a deep understanding of human behavior across cultures. My academic background includes a degree in Advertising, an MBA in Marketing, and specialization in Personal Branding and Leadership from renowned institutions. Read more>>

Halie Allen

I started Book Lush Events just over a year ago with a simple dream: I had fallen completely in love with A Court of Thorns and Roses and couldn’t stop imagining how incredible it would be to bring the magic of the Night Court to life. That dream turned into our very first Night Court Ball, and what started as a passion project quickly became something so much more. The event was not only incredibly fun, but it introduced me to an amazing community of fellow book lovers. The friendships, the shared excitement, and the pure joy of creating these immersive experiences made me realize this was what I wanted to do full time—and I haven’t looked back since. Read more>>

Larry Oliver II

As I grew in my craft, I began producing and performing with my brothers—Judah Early, James Dorsey, Andre Jones, and Joey Early—across Cleveland. That chapter led me to connect with Jayshawn Champion, a talented songwriter behind hits like “Same Girl” by Usher and R. Kelly, and “Ride Witcha” by Joe Thomas. He introduced me to Trevel Studios, owned by the legendary Gerald Levert. One of my first major placements came from a collaboration with Joe Little of The Rude Boys and Jayshawn—we created a track called “Love You More,” where I played all the instruments except for the drum programming. That song ended up being placed on Ginuwine. Read more>>

Beatriz Velazquez

This book has sold over 1000 copies inspiring mothers all over the world. I then wrote my third book “Destined for Greatness” for children. Working with kids my whole life career I just wanted to keep motivating them as well. Now I’m a Librarian for the past three years. I love helping teens find themselves and sometimes forgetting about the world and going into the world of a good book. I create programs for them, and I execute them. I do many outreaches to help our families in the schools, communities and more. As I get older my new goals are to always help, but I want to spend my last years happy in an environment where I can truly grow. Read more>>

Norica Canty

After the second rental property was completed and rented, I thanked her buy taking her out to dinner. She asked what I was going to do next? My reply was that I wanted to do something in which I could make money everyday. My realtor then suggested that I get into the vending business. She and I both begin to cheer because we felt and if we had nailed the day! She immediately called a guy that told me to bring him XXX amount of dollars and he will sell me two vending machines and a locations. The very next day I was in business! My enjoyment of people and vending lead me to be able to go from 1-19 vending machines in just over a year Read more>>

James Branton

I’ve always been involved in music in some capacity. Either helping others get shows or connected with other musicians. I grew up singing and playing music in church and then as I got older, I got away from it. Around 2017, I decided to really just passionately pursue music. I had been in bands before but they never really felt like home. I started Ashes to Omens that year and harshly enough was also diagnosed with thyroid cancer that year as well. I was introduced to Casey Lee and Christopher Blake early on and we were off to the races. Read more>>

Sarah Johnson

I wouldn’t say it has been smooth. I was fearful of starting my own practice as I have a father who is a dentist and I have seen his struggles. Not only that, but we are taught nothing about business in dental school! A friend of mine who owns her own business encouraged me to buy mine and told me “you don’t have to know everything to be successful, you just have to surround yourself with people who do”. I have hit many bumps in the road, but have learned and have grown along the way. What keeps me going is knowing how much I’m helping patients. Read more>>

Courtenay Christian

As a proud wife of 30 years and mother of two gorgeous daughters (and a stepmom to three more), I made the decision to leave the corporate world and embrace being a stay-at-home mom. During one of my frequent trips to Joann Fabrics, I was excited when I was asked if I’d be interested in teaching sewing classes. Without hesitation, I accepted and spent about three wonderful years teaching at Joann Fabrics in Duluth, GA, before transitioning to Hobby Lobby in Buford, GA, to continue sharing my love for sewing with others. Read more>>

Valentina Salazar

It definitely hasn’t been an easy road. Like many families, we faced challenges: language barriers, financial struggles, the challenge of adapting to a new country, and in my case, personal losses as well. Personally, starting in the mortgage industry wasn’t easy; there was a learning curve and moments of doubt. But each obstacle taught me a valuable lesson. Those difficult moments shaped me and made me even more committed to my work, and especially to something as important as helping my clients achieve their dream of homeownership. Read more>>