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.

Tricia Warren

A Business Leader’s Guide to Operational Success and the Endless Pursuit of Better”, explores the patterns of operational friction I have seen repeatedly across industries and my company, TLW Integrated Solutions, felt less like a leap and more like a natural extension of the work I had been doing for years. Rooted in resilience and faith, TLW Integrated Solutions is a reflection of my life mission: to turn challenges into momentum and help others lead with intention, excellence, and grace. Read more>>

JayR Rashiq

Founder of Harhum Music LLC. From Yonkers, NY inspired by his father Stone Rivers & Michael Jackson. Rashiq grew up seeing his father create music in the house (producing & writing). Rashiq picked up on that at a young age & began writing poetry in the 2nd grade. Read more>>

jody mayfield

My origin story really starts before I had language for what music was or what it would become in my life. As early as five or six years old, I was constantly experimenting with sound—plucking at the piano, banging on things, beating sticks against a chair just to hear what would happen. I wasn’t searching for attention or applause. I was searching for sound. I liked the way rhythm felt in my hands. It was fun. I was unknowingly making music before I knew what music even was. Read more>>

Maddie ileena Locke

You deal with so many people that want to be in competition & they forget it’s room for everyone to eat & be successful. I’ve learned your main support comes from strangers, not your friends, family, or lover. For the most part though my journey so far has been smooth and I do receive a lot of love and support and people are really just ready for me to do more with my music and my YouTube so I’m really ready to get back into that this year and stay consistent and give the people what they want. Read more>>

Rayvene Whatley

As an anxiety and trauma therapist, I’ve spent countless hours listening to professionals talk about their work. Not just the titles or responsibilities, but the pressure, the anxiety, and the quiet exhaustion that followed them home. Over time, what I started to notice was a pattern I couldn’t ignore. Many of the people I worked with were capable, successful, and deeply committed, yet emotionally guarded and constantly bracing themselves just to get through the workday. The issue wasn’t a lack of skill or motivation. It was the environments they were operating in. Read more>>

Mount Saint Helen

While most of my personal and professional life has been centered around fine arts and graphic design, I’ve always been interested in the performing arts. Although I took dance classes and participated in a couple of plays when I was in school, performing was never something I took seriously, and becoming a burlesque performer was not something I had ever imagined. Read more>>

Nichole Walker, LPC, NCC

Often times this work extended beyond the school setting connecting parents and families to outside support and resources for mental health. As the years progressed working in education, I developed a strong desire to be able to provide more individualized support, which was not something I was able to do in the school setting. This led me to explore new options and I landed in group private practice. Read more>>

Allyssa-Faith Dawkins

When I got to college, University of West Georgia, I joined their news station, WUTV, which broadcasts to Carroll County. At WUTV, I learned how to use their Tricaster as a Technical Director. I would switch the video for pre-programmed Newscasts, News Briefs, and Talk Shows. Turns out that the company, Amitrace, that provided and installed the equipment for WUTV did the same at Dacula High School. Read more>>

Hopeton St.Clair Hibbert

I began my professional life in the culinary arts, graduating from Johnson & Wales University in 1998 and working in some of Atlanta’s most respected kitchens, including the Buckhead Life Group, Eclipse Di Luna and Atmosphere Bistro. The discipline, service, and endurance of kitchen life continue to inform my approach to making art. Read more>>

Rachel Winkel

Farming is the third reinvention of my wheel of life. I’d always been curious about growing stuff but my parents were not into gardening, so the interest remained on the back burner. Read more>>

Andrea Williams

I came into this work because storytelling has always been how I made sense of the world. Before there were companies or programs or titles, there was a little Black girl who knew that stories held truth, survival, and possibility. Read more>>

Softcore Wellness Chelsea & Savannah

Softcore Wellness began when we met working in wellness spaces on and around the Atlanta Beltline, environments rooted in movement, community, and shared energy. Even coming from different backgrounds, we quickly realized we were asking many of the same questions about wellness: Why does it so often feel rigid or extreme? Why is there so much pressure to do it “right”? Read more>>

Marissa Levi Tzimenatos

I feel like I was always led towards a career where energy work and healing were at the center. As a child, I would sit in the enclosures at the humane society, sometimes for hours, with dogs that nobody wanted because they were afraid and shy. We had an understanding. Read more>>

Azonti Shakyeè

I began taking deeper control of my physical, mental, and spiritual health after experiencing profound grief, the loss of my grandfather to cancer. His passing was especially shocking, as he was someone I considered the healthiest person in my family. Read more>>

Tobias Jarmon

When I was a kid, I didn’t know barbering would become my life—I just knew I loved being around it. That love started when I moved to Atlanta in seventh grade, right before eighth grade ended and ninth grade was coming up. There was a barbershop up the street from my house, and I started walking there every day. Read more>>

Reketta Peterson

Long story short, I am the eldest daughter on both my mom and dad’s side and I give good advice. I was a bossy kid and always the teacher when my siblings and cousins played school. I just knew I had the answers to every problem (lol). But in all seriousness, I am a former military brat and I taught English abroad in S. Read more>>

Rose Mercado

My work has always lived at the intersection of culture, storytelling, and visibility, even before I had the language for what I was building. I began my career in media as a photographer, journalist, and creative documentarian, telling stories for independent artists and communities that weren’t often featured in traditional media. Read more>>

C Renee McLain

Several years ago, I found myself naturally helping people think through decisions and navigate what to do next. Friends, colleagues, and even acquaintances would come to me to brainstorm, process challenges, and gain clarity. It became clear that this wasn’t accidental—it was a gift and a calling. Read more>>

Chris Mullins

After doing this for a couple of years it was inevitable that I was going to do this on my own I just needed to get started, one day in my apartment I sat down and came up with a plan, to have an agency that is focused on helping small businesses through commercial insurance and from there MIG Agency was born. Read more>>

senthil saravanan

I began my culinary journey 28 years ago with a deep respect for traditional Indian cooking and a strong desire to understand food at its roots. I trained in classical techniques, learning not just recipes but the discipline, balance of spices, and patience that authentic cuisine requires. Read more>>

Janea Harris

I was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, and my journey has been shaped by resilience long before I ever had the language for it. I became a mother at the age of 15, and with that came not only responsibility, but judgment. Read more>>

Skylar Weeks

Zany’s has been a part of the Newnan community for over fifteen years, and my journey with the business started when I was just sixteen years old working as a receptionist at the original location. From the beginning, I fell in love with the environment and the families we served, but I also saw the potential for something even bigger. Read more>>

Nicole Harrison

The BrendaBear Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to honor the life and legacy of the Late Brenda Jean Harrison-Jones—an educator, caregiver, and advocate who spent 45 years serving children, youth with disabilities, and the broader community. Read more>>

Josiah Paul

Well, how far back should I go? I was born Newport News, Virginia on February, 5th 1992. My parents are Native American and Irish with a few other things peppered in there. My dad was in the military, so we moved all over the place when I was younger. Read more>>

Adeboye Owolewa

ARSHBRO didn’t come up with a blueprint he came up through experience. What started as curiosity and self-expression slowly became a discipline, a way of translating pressure, culture, and emotion into sound and identity. Creativity wasn’t a hobby for him; it was a survival tool. His journey hasn’t been linear. Between work, school there were seasons where life demanded priority over art. Read more>>

Jackson Erminio

I’ve been building and selling things since I was 14. I started by reselling shoes and clothes like Yeezys, Jordans, Supreme, BAPE, and vintage pieces. At the time, my entire goal was honestly just to be able to buy Chipotle after school every day. That phase taught me pricing, demand, branding, and how to actually move product. Read more>>

Cliff Cashflow beats

I started making music from a genuine love for sound and creativity. Early on, I was drawn to production—learning how records were built, how melodies, drums, and emotion came together to create something that people could feel. What began as curiosity quickly turned into discipline, and I spent years developing my ear, my technical skills, and my ability to work with artists across different styles. Read more>>

Odona Ezell-Whiddon

I grew up in Columbus, GA and graduated from Brookstone School. I thought I wanted to be an attorney – I had wanted that my entire life, but an experience at church camp that summer made me think that God may have been calling me to something else. Read more>>

M. Khurram Baig

I often describe my journey as one rooted in gratitude, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in possibility. I was born in Hyderabad, India, and immigrated to the United States with my parents in 1979. Georgia has been home ever since. Read more>>

Torin Togut

As started practicing law in June 1977 as a sole practitioner. In September 1984, I began working for Georgia Legal Services Program, (GLSP) which is a nonprofit legal organization representing low-income Georgians in 154 counties in Georgia. Read more>>

Kascia Polk

Beyond the Front Porch began in August 2012, shortly after I was laid off from my job. The saying, “If you do what you love, it will never feel like work,” kept echoing in my mind. One of the things I loved most was having family day with my three children, when we would choose a place to explore and spend the day together. Read more>>

Chancellor Jackson

My story truly began after graduating from Stetson University, when I took my first job teaching English to children in China. Six months into that journey, my life took an unexpected turn—I was arrested, spent 14 days in a Chinese jail, and was deported back to the United States. Returning home forced me to reset and redefine my path. Read more>>

Vishesh Gattani

Like many students who gravitate toward math and science, my journey started early. Back in middle and high school, I volunteered as a tutor, helping younger students and peers with basic algebra and science concepts. What hooked me wasn’t just the subject matter – it was the moment when a struggling student finally got it. Seeing that lightbulb go off was incredibly rewarding. Read more>>

D’Ann Skaggs

My brother & I owned a construction for 23 years. In 2006, I had some problems with my brother, and my husband. I got on drugs-Crack. I spent about 6 months doing crack in secret. Then I got arrested. My Husband found out, he divorced me, took everything from me and my brother had everything taken out of my name. Read more>>

Believe

Believe, whose real name is Walter Harvey Jr., was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. He started making mixtapes in his bedroom at the age of 15 and was signed as a rapper fresh out of high school by legendary record executive and hip-hop pioneer Sylvia Robinson. Read more>>

Andreas Cooke

I got started because at the time I was promoting myself as an artist. I realized that when I would appear on other platforms, the time was short and very limited along with competing with other guests. I wanted to solve this problem and researched how I would go about creating my own platform. Read more>>

Di Butler

I didn’t move to Gwinnett County with a plan to open a gym. I moved here in the middle of a pandemic, pregnant, scared, and not knowing a single soul. In 2020, I left Savannah and came to this area with my husband and our kids, stepping into the unknown during one of the most unstable times in modern history. No family. No community. Read more>>

Saija Areli

My name is Saija Areli, and I am a faith-filled, cut-and-sew fashion designer specializing in wedding gowns, prom dresses, custom garments, and precision alterations. What I do goes far beyond passion—this is a calling, a ministry, and a living testimony. Fashion is the seed God planted in me, and over the years I’ve learned how to steward that gift with discipline, humility, and excellence. Read more>>

Paul Bushell

Mike and I met in the spring of 2006. A friend introduced me to Mike and told me I had to try his homebrew. He shared a rye pale ale, and I was beyond impressed. Mike ended up sharing the art of brewing with me, and we’ve been brew buddies since. Read more>>

Whitney Hubbell

My story begins early—when I was just seven years old. My parents owned and operated Hubbell Jewelry Design, a family-owned jewelry store that is still open and serving the community today. From a young age, I was immersed in what it meant to build and sustain a small business. I grew up watching my parents serve customers, build trust, and invest deeply in their community. Read more>>

Teri Drake-Floyd

Nuçi’s Space is a Musician’s and Community Resource center in Athens, GA. Read more>>

SHOLA ADEYEMO

Hello, my name is Shola Adeyemo. I am the founder of Royal Style Inc, which specializes in Health, beauty, and African fashion. I have been a pharmacist for 40+ years and throughout that time I have been blessed to help several members of my community improve their health both in the United States and Nigeria. Read more>>

Andrew Williams

I graduated optometry school in 2012 and I completed a residency program in Puerto Rico in 2013. Following my training I begin working for a private practice that was soon bought out by a corporate optometry entity. I was not pleased with the corporate style in treating patients or taking care of staff. It lead me to open my private practice in 2019. Read more>>

Kimberly Madison, MS, LPC

My journey to becoming a therapist began with experiencing life changing loss at a young age. Losing my father at thirteen introduced me early to grief, uncertainty, and emotional pain but it also introduced me to humility, perseverance, and hope. I learned very young that life can be deeply shattering, yet it also holds the possibility of rebuilding something meaningful from the broken pieces. Read more>>

Ricardo & Desiree Jaimes

My story is really a blend of family, hard work, and faith. My husband Ricardo and I started Jaimes Landscape & Design LLC with nothing but a vision and a determination to build something lasting for our children. Read more>>

Ana Catali

My life began in circumstances that required resilience from an early age. After a tragic event, I entered witness protection and later moved through the foster care system. During that time, music and art became my refuge that calmed my nerves and gave me a sense of escape, expression, and safety. Read more>>

D. Lamar Handy

As a young boy, I always knew I had a vision and was inspired to be a change agent one day, I just didn’t know how and what that might look like. My story did not start with a big platform or a large team, I started with a heart for people and a vision to make a difference. Read more>>

Dr. Ebunoluwa Mikie

Hello, I’m Dr. Ebunoluwa Mikie, My path into psychiatric and mental health care started in California, where I first stepped into healthcare as a Certified Nursing Assistant. I found so much fulfillment in caring for patients that after a few months, I decided to continue my education and became a Licensed Practical Nurse. Read more>>

Catrina Bailey

I began my career right out of college working with people with disabilities at a large community center in Atlanta. My role as a job developer focused on helping individuals find, secure, and maintain employment, and it quickly became clear to me how powerful work can be when the right supports are in place. Read more>>https://voyageatl.com/interview/meet-catrina-bailey-of-core-solutio

Mershele Brown

My entrepreneurial journey began in Ohio, where I first learned the value of hard work delivering newspapers and riding an ice cream bike.at 12yrs old/ Those early years, combined with my time in Junior Achievement, 4-H, and competitive sports, laid the foundation for the business leader I would eventually become. Read more>>

Stephen Carlson

After living in Virginia for 32 years working a handyman business and dabbling in various Indie film productions, the TV Series A Haunting, and others I thought it was my time to try my set building trade in Atlanta. When I arrived in the summer of 2022 the whole film industry was in turmoil between Hollywood strikes and the coming of age of AI. Read more>>

Tara Williams

Walk us through your story; how you started and how you got to where you are today; as brief or detailed. My decision to start my private practice happened very fast but also took two decades in the making. After a decade of serving the US Air Force in 2012 I felt led to pursue my career in counseling psychology. Read more>>

Collin Bowman

The Bowman Team started as a family business in 2019 with a simple belief: real estate should feel personal, honest, and rooted in trust. In the beginning, it was all about helping friends, family, and local neighbors navigate one of the biggest decisions of their lives. Those early experiences, and the relationships that came from them, laid the foundation for everything that followed. Read more>>

Alex Allen

My name is Alex Allen, and I’m a licensed clinical social worker and the founder and clinical director of Psychotherapy Collective of Atlanta (PCOATL). I’m a Georgia native and earned my MSW from Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. Read more>>

Raquel Reed

Oh wow, where do I even start! While everyone else in high school was trying to figure out their path, I already knew: I was going to be a fashion designer. I moved to Atlanta in 2005 with that wide-eyed dream of taking over the world of fashion. Of course, life had a different timeline! Read more>>

Barkeia McBride

With over 15 years of experience in the beauty industry, I am a professional makeup artist whose journey began as a licensed cosmetologist. Over time, my passion for makeup took center stage. Having a background in drawing from a young age, I view makeup as another form of art, one that enhances and transform. Read more>>

Moustafa Elmaghrabi

My name is Moustafa Elmaghrabi, and I am an Egyptian PhD pharmacist with a lifelong passion for food and cooking. Read more>>

Teddy Meeks

It’s been a lifelong dream of ours to own a farm with an ol farmhouse to renovate and, to be honest, we were unsure if it would ever be more than a dream. In May of 2019, after years of searching, we were approached by Glenn & Kathleen Beckham about purchasing a portion of their 5th generation family farm dating back to the 1870’s. Read more>>

Keith J. Piasecki and Julie Espenscheid

K&J Love T&A started the way a lot of great adventures do—two people, a shared sense of curiosity, and a love for getting out of the ordinary. Keith and Julie met later in life, both with full histories behind them and a strong desire to make the most of the chapters ahead. Read more>>

Nkiru Anyagaligbo

PrimePath Consulting was born out of a gap I kept seeing firsthand. After nearly a decade working across pharma, biotech, and digital strategy—spanning consulting, agency, and in-house roles—I noticed that many organizations had access to data, but not clarity. Insights were siloed, strategy was reactive, and leaders often struggled to translate information into confident decisions. Read more>>

Raneen Abdou

Before moving to the United States, I worked as a lawyer in my home country. When I came here, I began thinking seriously about business and where I wanted to invest my energy. I was naturally drawn to the beauty industry because I genuinely enjoy it and connect with it. Read more>>

Stormy Curtis

I didn’t start in real estate because it looked glamorous. I started because I saw how often people felt unheard, confused, or taken advantage of in one of the biggest decisions of their lives. I built my career by doing what most don’t: showing up when it’s hard, telling the truth when it’s uncomfortable, and standing beside my clients long after the paperwork is signed. Read more>>

Katie Robinson

I grew up in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia and experienced my fair share of life’s complexities and challenges. I was privileged enough to find the arts (particularly music and theatre) as a way to learn about myself, explore emotions, and find comfort amid chaos. Read more>>

Young Jexf

I was born in Haiti and moved to the United States at eight years old. Growing up as an immigrant shaped my perspective early and gave me a voice rooted in real experience. Adjusting to a new culture, language, and environment taught me resilience, independence, and self-belief. Music became my outlet and my purpose. Read more>>

Kesha Denise

Kesha Denise is a fashion entrepreneur, business strategist, and the vibrant visionary behind Funky Flair Boutique — a bold, trend-forward brand built on style, confidence, and unforgettable customer experiences. A Los Angeles native, Kesha’s passion for fashion started early and evolved from selling accessories to local salons into launching her online boutique in 2010, followed by a brick-and-mortar storefront in 2013. Read more>>