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.

Salita Wynn

My story began in a small town known as Douglas, Ga located near Coffee County. There are so many roads my story can take but here I will focus on the road that lead to me becoming Dr. Salita Wynn. My dad has always told me I can be anything I choose to be, like most young girls, I believe it. Read more>>

Dr. Demetrius Moore

I was raised in the wellness industry, as both of my parents are—and remain—elite professional bodybuilding champions. My mother earned the title of British National Champion, and my father became a European Champion. Although wellness surrounded me from birth, my personal journey to health, discipline, and self-mastery was one I had to discover on my own. Read more>>

Yumepai

Yume is a multidisciplinary artist. Stage name is yumepai , started off writing down dreams and vision the turned them into songs. I’ve been doing music for 2 years and modeling for 1. Creates music as an escape as well as documentation of my success. Read more>>

Scott Stewart

The Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony (AYWS) was founded in 1988 as the premier honor concert band/wind ensemble for high school youth in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Its purpose is to provide a positive musical experience in an artistic environment for advanced instrumentalists in wind and percussion performance. Read more>>

Melissa Philippe

I founded Rooted in Wisdom with a deep commitment to holistic community wellness, maternal health, and supporting women and girls through education, mentorship, and access to care. My journey began with a desire to create spaces where ancestral knowledge, faith, and modern wellness practices intersect to truly serve the needs of individuals and families. Read more>>

Dr. Vatsala Jajoo

My journey to Roswell, GA has been shaped by opportunity, perseverance, and a deep commitment to service- values that have guided every major decision I’ve made. I was born and raised in India, where I also attended the dental school before moving to the U.S. Read more>>

Blair Hasty

I’ve always been drawn to how things work, not just mechanically, but emotionally. As a kid, I was obsessed with products. Not just how they looked or felt, but what they meant to people. That curiosity turned into a career in industrial design. After earning a Master’s from Auburn in 2004, I spent the next 20 years helping brands turn ideas into real products. Read more>>

Dr. Christine ‘Chrissy’ Keck

I didn’t come to education because I had a perfect school experience. I came because I knew what it felt like when school didn’t quite fit—even when, on paper, everything looked like it should. I grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, in a stable, loving, and privileged environment. Read more>>

Monique Valentine

I started Cake 2 Taste from a genuine love of creating and a deep appreciation for how food brings people together during meaningful moments. What began as baking for family and close friends quickly revealed something more. I wasn’t just interested in making desserts, I was drawn to the artistry, the presentation, and the emotional experience tied to celebration. Read more>>

Jacqueline Pickett

I often say that the bass chose me long before I understood what a life in music could look like. I grew up drawn to sound, vibration, and the way music could shift the energy in a room. When I first encountered the double bass, something in me recognized home — not just an instrument, but a way of being in the world. Read more>>

Marquita Baldwin

What started as an outlet during Covid 19 became a passion for me. Being a healthcare worker, on the front line at the height of the pandemic, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks took over my life. Looking for a way to release, I came across a step aerobics class and fell in love. Read more>>

Alani Prince

My name is Alani Prince im 23 years old from Philadelphia Pa. I moved to Atlanta in May of 2024 with $1100 my car and my hair supplies. My goal was to build a clientele in the music and streaming industry by working with up coming artist and streamers. I faced alot of obstacles moving here but none that made me give up. Read more>>

Bradley Huesemann-Odom

I didn’t come to design through a straight line. I grew up in a small Mississippi town where creativity wasn’t framed as a career so much as a way of seeing—making do, paying attention, noticing beauty where you didn’t expect it. That early sense of observation stayed with me. Read more>>

Ruzin Cunningham

My path into photography wasn’t linear. It was shaped by curiosity, culture, and a deep pull toward storytelling. I grew up surrounded by big celebrations, layered traditions, and people who weren’t afraid of emotion. Weddings, family gatherings, rituals, they were never just events in my family, they were living archives of connection. That perspective stayed with me long before I ever picked up a camera. Read more>>

Calobe Rodriguez

It was pretty rough coming up, mom was a drug addict and didn’t know my father. My grandfather was the only person who tried to keep me on the right path. I’ve always loved music since i can remember, some of my first memories are of me memorizing my favorite songs and pretending it was me performing on a stage in front of people. Read more>>

Sharron Roberts

I started out managing clubs and curating events, and I quickly noticed a pattern — the men were running the party… but the women were the party. Let’s be honest — no women, no party. Simple math. So instead of just attending events, I decided to create them. I stepped into hosting, built my presence, moved into radio, and eventually created my brand, OhSheLit. Read more>>

Pabitra Poudyel

My story begins in Bhutan in the early 1990s. As a teenager, I was forced to leave my home and spend nearly fifteen years as a refugee in Nepal. Those years were challenging, but they shaped my resilience and deepened my commitment to community service. Read more>>

Rashedah Caleb

Owning a clothing brand has always been a profound dream of mine, fueled by a desire for representation. As a young, beautiful, black plus-sized woman, I wanted to create a platform that unequivocally showed the world that ALL sizes are beautiful and deserve to be celebrated. This ambition, however, initially felt overwhelming. I had no idea where to begin. Read more>>

Brandon Hunt

My career really began in high school where I was focused on becoming one of two things, either an artist or an actor. Over a holiday break we took my little sister to see Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and I realized, oh my god you could do both!? I realized the animators were able to use drawing to act out an amazing story. Read more>>

Olivia Moore

I honestly don’t know where to begin . My life has been full of highs and lows and detours but I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, so even the low moment are for our good too. I’ve always been a writer, poet and music lover, but also pretty tech savvy and a bit nerdy lol. Read more>>

Lina Vaca

I’ve always had a strong bond with animals, so becoming a veterinarian felt very natural to me from an early age. I grew up in Colombia, South America, and completed veterinary school in Bogotá in 2009, where I built a solid clinical foundation. Read more>>

Dre Mudaris

I’m Dre Mudaris, founder of Mudaris Healthcare, and my story starts with a question that never left me alone: what does it look like to build something that truly protects people when life is heavy? I came up through environments where performance mattered—where you learn to move fast, solve problems, and build systems that work. Read more>>

Sue VerHoef

My husband and I moved with our children to Atlanta in 1991 after seven years in Southern Spain with the United States Navy. I earned a middle grades teaching certificate in 2001 from the University of West Georgia and taught social studies and language arts in Henry County for about six years before returning to UWG in 2006 for a Masters Degree in History. Read more>>

Nicole Hughes

My husband, Jason, and I have been together for 31 years this year. We met at the North Georgia State Fair (classy, I know). Shortly after we met, my mother passed away, and we took custody of my five-year-old brother while also welcoming our son. Read more>>

Felicia McCoy

My journey has never been a straight line, it’s been one of faith, resilience, and continual reinvention. I officially launched BG Promotions in 2009, but my work in marketing and promotion started years earlier through grassroots efforts: street marketing, event promotion, photography, and community-based branding here in Atlanta. I’ve always been a connector, someone who could see potential in people and help amplify their vision. Read more>>

Maria Cornella

My name is Maria, and I’m a nonbinary illustrator attending my final year at SCAD, born in the Atlanta area. Ive always had an interest in art from a young age and gravitated towards creative hobbies as a means to express myself. Although I was born in Atlanta, I spent my childhood in Europe, learning about different cultures and experiences that now influence my art. Read more>>

Mishari Al-Salamah

I didn’t come into this with privilege or a clear roadmap. I came into it needing to figure things out—fast. I taught myself digital marketing and web development because failure wasn’t an option. Every skill I learned came from necessity, long nights, and the pressure of knowing there was no backup plan. The early years were a grind. Read more>>

Woodeline Pierre

My journey has always been guided by one core belief: leaving people better than I found them. I began my career as a Registered Nurse, working in Pediatric, Home Health and Medical Surgical. Those experiences taught me that care is not only clinical — it is emotional and relational. Read more>>

Kevin Cole

Kevin Cole an award-winning international artist/educator born in Pine Bluff Arkansas received his Bashlors of Science Degree in art education from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Master of Art is art education from the University of Illinois at Urbana, and a Master of Fine Art in Drawing from Northern Illinois University at Dekalb where he was a Rhoten A. Smith Scholar. Read more>>

Tapeka Fennell-Francis

The Masterclass in the Pivot: Since establishing my media firm in 2015, my journey has been a masterclass in the power of the pivot. Known professionally as Tapeka Fennell-Francis | Media and Marketing Maven™, I have spent the last decade refining a narrative of excellence that is as disciplined as it is soulful. Read more>>

Rovi Earle

I started my journey by building skills through hands-on experience, problem-solving, and adapting quickly to change. Early on, I learned how to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and stay accountable for results—lessons that shaped my work ethic note. Over time, I took on greater responsibility, refined my technical and organizational skills, and became more intentional about growth and long-term stability. Read more>>

Ashley Laster

I began preparing taxes in 2017 professionally. In 2013 I had my taxes prepared at one of the well known and highly reputable companies. After leaving the office my preparer called me and stated that the IRS did not accept my taxes, because someone had filed in my name already. Read more>>

Rugiatu Bahr

I was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and immigrated to the United States nearly 30 years ago through the Diversity Visa (DV) program. Before coming to the U.S., I had already completed high school and vocational training. Read more>>

Olivia Schaperjohn

I wanted to be a professional soccer player and played for 14 years growing up. All of that changed when I saw my sister in a production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I was in awe seeing others my age getting to tell stories and play for an audience of people that actually wanted to cheer them on. Read more>>

Jerra Latrice Mitchell

I’m originally from Gary, IN, but in 2016 I made the move to Atlanta, GA in search of growth, opportunity, and a different pace of life. Like many people, I followed the traditional path of working in Corporate America, building a career, and doing what I was “supposed” to do. On paper, things looked fine. In reality, something always felt missing. Read more>>

Tiffany Scott

I graduated from Georgia Southern University with an undergraduate degree in Justice Studies, which I was never able to use. I remember receiving letters indicating that it was getting close to the time where I needed to begin repayment of my student loans and since I wasn’t employed, I needed to figure something out quick. Read more>>

Matt Payne

My story begins before I ever knew it. My father was killed in Vietnam when I was just two months old. He deployed in November 1966, I was born in February 1967, and he was killed in action in April 1967. Growing up with that loss shaped my understanding of service, sacrifice, and what it means to live a life that matters. Read more>>

Reginald Paige Jr

I started doing photography when I was younger. My dad actually got me taking pictures & showed me how a camera worked. He ended up getting a new camera & he let me use his old one and come to photoshoots with him to learn how they work. Read more>>

Clydaijah Woods

What started in 2010 as a creative young girl who loved drawing and expressing herself through art has now blossomed into a full-time calling. My journey into makeup began from pure creative interest I was fascinated by how makeup could enhance beauty and become a form of art. Read more>>

James Chien

I began my career 38 years ago working for a New Orleans style restaurant located in Midtown Atlanta. The chef owner worked directly under Paul Prudhomme while in New Orleans. Through the years I worked 2 and 3 jobs simultaneously to gain much needed exposure and knowledge. Both front and back of the house. Read more>>

Dr. Tamika Head

Pink STEM began as a research paper while I was still in school. One of my professors challenged us to choose a topic that was personally meaningful, and as a single mother raising a daughter, I wanted to find a way to pass on the legacy of my own career. Read more>>

Michael Mozley

I was born in Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta and was raised in Marietta. Graduated from Marietta High School and then attended a small liberal arts university in KY. In my junior year, I was challenged to go on an eight week short-term trip to Kenya and it changed my perspective for life. Read more>>

Monica Terrell

I founded Terrell’s Business & Tax Services, LLC in 2012, but my journey with finances began long before that. In 1998, while still in high school, I was blessed with the opportunity to participate in an apprenticeship program where I worked directly with money and real estate. Read more>>

Bridgette Turner

My first real photo shoot was twenty five dollars and I was nineteen years old. It was a session for a friend from high school. I didn’t know how to use the sun yet. I didn’t understand lighting or posing the way I do now. I just knew I was having fun — and somehow, the photos came out cute. Read more>>

Melody Dimerson

FB Commercial Cleaning Services began in Queens, New York, where I started by doing the work myself and learning every aspect of the business hands on. As demand grew, I expanded operations into New Jersey and Pennsylvania. When my family later relocated to Georgia, I made the decision to start fresh with a new LLC. Read more>>

Beatriz Gonzalez

La Piña se Puso Agria was born from real conversations and real life between me Beatriz Gonzalez and a friend Leira Garcia who is my co-host in the Podcast. The name comes from a familiar saying in Puerto Rico ‘when something sweet turns sour’. Read more>>

Ken Reed

I am a hospice chaplain and the owner of Caregivers Care Coaching and Consulting Services, a startup that helps family caregivers better support their loved ones. In my work as a hospice chaplain, I saw the need for families to understand better their role as caregivers, where help and services are available, and how to provide care without losing their minds. Read more>>

Elyssia Pribble

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be running my own event empire, I probably would have laughed! I spent years in the nonprofit world, and while I loved the mission-driven work, I eventually felt the itch for a new challenge. The twist? Read more>>

Daniel Cahrtier

I’m Cahrtier and I create content about spirituality and etc. I’m also a model and photographer and I’m also a music artist I specialize in healing people energy through my content. Read more>>

Jill Mcmanigal

Forget Me Knot Weddings–Events, LLC was founded from a place of love, resilience, and a deep desire to create meaningful moments that last a lifetime. While many know me as a wedding planner and coordinator, my foundation began long before weddings. I am a nurse by trade and have served in the medical field for over 30 years. Read more>>

Peter Joseph

I’m a second-generation plumber, and I’ve been around job sites for as long as I can remember. Plumbing was simply part of my everyday life growing up. I spent years observing the trade firsthand—watching repairs, learning how systems worked, and gradually developing an understanding of plumbing long before I ever considered it as a career. As I got older, those observations turned into hands-on experience. Read more>>

Dr. Juanita Jones-Harris

My journey in healthcare began in high school, where I started working as a Certified Nursing Assistant. At an early age, I was exposed to the realities of hands-on patient care—supporting individuals with daily needs, advocating for dignity, and learning how much consistent, compassionate care truly matters. Read more>>

Richard Bell

I am the conductor and founder of the Southern Crescent Symphony. The orchestra is in its 36th year providing concerts for the residents of Clayton and surrounding counties. Members of the orchestra include music teachers, avocational musicians, retired musicians and music students all working together to bring quality music to our area. Read more>>

Lesley Henderson

My story really begins long before any business card or title ever said so. Growing up in Cincinnati with a drive to do more than just exist in a room, I’ve always been someone who saw potential where others saw problems. Read more>>

Eldriana Eady

I started doing hair at 18, pregnant, fresh out of high school, juggling college online full time while working at Walmart full time. Hair wasn’t my priority at first, it was something I did on the side, braiding in between shifts just to make extra money. Over time, Walmart started to feel like a ceiling, I was extremely stressed and unhappy. Read more>>

Shantal Long

My Story From an early age, I knew I was gifted—but my gift didn’t look like what most people recognized. While others sang, danced, or played sports, I carried something different: vision. I learned early how to see beyond my current reality and imagine what could be. That ability—to envision, declare, and then work toward a greater future—became the foundation of my life’s work. Read more>>

Lane Grosser

For me, the path to Lane Grosser Fitness didn’t start with a business plan — it started with a mindset. I grew up learning, very early on, that if you wanted something to exist, you could create it. I was always starting little projects and side ventures as a kid, and a lot of that came from watching my dad. Read more>>

Tamika Martin

I’m a Chicago native who moved to Georgia 13 years ago to provide a better life experience for my son. I’ve always been a hard worker and a great team player. I’m always looking for ways to assist people and provide a positive environment for myself and others. Read more>>

Tim Farley

For The Hope Partnership (www.fthp.org) started as Feeding the Homeless Project, Inc over 15 years ago when Hugh Pafford was challenged to use a grill he towed from his car to do something good with it. He got together with some friends with a griddle and went downtown and fed pancakes to homeless people living under a bridge. Read more>>

Travis Montgomery

The story of Waystone is quite long and definitely not without its ups and downs, but I’ll try to keep it as concise as I can. It all started in 2022 shortly after my wife, Deb, and I moved back to Georgia to help provide support for family that was going through some medical hardship at the time. Read more>>

Sergio Queiroz Santos

The story of SQSPhotography is a journey of transition—a path that winds from the vibrant landscapes of Brazil to the bustling streets of New York City, and eventually to the heart of Marietta, Georgia. It is a narrative built on the philosophy that a camera shouldn’t just capture a face, but the character and story behind it. Read more>>

Mariela Duval

I fell in love with photography at a young age. Long before it was a business, I was always the one documenting our family’s moments — first with a film camera and disposable cameras, capturing everyday life as it happened. Taking photos felt natural to me, and I loved creating the old fashion albums with the photos. Read more>>

Bryan Terschan

Sure, I never really grew up wanting to be a photographer, but I always knew I had a creative side to me. I graduated with an engineering degree and did that for 7 years before I fell in love with photography. Read more>>

Jeana Griffith

My name is Jeana Griffith, Ph.D. also known as “Dr. G.” I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio during the 1960’s, in a middle-class family in a white Jewish neighborhood that was slowly becoming more integrated. My mother was a special education teacher and my father was a Physicist. I had two sisters (one older and one younger) and an older brother. Read more>>

Sebastian Bustamante castillo

My story is one of evolution, intention, and legacy. I began my career immersed in hospitality and experiential work, naturally drawn to environments where beauty, service, and human connection coexist. From the very beginning, I understood that true luxury isn’t about excess — it’s about care, presence, and how people are made to feel. Read more>>

Stephanie Norton

My background is engineering and I worked in the automotive industry for 12 years where I was a Quality engineer turned Manager. Last January I woke up with a thought that Carrollton does not have a prom dress store. Read more>>

Andy Rodgers

I developed my passion for gardening while working in the nursery division at Indiana University Bloomington. I had an opportunity to move to Georgia in 2012 and began my journey of learning about organic farming by volunteering with local farms. Read more>>

Karla Giltner

Currie Rose Interiors is a full service Interior Design and Home Staging firm trusted by homeowners, real estate professionals and discerning clients who value quality, discretion and timeless beauty. Started only a few years ago with a vision to create classical balance within our company and everything we do. As the company grew, so did our purpose. Read more>>

Chris Cooper

As a retired public educator and military officer, most of my adulthood has been a life of service. Throughout it all, however, I have always had a passion for food. After catching the competition BBQ ‘bug’, I began a quest for the key component that could elevate the flavor of my team’s turn-ins. Read more>>

Candace Sandrini

The hospitality industry has been in my family for many generations. I am the lucky child to inherit this in my blood. At the age of 10, I went to weekend classes in etiquette because I was obsessed with antique place settings. By the age of 14, I started my first restaurant position as a hostess. Read more>>

Sarah Beth Wright

The Dahlonega Square Hotel began as a small-town dream and a desire to bring back to life homes from the 1800s into 21st-century comfort and convenience. Johnny and Catherine Ariemma started with the Baker Law Office on the Dahlonega Square with a full remodel and rejuvenation to create the first Dahlonega Square Villa. Read more>>

Kelly Hessler

I’m Kelly Hessler, Atlanta native & self-taught baker that took a hobby to a business! The name originated from a few things. First, I have a strict “No Dog Left Unpetted” policy – if a dog is willing/allowed to be pet, I’m legally (emotionally) obligated to oblige. Read more>>

Amanda Barrett

I started this business while sitting at my desk at my 9–5 job, never imagining how much it would change my life. What began as a leap of faith has become one of the greatest blessings I’ve experienced, and I haven’t regretted a single moment! Read more>>

Damar Hutchinson

I have a background in construction management and started by working hands-on in painting, drywall, and post-construction cleaning. Through that experience, I built reliable teams and systems focused on delivering inspection-ready results. Today, I work closely with general contractors and property managers on retail and residential projects. Read more>>

Paula Michael Dass

I’m an executive function, career, and academic coach, and I work with teens through adults in their 60s. I’ve been supporting individuals with ADHD since 2005, when I worked at the University of North Florida as a career counselor in the Career Center and as an adjunct instructor. Back then, I started noticing something important. Read more>>

Tierra Freeman

The road was not smooth at all. Funding is probably the biggest blocker as to why most people do not start a business, let alone follow their dreams of having a business. Although my business is small and I’m gaining traction obviously I don’t expect to be a millionaire but I do expect to make food that can reach people and make people feel good. Read more>>

Sascha Illyvich

It’s a longer story than we need to go over again, but the short, clean version is persistence and a desire to succeed. Being at a disadvantage with vision impairment hasn’t really been a roadblock, but it has made life more difficult. Before I was married, I had to live in in area with solid mass transit, for simple things like groceries and getting out. Read more>>