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.

Kenji Kubota

Today, through Kenji Kubota Headshot Photography and my video storytelling projects, I specialize in modern portraiture, professional headshots, and cinematic visual narratives. Whether I’m photographing a corporate executive stepping into a new leadership role or producing a documentary centered on transformation and hope, my goal remains the same: to create images that feel real, meaningful, and timeless. Read more>>

Michael Lawson

Definitely not i started in school while already working full time at Delta Airlines it was a lot to navigate through but i won’t bore you with that just know it was sleepless nights, hospital stays because life was lifing.. Just know running a business is a rollercoaster ride be sure to buckle up.. Read more>>

Christy Bass

I figure out how I can make it all work & what we’ll need to do so. One thing my staff hears me say all the time is…. bob, weave & make it happen! We’ve done an amazing job thus far at always following through with what we say we can do even when at first, we stood around scratching our heads. Read more>>

Brian Cloutier

It was this realization that drove me away from my childhood dream and straight into another. I adored acting all throughout middle and high school. I took classes and began to earn larger and larger roles in the school shows. Eventually, college rolled around, and I had discovered a completely new medium through which to exercise this creativity: film. Read more>>

Yolanda Akins

It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Like many healthcare professionals who transition into entrepreneurship, one of the biggest challenges was shifting from the structure and security of hospital-based work to building and sustaining a private practice. Learning the business side—insurance claims, out-of-pocket care, scheduling, marketing, and time management—was a learning curve on its own. Read more>>

Tela Kayne Carmen Coe

It definitely has not been a completely smooth road- but I’m sure any meaningful journey ever is. When we opened Scholar and Scribe in Trilith, we knew we were choosing something deeply personal and ambitious. Opening a small independent bookstore with your 2 best friends requires you to leverage everything for your passion. There isn’t a huge margin for error. You learn quickly how to stretch a dollar, how to repurpose furniture, how to turn a tiny corner into a featured display. Read more>>

James L

I wanted to create flavor that gave people the joy of not only still being able to cook limits of flavor, but also without relying on excessive salt, especially knowing how diet impacts issues like hypertension and kidney health in black communities. That focus pushed me from just cooking to product development and long-term brand building. Read more>>

Ray Barlow

Character building is what I like to consider it. With boxing alone was a ride. I started at 21 so there were many nay sayers. I proved them wrong to say the least. When it came to writing booking I just needed help being around the right people and some how it happened. Thanks Casey all smiles. My non profit journey is always unforeseen around each event. Thus far I’ve been able to prevail over those obstacles. Only with the help of great friends. Read more>>

Whitney Remington

Eight years ago, God gave me a vision but the practical spark actually came from my Dad. In 2018, he encouraged me to open my own private training studio instead of working for someone else. He saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself. Read more>>

Mansi Modi

On social media, I talk a lot about my internships and lifestyle- making everything look like a piece of cake. Cute outfits, Met Gala designers, and a very influential lifestyle. However, I don’t address how much hard work, time, and dedication it took to get to where I am today. My path to get where I am today is untraditional to say the least. Read more>>

Raymond Robinson

I entered the financial services industry in 1998 through a friend who introduced me to the field. Like many people early in their careers, my initial motivation was simple: I wanted to succeed and make money. But along the way, something deeper happened. Read more>>

Ben Willis

From an early age, I had a deep admiration and respect for entrepreneurs and small business owners. I grew up watching it firsthand. One grandfather started his own contact lens business back when lenses were still made of glass. As the business grew, my mother stepped in at just 19 years old to help run it. Read more>>

William Treadwell

I was a career police officer with the majority of my career spent in the Atlanta Police Department. I worked patrol but most of my time there was spent on the Aviation Unit. I got my helicopter license in 2016 with the goal of one day flying for Atlanta PD and was able to make that happen. Read more>>

Eddie Reese

​From a prison cell in my 20s and a life-threatening diagnosis to the Owner of the Abracadabra Tugz Experience Center. I’ve survived the system and almost died twice, but I refused to let my past mold me. ​Mama always said we’re here for a reason—I found mine in building something bigger than myself and showing the world that your history isn’t your destiny. Read more>>

Morgan Portillo

I always wanted to be an artist. When adults ask kids the classic, ‘What do you wanna be when you grow up?’ question, as early as I can remember, my answers were art-related. But I wasn’t born into a family of creatives, and art was a magical, distant thing that I didn’t have a lot of access to. Read more>>

Anthony & Lindsay Diann Applewhite

Anthony and I both attended Clark Atlanta University during the same years, shared mutual friends, and somehow never met. Looking back, we are certain that God was preserving the timing. We met at CAU Homecoming 2022 through one of our close friends. Read more>>

Karis Warren

Three years ago, during one of the most difficult seasons of my life, I lost my mother to an illness. Grief has a way of leaving you with emotions that words just can’t hold, and I found myself searching for something — anything — that could help me process what I was feeling. One day, I walked into an art store with no real plan. Read more>>

Richard (Ricky) Rogers (Rosé)

My journey as an artist started unexpectedly — with a first date. I planned for us to visit a local spray paint graffiti studio here in Atlanta, thinking it would just be a fun, creative experience. What I didn’t expect was how deeply it would resonate with me. I was immediately drawn to the freedom of spray paint — the movement, the color, the unpredictability. Read more>>

Doug Belisle

Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter just celebrated 30 years of service in our community. I have had the privilege of serving as the Executive Director since August of 2022. My wife and our 2 children moved to Georgia from Texas in 2007 to serve on the ministerial staff at Cartersville First Baptist Church. Our family grew by one through adoption in 2011. Read more>>

Augustine Carter

My name is Augustine Carter, and I’m an entertainment rigging specialist and business owner based in Loganville, Georgia. I got my start in the entertainment industry shortly after trade school, volunteering at music festivals in exchange for a free ticket. At the time, I just wanted to attend more festivals and events on a tight budget. Read more>>

Hope Knosher

When I began my journey of healing, I was beaten down by life. I had ignored my internal compass for a long time, and my body and my mind were paying a hefty price. I found myself in a cycle of never-ending physical challenges, and I felt as if my world was crumbling under my feet. Read more>>

Khairunisa Merchant

My journey with Kumon began as a parent. After seeing how successful the program was in helping my children build strong fundamentals in math and reading alongside lifelong learning skills, I decided to transition into a professional role. For the past decade, I have had the privilege of running my own center as an instructor, entrepreneur, and center director. Read more>>

Claudia Fitzwater

This business actually started in an elementary school classroom. After school, a few of my coworkers and I would move the desks aside and train together in the music room. At the time, I was already a certified fitness instructor teaching at a studio as a side job. Read more>>

Shantel.

My love for photography started in high school. My friends and I stayeddd with a disposable camera! In 11th grade, I was gifted my first digital camera and it was over from there lol. I had my whole junior and senior year documented on that thing. Read more>>

Chassity Todd

I didn’t start where I am. I built my way here. I began as an English teacher in Atlanta, and while teaching full time, I went back to school to become a therapist. I was leading a classroom by day and sitting in graduate classes at night, eventually doing both while earning my PhD. It wasn’t glamorous. It was vision and discipline. Read more>>

Dwayne Smith

Bryant Hill began with setting a simple standard: the products we use every day should be safe, disciplined, and worthy of the people we care about most. I have dealt with eczema and sensitive skin for as long as I can remember, and for years I was constantly churning through men’s grooming products, brand after brand, with the same results. Read more>>

Patty Lacrete

In March 2020, I found myself working from home and like so many people, feeling isolated and uncertain. I was increasingly alienated from my own life, and after years of climbing the corporate ladder, I found myself completely burned out. Looking for a healthy way to cope, I threw myself into organic gardening and homesteading, which I’d long had a curiousity about. Read more>>

Dale Jones

I am a mom, have a full-time job in IT, and I am building my dream business on the side. I love coffee and leggings and cozy time at home with my family. I grew up a dancer and singer and have always had a passion for creative pursuits but struggled to find an outlet for them when I started my full-time job. Read more>>

Baby Bronco

My journey began in 2021, when I first started releasing my first couple of singles to Distrokid. Working alongside my close friend and collaborator Vlientele we began working on my very first project, Baby Blu, in June of 2021 Afterwards, we began working towards a collaborative project called “Infinity” under our creative collective 8 in August. Read more>>

Atari Mcconnehead

One part of my business portfolio is in the short term rental hospitality business also known as Airbnb. It all started 9 years ago when I was driving through a community and just happened to see a beautiful mansion available on the market. I immediately started thinking of how I could live there and make it pay for itself. Read more>>

Deshunte’ Benham

My journey into technology and entrepreneurship didn’t begin with funding or a traditional tech background. It began with responsibility and curiosity. Everything ive ever done has been to show the younger generations like my little girl ( Reaghan) that anything is possible, with an open mind , disciplined and creativity. Not to forget self Awareness. is KEY . Read more>>

KeKE Strain

Some of the most powerful ideas start with a simple question: How can I help others realize their potential? That question has guided much of my journey. My path has always been rooted in creativity, community, and storytelling. I studied Apparel Design with a minor in Business Administration, which helped me develop both a creative perspective and an entrepreneurial mindset. Read more>>

Charnetta Williams

My story starts in the Bronx, New York, where I was born and raised. At 10 years old, I decided I would become an obstetrician. That single decision shaped everything that followed. I worked hard through school, medical school, and residency, eventually becoming a full-time OB/GYN. I had the privilege of caring for women in many settings, including pregnant women in a maximum-security prison. Read more>>

Mark Travis Rivera

I was the curious and creative kid who found solace in books and journals. For as long as I can remember, I always loved telling stories because it was how I made sense of the world around me when I felt excluded because of my physical disability and perceived sexuality. Read more>>

Latrice Goss

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, with southern roots on both sides of the family. I’ve been cooking for as long as I can remember, but my late brother convinced me in 2017 to make a career out of it. Read more>>

Adam McIntyre

I’ve been a musician for 40 years, and since 2021 I’ve felt a pull to also serve the community in a new capacity. I took level 1 and then level 2 reiki and have been playing crystal bowls as a supplementary add-on to the reiki practice. Read more>>

Delaney Rietveld

My name is Delaney, I’m a copywriter who specializes in writing website copy for small to medium sized businesses. A lot of copywriters got their start because they’re introverted and love writing, and while that’s awesome for them, I don’t entirely relate to the typical copywriter’s journey. I started because I wanted to get out of a 9-5 that was incredibly taxing. Read more>>

Santi Saucedo

Growing up in a family of artists, creativity never felt like something work on and labor over. It was just part of everyday life. My mother is a painter who originally studied architecture, and my large Mexican family is full of aunts and uncles who approached the world with the same instinct to make things. Read more>>

Jamaal Ghauri, Brendan Johns, David Evans, Saagar Dogra Na

We were all investors who have worked together on projects in the past, and decided to start a joint venture together. Read more>>

Angela Stingle

my journey began with a simple goal helping people navigate systems that felt overwhelming and confusing.. Read more>>

Trey Walters

My entrepreneurial journey began at one of the most challenging periods of my life. I experienced significant personal and professional losses — including my marriage, my job, and my home. That season forced me to completely rebuild, not just financially, but personally. Read more>>

Jared Johnson

My story begins when I got out of the US Air Force. I have always had a passion for barbering, however my military obligations didn’t allow for me to receive formal training. I found Scales Barber Academy and got my license and saved my money to purchase a barbershop. Read more>>

Steven R. Jones

I began as a volunteer for a youth prevention program. I truly enjoyed working with the youth and thought I could be a positive impact on their lives. I was then offered a role as a staff member and that eventually led me to pursuing my undergraduate degree in psychology and then onto earning my masters degree in marriage and family therapy. Read more>>

Vicki Flier Hudson

My story is full of twists and turns. When I was a child, I wanted to be an astronaut. Like so many kids, I dreamed of riding the space shuttle to the stars. My original major in school was aeronautical engineering. But I discovered that while I was okay at math, I didn’t enjoy it, and I was ignoring my natural strengths. Read more>>

Dallas Shannon

I began my career in animal welfare in 2013, volunteering at a local cat shelter. After a couple years, I was running a satellite adoption center for that shelter. Read more>>

Alex Hodges

My name is Alex Hodges, and I’m an Atlanta food and experience content creator behind the platform @afoodflexwithlex. I’ve always loved food — I was that person constantly talking about where I ate, what I ordered, and what I wanted to try next, and still do lol. Read more>>

Justin Nesbit

I was raised on a small family farm in Greensboro, where I developed a strong work ethic and a deep sense of responsibility at an early age. Guided by my parents, uncles, and older brother, I learned the values of self-reliance, perseverance, and integrity. These qualities continue to shape my personal and professional life. Read more>>

Helen Ogochukwu Nwiba

I have always dreamed of owning a business since I was a child, imagining myself running a company and making an impact. I studied Microbiology , planning to work in healthcare, but God had a different path for me. I founded Helenz Ogo International Company Limited, which is the parent company of Helenz Footwear, to combine creativity with purpose. Read more>>

PAUL AMEDU

I was born in the US, but I am from Nigeria. All my life, I have been making things. I have been an artist since birth. I would be in my crib as a baby with a SpongeBob toy. Growing up, I just continued to make things. I would act out scenes from Rush Hour to my family. I’d always be making them laugh. Read more>>

Rosalene Horace

Celebrating 31 years in the beauty industry and 27 years as a salon owner, (Loose Ends Salon) Rosalene Horace, licensed cosmetologist, entrepreneur, and founder of Horace Empowerment Inc., brings her signature Beauty Honors Charity Gala to Atlanta, The Beauty Honors. Established in 2011, The Beauty Honors is a red-carpet celebration of artistry, leadership, and innovation among beauty professionals. Read more>>

Tory Keit

My story begins with a conviction: access, opportunity, and creativity are not privileges but inheritances that every person should have the right to claim. Before founding the Keit Foundation, I spent years in the fast-moving world of technology and AI—an arena where vision and precision must coexist. Read more>>

Chelsia Mckie

Chelsia McKie is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and the Founder & CEO of Life Beyond The Game, a national organization dedicated to preparing students for the next level and for life beyond their final buzzer. Sports is a universal language—you either play it, watch it, or know someone that does. Read more>>

Ecclesia Savage

I grew up in a single-parent household as the eldest of three children. Responsibility found me early; I was parentified before I even had words for it, and by fourteen, I was already working. Despite everything on my plate, I loved learning. Read more>>

Rica Tan

Since a young age, I have carried a deep sense of direction. An inner knowing of where I was meant to be. While the path has evolved, one thing has remained constant: a commitment to building something meaningful. Legacy has always been the force guiding my journey. Read more>>

Monique Mitchell

My journey into building Unashamed Body & Wellness Group started with frustration and conviction. As a Nurse Practitioner, I have worked in primary care, urgent care, and now cardiology. Over the years, I repeatedly saw men come in exhausted, gaining weight, losing confidence, struggling with low libido, brain fog, and mood changes. Many of them knew something was off. Read more>>

Jenny Bowen

My journey into speech-language pathology began long before my professional training. As a child, I received speech therapy for a phonological processing disorder, learning early what it feels like to have thoughts and ideas that don’t come out easily. Read more>>

Ambrosia Mentor

My business partner Shamarli and I originally entered the event industry as day-of wedding coordinators, where we managed timelines, solved last-minute challenges, and ensured every detail came together seamlessly. That experience gave us a deep appreciation for the rental elements that truly transform a space and elevate a celebration. Read more>>

Pamela Bass-Patterson

With this being my 3rd day care business, I couldn’t understand what I was doing wrong. I had to step back and reaccess the situation. I had to realize I was not in California anymore and had to understand my new surroundings. Once I got my footing, I continued to enroll students, remaining full all these years with a waiting list. And, I am proud to say that I am still in touch with the very first student I enrolled. He is graduating from high school in a few months! Read more>>

Deborah Corrao

Her maternal grandparents owned a farm (Cedar Crest Farm) in Kentucky, giving her the experience of gardening and caring for livestock. John on the other hand, grow up in the suburbs of Long Island, New York! The common thread they shared from their first meeting was an interest in health and a respect for conservation of land. Read more>>