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.
Justin C. Schilling
My story began late in high school and continued into my college years, when I got involved in theater. I was lucky to work and learn alongside incredibly talented teachers and peers—some of whom have since carved out their own unique paths in the industry. They helped ignite something in me. Without that spark, I would’ve never believed any of this was possible. Read more>>
Mir Shithil
I always grew up loving science and sports – in high school I specifically fell in love with biology. In undergrad, I loved weightlifting including teaching other people and seeing an immediate joy when they notice the change. Read more>>
Suruchi Saini
The Personal Story – A Foundation of Resilience My journey into counseling began long before I earned my first degree. It started at sixteen, when I lost my father to a sudden accident. He was my hero—a community leader who always encouraged my dreams without ever pushing me. Read more>>
Carline Dumay
Growing up in Irvington, New Jersey, Carline Dumay’s life was shaped by experiences that would eventually define her purpose. At just five years old, Dumay witnessed the devastating impact of untreated mental illness within her own family. She lived in a small apartment with her mother, a Haitian immigrant, and her younger sister. Read more>>
lauren crowley
My name is Lauren and I own Total Mobile Cocktail. I’ve been in the hospitality industry for over 22 years, with about 20 of those behind the bar. I grew up around the service industry — my dad was an executive chef at a country club, so I spent a lot of time there growing up. Read more>>
Dean Clark
Growing my family during this time was especially difficult trying to balance the building of my business and team with spending time with my girls. With baby number 4 on the way, I had to get much more focused and intentional with my time so I can be a present dad. Building this business, this legacy, is all for them at the end of the day. Read more>>
William Chu
I began my career in a very different field than psychiatry—I was a professional chef. I graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in 2004 and spent several years working as a chef de cuisine and consultant. During that time, I developed a deep understanding of food, nutrition, and how meals are created, sourced, and consumed. Read more>>
Vishnu Batwara
We started as a wholesaler of precious gemstones in the 1980’s, selling directly to most jewelers and gem dealers across the United States. Our mission was to improve accessibility of color gemstones for the public, similar to what Blue Nile had done for diamonds. This led us to start GemsNY in 2007 to provide access to a wide variety of gemstones at below-retail prices. Read more>>
Lisa Greenstein
I grew up in Brooklyn, New York and attended Tufts University for my undergraduate degree, where I studied psychology and public health. After graduating, I earned a master’s degree in public health and spent about 10 years working in hospital project planning. Read more>>
Dr. Londyn Miller
I’m a California girl. Born and raised in Southern California, I’m an only child so I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, reading, watching movies, and writing plays. People describe me as an old soul. I’ve always been curious about what motivates people and how to help people become stronger and more confident. Read more>>
Jennifer Molina
Jennifer Molina’s life story is one shaped by resilience, curiosity, and a deep desire to grow through life’s experiences. Like many meaningful journeys, the path has not always been easy, but each chapter has revealed its own purpose and wisdom. My journey began in circumstances that required me to mature quickly and develop independence at a young age. Read more>>
Kelsey David
I started the Cosmetology program in 2010 while I was in high school just to get out of class, shortly after I became an assistant at a salon. After nearly 8 years of being an assistant, I felt my love for color really grow. Read more>>
Anna Aghachi
I received my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Columbia University in 2011. Early in my career, I worked in outpatient orthopedic clinics where I focused on developing strong clinical skills in treating a wide range of orthopedic conditions, from injuries to post-surgical recovery. Read more>>
Kadian Peynado
My story started after I received my dual Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Kean University. I fell in love with the field of mental health so I further my education by obtaining my Masters of Arts in Community and Agency Counseling also at Kean University. Read more>>
Dr. Teri Camp Willis
I was born and raised in Little Rock, AR. I am the youngest of eight children. Serving the community and cultivating a strong, loving moral compass were foundational in my home. I have been building on that foundation for decades. I moved to New Jersey in December 1987. Read more>>
Christie Carrera
I’ve been fascinated with interpersonal relationships for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid I was the one mediating playground conflicts and trying to understand why people behaved the way they did. I was always drawn to psychology and the idea of helping people better understand themselves and their relationships. Read more>>
Samantha Snyder
I’ve been in the hair industry for several years, but my path to opening my own space wasn’t a straight line. Like a lot of barbers and stylist, I spent years working in different environments, learning not just the craft, but also what makes a barber truly valuable to their community. Early on I realized the haircut itself is only part of it. Read more>>
Jeff Hopkins
I’d been a writer for as long as I can remember, obsessed with the way words could evoke images in my mind. It seemed like such a beautiful mix of the logical and the conceptual. I was fascinated by the way a word could conjure a whole host of images but a page of them could transport me to another, much clearer world. Read more>>
Abby Emmert
I am a licensed professional counselor, a mom, an eating disorder survivor, and an OCD warrior. But the path here was not easy. I struggled most of my life with my mental health, specifically my body and food. In college I was diagnosed with a severe eating disorder and went through treatment at the same time as obtaining my masters in counseling. Read more>>
Goldie Rabaev
I started in private practice close to 20 years ago when I first got my license. I worked in a practice similar to mine now. It was a Management business model so they helped me get credentialed and they did my billing and I paid them a per session fee.. Read more>>
Eduardo DaRosa
We build dreams one at the time we never take on two projects simultaneously, let’s say full kitchen renovation will start me leading the project hands on from start to finish 100s of clients can attest to our practice uncommon for the contrucion industry, but it works for us. Read more>>
Kris P
Nic and I opened Green Space Studios in 2021 while we were both freelancing and in need of a physical space to support our work – me, a photo studio, and Nic, a place where he could host his music lessons. Our space was small but mighty! Read more>>
Frank Alliegro
I have been building things since I was 17 years old. My first job was at a hardware store, and when I wasn’t working there, I was at the local community theater. The production staff put me to work, and I was quick to learn, so I was building sets, running sound, and hanging lights. Read more>>
Tracey Saia
I was a kid who was always loved art. In high school it was a sanctuary from stress and daily pressures. I started out as an art major in college but quickly abandoned it when I felt I wasn’t good enough to hang with the other students. After some searching I found psychology and loved that equally as much. Read more>>
Donielle Singer
In 2021, Top Form Psychology was established as a boutique practice with the highest level of intention. As individuals, Marissa and I had already lived an athlete’s life through undergraduate college. We became a couple through our graduate college years and pursued separate fields not realizing how beneficial they would be together. Read more>>
Audrey Costa
My path into this work has been both professional and deeply personal. I spent over 20 years in education and wellness, beginning my career as a physical education and health teacher where I saw firsthand how movement, the outdoors, and supportive community could transform people’s well-being. Read more>>
Sayany Ortega
My path to becoming a relationship coach didn’t follow a traditional blueprint. It evolved naturally through life experience, curiosity about human behavior, and years of being the person people trusted with their most vulnerable stories. I was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, and even growing up I noticed something about the way people interacted with me. Read more>>
Angela Sarracino
A childhood trip to the salon, leaving with a fresh set of highlights and the iconic “Rachel” cut, sparked a lifelong passion. From that moment, I immersed myself in salon life, sweeping floors, folding towels, and shampooing clients until I earned my cosmetology license alongside my high school diploma. Read more>>
Carline Dumay
Growing up in Irvington, New Jersey, Carline Dumay’s life was shaped by experiences that would eventually define her purpose. At just five years old, Dumay witnessed the devastating impact of untreated mental illness within her own family. She lived in a small apartment with her mother, a Haitian immigrant, and her younger sister. Read more>>
Michael Corso
Sophia Inclusive Community was begun in 2008 by Mary Ann Schoettly. RCWP. A Roman Catholic Woman Priest, Mary Ann wanted to be a priest since she was seven years old. She was ordained a RCWP in 2008 and began with the assistance of Michael Corso Sophia Inclusive Catholic Community. Read more>>
Rachel Ochieng
I am an immigrant from Nigeria who came to the United States as an adult, barely knowing myself or what I wanted out of life. However, the various challenges I encountered along the way led me to where I am today, working in the mental health field. I often say that I did not choose counseling; counseling chose me. Read more>>
Kishma Gautier
My journey into aesthetics started with a passion for helping people feel confident in their own skin. I quickly realized that skincare is not just about products or treatments—it’s about education, consistency, and understanding how lifestyle choices impact the skin. As I built my practice, I focused on creating personalized skincare plans and building trust with my clients. Read more>>
Sheila Burmistrova
When Narra opened, our space was completely empty. It’s empty in a way that makes you question everything. I had already been told “no” more times than I could count by landlords, banks, and people who held the keys. Later I realized it was about 104 rejections. I didn’t fit the profile they were used to saying yes to. Read more>>
Courtney Ballatt
My passion for cooking began to take shape in my grandmother’s kitchen an environment defined by flavor, tradition, and intention. That space became my foundation. It was where I first understood that food could carry meaning, memory, and care all at once. Read more>>
Tanvi Mathew
I began working with a grassroots mental health organization when I was in college and that’s where where my commitment to mental health came into play. After a few years I became involved with adolescents and teens in a hospital based setting. Read more>>
Amanda Uhrig
During my Master’s in Social Work program at Rutgers University, I was a part of the Violence Against Women and Children certificate program, and completed my second year internship working with survivors of child sexual and physical abuse. Read more>>
Tariq Thomas
I grew up in New Jersey, so real estate here has always felt familiar to me, not just from a business standpoint, but from a personal one. I got started in real estate in the early 2000s, driven by the idea of creating something long-term for myself while learning a skill that had real, tangible value. Read more>>
Anthony Gomez
Hi [Interviewer’s Name], Thank you again for the opportunity to share my story—I appreciate you taking the time. To give you some background, I’m the founder of RapidShips LLC, a logistics and warehousing company based in New Jersey. I didn’t come from a traditional business background or have access to capital when I started. Read more>>
ABDELWAHAB RADY
My journey into the automotive industry started with a genuine passion for cars and hands-on work. From early on, I was always interested in how things worked, especially engines and mechanical systems. That curiosity led me to start working in auto shops where I learned the trade from the ground up. Read more>>
Jo Ann Ventor
Running a non-profit is not new to me! I started a small theatre company in a nearby lake community back in 2008. We started with a group of 5 children and ended with over 40! I knew then I had found my passion. Soon after, I formed a local theatre company called Buzz Theatre Productions. Read more>>
Xiuna Chen
I started my first salon, New House Nail, in Staten Island, where I learned the importance of quality service and building strong relationships with clients. One day, while passing by Westfield, I was inspired by the energy and atmosphere. I knew I wanted to create something of my own in a similar spirit. Read more>>
Peter Ruffini
There was a point earlier in my life—especially in my teens—where, if nothing changed, the outcome wasn’t going to be good. I had a difficult start and spent time going in the wrong direction. That experience forced a positive shift and ultimately shaped the direction of my life. Read more>>
Robyn Spodek-Schindler
Paint the Stars was a pipe dream of mine for as long as I can remember wanting to be an Art Therapist. I believe every therapist at some point contemplates private practice but it is not an easy decision. There are so many details to think about and research, and if and when the time comes to make that leap–it’s scary. Read more>>
Ovi Paulter
I didn’t come to painting through a long, linear creative path. I came to it eight years ago, during a season when everything felt like too much — life was full, loud, and demanding, and I needed a way to breathe again. Painting began as a private act. There was no plan to build a career or show the work. Read more>>
