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.
Tiffany Spataro
It started as little girl with flat feet. My doctor suggested to my mother that she put me in ballet to strengthen my arches, not knowing it would start a whole knew trajectory for my life. After being in dance for a few years, I was asked to audition for a competitive dance company. Another moment that unknowingly shaped my life. Read more>>
Pedro Futura
…Briefly! I have been in the States since the late 90s, coming from those great islands in the Atlantic called the Canary Islands (Tenerife, specifically). I never had the intention of staying, but one thing leads to another… A big landmark for me was the discovery of FREEFORM radio. Read more>>
Harsh Kumar Shakti
I’m Harsh Kumar Shakti, an actor with 12 years of experience in film and theatre. I’ve worked in Bollywood, Tollywood, and Bhojiwood industries, and made my NY stage debut with ‘Katha – The Indian Story’. I trained at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and have played lead roles in various productions in India and the USA. Read more>>
Karyn Leit
I am the Executive Director of the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges (IFPO), a community organization that provides our neighbors with reliable access to nutritious food, distributed with dignity and respect. Located in Orange, New Jersey, the IFPO serves residents of Orange, East Orange, and West Orange: people who work hard to make ends meet as the cost of living continues to rise. Read more>>
Vikram Gupta
I came to the United States to pursue medicine and completed my residency in family medicine at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Read more>>
Keith McCullough
Like many people I struggled with dietary health issues. I was on meds for years, which never worked. And I was like, how do I solve this? I switched to a whole food plant based diet and felt instantly better. Around the same time I was working with Sweet Pea Plant Based Kitchen here in Rochester, NY. Read more>>
Audrey Augustave
Sometimes we don’t choose things in life, but rather they choose us. Looking back, I see a long standing theme of being someone’s confidant or listening ear. Better yet, many friends have referred back to a time I said something casually that stuck with them for life. Read more>>
Maggie Doyne
In a way, I found/chose my calling very young. But I didn’t have a grand plan. When I was eighteen, I took off with my backpack on a gap year and ended up in Southeast Asia. In Surkhet, Nepal, I met a little girl named Hima, who was breaking rocks to sell for her daily food. Read more>>
Stephanie Bourgeois Tessa Vining
In 2023, we — Tessa Vining, LCSW and Stephanie Bourgeois, LCSW — founded the Mind Body Therapy Collective to address a need we saw firsthand: building community in an isolating industry, especially after years of working alone through COVID. Our vision was a space where multidisciplinary therapists and holistic healers could grow, collaborate, and sharpen their skills while remaining fully independent. Read more>>
Tina Salmon
I wish I could say this was all part of some big, well-thought-out plan, but it really was not. I have always been the one who figured things out first. I was the first in my family to do many things: the first to leave Trinidad and Tobago, and the first to come to the United States and build a life here. Read more>>
Trish Lobeck
Reilly Financial Group is a financial services firm that focuses on holistic planning as opposed to product-based planning. ‘ ‘Holistic’ means we don’t come in with a pre-packaged solution, like a hot stock or a product to sell,’ says Partner Bob Knoll. ‘We identify what each client’s concerns are and what clients are trying to accomplish. Read more>>
Michelle Press
My life has been anything but easy. I’ve struggled with major depression, anxiety and survived multiple near-death experiences. For a long time, I didn’t have the support I needed and every step forward seemed blocked. But everything changed when I discovered energy healing. It was through that journey that I realized I am a clairvoyant. Read more>>
Kerry Escamilla
Dr. Kerry Escamilla Looking back, Sensory Taekwon-Do wasn’t just a single idea—it was an epiphany where every road in my life suddenly intersected. It was the culmination of being a child athlete living with ADHD, becoming a Chiropractor with a deep affinity for neurology, and then discovering Taekwon-Do later in life at age 31. Read more>>
Catherine Jakobsze, MS, LPC, NCC, CCTP
Surprisingly, I almost always knew what I wanted to do as a career. I can remember as early as high school wanting to be a counselor to help people, specifically with trauma. Counselors’ journeys are so often inspired by their own lives, and I am no different in that regard. Read more>>
Cardine Jean-Philippe
Growing up as a first generation Haitian daughter, your help in the kitchen was needed. I spent the better part of my youth and teenage years in the kitchen with my mom, and trust me, I wasn’t a fan at first. When you’re young, it’s hard to make sense of a chore that takes up so much of your time. Read more>>
Ben Methvin
When I was in college I started making Instagram videos and fell back in love with acting! I did it as a kid and realized my passion for it again. I made some viral videos and decided to do Instagram and TikTok full time and start auditioning for things. Read more>>
Lori LoManto
Building Global Motivational Counseling Center has been one of the most meaningful achievements of my life. Now three years strong, my private practice represents far more than a career milestone—it is the result of a deeply personal calling. My decision to enter the counseling field was rooted in my own life experiences. Read more>>
Marissa Mazur
I began my career as a middle school counselor, driven by a desire to be an advocate for young people during one of the most vulnerable, challenging, and ever-changing seasons of their lives. There’s something incredibly powerful about showing up for adolescents as they begin to make sense of who they are and where they fit in the world. Read more>>
Alicia Owens
I am retired educator with over 30 years of experience, specializing in special education. Throughout my career, I witnessed the critical need for more compassionate-centered support systems for individuals with disabilities and their families. This realization inspired me to create Colors In Motion, an initiative dedicated to fostering meaningful collaboration among educators, families, and individuals of all ages to seniors-living with disabilities. Read more>>
Karen Medeiros
I have four boys and in 2007, my triplets boys were about 4 1/2 years old. I enrolled them in the recreational soccer in our town, However my son with autism struggled and would not participate. My other son also struggled with the social aspect of it. It was clear they could not handle games or follow the rules. Read more>>
Moataz Zayed
I’m Moataz Zayed, the CEO of Graphix Assist. I came to the USA in 2015, and from a very young age, I knew I wanted to build something of my own. What started as ambition and a vision turned into years of hard work, learning, and staying committed to growing my business. Read more>>
Suzanne Luciano
We live on a postage-stamp sized property with a low old-fashioned iron wire fence at the back property line. The fence, conveniently, had a gate that led to Louis Zelesky’s yard, [Lou]. Read more>>
Kaitlyn Denker
My path into chiropractic wasn’t something I had planned from the start. It actually began during undergrad when I was just looking for a job. I came across a posting for a chiropractic assistant, applied, and got it, and that’s where everything shifted. Born and raised right here in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, I have always been passionate about movement and performance. Read more>>
Jaimie Lynn
Cars have always been a part of my life, but over time they became more than just a hobby, they became my passion, my outlet, and eventually my career. I’ve always been drawn to the experience of driving, the community around it, and the stories each car carries. Read more>>
Chrystal Dunkers
I didn’t start out as a therapist. I actually spent 20+ years in corporate America. And listen…I hated it. Like clock-watching, soul-draining, ‘there has to be more than this’ type of hate. But I stayed. Because I had kids to raise, and I was determined to give them the kind of stability I didn’t grow up with. So I did what needed to be done. Read more>>
Ramona Solages
I’ve always had a natural talent for hair—it was something that came easy to me and something I genuinely loved. However in the beginning, I took a different path and went to college for accounting, thinking that was the more traditional route. Over time, I realized I wasn’t fulfilled. Read more>>
Maggie Earley
I fell in love with makeup in the early days of YouTube, around 2009, watching creators like Michelle Phan, Jaclyn Hill, and Desi Perkins transform faces in ways that felt almost magical. What started as fascination quickly became an obsession that followed me all the way through high school. Read more>>
Nicholas Matthes
Went to TCNJ and received bachelor’s degree in health & exercise science. Worked for two years, decided to go back to school for Physical Therapy. Went to Rutgers University to get my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Worked in several offices over the last ten years. During this time, I made connections and developed my craft until I opened up my own location. Read more>>
Marisa Zalarick
Hi, I’m Marisa Zalarick – hairstylist and owner of MZ Hair Studio with over 20 years of experience and a true passion for hair color, precision hair cutting and making people feel their absolute best. I started my career working at the top salons in Princeton ,NJ and in 2025 relocated my business to Bridgewater, NJ. Read more>>
Sharee Gregory
I’m Sharee from Trenton, a licensed cosmetologist of 27 years, and owner of Salon NVUS, which I’ve operated for nearly two decades. I became a small business owner because beauty has always been my passion, but empowering people has always been my purpose. I wanted to create a salon that reflected excellence, family, and community. Read more>>
Delilah Masood
My journey hasn’t been linear, it’s been a little rock and roll! I’ve been a licensed esthetician for over 13 years, and skincare was my first love. I started in the treatment room, then pivoted into emergency medicine as an EMT and later Occupational Health and Safety, working in high-pressure environments focused on protecting and saving lives. Read more>>
Carlene Herring
Hello, my name is Carlene Herring, and I am the Founder of Radiance Realty & Associates, a thriving New Jersey-based brokerage built on resilience, purpose, and a commitment to empowering others through real estate. My journey began at just 23 years old when I entered the industry with uncertainty, but a deep belief that life held more for me than my circumstances. Read more>>
Ryan Bruen
I’m actually a third-generation real estate professional, but my path to getting here wasn’t exactly a straight line. My family has deep roots in Morris County that trace back to before the American Revolution. In 1955, my grandfather, Carlton J. Bruen, established our family real estate firm in Morristown. Read more>>
Elson Beluli
From a seventeen-year-old who left home with a suitcase of dreams to a seasoned entrepreneur shaping spaces where people feel seen and inspired, this is a story of resilience, curiosity, and the belief that service is a powerful engine for business and community. Read more>>
Marisa Strazza-Critelli
I signed the lease to my space in August 2019 and opened my business that November. I was working in the city while I was opening and the hour and a half commute was the perfect opportunity to create my business plan. I would dream on the train and start laying out what my vision for the perfect salon would be like. Read more>>
Amelia Wieger
The Climb Circus Arts was founded by Devon Light-Wills and Amelia Wieger in 2023 following the closure of The Circus Place where they had worked together previously, and where they had met now board president, Jessica Kursar. After teaching circus together for almost a decade, we knew we were not done yet and wanted to re-build a new school for our community. Read more>>
Jen Yawger
I began my career in Social Work in 2005 and since then my professional path has evolved in meaningful and diverse ways. I have worked across multiple settings—including juvenile justice, inpatient and outpatient care, and school social work—each experience shaping my perspective and deepening my clinical skills. Read more>>
Jim Thompson
As a junior in high school, my history teacher, Mr. Huddleston, showed us the movie All the President’s Men. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a journalist. I never did write for The Washington Post, or even cover politics, but I learned how to create content and build teams that brought value. Read more>>
Reginald Frierson
The BBS Boys started at the beginning of COVID, when the world shut down and we needed an outlet. We bought our favorite 80s and 90s cars, put BBS wheels on them, and started weekend meetups—driving to eateries and unwinding. On June 23rd—my birthday—my friend Keith and I drove to NYC for brunch. Read more>>
Steve Stoupas
I began my career as an educator in the beauty industry, where I discovered my true passion for creativity. That passion led me to open my first small salon 45 years ago, with a clear vision: to provide top-quality services and products while prioritizing education and hard work. Read more>>
Araceli Fernandez
It took many years, and many life chapters, for me to arrive where I am today as a therapist and practice owner. My mother shaped my professional journey in more ways than one. Despite having only a fourth‑grade education, she successfully ran three clothing stores after my father passed away. Read more>>
Keith Landon
I’m 37 years old, and I started Endeavor Auto Sales 16 years ago at just 21—two weeks before graduating college with a bachelor’s degree in business. Cars have always been a part of my life. Read more>>
Danielle Radice
I actually got into doing makeup professionally in a very unexpected way. One summer between college, I was working at Sephora when a manager from a high-end department store came in and recruited me. I remember being shocked, like how does this person even know who I am? Read more>>
Tameeka Ford
My journey in wellness began in New York City with emergesoul, a yoga studio I founded specifically for women. It was a space dedicated to movement and mindfulness, but when the world paused in 2020, I realized my mission was evolving toward something more permanent and restorative. Read more>>
Maggie Terrels
I didn’t arrive at this work by accident—this path found me through my own lived experiences of loss, healing, and growth. I specialize in working with individuals navigating grief and loss, as well as those struggling with their relationship with food. My connection to this work is deeply personal. Read more>>
Lee Grabarczyk
My path hasn’t had just one beginning; it has been shaped by the merging of three distinct passions. First, I was a child obsessed with patterns: spirograph, kaleidoscopes, and the sacred geometry of the natural world. I felt that these patterns held a grounding, deeper meaning. Second, I began to wake up to my intuitive abilities. Read more>>
Kristen Alexis
I started in hair over two decades ago, but what kept me in it wasn’t just the artistry, it was the psychology. Very early on, I became fascinated with how much identity is tied to appearance, and how a shift in someone’s hair could unlock something emotionally or psychologically. Over time, I started to explore that more intentionally through studying yoga, somatics, and psychoanalytic frameworks. Read more>>
Nilakshya Rajora
Hi, my name is Nilakshya Rajora, and I am the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of The Factor Foundation. In 2019, I sat on a wooden bed in India while my cousin described the disorder that had dismantled his life: hemophilia. By age three, he had lost both parents to the disease, living his own life under a constant medical shadow. Read more>>
Don Torino
I am President of Bergen County Audubon Society , the local chapter of the national Audubon Society . I grew up and still live in the NJ Meadowlands I am the author of two books about my life in the meadowlands , I lead twice monthly nature walks besides doing educational programs around the region Read more>>
Gleny Serafino
Born in NYC and raised in the Dominican Republic, I learned about beauty at an early age. The passion for makeup and hairstyling came naturally to me. But as a daughter of immagrant parents I had to work in an office which says you have made it as an American. Read more>>
Serena Rice
Abiding Peace Lutheran Church has been involved with the Pride Mount Olive organization almost since the beginning. Read more>>
Jillian Crane
Since 2022, I’ve had the privilege of leading the First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF) as President and CEO. Prior to becoming a CEO, I was an actress and a writer for theater, television, and film. You may have seen me in Election, The Practice, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, or the Netflix series Spinning Out. I loved embodying characters and bringing stories to life. Read more>>
Kristin Santorelli
I was raised in a home filled with love, stability, and support. I was incredibly blessed to have both my mom and dad by my side, providing not only what I needed, but a foundation of encouragement that shaped who I am today. Even through health challenges, I was never alone. Read more>>
Jamie Solomon-Charney
I was finishing up my doctorate in psychology in 2001 at Yeshiva University – Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology in the Bronx.. My husband and I had just had our first son. i had grown up in east brunswick and had been a graduate of the high school. Read more>>
Alexandra Sahni, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA
I started my career as an orthopedic physical therapist, where I spent about four years treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. During that time, I began noticing how many patients had underlying swelling issues that weren’t being fully addressed. That curiosity led me to pursue additional training in lymphatic therapy—and it completely changed my path. Read more>>
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>>
