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.
Bianca Beamer
I’ve always been an artsy person. I was born and raised in South Philadelphia, the arts were a part of my upbringing. At fifteen my love of photography was sparked by watching SUICIDE GIRLS : FIRST TOUR on a DVD I shoplifted from Tower Records on South Street here in Philadelphia. Read more>>
Noel Rapp
I was born and raised in New Jersey, by my grandparents while my mom was in college in North Carolina and my father was in the Marines. I knew at a young age that I wanted to help people, adults would come up to me and share their life stories, I never understood why until I was older. Read more>>
Eva Leobold
My path has never been a straight line, and looking back, what stands out most is that many of the opportunities that shaped my yoga life began with someone else’s suggestion. I have a degree in art and spent many years working in engineering and land surveying, with long hours and tight deadlines. Read more>>
Barbora Hindson
Barbora is a Morris County, New Jersey based photographer specializing in online dating profile photography, portrait photography, fashion photography, and lifestyle photography. Barbora’s ten years of experience in the wedding industry, including photographing celebrities, family and portrait photography, has given her a tremendous insight into her clients’ photographic needs Barbora was born in the Czech Republic where she started exploring city photography in Prague. Read more>>
Chaya Fischer
I started Mofi because of my son. I remember how frustrating it was trying to find clothes that would actually fit him properly without needing a ton of alterations. Nothing ever felt like it was truly made for him, it was always a compromise. As I kept shopping, I realized it wasn’t just my experience. Read more>>
Syuzanna Arutyunyan
Sfumato Gallery was born from a simple belief: every talented artist deserves to be seen. For more than a decade, my husband and I dedicated our lives to building creative communities through art education. Together, we opened 4 art schools, helping thousands of students discover their talent, confidence, and artistic voice. Read more>>
Matthew Hagg
I grew up in martial arts, so a lot of my early lessons about discipline, responsibility, and leadership came from being on the mat. I started training as a kid, and eventually earned black belts in Goshin Jitsu and Soo Bahk Do. Over time, I also started helping teach, which gave me a closer look at what actually goes into running a martial arts school. Read more>>
Lac Nhan Phan Mai
We moved from Belgium to Madison, New Jersey, in August 2024, overtime we noticed that we left behind much more than a country—we left behind family traditions, familiar flavors, and the Belgian gastronomy. To ensure my kids settled confortably, I was staying mum preparing homemade snacks and treats. Read more>>
Ilias Tsakiris
Born and raised in Greece, I came to New Jersey in 2015 with a simple goal: to create a better future. I began my journey working in a pizza shop, learning every aspect of the business. Through persistence and dedication, I eventually became the owner. As I continued to grow professionally, I expanded into real estate investing and later pursued another passion—coffee. Read more>>
Michael Magee
Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to build a career in financial services. My grandfather was an investment advisor, and growing up I saw firsthand the impact he had on people’s lives through the relationships he cultivated over the years. At the same time, my family owned a bar and grille, which became another major influence on me. Read more>>
Alison Causer
I am an artist who primarily paints. I started working as a decorative painter after the pandemic, post-grad school. After working with a few mixed-gender crews, I realized I wanted to start my own company, with a focus on working with artists and artisans. Read more>>
Daniel Armas
We all have a money story. Mine is the reason I started Wonderful of Newark (WoN), a social impact company, and why I’m building Wonderful – a forthcoming mobile financial education and savings app for anyone trying to strengthen their savings habit. Read more>>
Jeffrey Jimenez
My name is Jeffrey Jimenez and I have worked in the food industry for over 30 years. I started out as a fine dining pastry chef working in large cities such as Manhattan, San Francisco and Los Angeles for a large portion of my culinary career. Read more>>
TAMMY ZUMPANO
How I Got Started in Bookkeeping Most people know me as a fitness instructor, but what many don’t realize is that bookkeeping has been a part of my life for decades. For over 40 years, I’ve worked in the legal field as a paralegal, where attention to detail, organization, and accuracy are critical. Read more>>
Anthony Da Silva
My story started with my grandparents, who raised me from a young age because my parents were never involved in my life. They taught me that nothing in life is handed to you—you have to work hard for everything you want. Those old-school values of discipline, honesty, and perseverance are principles I still live by today. Read more>>
Grei Booker
My name is Grei (pronounced grey) Booker, also known as ‘GravyMadeIt’, a semi self-taught mixed media artist (I’ve had some artistic education), and non-profit executive based in Newark, NJ. I usually describe my journey as equal parts purpose, creativity, and lived experience. I didn’t set out to become a mission-driven executive or a mixed media artist. Read more>>
Eric Morrell
I was raised in Middlesex County. I pursued my undergraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. I was actively involved in the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, where I served as an advisor for the Rutgers Sigma Alpha Mu chapter and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu national standards committee for several years. I obtained my law degree from Widener-Delaware Law School in 1997. Read more>>
Melanie Hower
In high school, I took a film photography class and immediately fell in love with photography. As I progressed into senior year and eventually college, I found myself loving psychology as well. I never thought I could put the two interests together until my professor said to me, ‘You have that left brain, right brain thing going on. You should be an art therapist’…. Read more>>
Giorgi Sukhiashvili
My name is Giorgi Sukhiashvili, and I am the co-founder of Georgian Chess Academy. I learned chess as a child in Georgia and have loved the game ever since. Chess has always been an important part of my life, both as a player and as a coach. After moving to the United States in 2009, I continued playing and teaching chess. Read more>>
