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.
Gheed Samari
I came to the United States as an immigrant with very little — no money, no connections, limited English, and no clear roadmap. Like many people starting over, I took the opportunities I could find and began working as a cashier at a small supermarket. Read more>>
Darrel Larson
I started a clean water non-profit called Give Clean Water in 2008 after becoming aware of the clean water crisis in the world. There are a lot of sicknesses that cannot be cured, but waterborne sickness is not one of them. According to UNICEF, a child dies every 90 seconds from waterborne sickness around the world. Read more>>
John Francis Peters
I started getting into photography when I attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City back in 1998. I was actually studying graphic design, but at SVA we had what was called ‘foundation year’, where we took classes across a range of mediums like painting, drawing, sculpture, writing, and photography. Read more>>
Maiyte Marin
I started as someone who simply needed nature. Nature became the place I went to breathe whenever I felt sad, overwhelmed, or emotionally exhausted. The ocean, forests, and waterfalls became spaces where I could slow down and temporarily let go of the negativity in my mind. Read more>>
Jeremy Velasco
I’ve always been obsessed with sport. Not just playing it, but understanding it. What actually separates a good athlete from a great one? What’s happening underneath the movement? That fascination with sport science is what pulled me into physical therapy in the first place, and it never let go. Somewhere along the way, I noticed a gap. Read more>>
Stephanie Clegg
It was during Covid. Life felt uneasy, uncertain, like the ground had shifted beneath everyone’s feet. I was in that in-between space too, but there was something else stirring in me. My 40th birthday was a few years away, babies had been born, they were growing up and I found myself quietly searching. Not for anything I could name yet just for something different. Read more>>
Mark & Cindy Pearson
Established in 1981, and finally landing at the present location on Vista, California in the spring of 1989, Pearson’s Gardens & Herb Farm is now a destination nursery that brings together the life’s work and interests of horticulturists, Mark and Cindy Pearson. Introduced to gardening from the earliest ages, Mark planted radishes, Cindy grew Pansies and Tomatoes. Read more>>
Kiki Majd
W8sted Heart started from an Idea I had to bring creatives together in the San Diego community. My sister & I have our own clothing brand & have been selling at flea markets for about four years now. I’m also an audio engineer so a lot of my friends are musicians. I thought it would be cool to bring these worlds together. Read more>>
Robert Keifer
We’re on a mission, to help people reclaim their lives, one pint at a time… What started as a means to an end to enjoy beer again, led to discovering a lifelong passion or really a vocation for brewing. Read more>>
Kami Leone
The Pine Valley Improvement Club has been part of the Pine Valley community for generations, originally created as a way to bring neighbors together and support the needs of our small backcountry town. Read more>>
Andriy Demko
My story started with a very hands-on path. I got into construction by being close to the work — understanding the real problems on jobsites, dealing with clients directly, coordinating people, solving issues, and learning how much trust is involved when someone hires a company to work on their home or property. Read more>>
Brenda Stephens
I became a therapist because I have always been drawn to the places where people feel unseen, misunderstood, or alone in their pain. Over time, both personally and professionally, I began to notice a very specific pattern showing up again and again in my office. Read more>>
Lianna Eisner & Chrissy Meyer
Okay, so we actually started Honest Skin right in the middle of the 2020 pandemic, and honestly? We love that that is our origin story. Because everything about who we are today, how we run our practice, how we show up for our clients, it all traces right back to that season. The pandemic gave us grit we did not even know we had. Read more>>
Larissa Pimentel
So I first thought about going to school to become an esthetician in 2020 after finding out I was pregnant with my second child. Read more>>
Al Klein
Hi, My name is Al, and I would like to share my story about late life transformation. Five years ago, at the age of 59 I decided to make a drastic life-career change. Read more>>
Karyn Colon
I’m from the East Coast, and for years, I’ve been searching for my niche. My path has been anything but linear — from earning a business degree, to getting my paralegal certification, to working toward a teaching credential, all while taking care of those around me. Read more>>
Maria Rabe-Paul
I am from Spain, and my background has always been in business. I owned a business in Spain before moving to San Diego in 2000 after marrying a member of the Navy. At that time, I did not speak English, so I began taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at a community college. Read more>>
Eric Lefkowitz
Eric Lefkowitz is the Producing Branch Manager and Loan Officer at Forward Loans in San Diego, California (NMLS #2342082). He works with homebuyers, refinancers, and real estate investors across the state, from initial application through closing. Forward Loans is a mortgage broker and non-delegated correspondent lender (NMLS #2006640) licensed in eight states. Read more>>
Fabiola Galvez
I’m Fabiola Gálvez, Founder and CEO of Gente Bonita Magazine. Nine years ago, we began this journey with a clear vision: to create a space that celebrates people who make a difference and contribute something positive to the community. What started as an idea has grown into a meaningful platform built on authenticity, purpose, and a deep connection to the people and stories around us. Read more>>
Sophie Williams
I’m originally from San Diego and began dancing almost as soon as I could walk. Ballet quickly became my entire world, and at sixteen I left home to pursue professional training full-time. That journey eventually led me to dance with companies across the United States and internationally, including Ballet San Jose, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, BalletMet, Royal New Zealand Ballet, and Texas Ballet Theater. Read more>>
Diane Belgrod
I am a contemporary painter living and working in San Diego. Aside from a few art classes over the years, I am a self-taught artist. I am a mother to two young children, ages 3 and 5. Read more>>
Yadira Torralba
Hi there! Thank you for taking the time, my name is Yadira (Yady) Torralba, I’m 35 years old and San Diego native. I am a Cosmetologist and have been licensed for 7 years. I own a studio suite at Sola Salons in the Lake Murray Area. Read more>>
sonia cervantes
After a rewarding 20-year career in technology sales at Fortune 500 companies, I felt inspired to pursue a new path in health and wellness. I had become increasingly aware of the growing need for individuals, families, and children to prioritize their health. Nutrition-related chronic diseases and sedentary lifestyles are on the rise, affecting the well-being of our loved ones and communities. Read more>>
Jennifer Lundy-Aguerre
Positive Change Counseling Center was founded in 2006 as a solo practice and has expanded to currently include 4 locations and 40 clinicians serving the greater San Diego and Ventura, CA areas. The growth was gradual over time, adding more clinicians as the demand for quality mental health services grew. Read more>>
Angela Tinson
I didn’t start out in this space thinking I would build a business around it. Like many people, I was simply looking for ways to create more stability and income using what I already had. Over three years ago, I realized I had an opportunity sitting right in my home an extra room that could be more than just unused space. Read more>>
Steve Wolff
I became a semi-professional musician out of necessity when I first moved to the USA from London UK to get my Master’s degree. Read more>>
Nilanjana Banerjee
Born in India and now based in California, I have carried my love for Odissi across continents and life stages. I began training in India, performed from a young age, and later returned to dance after motherhood with renewed dedication in New Jersey. What began as a return to an old passion became a profound journey of healing, purpose, and spiritual expression. Read more>>
