The heart of our mission at VoyageLA is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our city. In the recent weeks we’ve had the privilege to connect with some of Orange County’s finest artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with our city’s incredibly deep talent pool.  Check out the Orange County’s rising stars below.

Elyssa (Matson) Jones

From my very first job at 15, I was inspired to learn about business. My first boss owned a small local pizza shop where I started working, and he showed me every part of how things ran. When he did inventory, I asked questions, and he took the time to walk me through it. Read more>>

Sebastian

Julia Chavez

We served our first taco in April 2018, making our mark as a pop-up in the Taqueria El Zamorano parking lot in Santa Ana, CA. Our inspiration came from many places — David’s background in his parents’ restaurant, our Mexican-American heritage, and the growing need for vegan Mexican food in Orange County. At the time, we were Orange County’s first and only weekly vegan pop-up. Read more>>

Jazelle Morales

From the time she was four years old, Jazelle Morales was captivated by the ritual of beauty. She remembers standing beside her father as he shaved, watching the soft swirl of shaving cream and feeling the gentle texture of the brush in her small hand. There was something magical in that moment, the artistry, the rhythm, the transformation. Read more>>

Rebecca Baliko

I have always enjoyed movies, and got into amateur documentary work as a child, filming adventures our family would go on. Read more>>

Rose Kreider

Couture Tutu by Rose — Couture Tutu by Rose began as a deeply personal creative outlet. I’ve always been drawn to pieces that hold a sense of story and movement — garments that feel like they belong on stage, in a fairytale, or in a memory. Read more>>

Xu Khuc

My story is one of servitude. God entrusted me with musical gifts and the ability to teach, so I use them to serve others through music. ‘We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. Read more>>

Jaden D’Amico

I never planned on becoming “The Plumber Man.” My story is really just a series of chapters where I kept betting on myself, even when things didn’t make sense on paper. I built swimming pools in Nebraska, taught CPR and first aid to childcare providers, moved back to California, became a plumber, started and failed at different businesses, and kept trying again. Read more>>

Leo Hou

Our journey began as part of Xiruo Apparel, a family business with deep roots in fashion. My family first entered the industry in the early 2000s, and after years of hands-on experience in design and manufacturing, Xiruo was officially founded in 2014. Read more>>

Mike Reifeiss

My journey as the owner and operator of a limousine transportation company began 20 years ago with a risky move, one that made it possible for me to break free from the professional routine that had been weighing me down. On a fortuitous night in 2005, I decided to attend a poker event and walked away with a substantial win. Read more>>

Rick Flach

I am a Florida native and have been in California for a couple of years now. I grew up in a large family with five brothers and two sisters, all of whom were adopted. Read more>>

Colleen Kuo

My journey began with a deep love for both music and psychology. After earning degrees in Psychology and Piano Performance, I worked full-time as a behavior analyst in the field of autism therapy while also teaching piano part-time after hours. These two roles, though seemingly different, shared a common purpose—helping individuals grow, express themselves, and reach their potential. Read more>>

Jenneca Andrew

I’ve known from a young age that I wanted to go into the medical field. My mom is a nurse, and growing up around her work sparked my fascination with healthcare. My first real exposure to the field came in high school, when I volunteered as a student athletic trainer. Read more>>

Venkatesh Sankaran

I am engineer and MBA from Mumbai, India. Worked in large organizations like IBM in India before coming to the USA in 2001. I landed in New York with my wife and my 3 year old daughter, few months after 9/11 and it wasn’t necessarily the right time. Read more>>

Kamola Mir

My story began in Uzbekistan, where I started working as a nurse at the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology at just 15 years old — the youngest in the clinic. While studying at a medical college to become a nurse, I was invited to join the hospital after a successful practicum. Read more>>

Presh Cox

I moved from Toronto to California at just 20 years old with four suitcases and a dream. Not long after, I met my husband of 20 years, and together we built a life centered around family, hard work, and possibility. We have two incredible children who have grown up watching both of us chase our goals with determination and heart. Read more>>

Mark Pellegrino

I have always been interested and a proponent of art and artists. A few years ago, I saw a need for new/emerging artists to have a show in order to be exposed and accepted to other shows. It was then, I started running pop up art events. I was fortunate enough to have friends with galleries that allowed me to use their space(s). Read more>>

Mary Aslin

I always wanted to be an artist but wasn’t sure what that meant in terms of training, lifestyle and how to make a living doing it! I took a drawing class while a freshman at the University of Washington and although the curriculum was good, the overall program wasn’t substantive for the representational painting that I wanted to do. Read more>>

Dung Nguyen

I came to the U.S. from Vietnam as a first-generation immigrant, hoping to build a better life and future for my family. My wife has always loved doing nails and dreamed of one day having her own place where she could work, create, and connect with people. I spent many years working and doing what I could to support that dream. Read more>>

Anika Gandhi

My journey into DIY and woodworking actually started with zero experience. Over a decade ago, I was simply a mom looking for a fun, budget-friendly table and chair set for my daughter. I couldn’t find anything that fit our style or our budget. The online space took me down the rabbit hole and I realized that maybe I could just build it myself! Read more>>

Anthony Defalco

I knew from the time that I was in sixth grade that I wanted to go into the beauty industry watching a nighttime soap opera saw Glamourous beautiful starlet coming down the stairs with a glowing blonde hairdo and proportions that could only be described as gravity defying and I knew right away this is exactly what I wanna do. Read more>>

Cohen Swift

My name is Cohen Swift, and I’m a 20-year-old creative producer. My journey began in 2020 when I launched my own clothing brand, Swift Threads. For five years it was my creative outlet, I designed every piece on my iPad using Procreate, managed orders through Google Forms, and collected payments on Venmo. It wasn’t wildly successful, but it taught me how much I loved creating. Read more>>

Conor Perrin

I’ve always known I wanted to work with my hands and create things that make people feel more confident, so dentistry was a natural fit for me. But when I graduated dental school and entered the traditional practice environment, I realized pretty quickly that the way most dentistry is still done hasn’t changed in decades. Read more>>

Laura Cullen

I grew up in Westport, Connecticut with my parents, three younger sisters and a family of artists. My Grandparents lived in town and had an amazing art studio in their home and this is where my artistic journey began. My Grandfather, Great Grandparents, my Uncle Geoff and sister Kathy are all Artists! My Grandmother was my biggest fan. Read more>>

Crystal McDonald

Hi, I’m Crystal McDonald — a Laguna Beach–based abstract artist who loves creating vibrant, playful artwork that celebrates freedom, emotion, and self-expression. My paintings are full of bold color, movement, and spontaneity, reflecting my passion for creativity and a happy approach to life. I started painting in 2017 when my youngest daughter went off to college. Read more>>

Lindsey Bender

I have been servicing the beauty industry since 2010 as a professional makeup artist and hair stylist for the film and T.V industry, I’ve worked with the likes of Hilary Duff, Mena Suvari, Zoey Deutch, Lydia Hurst, Lea Thompson…the list goes on. I’ve transformed countless faces from beauty makeup’s to injury simulations to creating monsters with prosthetics and special makeup effects. Read more>>

Jo Ann Mauck

Let me introduce myself. My business is to draw pictures for people while they watch. I do it while you watch! Read more>>

Heather Ball

I always had a passion for Design. As a young child, I left a note for a neighbor advising on the poor selections for their exterior paint colors. In high school, I took every Interior design class available, including summer classes at the local colleges. Immediately after high school, I headed to Cal State Long Beach to pursue my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design.  Read more>>

Rajni Kapur

In 1999, I came to the U.S. from India with a business management degree. Initially, my plan was to build my career as a senior accountant while starting a family here with my husband. When our first child was born, my in laws, who were supposed to help with childcare, had to return to India. Read more>>

Marcy Baldock

My career hasn’t been a straight line – it’s been full of learning, growth, and quiet pivots that led me exactly where I needed to be. I work as a Global Marketing Manager for a software company and I’ve been in the tech industry for a little over seven years. I’ve been in my current role for a little over a year now. Read more>>

Jason Messick

I’ve spent seventeen years in the creative world. I got my start in 2008 in the music industry, handling photography and publicity for record labels around Los Angeles. Graphic design had always intrigued me, so I began creating gig posters for artists I met along the way. Read more>>

Patrick Costello

For 18 years, heroin owned me. It shaped my days, robbed my nights, and rewired my sense of who I was. I didn’t live, I survived. Every morning was a negotiation with myself: How do I get through the next hour? Every night I wondered if I’d wake up again. I lost time. I lost people. I lost myself. Read more>>

Jazzmyn Rodriguez-Brewer

My name is Jazzmyn Rodriguez-Brewer, and I’m originally from Yonkers, New York. After my husband was stationed in San Diego, California, I relocated and began a new chapter in my life. I had just graduated college and started working as an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapist while pursuing my Master’s in School Psychology. Read more>>

Elio Martinez

From the Mountains of PR to the Global Stage: The Evolution of Elio Martínez From the humble farmlands of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, to the biggest stages in the world, Elio Martínez’s life is a testament to fierce dedication. This ‘farm kid’ didn’t just dream of travel; at age six, he’d pore over the family Atlas, obsessed with learning about other cultures. Read more>>

Gilda Jha

My Story – Gilda Ortega-Jha, Owner of Olympic Flame Restaurant I grew up surrounded by the heartbeat of restaurant life — the aroma of food cooking, the laughter of customers, and the tireless hands of my family working behind the scenes. My mother worked in our family’s restaurants, cleaning, serving, and supporting my uncle, who was a cook. Read more>>

Josie Maldonado

I started as a sales rep selling wholesale to chain stores such as Hancock Fabrics and JoAnn to Fabric.com selling fashion fabrics to their buyers and showcasing new deadstock and fashion fabrics every season for the independent and chain stores. After Hancock closed, I ventured into my path of selling fashion fabrics as I saw a decline in fabric shops. Read more>>

Shumaila Panhwar

SoCal Event Planners started over 13 years ago as a passion project built on the belief that every celebration deserves to feel seamless, meaningful, and truly unforgettable. Founder Shumaila Panhwar recognized early on that while couples and families dreamed big, the industry often lacked the coordination, communication, and calming guidance needed to bring those visions to life. Read more>>

Ashley Shapiro

Becoming an IBCLC was never something I originally planned, but it became one of the most meaningful turns in my life. My journey started after my own difficult breastfeeding experience with my first baby. I felt unheard and unsupported during a time when I needed gentle guidance the most. That experience planted a seed in my heart. Read more>>

Rowena Mendoza

My journey into event design happened organically — though in hindsight, it feels like it was always meant to be. I’ve always had a love for organization, storytelling, and bringing people together. Before founding Bespoke Visions, I served as both a Board of Trustee member and Advisor for a statewide academic honor society, mentoring students who led volunteer initiatives. Read more>>

Diane Tollefson

In the early 1970s, Westminster was celebrating its 100th birthday—a moment that invited reflection on how the city came to be. Amid the centennial festivities, a group from the local Presbyterian Church, led by longtime resident Edna Richards, began digging into the past to document the stories of the congregation’s founding families. Read more>>

Aleksandra Kalinich

Before becoming a psychologist, I worked in the entertainment industry – an exciting and demanding environment that showed me early how much workplace culture shapes people’s well-being. I later shifted careers after seeing firsthand how effective, steady, and compassionate therapy can be. That clarity pushed me toward a career where I could offer the same grounded support to others, rooted in compassion and science. Read more>>

Melody Liu

I wasn’t always a floral designer! I actually started my career in tech—working in software product management for almost 10 years. It was a great job in many ways: it challenged me, helped me grow professionally, and even gave me the chance to travel the world. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t my true calling. I’ve always been a creative person at heart. Read more>>

Alina Krasovskaya

In 2022, my husband, Alexander Romanchikov, and I embarked on a transformative journey, moving from Saint Petersburg to California with our 1-year-old twins. The transition was challenging as we navigated the complexities of our new life in a different culture. We were fortunate to receive a warm welcome from Dmitri Kulev, who invited us to join the Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy as teachers. Read more>>

Umbelina Cantu

I wanted to share the story behind Wild and Woman, because it’s a journey that deeply influences these fragrances and my unique brand. It all started unexpectedly one evening in Laguna Beach. I was bartending, mixing margaritas, when a local women’s boutique owner caught a whiff of my Amber perfume. “What’s that scent?” she asked. Read more>>

Donna Shepherd

Coastal Cane is more than just a beverage company — it’s a cultural experience brought to life in every sip. We serve live, fresh-pressed sugarcane juice paired with vibrant fruit purees. Our sugarcane is California-grown, never frozen, and always pressed on the spot. Read more>>

Jessica Chapman

I’m Dan, father of three boys with a little girl on the way and I’m the owner of Culture Pizza Company. It all started when I bought a small gas pizza oven from Home Depot. I fell down the rabbit hole hard… hours of videos, research, endless dough experiments, sauce tests and a whole lot of failures. Read more>>