Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Sayles.
Hi Paige, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up, I was always interested in looking at an issue or problem and searching for a solution. From a young age, I was fascinated with problem-solving. In college, I was drawn to Social Work; I appreciated that there were so many avenues for work in this broad field of study.
After graduation, my first job was as the social worker for an agency serving adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. That job had a profound effect on my expectations for those individuals, and the lessons I learned from them have served me well.
Years later, after graduate school, my husband and I intentionally chose to live in a small town to raise our four sons because we wanted to become active participants in the community. When my children were young, I worked at a local preschool, volunteered in their classrooms, then ran for, and won, a seat on the Board of Education. In that position, I was able to see the training students with special needs received in preparation for employment after graduation. I also became aware of the lack of opportunities for those students after they graduated.
In 2012, I started the Z.B. Collie Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, which provides funding for summer enrichment on a university campus for middle and high school students who lack financial resources. These students are some of the brightest in the county, but often miss out on valuable enrichment due to financial constraints. In 2015, I learned of a coffee shop that provided employment opportunities for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. I felt a similar addition to the Z.B. Collie Foundation would help members of our community, and in 2017, Blue Collie Coffee opened.
We currently employ ten individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and the coffee shop has become an integral part of the community. Each employee came to work with a different idea of what they thought the job would bring and what they could offer. Over the years, each one has grown in their ability to take on different jobs within the shop. One gentleman announced he had autism and would only wash dishes. Today, he runs the register. takes orders, trains new staff, and makes a perfect latte. Our customers are important to the shop as well. They get to know our employees, cheer them on as working milestones are passed, and offer encouragement when mistakes are made. Employees and customers have shop-wide conversations about football, drink recipes for everyone, and weekend activities. Even more exciting is that the employees have organized their own “break” schedule and are certain to invite other to join, because “No one should feel left out”.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Opening and managing Blue Collie Coffee was, and continues to be, an amazing process. In the beginning, all the pieces just seemed to fall in place. There was a vacant storefront with many of the “big ticket” items needed to open a coffee shop. Community members stepped in to help with renovations and support. In addition to trying to keep our prices stable, our biggest challenge has been managing the constant requests for employment. As word spread about the Blue Collie, people stopped by to tell me about their brother, cousin, or the “girl down the street” who were just sitting at home with nothing to do because there were no jobs available for them.
Also, as a nonprofit, our margins are thin and there have been times when the customer community has supported us financially when some of the larger appliances needed to be replaced.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Over the years, I have had many opportunities to contribute to my community. I was able to work with a variety of citizens over several years to bring Help Portrait to Franklin County, as well as The Boys & Girls Club. I have served on the Franklin County Board of Education since 1998 and was the President of the North Carolina School Boards Association. As I mentioned earlier, I started the Z.B. Collie Foundation, I serve as the director, and I learned to make a latte. I am proud of the “things” I have been able to accomplish and add to my communities, but I am most proud of the work and growth in my employees. They are amazing men and women.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
What do I see in our future? In five to ten years, I hope Blue Collie Coffee will continue the mission and will expand to other parts of our county in order to provide more employment opportunities. I hope the atmosphere and camaraderie between staff and customers is as strong, supportive, and fun as they are now.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bluecolliecoffee.com
- Instagram: bluecolliecoffee
- Facebook: BlueCollie Coffee
