I am a bubbly, introverted person who has autism. For me, this means I can be shy and more sensitive. In my free time, I enjoy going on walks, taking pictures of littlest pet shop toys, watching shows and movies, adding to my snow globe collection, and spending time with friends and family.
Prior to working at Esteamed Coffee, I was nervous meeting new people. Learning to make coffee drinks for customers and getting to know my coworkers, I have gained confidence around others. Before work, I like to get the Orange Creamsicle Frappe.
At Esteamed, I am known for being the biggest Phillies fan. When not watching baseball, I enjoy playing videogames, doing ghost tours, and watching scary movies.
Though I can be shy, I like to talk about sports and make people laugh with my sarcastic humor. Working at Esteamed is special, because I get to learn new things and make friends who understand my personality and are similar to me. My go-to drink is the Strawberry Smoothie.
In addition to working, I enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles, photography, playing soccer, watching movies, reading the Bible, and hiking. You may have seen my talent displayed in the cafe, as I occasionally am a featured artist.
For me it is a superpower to smile and greet guests. I can see how our interactions bring happiness to others. Since I have a language disorder called Aphasia, sometimes it is difficult to communicate. I know what I want to say, but need time to think. My favorite drink is the Chai Latte!
I am known as the dancing, giggling, fashionista who is talented in remembering all kinds of dates. In my free time, I listen to music, play basketball, and attend an outdoor exercise bootcamp.
Esteamed is magical, because it is unique, local, and brings all the seasonal vibes. It is fun getting to know customers and giving great customer service. As a stuffed animal lover, I always bring Clara, my bunny purse, with me to order the Decaf White Chocolate Hazelnut Frappe with whipped cream!
You may have seen me at markets around town representing our art business, Sundae Sisters, with my sister. When I am not packaging orders for the business or working at Esteamed, I enjoy trips to Disney, cheerleading, music, movies, coloring, and reading.
I love being a part of Esteamed Coffee because we get to be a part of a team and meet new people. My favorite days are when I get to work with all the girls and show off our Girl Power! I enjoy getting the Peach Iced Tea when hanging out with my family.
I am a creative, social person who happens to have autism. For me, this means I make a lot of different hand gestures. I enjoy fixing and testing electronics, watching sports, playing video games, and hanging out with animals. Fun fact: I am a huge Caniac (Hurricanes hockey fan)!
At Esteamed, I am a cashier. I enjoy getting to meet all kinds of people and work on life skills. My go-to drink is one I invented myself. It is called the Hurricane Frappe, consisting of Strawberry with White and Dark Chocolate.
You may recognize me, as my smile is all over social media. Some people even come in just for my autograph. When I am not fulfilling my dream of working in a coffee shop, I like to scrapbook, sing in the choir, and play basketball.
Working at Esteamed Coffee is the best, because of my amazing coworkers and getting to have fun making drinks and taking orders. I especially like getting to make friends at the nighttime events. My go-to order is the Peppermint Patty Frappe!
Most people know me as the mayor of Cary, as I am a true people person. I enjoy working hard, entertaining, and cooking. Some people call my personality a superpower, because I am great at coming up with ideas, connecting with others, and brightening their day.
I enjoy being able to live out my dream by working at Esteamed Coffee! Hard work and kindness can open all kinds of opportunities if you let it. When connecting over coffee, I get the Salty Dog Latte. This drink I created myself consists of salted caramel and dark chocolate.
I am a sarcastic, unpredictable genius who likes to write stories, go on adventures in nature, and play videogames. My goals are to finish the books I am writing and to become rich enough to build a castle or a homestead.
At Esteamed Coffee, I make both hot and cold drinks for customers. The good vibes, cozy environment, and delightful customers make it magical and makes coming to work enjoyable. To make it even better, Esteamed has the best Iced Raspberry Mocha.
As a member of the giggle committee, I enjoy making people laugh. When I am not cracking jokes, I enjoy playing Miracle League baseball, dancing, and doing karate. In 2023, I achieved the highest honor of black belt.
Esteamed Coffee is awesome, because it is a place where everyone is welcomed! I enjoy getting to greet and serve customers, while getting to have fun with my coworkers. I especially like the chance to create my own drinks, such as my Orange Chai Creamsicle Nice Cream Frappe!
My superpower is lifting heavy boxes and being strong like Batman. In my free time, I like to watch TV, play video games, and listen to music. I especially like superhero things like the Power Rangers and Spider-Man!
As a cold barista, I do my very best to work hard and be nice to the customers. I enjoy how joyful and fun Esteamed Coffee is and I love making customers smile. When I go to events like game night, I always get a Strawberry Smoothie with whipped cream.
I am a geeky, goofy goober who has a passion for baking and learning new things. At first, I may seem closed off, but I am quite loud and sociable once I am comfortable. I am known for being a cat-whisperer, as I tend to have good intuition.
Esteamed is magical to me because I get to connect with people who are also neurodivergent. Additionally, it is fun to utilize my love of baking to create new special flavors. My favorite after-work drink is the White Orange Blossom Mocha!
I’m known for being hardworking, a true gentleman, and a bit quiet until I get comfortable. In my free time, I love cooking and enjoying great food.
Esteamed holds a special place in my heart because making drinks helps me feel relaxed and keeps my stress levels low. My goal is always to build new friendships, so feel free to say hello!
As a creative, I enjoy making keychains for my coworkers, painting with my family, and watching anime and other Japanese shows in my free time.
At Esteamed, I love the chance to make different drinks, meet new people, and work hard. It has been a magical experience to make new friends and learn new things. My go-to drink is the Strawberry Smoothie.
After graduating from Penn State University with a Communications degree and spending a few years working in film production, I found my true calling in the small rainforest community of El Sur, Costa Rica. There, I spent a two week volunteer vacation teaching, painting, digging, building, and more. The service bug bit, and it bit hard! Upon my return to the states, I immediately joined AmeriCorps, where I taught English as a Second Language to immigrants and refugees, as well as Adult Basic Education to American-born adults in Pittsburgh, PA.
In my second year of service, I delivered books and storytimes to children in public housing and daycares on a mobile library. My experience meant so much to me that for the next nine years, I led cohorts of AmeriCorps members on their own service journeys as the director of the program itself. I moved to Cary in 2020 and soon discovered my new happy place - Esteamed Coffee. After a few years of working for a remote food and beverage startup, I am absolutely thrilled to be back within the local nonprofit world and can’t wait to get things done with the incredible Esteamed family!
After experiencing change of life events, my kids and I moved to Asheville and later to Raleigh for my daughter to attend NCSU. I come from the world of entrepreneurship, owning four restaurants and two catering companies in the Tampa Bay area. As I began searching for my next career move I knew that I wanted to work for a startup, somehow make the world a little better, and have a village support me. After interviewing and falling in love with Angie and Tamara and their mission for Esteamed Coffee, I knew this was my dream position. They hired me, their first employee to run the operations.
With no prior experience working with people with disabilities, my approach was to focus on ability, not the disability. As with any business, each employee learns at their own speed. Once an employee masters a skill they continue their training to the next skill level. It is the intent of the managers to allow the employees to do their job and step in only when needed. We strive for our staff to work their positions independently and to lean on teammates when needed. When a staff member outgrows Esteamed Coffee by meeting all of their set goals, we celebrate their success and encourage and support them in their search for the next opportunity.
My passion for supporting individuals with disabilities began in high school and college, where I gained hands-on experience as direct support staff in a preschool setting. This early exposure sparked my commitment to making a meaningful impact in the field. While initially studying special education, I later transitioned into psychology and social work to broaden my ability to advocate for individuals with disabilities.After graduating, I honed my communication and customer service skills in the food service industry, which further shaped my professional development.
These experiences ultimately led me to Esteamed Coffee, where I am able to blend my educational background and practical experience to create a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. My journey has equipped me with the tools to empower individuals with disabilities, ensuring they have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. I am dedicated to fostering an accessible and empowering space where people with disabilities are valued, supported, and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Since graduating from UNC Greensboro with degrees in Psychology and Advocacy and Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, I’ve been passionate about working within the disability community. My personal journey—learning about my own autism and being connected with the Deaf community—has fueled my commitment to disability rights and justice. This passion led me to the position as Shift Manager at Esteamed Coffee.
Esteamed Coffee has given me a place where I can be myself without hiding my disabilities, work with purpose, and contribute to a team that values inclusion and authenticity. I’m proud to be part of a space that not only uplifts the disability community but also creates opportunities for all of us to thrive, together.
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When Angie began college at UNC Chapel Hill at 18, she also began to lose her vision. By 21, she was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a form of macular degeneration that led to permanent vision loss and reshaped nearly every aspect of her life. Decades later, that journey has given her a deep, personal understanding of the daily challenges faced by those living with disabilities. Angie is often asked why she and her close friend Tamara Lapsley started Esteemed Coffee. For her, the answer is rooted in a powerful desire to turn her own experiences as a legally blind person into something meaningful—for others.
Rather than allowing her struggles to define her, she chose to flip the script: transforming personal setbacks and limited opportunities into a space that uplifts, empowers, and includes. Her dream was simple but bold—to create a place where people with and without disabilities could recognize each other's strengths without limits. Through Esteemed Coffee’s job coaching, mentorship, diverse programs, and warm, welcoming environment, that dream has come to life. Today, Esteemed Coffee stands as a beacon in the Cary community—a place where everyone can be seen, supported, and belong.
Since graduating from UNC in 1984 with a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, Tamara has worked with individuals of all ages with speech-language disorders and has always loved helping people. However, communication deficits hit close to home eight years ago when Angie and Tamara had a dear friend whose healthy, athletic 18-year-old son suffered a massive stroke. Austin initially lost the ability to communicate as well as use of his right hand and leg.
While walking through this crisis with Austin’s family, Tamara became acquainted with a new concept that Maura Silverman of Triangle Aphasia Project, Unlimited (TAP) was piloting called a Communication Support Team. Through volunteering with TAP on Austin’s Communication Support Team, Tamara has seen the significant impact that this type of Life Participation therapy can have on an individual’s communication improvement as well as the impact it can have on their family. And the thought occurred to her, why can’t this type of therapy be extended to the individual’s work environment as well?
Kirby became passionate about workplace inclusion when his son was diagnosed with high functioning autism in the spring of 2017. Before we opened, Kirby completed a 420-mile solo bike ride from Winston-Salem to Wilmington to raise money and awareness for non-profits that share a similar mission as Esteamed Coffee. The “North Carolina Ride to Make a Difference” was covered by several media outlets and print publications and he was recognized as an Everyday Hero by Spectrum News. Kirby is a graduate of West Virginia University (BS Chemical Engineering) and UNC-Chapel Hill (MBA). He lives in Cary with his wife, Melissa, and their two sons.
Rick has lived in Cary since 1978. He has been very active in the Cary community. Rick has served on boards with the Northwest Cary YMCA, Read and Feed and the Town of Cary Parks and Rec commission. He has been a member of Cary Page Rotary since 1989. He has served the club as President and Rotary District 7710 as District Governor in 2012-13. Rick is passionate about the mission of Esteamed Coffee, not only providing employment for individuals with disabilities but also giving them social and artistic opportunities. Rick and his wife Gail have one daughter and four grandchildren who also live in Cary.
When Angie began college at UNC Chapel Hill at 18, she also began to lose her vision. By 21, she was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a form of macular degeneration that led to permanent vision loss and reshaped nearly every aspect of her life. Decades later, that journey has given her a deep, personal understanding of the daily challenges faced by those living with disabilities. Angie is often asked why she and her close friend Tamara Lapsley started Esteemed Coffee. For her, the answer is rooted in a powerful desire to turn her own experiences as a legally blind person into something meaningful—for others.
Rather than allowing her struggles to define her, she chose to flip the script: transforming personal setbacks and limited opportunities into a space that uplifts, empowers, and includes. Her dream was simple but bold—to create a place where people with and without disabilities could recognize each other's strengths without limits. Through Esteemed Coffee’s job coaching, mentorship, diverse programs, and warm, welcoming environment, that dream has come to life. Today, Esteemed Coffee stands as a beacon in the Cary community—a place where everyone can be seen, supported, and belong.
Since graduating from UNC in 1984 with a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, Tamara has worked with individuals of all ages with speech-language disorders and has always loved helping people. However, communication deficits hit close to home eight years ago when Angie and Tamara had a dear friend whose healthy, athletic 18-year-old son suffered a massive stroke. Austin initially lost the ability to communicate as well as use of his right hand and leg.
While walking through this crisis with Austin’s family, Tamara became acquainted with a new concept that Maura Silverman of Triangle Aphasia Project, Unlimited (TAP) was piloting called a Communication Support Team. Through volunteering with TAP on Austin’s Communication Support Team, Tamara has seen the significant impact that this type of Life Participation therapy can have on an individual’s communication improvement as well as the impact it can have on their family. And the thought occurred to her, why can’t this type of therapy be extended to the individual’s work environment as well?
Jackie is a 35 year resident of North Carolina, the last 22 of those in Morrisville. Jackie served as Morrisville Mayor from 2009-2013 and as President of the Wake County Mayors Association in 2013. She previously served as executive secretary for the Dorcas Ministries Board of Directors and takes an active role in issues related to disability advocacy. Jackie assists her younger daughter, Lindsay, who has Down syndrome, in running Lindsay’s non-profit business If You Had Wings, Inc. Jackie has been married since 1982 to her University of Florida college sweetheart, Rick. They are the proud parents to two adult daughters and adorable 6 year-old twin grandchildren.
After joining Stephenson Law LLP as an associate transactional attorney in 2021, Ginna was introduced to the supportive and growing Downtown Cary community, including Esteamed Coffee. At her day job, her clients are more often than not involved in Downtown Cary projects and she quickly became eager to find a way to serve this dynamic community in a volunteer capacity. As a Triangle-area native, Ginna has seen first-hand the enrichment that employment and volunteer opportunities provide to the local disabled community, including her own family. She wanted to join the Board of Directors of Esteamed Coffee to assist in growing the employment and community engagement opportunities and she is most excited to take a turn behind the counter to learn from the Esteamed Coffee team.
John is the President of Raleigh-based Phoenix Commercial Properties, bringing 31 years of unparalleled expertise to the commercial real estate industry. John is not only an accomplished broker but also a devoted father of four, including a son with special needs; John's commitment to providing job opportunities for young people with disabilities is both a professional and personal mission.
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