Get to know our CEO & Founder for International Women's Day
Exit 11 Coffee CEO and Founder, Angela Garland, is one of those women who has been able to blend her devotion to her children with her passion for her career into a rewarding, productive lifestyle. She had 4 children ages 8-16 when she completed her MBA at the University of Missouri in St. Louis 16 years ago, and went on to open multiple shared office centers both as owner and as a consultant.
Exit 11 began in 2015 as a shared office and coworking center in Washington, Missouri. Soon, a specialty coffee house was added to the amenities. Angela and her husband Scott Garland’s desire to create the best cup of coffee on the planet has drawn thousands of loyal customers to the coffee house and the three espresso drive-thru locations in rural Franklin County. In 2021 Exit 11 opened a roastery where coffee beans for all locations and mail order are processed. A new Exit 11 Coffee drive-thru is opening in Saint Peters, MO in Spring 2022, with plans for 25 more locations in the next five years.
Much of Angela’s business success is rooted in her commitment to support women on their path to achieving career goals and profitability. Exit 11 currently purchases 80 dozen farm fresh eggs a week from Ann, a poultry farmer in New Haven. When Ann learned of Exit 11’s expansion plans she appreciated the heads up as this would mean investing in additional chickens and expanding hen house capacity.
Not only does Angela care for each employee like family, she understands how challenging it can be to working mother. Exit 11 trained barista, Sarah Belmar-Fortner returned from maternity leave this week with her six-week-old baby in tow to cover the front desk at the coworking center. Sarah was ready to get back to work and she is able to fill an important role, while still having the flexibility to be with her baby.
Outside of her own business, Angela also hosts a monthly business networking breakfast at Exit 11 and many entrepreneurs are members of the coworking center. As an Adjunct Professor at Webster University, Angela taught the business class “Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Small Business.” A popular public speaker, Angela offers presentations, keynotes, retreats and learning seminars on topics such as Building a Small Business, Networking online and off, Customer Service, Leadership, Social Media, Coworking, Taking Action, Work Life Balance and more. Angela offers an inspiring and witty keynote about one of her proudest accomplishments - summiting the 3rd and 7th highest mountains in North America in 2012. She was the only female climber, and this was her first and only tough terrain climbing experience.
Angela Garland is an inspiration to women of all ages. She invests ongoing training and opportunities for advancement for her primarily female staff and is an example of a grandmother continuing to make a significant impact in the business world.
