Meet Paige Reid: Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Paige Reid and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paige, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my own business because I believed in my skill and my ideas and at the time, I worked in an organization that did not support my ideas. I knew Covid-19 had put a lot of strain on the industry I work in but I felt like some of the ideas I had would support a working program even during the time of a pandemic. After many thoughts, prayers, and discussions with my husband we decided now was the time to take the leap of faith to leave a secure job.

I have always wanted to either lead an organization or be a founder and have worked hard when it comes to what I do and the time I put into my education. I knew at some point the dream would happen, I just didn’t know how or when.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have recently opened up an adult day program for individuals with special needs in Woodstock, GA. I have worked with individuals with special needs for the past 15 years in many different ways; therapeutic riding centers, in-home care, and running day programs. I have always known I want to work with individuals with different abilities than some but I would have never thought it would be in this way back when I started my educational journey.

I started in 2006 volunteering at a therapeutic riding center in Indiana where I also worked in the barn taking care of the horses. During this time I was able to learn about both mental and physical disabilities and fell in love with the industry. When talking to the founder and executive of this nonprofit, she suggested that when I started my college search I should get a degree in either business or psychology. I took this advice and went to Saint Mary of the Woods College in Terre Haute, IN, and majored both in equine business management and psychology.

After college, I made my way to Georgia where I started my journey in a new state. This was hard being away from friends and family but I was doing what I love so it didn’t seem so bad. I worked at two therapeutic riding centers in Woodstock, Ga before finding my way to working in a day program. Leaving the barn was very hard but I wanted to have a family and not be on call 24/7 so I knew a change had to happen. The networking group, Young Professionals of Woodstock, helped weed through my feelings and desires. Leaving with a plan and a business card in hand, I left knowing a chapter is about to begin.

I spent three wonderful years at a local day program. I grew, worked hard on a Master’s degree, and read as many leadership books as I could. When Covid-19 shook the world, it shook something inside me as well. I realized that I had dreams that I wasn’t working on and had ideas that no one wanted to listen to. After prayer, leaning on friends and mentors I stepped out in faith and started planning a business of my own.

Over this time I learned many lessons, some easier than others. The biggest lessons I have learned are to know your self worth, step out in faith, and lean on the community around you.

I would love the world to know about me is that everything I have done has been in the best interest of the special needs community and that I want to make a difference in my community. I want Limitless Disability Services to be remembered as a program that doesn’t put limitations on its participants. That individuals with special needs are able to do just as much as a typical individual-it may just have to be tweeked a bit on how to get the end result; however, it can always be done.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Being from Indiana I would bring my best friend to Woodstock, GA. I love the downtown area and what all the city has to offer. When it comes to food and drinks we would make our rounds to Reformation Brewery, Rootstock, Salt, and Canyons. If it’s a Thursday we would hit up Truck and Tap where you can find Dominic’s Pizza truck. When it comes to dessert, there is nothing better than a piece of Pie Bar pie and a scoop of ice cream. For activities, we would walk the Noonday Creek trail, go to a concert held by Elm Street Cultural Arts Center (my favorite is the Lantern Series events), and hanging in “Woodstocks Back Yard” under the elm outside of Reformation Brewery.

The thing I love most about this area is the small-town feeling of knowing most of the owners of the shops or restaurants so that we can support locals and know who is serving us. It is such a different feeling knowing that you are supporting families that you love.

All of the establishments I listed above come with exciting places and, in my opinion, are the most fun! Whether you are drinking a beer under the elm tree or listening to amazing music in the Elm Street Green, you are surrounded by a community that supports you and loves you.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people deserve credit when it comes to supporting me in my business venture. Of course, it is my husband, family, close friends. However, there is a group of individuals that I have been networking with for over three years.

The group is called Young Professionals of Woodstock or YPOW has been a rock through all of my ups and downs, both professional and personal. This group has sat through EMPOWER meetings, where we support each other and dig deep about where we want to be both professionally and personally, this meeting is where I have been able to safely talk about hopes and dreams where peers can help connect you, mentor you, and encourage you. I would not be the professional and leader that I am today without this group.

Website: https://limitlessdisabilityservices.com/

Instagram: limitlessdisabilityservices

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/limitless-disability-services

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Limitless-Disability-Services-101833748585502

Image Credits
@Bronsonkurtz (photo of me talking, myself with Lori Wright, and me behind a computer) Nathan Fowler (headshot)