Bobby Collier had always wanted to own his own business. After a lengthy career in banking, a unique opportunity presented itself. "My pastor, Josh Akin, founded micah's coffee in Waynesboro in 2004, and when he was ready to sell, he approached my wife Megan and I about purchasing it," Bobby said. "Josh shared the prospectus and right away we were intrigued." After learning more about the concept, and much thought and consideration, they went for it. The Colliers purchased micah's coffee in 2012 and embarked on their new entrepreneurial journey.

The first few years involved hands-on training and lots of learning. "I poured into the business. Although I had an amazing team who showed me where everything is, and how to make the beverages, I needed more," Bobby said. "So I put myself through coffee school to broaden my coffee knowledge, and then technician school to learn how to fix the machines. I believed in what we were doing, so I wanted to give it my best." And it paid off. Just a few short years after the transition, micah's started to gain traction and business began to take off with expansion to Stuarts Draft in 2015 and Ruckersville in 2018.

As micah's continued to grow, so did their need for a trusted banking partner. "When we purchased micah's, we started our accounts with DCCU and it was primarily a deposit relationship," Bobby said. "And as we grew, so did our banking relationship." Opening additional locations resulted in larger needs for things like equipment and small renovations, which called for banking products like credit cards and lines of credit.

Presently, the Colliers are working with DCCU on two exciting ventures - replacing the Waynesboro location that was recently damaged in an accident, and opening a fourth location/headquarters in Staunton. This is when having an established banking relationship is important.

"We now have a DCCU Commercial Lender, Nick Martino, who has become our partner in these renovations, which has been very helpful, especially during a challenging economy," Bobby said. "We are learning and growing in waters that are new to us and Nick is helping us navigate through."

Slated to open in Spring 2023, the Staunton micah's will be located at 704 Richmond Avenue. "This location will also serve as our headquarters and provide space to not only serve great coffee, but where we can hold staff meetings, conduct training, and store inventory," Bobby said. "We are really excited to bring the micah's experience to the Staunton area. We are now in the final stages of construction and completing the finishing touches."

DCCU and micah's coffee share two important attributes - commitment to serving others and supporting the community. "DCCU is my local community bank. Everyone knows who I am when I walk in, and I love that," Bobby said. "In the same way, micah's is built to serve the community and build relationships with our customers. You can get coffee anywhere, but we're all about conversations, relationships, and supporting the community that supports us. We also happen to have really good coffee."

The Colliers are excited about the future of micah's coffee as they continue to deepen their roots in the Valley; and DCCU is here to support their banking needs along the way. "This community is lucky to have a credit union like DCCU that wants to build relationships and be a part of the community," Bobby said. "That's what separates DCCU from other financial institutions and micah's from other coffee shops - it's about relationships and quality. We both do it differently."