About ZABS Place
ZABS Place is a non-profit thrift boutique in Matthews, NC, serving as a thriving hub for young adults with special needs talents in the Charlotte area. We offer individualized training to empower these individuals, equipping them with valuable job and life skills to become key contributors to society.
Through our engaging community involvement initiatives, we actively support and encourage our Special Talent to achieve their career goals. As a go-to thrift boutique in the Charlotte area, ZABS Place provides a unique shopping experience and offers an inclusive environment where abilities are recognized, potential is found, and everyone is welcome.
Our Mission
To train young adults with special needs to harness their talents and support their transition to rewarding careers; realizing their dreams of leading meaningful lives.
Our Vision
A community that recognizes abilities and values everyone and everything. We are all different, on purpose.
Our Core Values
Z is where others stop and we start.
Approach every situation as an opportunity.
Believe dreams do come true.
See potential in everyone and everything.
That’s it! It’s not complicated but it’s very different than what you’ll find “out there”. We consider it just one of the many ways ZABS Place is unique.
Our Story
So who is ZABS? ZABS is the acronym of the Hebrew name of a young man named Zachary. A happy, athletic, positive, take-over-the-world (in a good way) teen. He was awesome to be around. His friends and family loved him. His teachers raved about him. He was passionate about helping others, especially children and teens with special needs. That’s how he got involved in Friendship Circle. When Zachary was 18, he was diagnosed with a horrific form of Leukemia. He fought a ferocious battle and bravely faced the challenges and suffering no 18 year old should know. Ever! Zachary went into a remission for a short while but unfortunately the dreaded disease came back, and Zachary was taken from us at the young age of 19. ZABS Place reminds us of Zecharya Avraham Boruch Shporer and the incredible example he lived and taught.
Our Programs
ZABS Job Training Program
It’s hard to get a job with no experience. It’s even harder to get experience with no job. That’s why we’re here. We offer Job Skills Training, based on the interests and abilities of each of our Specially Talented trainees.
ZABS After Hourz
We believe that work should be FUN. But, so should hanging out together! That’s why we offer the Mark Gale ZABS After-Hourz events for our ZABS Talent to enjoy socializing, spending time, and sharing laughs together, just like their peers!
ZABSpreneurs
We’re AMAZED by the abilities of our Special Talent. That’s why we’re dedicated to helping local Special Talent perfect their skills and create a sellable product, right in our store! We support Special Micro-businesses.
Upcycling University
We love crafting and we’re all about inclusion. That’s why we created an inclusive opportunity to craft and build community with individuals who have special needs talents. This is another way we teach skills that can lead to financial independence.
Our Team
Agust
Talent Coach
Bentzion
Chief Executive Talent
A Rabbi, a Dreamer, and a Native Charlottean walk into ZABS Place. Sounds like a joke but actually it’s Bentzion (or Rabbi Ben as we call him). As Chief Executive Talent, Rabbi Ben wears many hats at ZABS. You might find him pitching ZABS to a crowd of 1,000, chatting with a potential donor, or arranging a truck load of donated furniture from a showroom in High Point, NC. Whatever he’s doing it’s with enough passion for 10 people!
Fun Fact: Bentzion’s dream job is to be a pilot!
Lisa
Snow Globe Shaker
Snow globes are beautiful until the glitter settles. Then they’re kinda boring. Lisa makes sure to shake things up just enough so the glitter swirls again! She’s all about opportunity and making magic happen at ZABS Place. She’s also the one who helps you find that special something when you happen to stumble in “just to look around.”
Fun Fact: Lisa has Super Talents! She’s been Director of a Preschool, Head of a Retail Store, and even Director of a Children’s Museum.
Inspirational Fact: ZABS Place is named after Lisa’s son Zachary who passed away from Leukemia when he was 19.
Rochel
ZABSaholic-in-Chief
Worker-bee. Workaholic. Workhorse. Call it what you want, but this girl is ALWAYS working. Pricing clothes, ringing up a customer, fixing furniture, upcycling a “curb-find”, are all things Rochel does on the side. Her main job of course is being the Director of ZABS Place!
Fun Fact: Rochel is sometimes called the “Girl on the Plane” thanks to an interesting experience she had on (you guessed it) an airplane back in the summer of 2017.
Our Board
Will Adams
Board Member
As Senior VP and Head of Sales, Will oversees LendingTree’s sales and client management across multiple channels of lending and banking while also serving as an advisor and board member in the FinTech world. He has over 25 years of experience in lending with the majority of his career focused on sales strategy and leadership. Will is married with two children and has lived in the Charlotte area for over 30 years. After being amazed by the special talents of his son with Autism, Will developed a passion to serve the special needs community.
Fun Fact: Will enjoys vacationing with his family, watching baseball, working around the yard and coaching baseball.
Scott Brennan
Board Member
Strategy, operations, finance, technology consulting, Fortune 500 companies… Sounds like we’re cramming for a business degree midterm. Actually, we’re talking about Scott’s career of over 32 years. But that’s not all! He’s a Partner with Social Venture Partners and a retiree from Accenture. He is on the board of several nonprofits including SVP Charlotte and GenOne Charlotte.
Fun Fact: Scott has three grown children and has called Charlotte home for over 20 years.
Darius Chase
Board Member
Currently serving as Relationship Manager for South State Bank specializing in health care and commercial banking, Darius has over 19 years of experience serving clients in a variety of banking roles. He also is a Board Member for Loaves and Fishes of Charlotte. Darius believes that everyone has their own individual talents and should have the opportunity to realize their dreams of leading meaningful lives.
Fun Fact: Darius and his wife have two daughters and he’s a Charlotte Sports fan.
Jenny Dye
Board Chair
After retiring from a career in accounting, Jenny began volunteering with a wide variety of non-profits. She’s a partner with Social Venture Partners-Charlotte and loves learning about all the inspiring stories that come from ZABS Place.
Fun Fact: Jenny enjoys playing tennis, reading and traveling.
Mica Gadhia
Board Member
Mica is a published author (Open in the Front), award winning illustrator (Love Notes to My Body), and an active local artist for more than a decade. She’s proudest of raising her two beautiful boys, one of whom has autism. Mica is a recent empty nester and she still isn’t sure how to feel about it. She spends her work days supporting our local international community at International House.
Fun Fact: Mica has four cats (Bonnie, Millie, Sam-Sam, and Squiggles) and three neighborhood cats who visit her backyard daily.
Caren Gale
Co-Founder and Board Member
Caren is a true Mamma Bear! She won’t rest until all her cubs are cared for. Caren became a special needs advocate when her son was diagnosed with Autism at age 2. She realized that with a little encouragement and support, anyone and everyone can succeed. Today, Caren is the Chief Advocate and Community Liaison for ZABS Place.
Fun Fact: Caren is an incredible best story-teller and her cub son Jonathan was the first employee at ZABS Place!
Charles Gale
Co-Founder and Board Member
After switching careers with his family’s move to Charlotte, Charlie taught at the Fletcher School for nine years before retiring after the 2019 school year. After his son with Autism expressed interest in having a job after high school, Charles and his wife Caren realized they needed to help prepare him to enter the working world. They realized they were not alone and that job training was a need for thousands of other young adults in the Charlotte area. After meeting with the Groners, they set out to make this plan a reality for their son and many others.
Fun Fact: Charles lived in L.A. and worked in the film industry for 25 years.
Henry Lander
Past Board Chair
Henry is an undercover Magician. He excels at analyzing complex situations and magically creates actionable plans to help organizations achieve their goals. On second thought, maybe he’s a Ninja! As a Six Sigma Black Belt he uses Change Management techniques to simplify and improve problem analysis, decision making, and planning. It’s better than a knock-out punch! Take that complex situation!
Fun Fact: Henry is a native of Venezuela and has a real passion for supporting Latinx-led businesses.
Jon Massachi
Board Member
As a native of Charlotte, Jon is very involved in the local community. Jon graduated from ECU in 2007 and began his career with BB&T (now Truist) where he is now a top-producer in residential mortgages. Jon is an original board member of ZABS Place and loves to see the amazing things that ZABS provides to our community.
Fun Fact: Jon was born with Cerebral Palsy and he’s never let it get in the way of his dreams.
Barbara Rein
Board Member
Barbara is a retired social worker who uses her experience and desire to help others in all her current volunteer work. She believes that everyone should have the opportunity to be successful in whatever they try and to keep growing as a person throughout their life.
Fun Fact: Barbara enjoys crafting and gardening.
Corporate Friends
We are fortunate to have the support and partnership of incredible local businesses to help us recognize Special Talents and #Zpotential:
Action Plus Ideas
Advantage Wholesale Supply
Arts & Science Council
Brown Brothers Harriman
Collins Aerospace
Deckard Heating & Air Conditioning
Hanger Foundation
IEQ
Lowe's Able BRG
Maid Brigade
Merancas Foundation
Morningstar Storage | Tyvola
Daniella Moffson Foundation
Reemprise Fund
South State Bank
Wells Fargo Foundation
Foundations
Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
Beta Club at Fletcher School
Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown Foundation
HF Financial
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
Playing for Others, Inc.
Social Venture Partners
True Homes Foundation, Inc.
The Zemeckis Foundation
Upstart Bay Area
Partners
Lori Aldridge-Love
Richard Baer
David Barman
Melody Barrett
Diane & Tom Bayes
Lawrence Berendt
Lea-Ann Berst
Elazar Bloom
Greg Bloom
Joann Blumenfeld
Maya Blumenfeld
Roy Blumenfeld
Sabin Blumenfeld
Margie Bovee
Sandy Brenner
Bobby Butler
Natalie Butler
Linda Campbell
Marlene Casel
Darius Chase
Peter Clinco
Pam Cox
Kata Daniel
Elizabeth Davis
Ekaterina Dmitrieva
Elaine Downer
Steph Dresner
Ira Dunst
Sally Dyer
Reisha Erdheim
Stuart Erdheim
Jacob Eraklidis
Sandy Finn
Ellen Polk Fligel
Kacy Forsberg
Julia Freifeld
Mica Gadhia
Bob Gale
Caren & Charlie Gale
Debra Gale
Jonathan Gale
Rebecca Gale
Samantha Gale
Nancy Geisinger
Arlene Gibbs
Sarah & Eric Gibbs
Harvey Gibbs
Bari Gorelick
Devorah & Shimon Gorkin
Rochel & Bentzion Groner
Debby Handler
Erin Malloy Hanley
Kelli Harmon
Nancy Heimler
Barbara Henry
Jane & Matt Herson
Nahed Hida
Vicki Hofmeister
Susan Horn
Andy Hunter
Jodie & Michael Iagnocco
Tim Johnson
Rhoda Klarsfeld
Christine Kline
Daniel Klionsky
Robbie Knight
Deb & John Kotecki
Henry Lander
Jeffrey Lederman
Tracy Lettang
Josh Loewensteiner
Audrey Madans
Sara Malka & Larry Margolis
Dina & Jon Massachi
Laura Milgrim
Risa Miller
Lisa Morris
Judith & Michael Norman
Sara Nussbaum
Arturo Obando
Danni Olson
Sally Ormand
Ora & Rafi Ortiz
Kreg Osborne
Sherri Osiason
Yael Osovski
Marcelle & Allan Oxman
Val Patterson
Collette Pendergrass
Bobby Pittenger
Nancy Proctor
Marsha Riibner-Cady
Linda & Elias Roochvarg
Susan Royer
Anne Schmitt
Sue Schreiber
Susan Schreiber M.D.
Jeffrey Schwartz
Elisabeth Cady Severa
Stacey & Roni Sharoni
Alexander Shporer
Brianna Shporer
Lisa & Fred Shporer
Paul Silverman
Marcia & Paul Simon
Louis Sinkoe
Bashia & Mason Sklut
Ariana Sloan
Shirley Small
Sandi & Glen Snider
Meryl Stark
Jenna Stewart
Ruth Story
Nancy & David Strunk
Jamie & Jason Tanenbaum
Sandra Thompson
Barbara Tobias
Sabra Tourigny
Joyce & Vinh Tran
Jacquie Tribble
Leslie Tuttle
Tiffany Tyler
Michael Van Glish
Fern Vinston
Amy Vitner
Janet Walker
Loretta Wallace
Sheryl Weingrow
Lauren & Frank Wiseman
Rabbi Michael Wolk
Joanna Wong
Sue & Kim Worrel
Kory Zussman
Molly Zussman
Volunteers
Andrea Gamlin
Tammy Helms
Marian Holt
Jill Poszywak
Elias Roochvarg
Lisa & Fred Shporer
Kristen Warden