For Tanishia Butler, Wake Forest has been more than a place to call home. It has been a community where she raised her family, built meaningful relationships, and eventually found the confidence to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. Today, as the owner of Qwik Pack & Ship, Butler is giving back to the same community that welcomed her nearly two decades ago.
Originally from a small agricultural town in California's Central Valley, Butler relocated to North Carolina in 2002 before making Wake Forest her home in 2008. At the time, she was working in the area and quickly fell in love with the town's small-town charm and sense of community. With three young sons, she saw Wake Forest as the ideal place to put down roots.
"It was such a great place to raise our kids," Butler recalled. "We found our church here, our kids went to school here, and our lives really became centered around Wake Forest."
As her sons grew older, Butler began thinking about what the next chapter might hold for her family. With a professional background in project management, business administration, and organizational development, she had spent years developing the skills needed to manage people, processes, and operations. But it wasn't until the COVID-19 pandemic that she began seriously considering entrepreneurship.
When her children experienced layoffs during the pandemic, Butler saw an opportunity to create something that could provide both stability and a future for her family. She began researching practical business models that would allow her to apply her existing skills while meeting an everyday need in the community.
That search eventually led her to Qwik Pack & Ship.
"It really was a leap of faith," Butler shared. "I wanted something practical where I could use the skills I already had, but also create something my children could be a part of and have an ownership mindset."
In 2023, Butler opened Qwik Pack & Ship in Wake Forest, offering shipping, printing, notary services, private mailboxes, and other business support services. Her goal was simple: create a convenient, one-stop shop where individuals, families, and small business owners could save time while receiving dependable, personalized service.
But what makes Qwik Pack & Ship particularly special is the family behind the counter.
Butler's sons, Anthony and Marcus, along with her daughter-in-law, Julie, have been involved since the business opened and now manage its day-to-day operations. Her oldest son, Michael Jr., also lends his IT expertise when needed.
"They are the heartbeat of the business," Butler said. "The reviews we receive and the relationships we've built with customers are because of their service and commitment. I wouldn't have the business I have today without their support and belief in what we're building."
While her family keeps the business running, Butler has become increasingly involved in the Wake Forest business community, something she credits with transforming her confidence as an entrepreneur.
Although she joined the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce shortly after opening, it wasn't until her first anniversary that she began to recognize the depth of support available to local business owners. She decided to celebrate that milestone with a grand opening, and approximately 40 Chamber members and community supporters she had never met showed up.
That experience opened her eyes to an entire network of people who wanted to see her succeed.
Through those connections, Butler learned about the Wake Forest Founders (WFF) Accelerator Program, an initiative of Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership (WFBIP) designed to provide entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and connections needed to grow their businesses.
As a member of Cohort 2, Butler participated in the customary pitch competition at the end of the program, an experience she describes as both terrifying and transformative.
"If you can stand in front of 80 people and pitch your business, you can talk to anyone, anywhere, about what you do," Butler said. "The Wake Forest Founders Program helped me find my voice as a business owner."
Although she had already been operating Qwik Pack & Ship for more than a year, Butler admits she hadn't fully developed the confidence to speak publicly about her business or the value it brought to the community. Through the encouragement of WFF program leaders, mentorship, and connections with fellow entrepreneurs, that began to change.
"The Wake Forest Founders Program was a game changer for me and my business," Butler shared. "It took me from having a business to owning a business. I learned to be bold, to own my brand and reputation, and to believe in the value I bring to the community."
Those connections have continued well beyond the program. Butler has built relationships with fellow Wake Forest Founders Program businesses, including Sign Craft Solutions, Audrey's Barkyard, and True Insight Direct Care, creating opportunities to share resources, support one another, and generate business.
For Jason Cannon, President of WFBIP, Butler's journey reflects the genuine impact that springs forth from investing in local entrepreneurs.
"Tanishia's story is exactly why the Wake Forest Founders Program exists," said Cannon. "She already had the determination, experience, and vision to build a successful business. What the program helped provide was the confidence, connections, and community to take that business to the next level. When we invest in entrepreneurs like Tanishia, we're not just supporting one business. We're strengthening the entire Wake Forest business community."
That commitment to community has become a defining part of Butler's entrepreneurial journey. Today, she serves as President of the Wake Forest Chapter of Women in Networking and was recognized by the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce as Outstanding Woman of the Year.
For someone who once felt isolated as a new business owner, the recognition was especially meaningful.
"It was such an honoring and humbling experience," Butler shared. "So many people poured into me and supported me when I was getting started. Now I want to be that person for someone else."
As Qwik Pack & Ship celebrates its third year in business, Butler continues to look for ways to grow and better serve the Wake Forest community, including plans to introduce an in-store gift shop in fall 2026.
Looking back, Butler says one of the most valuable lessons she's learned is the importance of surrounding yourself with people who encourage and challenge you.
"Being in a strong community is essential as a business owner," Butler said. "Surround yourself with like-minded people who support you, encourage you, and challenge you to grow."
From finding a home for her family to building a business that now serves her neighbors, Butler's story is a reflection of what makes Wake Forest special: a community where relationships matter, local businesses support one another, and entrepreneurs have the opportunity to grow.
Through the Wake Forest Founders Program, the Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership continues to cultivate that spirit of entrepreneurship, helping business owners like Butler find not only the tools to succeed, but also the confidence and connections to make a lasting impact in the community.
