Meet Our Team!
Bill is the Owner and General Manager of Paper Skyscraper. He is a Charlotte native and grew up enjoying Paper Skyscraper like so many born and raised Charlotteans. In 2019, Bill purchased Paper Skyscraper from the shop's founders. The store continues to serve as a destination and gathering place. Operating a Charlotte institution is no small task and in his time away from the store, he is spending it with his daughters or crafting a game plan for their next soccer match.
Ali is our Card Curator. She's the bright mind and heart behind the card wall in-store. Most of her time is spent dreaming up a vision for the cards we select. The right card could mean the world to someone you love, and Ali holds that in high regard.
Her time away from the store is spent bringing friends and loved ones together. Whether she's riding her bike around the city, disco dancing through the night or cheering on Charlotte FC in the Supporters section, Ali has never met a stranger. Only a friend she's never met before. Show her a card that made you laugh next time you're in shop.
Meet Colette, our versatile team member at Paper Skyscraper! Originally from Charlotte, Colette has contributed her diverse talents to our store for seven years. Whether she's selecting new products for the store, spending quality time with her beloved pup Rocky at local parks, showcasing the newest fashion trends, or igniting spontaneous dance parties, Colette brings infectious energy to everything she does.
Outside of work, she indulges in her passions for reading, attending concerts, and sampling delicious new snacks available in our store.
Claiborne is a North Carolina native and grew up in Raleigh. After completing his studies in Film Production at UNC Charlotte, he worked as a touring musician and then producer in the sound design industry in and around Charlotte.
He joined the team 5 years ago as Freight Director, learning the store from the shipment that arrived day to day. Currently, Claiborne serves on the online team as the Media Director.
Follow the page (@paperskyscrapergifts) and send him a joke, or a cool dog video.
Away from the store, an instrument of some sort is always around. Claiborne works as a private music instructor to a handful of students. Outside of all the music, you can find him playing hockey, supporting the Carolina Hurricanes, or watching Star Wars.
Rhiannon is from the bustling metropolis of Belmont, North Carolina. She has lived close to or around Charlotte for "forever". After pursuing a degree in the Fine Arts at James Madison, she left Virginia to come back home to the Queen City.
In her time away from the store, she teaches art, loves travelling to National Parks, and baking. As a Spongebob superfan, she credits all of her success in life to what the beloved porous cartoon character once said:
"If you believe in yourself and with a tiny piece of magic, all of your dreams will come true."
Rebecca is a North Carolina native, born and raised in Raleigh. She studied Communications and Hospitality/Tourism at Western Carolina University. Following college, she lived in Asheville where she spent most of her time immersed in the tourism industry and part of the management team for a ziplining company.
She moved to Charlotte a little over three years ago and has been lucky to call NoDa her home for all of it. She joined Paper Skyscraper’s Freight Team mid-November 2023 just in time for the holiday rush.
Outside of work, she loves spending time with her husband, family and friends. Locally, her favorite place to escape is the Whitewater Center. In her free time, you can find her hiking, taking in a concert or cooking up Mexican cuisine from scratch.
Franco joined the team in the summer of 2023. After studying Business Administration in college, he began honing his skills in the e-commerce and digital marketing sectors. Along with his intellect, Franco is a kind, friendly and passionate person to be around.
In his free time, he enjoys playing CATAN with family and friends, going to the beach in the summer, and listening to Spanish rap. Otherwise known as "Mago" (Magician in Spanish) to his friends from college, he's got all the tricks up his sleeve when it comes to Peruvian cuisine. Mago really loves cooking food and travelling the globe and trying new things.
Meet Mary, the magic behind Paper Skyscraper's online hub since September 2023. As a key part of our online team, she keeps the website shipshape and orchestrates order prep with finesse. Hailing from Ohio, she traded the Buckeye state for the charm of Charlotte. When not fine-tuning the website, she explores the Queen City's gems and spreads joy one package at a time!
Outside the store, Mary enjoys hiking, camping, playing tag with her cat Lenny, and all things arts and crafts!
Meet Katie! One of the critical positions at the store is choosing what we buy and how many. Katie is part of the team that helps curate our products.
A Charlotte native, Katie grew up visiting Paper Skyscraper from a young age, making the iconic bookstore a cherished part of her childhood. A proud Appalachian State University alumna, she has a deep-rooted love for the outdoors that spans from camping and hiking to savoring a spicy margarita on a sun-drenched patio or unwinding by a fire pit under the stars.
Away from the store, her passion for reading and experimenting with new recipes fuels her adventurous spirit. Whenever possible, Katie sneaks away to the mountains to recharge, all while juggling a whirlwind of new hobbies with boundless enthusiasm.
Meet Hope, our Charlotte native.
With a laugh that lights up the room and a perpetual coffee cup in hand, Hope brings a unique blend of craftiness and enthusiasm to the team. She joined Paper Skyscraper in 2023 after a brief stint as an assassin for a private company. Finding solace in retail, you can count on Hope for recommendations for a gift or place to explore in Charlotte.
Beyond the store, Hope's diverse hobbies include reading, spending time with her family, roller skating, and staying on the cutting edge of web design trends.
Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, John made the move to Charlotte in 2014. After graduating high school, he pursued his passion for language and creativity, majoring in English with a focus on creative writing at Queens University of Charlotte.
Joining the team in late 2023 as a Freight Professional, John combines his sharp organizational skills with a love for detail to ensure the efficient management of logistics.
Outside of work, you'll find him immersed in Sci-Fi and Fantasy literature, conquering video game challenges, and exploring the vibrant city of Charlotte.
Dustin has lived a life full of adventures, including once playing a brown blob in a movie—a role that remains his greatest claim to fame. His love for the peculiar is matched only by his ability to break into song at a moment’s notice and sprinkle obscure book and movie quotes into conversation 70% of the time. Dustin, a self-proclaimed “silly goose,” embraces his role as the whimsical spirit of the store, always adding a dash of fun to the day. When he's not bringing charm to the team, you can find him thrifting for odd, grandma-style treasures or sipping tea. Whether he's cracking jokes, breaking bridges (literally, at age 10), or offering you a cup of tea, Dustin is all about bringing joy and a touch of the unexpected wherever he goes.
Originally from a patchwork of locations including Pittsburgh, Davidson, and San Diego, Emilie is your quintessential local waterbug and unabashed media nerd. Whether she's paddling through the nearest body of water or relentlessly championing the latest book, podcast, or TV show, Emilie is always eager to share her passions with anyone who will listen.
When she’s not in the water or spreading the word about her latest media obsession, Emilie enjoys kayaking, writing, and exploring quirky Airbnb and Zillow listings. You might also catch her wandering with a camera in hand, capturing the world through her unique lens.
Originally from Westchester, NY, Lexi relocated to Charlotte from Nashville two years ago driven by her love for North Carolina and its welcoming vibe. A proud Elon University graduate with a degree in music, Lexi has been sharing her passion for music through voice and piano lessons for over six years.
In her free time, Lexi can often be found enjoying her favorite local spot, Paper Skyscraper, or indulging in her love for singing showtunes. At home, she delights in the company of her Bernedoodle, Lucy, who is truly her pride and joy. Lexi also loves experimenting with gluten- and dairy-free recipes, blending her culinary creativity with her vibrant lifestyle.
Lexi’s enthusiasm for music, her loyal companion Lucy, and her adventurous spirit make her a cherished member of the Charlotte community.
The next Paper Skyscraper employee can be you! Contact us if you want to find more about our job opportunities.
Send resume to hello@paperskyscraper.com