Haile Parker MCollum
About Fontaine Maury | About The Name | About Haile
A little about me...
Bouncing back and forth between parents and coasts as a 5 year old may have something to do with my warped sense of what it takes to get from one place to another. I think life, like getting from JFK to SFO, is about getting yourself to the right place at the right time and then getting on the right vessel.
I have willingly failed. I need to fail to know that I'm pushing. Failure is worth it. Doing what's expected is simply not enough.
I think that once designers get hold of technology and create art, sparks fly.
One of my favorite ways to start a sentence is: What if... ? I take nothing for granted and ask lots of questions. I reject status quo with every ounce of my being. I challenge. I'm going to tell you what I think. And it might make you uncomfortable, or even mad (but you need to know, that's really just your lizard brain).
I have a burning desire to see what happens next. Sometimes I want to skip to the next day, just to see.
I have a creative mind that balances my analytical acumen. I love what I do, which is a mish mash of design, helping, reading, mothering, number crunching, teaching, tech sleuthing, leading and idea generating. Usually involving a gadget made by Apple. But not an iPhone, because I live in Thomasville, Georgia.
I am the product of maverick entrepreneurs. My grandfather took over a local bakery when he was 20. He grew it into a publicly traded company. I can see (and smell) the original bakery from my office. My stepfather planted his first organic grapes in Northern California in the early 1970s. He makes his own gold medal winning wine. My father quit the successful executive search firm he started to own a Ferrari dealership.
My parents died 6 weeks apart when I was 23. It taught me about getting up and doing something no matter what. I get my artsy side from my Mother and my techy-geek side from my Dad.
My husband lived next door to me in 1978 when I was 9. We didn't see each other for about 20 years, and then we re-met and got married! I like to build things with our two boys. Legos with Parker who is 6 and stacks of anything (poker chips, crackers, coins) with William who is 3. We also like to cook together.
Oh, and don't try to talk to me when I am reading, writing, or designing. I won't hear you. Unless the building is on fire, then, by all means, interrupt. I have too many things left to do!
Some things people say about me:
Working with Haile McCollum is always a professional, fun, excellent experience. But many people can deliver professionalism and fun. What sets Haile apart from other industry colleagues (in some people's parlance, "competitors") I've worked with is her determination to never assume that something must be done a certain way just because it's always been done that way, and her willingness to give things a try. She routinely thinks and executes beyond the current confines of our industry to prove new concepts that will effect positive, disruptive change. Those colleagues who are open to the sharing and exchange of these disruptive concepts will find themselves, as I have, welcome to contribute to and engage in the development of her ideas, with everyone benefitting in the end. A Fresh Bunch has become the dynamic, much talked about company that it is because a good idea was made better with Haile's involvement and the strength of all her aforementioned qualities.
Jenny Morgan
CEO/Founder, A Fresh Bunch
I have known Haile for over 13 years as a colleague and as a friend. Haile is an impressive person. She is inspiring and passionate. She is creative, innovative, and extremely talented. Because of this, I have invited Haile as a guest speaker to share her experiences with my students on a number of occasions. Students enjoy hearing her talk passionately and realistically about her work and the future of her business. Her forward thinking has inspired many, including myself to not become complacent in a world that is constantly changing.
Trudy Abadie
Professor of Graphic Design, Savannah College of Art and Design
I have been very lucky to have worked with Haile McCollum in various capacities.
I was one of her original retailers when she debuted at the New York Stationery show in 2003 and most recently I have hired her as one of my main designers for a line of invitations that our company launched in May 2010. I can truly say that in both situations she has been one of the most professional women I have had the privilege of working with. I believe she is a true visionary in the stationery world, curious, forward, innovative. Intelligent, friendly and easy to talk to. I wait anxiously, year to year to see the remarkable ideas that come out of her company, Fontaine Maury. A real treasure and someone I call FRIEND.
Jack Tanowitz
JaxInvites.com
Working with Fontaine Maury has been one of the most amazing experiences. I have learned so much from Haile- from new technologies to effective business strategies. She is an absolute pleasure and I look forward to having the opportunity to work with her in the future!
Jackie Ellis
Oso Artworks,LLC