Our Team

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Carina Comer

Founder & Owner

Born in Connecticut to entrepreneurial parents, Carina's life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor at just nine months old. The experience left her with significant vision loss and lifelong health challenges, but it also shaped her resilience, creativity, and perspective.

The kitchen became a place of comfort, confidence, and self-expression. Through baking and cooking, she connected with her Swedish and Irish heritage while discovering the world through aromas, flavors, textures, and tradition. With limited sight, Carina learned to rely on her other senses, developing an appreciation for the subtle details that make food memorable—from the scent of fresh bread to the feel of perfectly kneaded dough and the balance of flavors in every bite. That sensory approach continues to influence everything she creates.

As a teenager, Carina developed a passion for philanthropy and community service—values that continue to guide her today.

After earning degrees in pastry arts and business, Carina's journey led her from Connecticut to Rhode Island and eventually to Oregon, where she finally found a place that felt like home and a vibrant culinary community that inspired her. She later earned her MBA from Willamette University, determined to build a meaningful career. Despite her qualifications, she repeatedly encountered barriers to finding long-term employment.

Rather than accept those limitations, Carina decided to create the opportunity she had been searching for. She founded her bakery to combine her love of exceptional pastries with a deeper purpose: building the kind of workplace she had always imagined—one that values people, embraces different abilities and perspectives, and gives talented individuals the opportunity to thrive.

Today, Carina leads her business with the same determination that has defined her life, crafting pastries that celebrate flavor, tradition, and craftsmanship while fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment for both customers and employees. Her bakery is more than a place to enjoy something delicious—it's a reflection of the belief that challenges can inspire innovation, community, and opportunity.

Favorite Item:

Cardamom Buns - both gluten free and wheat - they have taken a long time to master but eery roll reminds me of baking with Mom and serving Lucia Day breakfast ot my Morfar and feeling the nostalgia and connection.

Alexis

Cashier & Dishwashing Guru

Although she has an intellectual disability and is quiet and reserved most of the time, Alexis has been a loyal employee for almost 8 years and is a graphic artist at home. Perhaps this is how she cna connect with cusomters and help them identify what they really want and to fee lat home. Sometimes her disability can cause her to overthink things and forget what she was doing , but don't get in the wya of her and apile of dishes or vat of cookie dough!

Favorite Items:

Alexis loves to indulge in our almond cake (a standby that never fails) or cinnamon swirl. If we have them in stock, Alexis will buy the whole tray of Black Sesame Donuts -

a rare these days but you never know when they might be back- and take them home for herself

Aimee

Manager & Head Job Coach

With experience in early childhood education, business ownership, and job development for indviduals with disabilties, Aimee is a font of knowledge invested in the success of everyone at the bakery. Carina first met Aimee in her position as a job coach for a perspective employee, and when hate opportunity and need came to hire her, Carina snapped up that opportunity. Aimee can relate to, connect, and encourage most anyone on the team, while grinding up ideas to help shape the business and advocate for everything we do- be it to new customers whose box of goodies she helps fill, or potential business delas nad press opportunities that come knocking.

Favorite ItemsAimee is happy to sample some fruity/tangy buttercream ot make sure it's just right. A warm chocolate cherry cookie or caramel coconut patty is known to disappear as well. Carina is gradually converting Aimee to like mushrooms with dishes like Seefood Chowder and she is likely to snack on a Cheeze and Scallion Biscuit.

While claiming not to have a sweet tooth,

Avery

Baker in Training * Future Captain

Diagnosed with a brain tumor that took his sight when he was two, Avery and his family never gave up. Growing up in the restaurant industry near Eugene, Oregon in what became a successful local chain, Avery learned the values of hard work, resiliency, and adaption. Now, he not only puts that to work in the bakery as he find things to do and uses tools in unique ways, but also he is a good leader to introduce new employees to the workplace and always listening for ways he can help make their job better. Avery has a bioscience degree and would love to be a doctor someday, but is exploring how to break inaccessible barriers. Meanwhile, Avery is eager ot learn in the kitchen and in advising colleges towards greater access and accessibility.

Favorite Items:

Peanut Butter Delights for the win

Ayush

The Go-to Guy

Ayush eagerly does a variety of jobs at the bakery, from restoring a clean shine to cabinets and tables, to restocking ingredients. With autism that makes speaking difficult, Ayush uses a tablet to help him comunicate, although we can always tell if he's enthusiastic about something anyway! With demos and encouragement from a dedicated job coach and the support of his coworkers, Ayush works independently to check off as many tasks from his list as he can and is eager to come back next time, with a community of peers he cares about and who want ot share in his story and vse vera.

Favorite Items

Ayush does not have a sweet tooth but enjoys helping to pick out cupcakes for his family and sipping an oat milk steamer on his break.

Crystal

Loyal friend and Dishwasher

Growing up in Alaska, Oregon, Idaho and more, Crystal is a traveled and resilient soul. The memory loss, vision loss, and mobility challenges she incurred after a car accident when she was 15 means that she is a proponent of the bakery for which everything nad everyone is fresh and exciting. In fact, she started as a a customer of the bakery when a friend brought her in over 5 years so, and she gradually wore Carina down asking for a job. Now she obsessively makes sure dishes are clena and put in (what she consider to be) the right place while chatting everyone up and making sure Carina sits down for a bit :)

When she's not working, Crystal is usually in the bakery anyway, working on her latest crochet project or hosting Crystal's Fiber Arts every Saturday.

Favorite Items

Crystal rarely does anything without a cup of coffee at hand and hse loves our smooth tasting coffee from local roasters Blind Coffee. A rare treat in a Swedish cream or scoop of ice crema has her crocheting up a storm!

Jordan

Reliable personable Cashier

A font of ever-growing knowledge, Jordan relates to people through the challenges he's had in life. As a trans male with autism and more, Jordan can connect with customers through in depth and personal conversations and he cares about everyone he makes a connection with. When his hyper focusing works to his adage, he cna get a lot done nad give Carina key information and intriguing ideas the business needs.

Favorite Items

When a tough day abounds or a bit of indulgence is allowed - Jordan loves to sip on one of our handcrafted milkshakes. On a daily basis though, you'll likely find him enjoying an iced chai with an extra twist of flavor and sweetness de-jour.

Tammy

Production Rockstar

Having moved all over the country and with a complex background that included barista work, a vegna bar, and her own Asian inspired pop-up, Tammy's quick learning adaptability and speed in the kitchen no matter what is going on has made her a major asset to the bakery. A long time vegan, Tammy had the base knowledge to absorb Carirn's teaching fast and became a batter prep expert nad preferred chocolatier in a matter of weeks. Now, a veteran of the bakery of over 4 years, she is a go to for other employees as well and a reserved but loyal friend and colleague.

Favorite Items

Cold brew and americanos keep Tammy energized through her long shifts. While she rarely samples the goodies she is good at coming up with new ideas and tweaks and she loves the almond bread ring we make at the holidays.

Karin & Martin

Supportive Mom and Dad

Demonstrative of where Carina's hard work and passion come from, Karin and Martin can be found helping out (flying out from Connecticut) several times a year and mainstays at the holidays  Once manager of her dad's Tre Kronor ("the crowns" gift shop/mini Scandinavian village in Connecticut), Mom is always eager to help build her was to solve problems while organizing nad reorganizing the kitchen and keeping the orders in line at the holidays. Meanwhile Da,d recently retired from the family road construction business, provides business advice and gets what we need.

Favorite Items

Chocolate chip cookies snuck when Carina's not looking ,  Mocha lattes , Cardamom buns and coffeecake

Moby & Sutter

Current and former Guide Dogs , Beloved companions

With a cozy bed under the counter, Sutter (2015 - 2022, RIP, Carina met him in 2017), and now Moby (2021, Carina met him in 2023) as well as any other service dogs spend their time lounging in comfort in the screened in kennel that Carina had built into the serving counter when she was opening the bakery. Dedicated cusomters and employees take these loving dogs out for walks and some customer time where they show off their spunk and patience. At home, both dogs are a bit spunky with burst of energy that send them shooting after a ball (or for Sutter, at nothing), though Moby settles down after a few minutes of scheming his "unbreakable' toys to bits. These dogs help Carina and any other employees get to work safety nad we aim to keep them healthy and happy. We thank Guide Dogs for the Blind (and other service dog organization) and their community (including amazing puppy raisers like Marilyn, Tom, Penny and Rachel) for their part in making them reliable tools as much as stye are companions.

Favorite Items

Ice cream and dog treats and whatever they can get away with vacuuming off the floor before bing yelled at