Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Mcaleer.
Hi Stacy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The Story Behind The Cavanagh House
The idea for The Cavanagh House came to me in the most unexpected way—over lunch with a perfect stranger. It was a moment that changed the course of my life and gave me clarity about what I was meant to do.
At the time, my daughter was struggling with a chronic illness while trying to attend college. Because she couldn’t drive and often needed help, I stayed close by in case she needed me. One afternoon, as I stopped to grab lunch, I noticed a man standing outside asking for food. Instead of just handing him something, I asked him if he wanted to join me. That wasn’t something I had ever done before, and I remember how oddly natural it felt—like asking a friend to lunch.
He seemed surprised but accepted. We spent two hours at a Subway just talking. During that conversation, I learned so much about him. What struck me most was how similar we were—both thoughtful, articulate, and educated. But there was one huge difference between us: I had a safety net. He did not.
This man had made some mistakes early in his adult life, and without a support system, he had no way to recover. He ended up on the streets and could not find a path back. That conversation opened my eyes to something I had always known but never truly understood: failure is a part of life. But for those without a safety net—family, resources, encouragement—it can be devastating.
Over the next several weeks, I could not stop thinking about that lunch. As a woman of faith, I believe that God reveals our paths in quiet, sometimes surprising ways. That lunch was my moment. That man—his story, his struggle—planted a seed that I could not ignore.
With the help of my dad and someone from the city who worked closely with the unhoused community, I decided to take my skill as a sewer and combine it with my passion for helping others. For the next two years, I poured everything I had into raising money and awareness. I sold home décor items I had sewn at craft shows, shared the story of that lunch, and watched as one door after another opened.
At first, I planned to teach sewing. I wasn’t an upholsterer—I didn’t even know how to upholster furniture. But one day at a craft show, someone I knew stopped by and asked about the project. After I explained it all, she said, “You need to talk to my husband.”
That conversation turned into something much bigger than I could have imagined. Her husband, Alan Ibello, and his 92-year-old father, Paul, ran Ibello Upholstery, a multigenerational family business and one of the largest upholstery companies in Baltimore. Before I could even reach out to him, Alan called me and offered to help. He and his father volunteered to teach upholstery in our small Reisterstown workroom two days a week. It was a gift I had not asked for—but it changed everything.
When it came time to choose a name and a location, I thought of my Aunt Linda Cavanagh. At that same time, I was helping my family clean out her home after she had moved into assisted living due to dementia. She had been an extraordinary early childhood educator, with a deep belief that every child could learn—especially those who were often overlooked.
While sorting through her belongings, I found letter after letter from parents thanking her for believing in their children. Her legacy of teaching with love, patience, and hope inspired me deeply. I decided to buy her home, transform it into our workroom and learning space, and name it The Cavanagh House in her honor. It felt like the perfect way to carry on her legacy of faith in human potential.
We officially opened The Cavanagh House just five months before COVID hit. Like many others, we were faced with challenges we never expected. But somehow—through prayer, community support, and unwavering purpose—we made it through.
It’s been seven and a half years since that lunch at Subway. Every day since, I have felt God guiding this journey. The road has not always been smooth, but it has been full of meaning, growth, and grace. In that time, The Cavanagh House has grown to two locations, expanding our ability to serve and teach even more students. Our upholstery workroom was honored with a Reader’s Choice Award 2024 from The Baltimore Sun, placing in the top five for best upholstery/sewing workrooms in the area. The Cavanagh House is more than a workroom—it is a place where people get second chances, where failure is met with support, and where skills become stepping stones to a new beginning.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not—but every bump in the road has helped shape who we are today.
The Cavanagh House opened its doors just five months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. We were full of excitement and confidence, starting out with nine upholstery students and six sewing students. We truly believed we were ready for this journey. But then, like so many others, we were forced to temporarily close our doors and scramble for a way to keep our dream—and our students’ dreams—alive.
With the help of a few small grants, we pivoted quickly. We purchased home sewing machines for our students, began filming video lessons, and delivered sewing supplies to their front doors a couple of times each month. Our students’ first sewing project? Face masks. They became experts at making them—and for many, it was their first experience being able to give back. That sense of contribution and pride was incredibly meaningful, especially for students who had never had a chance to feel that before.
Despite our best efforts, the prolonged effects of the pandemic took a toll, and eventually, we lost all of our students except one. But as soon as it was safe to reopen, we did—and we started recruiting again. Through a lot of hard work, determination, and prayer, we were back on our feet within a year and a half, strong enough to move our upholstery workroom to a second location. It was a leap of faith—doubling our size and expenses—but we knew it was a necessary step in our growth.
What followed was a challenging few years of staffing instability. Most professional upholsterers and sewers are over 60, and with the skilled labor shortage, it was extremely difficult to find instructors who not only had the technical expertise but also the patience and stamina to teach students starting from zero. There were weeks when I was the only sewing instructor, relying on the generosity of surrounding workrooms and volunteers to keep things moving. And just when I’d start wondering how I was going to continue, God would send me help—just in time.
Today, I am thrilled to say we have an incredible instructor who is here for the long haul. Even more exciting, we are about to hire one of our upholstery graduates who finished two years ago. That full-circle moment is everything.
The journey has been far from easy—but it is also been deeply meaningful. Every struggle has made us stronger, more resourceful, and more committed to our mission.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At The Cavanagh House, our upholstery and sewing programs are run like a professional workroom from day one. Our students receive hands-on training on real client projects, which not only prepares them for careers in the industry but also creates an authentic and dynamic environment for our clients.
We’re an extremely busy workroom, averaging 8–10 project requests per week—of which 98% become committed clients. Unlike most workrooms that primarily serve interior designers, our clients are everyday people: husbands, wives, young singles, and couples. Half of them find us through referrals, and the other half through online searches, which speaks to both the strength of our community and our digital presence.
While our pricing is competitive with other workrooms in the area, what truly sets us apart is our mission and the relationships that develop between our students and the clients they serve. Clients are drawn to the idea that they’re not just commissioning a service—they’re playing a meaningful role in someone’s career journey.
We keep our clients engaged throughout the process by sharing photos of their pieces in progress and introducing them to the student working on their project. Whether they’re dropping off or picking up, clients often meet the student behind the work, and that personal connection creates a lasting impact. Many send words of encouragement and later, words of praise—something that builds our students’ confidence in immeasurable ways.
We also share finished pieces on social media, featuring the student who worked on them. The supportive, enthusiastic responses from followers add another layer of positivity and motivation for our students. It’s no surprise that many of our clients return again and again—not only because they’re impressed with the quality of the workmanship, but because the whole experience feels good. That kind of energy is contagious.
In fact, the love our clients have for our workroom led to an unexpected honor—we were named one of the winners of the Baltimore Sun’s Readers’ Choice Award 2024 for Upholstery/Sewing Workrooms. We didn’t even know we were nominated until we got the call!
By making our clients feel like true partners in our students’ journey, we don’t just build a business—we build a community. That connection is the heart of our brand, and it’s what keeps people coming back.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
For me, the most important quality behind our success has been compassionate leadership—being able to lead with empathy, patience, and a deep understanding of the people we serve. The Cavanagh House isn’t just about teaching upholstery and sewing—it’s about transforming lives. That requires more than technical skills; it takes heart.
Working with our students—many of whom come from difficult backgrounds—requires qualities like dependability, honesty, trustworthiness, patience, and compassion. These aren’t just values we teach; they are the foundation of the environment we create. Our students need to feel safe, supported, and respected in order to grow—and we hold ourselves to that same standard.
When it comes to our clients, I believe the key is helping them feel like they’re part of the journey. We work hard to foster a genuine connection between our students and the clients they serve. Whether it’s through updates, photos, introductions, or just a conversation at drop-off or pickup, we make sure our clients see the faces and feel the stories behind the work being done. That connection creates pride for the students and a deeper sense of investment and joy for the clients.
At the end of the day, success at The Cavanagh House comes down to people—building trust, offering grace, and creating space for transformation. Compassion, paired with commitment and integrity, has carried us through every challenge and continues to guide everything we do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thecavanaghhouse.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecavanaghhouse
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecavanaghhouse/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-mcaleer-15823a176/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecavanaghhouse
