In spring 2020, while the world was reeling from a pandemic, Chesley Thorn was looking to break out of corporate America and find a career that would allow her to spend more time with her young daughter. After getting furloughed from her sales job, Thorn was inspired to start her own business crafting custom charcuterie boards.

“I found myself with all this extra time,” she says. “After making a board for my family for Easter in 2020, I had the idea to start a business doing just that — making cheese boards and delivering them around Grand Rapids. I officially launched my Instagram on April 18, 2020, and it completely took off! … I really had no idea what I had just started.”

With Say Cheese GR, Thorn creates beautiful and fully customized charcuterie boards for weddings and special events, serving Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas. Despite starting the business during a pandemic, Say Cheese GR was an immediate success, with more than 30 orders coming in for Mother’s Day only a few weeks after launch. Since then, the business has grown, and Thorn has expanded to offering workshops where she teaches others how to style their own charcuterie boards.

Say Cheese GR offers a wide range of options — from individual charcuterie cups to a grazing table for more than 200 people. Thorn doesn’t offer a menu of food items; instead, she sends clients a questionnaire asking for their food preferences, allergies, and any specific requests. This feedback allows Thorn to create fully unique experiences for each client — although her most frequently requested item, Blueberry Vanilla Goat Cheese, is often included. Thorn also loves to incorporate a variety of seasonal fruit on each board, as well as a flavorful nut, like garlic and herb almonds. “The combination of savory and sweet is the best,” she says.

Thorn is grateful for the trust her clients place in her as they plan their events, and she loves knowing that her work has been part of so many people’s important life moments.

“I think of my work as conversation starters, the type of thing that brings people together. I really don’t take this lightly,” she says. “I know that people are spending their hard-earned money on my services, and it’s important that I deliver.”

To learn more and enjoy your own custom charcuterie board, visit saycheesegr.com.