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The owner of the Rock City Cafe and Roastery began planning her phased exit from the businesses in 2010 after her husband passed away. She started thinking about transitioning ownership to her employees. From 2014, she worked with an advisor for 15 months to analyze financials, educate herself and advisors, and plan for transitioning to a worker-owned cooperative model. The actual transition occurred in early 2018, over 4 years after initial planning began. During those intervening years, the owner gradually transitioned operational control and decision-making to employee teams. She is staying on as general manager for another year to allow for a full phased exit and transition period. The phased approach over several years allowed ample time for planning, processing, training employees, and ensuring a smooth transition of the businesses to worker ownership.