Made for Knoxville: Dale Mackey

Pie Slinger and Dynamo: Meet Dale Mackey, Founder of Dale’s Fried Pies + Co-Founder of Central Collective

Dale Mackey set out with the simple goal of having a food truck to share her love of pies with the world. Dale’s Fried Pies began  in Knoxville in 2013, and soon her pies would be delighting taste buds around the country. Her work has been featured in publications like Martha Stewart, Garden & Gun, Buzzfeed, and Taste of the South and she ships her pies around the world.

Dale and her husband Shawn Poynter started the Central Collective, a mixed-use event space that has become a community center for creatives of all kinds. When in-person events and spaces were shut down due to COVID, the Central Collective went virtual with the “Good Sport Box”. Dale and Shawn put the community to work by sourcing locally-produced goodies, supporting makers and offering a basket-o’-fun in the age of social distancing. Dale’s life is full of personality, creativity, and a drive to build a successful business, healthy community, and balanced life. 

Learn more about Dale’s pies at @dalesfriedpies or dalesfriedpies.com and the Central Collective at @central_collective or thecentralcollective.com

“Made for Knoxville” shines the light on the big wins, everyday hustles, and ongoing challenges of our diverse entrepreneurial community — ranging from “solo-preneurs,” makers, growth stage tech companies, investors, and established institutions. Let the world know what YOU’RE made for at madeforknoxville.com and make sure to tag #madeforknox on social.




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