When business owners invest locally, they create jobs, strengthen downtowns, and help sustain the services and amenities that support residents and visitors alike. Chelsea Boyle, OTR/L, RAC-CT, has spent more than two decades making that kind of impact in Allegany County and beyond. Her career spans healthcare management, consulting, and small business ownership, with ventures that range from multi-state healthcare operations to locally owned businesses in downtown Cumberland. In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Allegany County Economic and Community Development (ACECD) is highlighting Boyle’s work as a business leader whose investments continue to support the region’s economy and community life.
Boyle’s path into entrepreneurship began early. At 25, she launched a healthcare services company that grew into an expansive operation. “I originally started a healthcare company with my father,” Boyle explained. “That’s where I began my entrepreneurship journey.”
That company, Flagship Rehabilitation, provided physical, speech, and occupational therapy services to long-term care facilities throughout the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Midwest. Over time, the organization expanded significantly, growing into a nearly $56 million company. Boyle also founded Gravity Healthcare Consulting, a firm that works with healthcare providers nationwide. The company provides consulting, training, and compliance support to long-term care communities, assisted living facilities, home health agencies, and hospitals.
Throughout her healthcare career, Boyle has overseen complex operations and large teams. At one point, her organizations employed more than 900 people, an experience that shaped the leadership philosophy she still carries into every business she operates today.
“One thing that I prided myself on as a leader was making sure that I would be willing and able to do anything that I would ask any of my employees to do,” Boyle said.
As a licensed occupational therapist, Boyle regularly worked alongside the teams she managed. When her company took over a new facility or launched a new therapy program, she joined the staff on the ground to help with the transition. She said that approach helped her earn her team’s respect because she chose to lead by example.
That mindset, Boyle said, is only one part of building a strong organization. She also credits long-term success to her personal support network. “Surrounding yourself with good people is extremely important in any business that you have,” she said. “In every business that I’ve operated that has had longevity, I’ve had amazing people surrounding me who support the mission and our values.”
Her experience in healthcare has also given Boyle a clear view of the challenges rural communities face in accessing medical services and meeting workforce needs. Recruiting and retaining skilled healthcare professionals, including therapists, nurses, physicians, and direct care staff, remains a challenge across many rural communities. “We need more caregivers, more therapists, more nurses, more doctors—more than ever,” Boyle said. “We have great people now, but we need more.”
Addressing these shortages, she said, will take time and continued investment in the broader local economy. As more businesses locate in the region and the population grows, healthcare systems are more likely to attract the professionals needed to support the community.
After building her decades-long healthcare career, Boyle began investing closer to home. In addition to her work in the healthcare industry, she has made several investments in downtown Cumberland to strengthen local business activity.
A few years ago, she and her mother opened a clothing boutique in Cumberland. After her mother relocated, Boyle continued operating the store and rebranded it as Myla & Maple, a boutique that pairs retail shopping with a small cocktail bar. The concept brought a different kind of downtown experience to the community, blending retail with a social atmosphere.
Boyle and her husband also launched Fore Axes, an entertainment venue featuring axe-throwing lanes, golf simulators, shuffleboard, and lounge space. The concept took shape during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the couple began looking for ways to create a different kind of social space in the community. Today, the venue welcomes visitors of all ages and has become a gathering place for residents, families, and visitors exploring downtown Cumberland.
Both businesses also maintain close partnerships with local companies. Fore Axes regularly collaborates with area food vendors, breweries, and musicians, while Myla & Maple hosts events with local restaurants, DJs, and other community partners.
Fostering those connections is intentional. Boyle sees that network of local businesses as part of a larger economic picture.
“I think having locally owned businesses is very important to the community,” she said. “We want to keep our local people here and continue to put money back into our community.”
Opening and operating businesses in Cumberland has given Boyle a firsthand perspective on how the region’s business climate has evolved. When launching Fore Axes, she worked closely with city and Allegany County officials to navigate permits and approvals during the uncertainty of the pandemic.
Boyle commended the City Council and County Commissioners for their support in the early stages of that venture. Their willingness to help move the project forward, she said, made a difference during a challenging period for small businesses. More broadly, Boyle believes the local business environment has improved over the past decade, helping attract new businesses and workforce talent to the region.
After decades of building businesses, Boyle encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to approach new ventures with preparation and a clear strategy. “Have a plan,” she said. “Know exactly what you want to do if you want to get started.”
Entrepreneurship often involves risk, she noted, but careful planning and strong partnerships can make those risks more manageable. At the same time, she advises new business owners to avoid taking on excessive financial pressure at the start. “Do not overleverage yourself,” she said.
As Allegany County works to build economic momentum and attract new investment, local entrepreneurs like Boyle play a key role in shaping the region’s future—through both the businesses they build and the communities they choose to support.
Learn more about the initiatives and local businesses driving growth across Allegany County by reading our blog.
