Child Care Rockstar Radio

Most child care owners do not think about crisis management until they are already in the middle of one, and by then emotions are high, information is moving fast, and every response matters. In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Marsha Archer, president of M-Squared PR and Crisis Management, for a practical conversation about what it really means to protect your brand before something goes wrong. Together, they talk about how social media is changing the pace and pressure of crisis response in 2026, what belongs in a real crisis plan, and why your brand is about so much more than a logo or website. Marsha also shares how trust is built long before a crisis ever happens, what owners need to document and monitor now, and when it is time to bring in an expert. This is one of those conversations that feels preventative, practical, and incredibly important, because, as Marsha says, it is not a matter of if. It is a matter of when. Key Takeaways: [4:11] Crisis planning matters long before a crisis ever happens. [4:39] A crisis usually starts when something pulls you completely out of your normal day. [5:35] Social media is one of the biggest drivers of crisis in 2026. [7:37] Every school should have a real crisis manual in place. [9:51] A strong plan includes a crisis team, templates, and clear next steps. [13:45] Facts need to be documented right away while everything is still fresh. [15:39] Google Alerts and Talkwalker help you monitor your name, brand, and industry. [17:38] Your brand includes every interaction tied to your name, not just your logo. [21:13] Negative reviews should be acknowledged calmly and moved offline when needed. [25:17] Great reputation building often starts with everyday moments inside your school. [29:16] Child care is not just the child care business. It is the trust business. [30:58] Building trust in small moments helps you lead better in bigger ones. [33:42] Your crisis plan should include contacts, templates, tools, and after-hours access. [36:45] The first few hours of a crisis can shape the entire outcome. [41:45] How do you know when it's time to bring in an expert? [46:14] Have the plan before you need it, and keep it updated! Quotes: "It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Because it's bound to happen, and you just want to make sure you're prepared." — Marsha [4:30] "The number one driver of what's really interrupting the day-to-day and creating a crisis is social media, and not just social media as we see it, but how social media has grown." — Marsha [5:50] "Parents want clarity, licensing wants accuracy, and attorneys want facts." — Marsha [13:45] "Everything that is attached to your name completes your entire brand reputation." — Marsha [18:55] "We're in the childcare business, but what you're really in is the trust business." — Jennifer [29:44] "Building trust when it's small equals even more trust when it's bigger." — Marsha [30:58] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray Jennifer Conner The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Marsha Archer — LinkedIn | @Msquaredpr | @Britishprgirl

In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Thomas Brawner, owner and CFO of Alta Schoolhouse in Lakeland, Florida, to talk about what it really looks like to grow with intention. Thomas shares how he made the decision to overstaff his first location so he could create the space to focus on expansion, prepare for a second school, and keep the first one strong at the same time. Their conversation gets into the real pieces behind that kind of growth: knowing your numbers, making smart tuition decisions, building a team that stays, and learning how to let go of the things that do not all have to stay on your plate. Thomas also talks about something a lot of owners overlook: how much first impressions matter, from your online presence to what families see before they ever walk through the door. He gives great and practical tips for anyone thinking about their next location and wanting to do it in a way that feels thoughtful, steady, and sustainable. Key Takeaways: [5:10] A major season of change is underway for Thomas, including a move from Florida to California, the recent acquisition of a second location, and leadership changes inside the business. [7:03] One of the first strategic moves toward growth was intentionally overstaffing the first school so there was space to focus on expansion. [7:50] Brand identity played a major role in the search for the next location, from the kind of building Thomas wanted to the way Alta Schoolhouse is meant to feel inside its community. [9:21] Overstaffing only works when the numbers support it, which is why profitability, payroll, and long-term opportunity all had to be weighed together. [11:42] Tuition increases were part of the plan, and those pricing decisions were made with staffing, future growth, and culture-building in mind. [14:17] Lower turnover comes from building a better employee experience, including top-of-market pay, paid time off, and extra classroom staffing to prevent burnout. [18:15] Parents are making short lists online before they ever book a tour, which means curb appeal, reviews, photos, and a strong visual first impression matter more than many owners realize. [24:49] Thomas and Jennifer discuss how zoning and land-use research can save owners from expensive mistakes, especially when expanding into a new building or new area. [30:59] Replacing yourself inside the business takes emotional trust, not just systems, especially when handing off responsibilities that carry real financial or relational weight. [35:09] Some of the hardest responsibilities to delegate were parent meetings and enrollment, which required a gradual handoff process built on training, shadowing, and follow-up. [37:00] The bigger lesson underneath all of it is that there is no shortcut to time, and intentional growth depends on letting people learn by doing. Quotes: "Sometimes in the next level of growth, you're asked to let go of the very things that helped you get there, and it asks you to trust your people more, to trust your systems more, to trust what you built can keep working even when you're not holding every single piece together." — Jennifer [1:30] "I could have been at the front desk myself, doing marketing and enrollment and tours, but if I were to do that, I wouldn't be able to have looked for second locations, grown our school, and implemented software and new processes and procedures that have enabled us to grow." — Thomas [10:08] "If you don't know your numbers, then your school is running without you, and it's not running intentionally." — Jennifer [17:30] "You can love kids as much as you can to the best of your abilities, but it doesn't matter if parents don't walk through the door to see it." — Thomas [18:39] "The biggest thing that I can tell people who are either looking to open their first location or just an additional location is to hire the right people." — Thomas [25:17] "I had to get comfortable with the uncomfortability that things might not be done 100% correctly, but I can also make mistakes as well. So human error is always a factor." — Thomas [34:17] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray Jennifer Conner The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Alta Schoolhouse @thomas.k.brawner

Real leadership takes time, clarity, and the willingness to slow down and lead with intention. In this episode, Jennifer reflects on a recent VIP Day at the Child Care Success Company's new corporate office in New Orleans, and the perspective owners can gain when they step out of the daily rush long enough to think differently about how they lead. That sets up her conversation with Toni Bedford, owner of Bedford Learning Programs, a network of six family child care homes, about what it takes to stop being the person everything keeps coming back to. Toni shares how a strong team and multiple locations still left her carrying too much, especially during a major family season when she and her husband became foster parents to their three young grandchildren. Together, she and Jennifer unpack the difference between delegating tasks and truly developing leaders, and what it looks like to create more clarity, intention, and ownership across the organization. Key Takeaways: [1:20] Jennifer opens by sharing how a recent VIP Day reminded her why she loves helping child care owners slow down, think differently, and step into stronger leadership. [2:35] Jennifer introduces Toni Bedford and explains the core challenge behind their VIP Day work: building a stronger leadership structure so the business can grow without everything flowing back through the owner. [5:53] Toni shares the story behind Bedford Learning Programs, her six in-home child care locations, and the struggle of still being pulled into daily decisions even with a solid admin team in place. [9:39] Toni opens up about a major family transition, becoming a foster parent to her three young grandchildren, and how that season forced her to face what had to change inside the business. [12:44] Jennifer asks where Toni was feeling the most pressure, and Toni names the tension many owners know well: trying to support the team while quietly carrying parts of everyone's job. [15:29] Toni explains why she said yes to the VIP Day and how she came in determined not to let the insights become just another set of notes that never got implemented. [18:37] Toni describes her biggest realization from the day: no one could simply tell her what to do. She had to think clearly about what her business actually needed and build from there. [21:40] Back at home, Toni uses her already scheduled admin retreat as a reset meeting, rolling out a new org chart, updated roles, and a more intentional leadership structure. [22:50] Toni shares one of the most important shifts: weekly one-on-one training with each admin team member, focused not just on tasks, but on confidence, expectations, and leadership development. [26:21] Toni and Jennifer talk about the truth many owners miss: there is no shortcut to building leaders. Real delegation takes time, mentoring, modeling, and consistency. [30:25] Toni reflects on her team's response to the reset and how trust, support, and a phased rollout helped the changes feel energizing instead of overwhelming. [32:12] Five weeks in, Toni shares what she is most proud of: the team has not slipped backward, the momentum is still there, and she is learning how to respond as a stronger leader, too. [34:37] Toni talks about what has changed for her personally: she feels more confident, more energized, and more connected to the coaching and mentoring side of leadership that she genuinely loves. [37:20] Asked what she would tell the version of herself before the VIP Day, Toni offered a powerful takeaway for other owners: it is okay to let things go and trust your team. [40:08] Toni closes by reminding listeners that this work is hard, and that the best place to start is by getting honest about what you love and where you want your leadership to go next. Quotes: "It is seldom about working harder. It's all about thinking differently." — Jennifer [2:50] "If you want to have this great team, you actually have to train them. You can't actually be like, 'Hey, here's your position. Now think of some things.'" — Toni [23:55] "When you look at redesigning organizational structures or reworking job descriptions, you don't take away something that is great with one of your team members when they love doing something, and they're bringing results, and they're fantastic at it… you don't take that away." — Jennifer [29:12] "It's okay to let things go and trust your team." — Toni [37:20] "This job is hard. It could be hard, and really kind of just figuring out what you love, I think, and what you want to do in the future is just where you should really start, rather than always worrying about the day-to-day stuff." — Toni [40:08] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray Jennifer Conner The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Bedford Learning Programs

A new season of Child Care Rockstar Radio begins with Jennifer Conner, CEO of the Child Care Success company, stepping in as host! Jennifer shares the real behind-the-scenes of her own journey: buying a struggling center, realizing "love and passion" alone won't sustain a business long-term, and learning how systems, finances, and leadership create the stability that protects your mission. Then Jennifer welcomes Michael Ingram, a legacy child care leader and school owner with multi-generational roots, to talk about the kind of leadership growth that doesn't show up on an org chart. Michael reflects on moving from defensiveness to connection, mentorship and choosing community over isolation, and learning how to create space. Michael also shares how mentorship changed his leadership, and why being the one everyone calls for answers can be a signal that it's time to find your own room of mentors. Key Takeaways: [1:10] Jennifer shares her journey from childcare owner to building a strong leadership team and moving to Mexico. [1:25] She highlights how systems, finances, and leadership are critical to a sustainable childcare business. [2:28] Jennifer talks about shifting from running schools remotely to becoming a coach and CEO rooted in love for children and families. [9:32] Michael reflects on taking feedback too personally early on and learning to get comfortable with discomfort. [16:20] Michael explains how stepping aside from his own ego and seeking mentorship transformed his leadership. [20:22] He describes his school's model, which includes on-site OT, speech, and ABA therapy for children with higher needs. [22:31] The challenges that Michael faces in his school, and how he works to overcome them. [26:02] Michael's passion for advocacy and advice for someone who wants to get involved but doesn't exactly know how. [29:11] Finding the right group that advocates for your cause. [31:17] QTIP - Quit Taking It Personal, and how Michael learned to not take things so personally. [35:23] Learning how to give and take space as a leader, and embracing the mantra "just for today". Quotes: "The version of you that started your center isn't necessarily the version of you that sustains it or carries it forward." [4:44] - Jennifer "I had to get out of the way of knowing all the answers and allow the people who I am here to serve and work with to help me figure out those answers." [10:05] – Michael "Where there's uncomfortability, that's where growth is. You know, that's the innovation of growth. And so, I had to be comfortable with being uncomfortable." [11:04] - Michael "You just have to embrace the uncomfortability, and then you can step into greatness." [11:20] - Michael "We are doing great things, and we are ready to accept families and support families where they're at. And I think when you have a voice, and you use that voice, other people often will hear it, and it will energize them to rally around a cause that you're passionate about." [29:43] - Michael "When you operate out of space, that's when things fall into line." [35:09] - Michael Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray Jennifer Conner The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Michael Ingram Bedford Heights Daycare Center

Are you ready to grow stronger as a leader and show up bigger for your center? This week, Kris sits down with Cynthia Maher, owner and founder of Bedford Child Development Center in Michigan, and a proud finalist in the 2025 Child Care Rockstar Contest. Cynthia shares what it felt like to be on that big stage, the personal breakthroughs she experienced, and the mindset shifts that are helping her move forward with more clarity and confidence than ever before. With over 20 years in the field, Cynthia opens up about her team culture, marketing strategies, and why her center's motto, "treat others as you want to be treated", is more than just words on a wall. Key Takeaways: [3:14] A big podcast announcement! [8:04] Cynthia shares how she's using discounts and community awareness to drive enrollment at Bedford Child Development Center. [9:21] She's been in the field her whole adult life and has owned her center for over 20 years. [10:10] Cynthia lights up when she talks about watching children grow and hit those magical "lightbulb" moments. [12:49] For her, this work is more than a job — it's a calling and a ministry. [13:44] Cynthia reflects on how much she's grown as a leader, especially in shifting her mindset around business ownership. [15:13] She gives a peek into her personal life, from her supportive husband to the joys of being a grandmother. [18:21] Cynthia breaks down the community partnerships that are helping her center thrive, like working with the local library and schools. [23:24] Her leadership style centers on treating staff like family and making sure every team member feels supported and properly trained. [24:34] Building a strong, connected team culture has always been a top priority at Bedford. [26:06] Cynthia walks through how her admin team is structured to help things run smoothly and support both teachers and families. [27:53] She talks about what it was like to be a finalist in the Rockstar Contest, and how it helped her step more fully into her power. [31:20] Her "why" keeps her going: helping kids, building a legacy, and showing her team what's possible. [33:12] Cynthia encourages other leaders to take the leap, invest in themselves, and keep learning, no matter what stage they're in. Quotes: "The development and watching children grow and flourish and getting those aha moments with the light bulb has always been like something that just drives me." — Cynthia [10:10] "It has always been my ministry to be with children and to work with the children." — Cynthia [12:49] "Our motto has always been to treat others as you would want to be treated." — Cynthia [23:24] "Just building that sense of teamwork and a culture that inspires excellence has always been what we have been focusing on." — Cynthia [24:34] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Bedford Child Development Center Cynthia Maher LinkedIn The 77 Best Strategies to Grow Your Early Childhood Program

Happy New Year and welcome to 2026! In this episode, Kris sits down with Megan Ferring, a dynamic regional director at Hamilton Heights Child Development Center, where her 16-year journey began as a preschool teacher. Megan's deep commitment to both operational excellence and playful leadership recently earned her the Director of the Year award. Kris and Megan talk about how Hamilton Heights approaches leadership structure, branding, and enrollment strategy across its six locations. Megan shares her perspective on centering community connections, building team culture, and developing consistent processes across all sites. She also reflects on her growth from shy teacher to confident presenter, the importance of celebrating wins through initiatives like the Hammy Awards, and how servant leadership, inflatable silly Santa costumes, and "yellow box" muffin runs all play a role in culture-building. Key Takeaways: [7:24] Megan shares about her family life, including her 17-year-old and 12-year-old sons and her love of camping with her husband of 18 years. [8:01] She began working in early childhood during high school and has now been with Hamilton Heights for over 16 years. [9:12] Her leadership journey has included roles as a preschool teacher, toddler teacher, assistant director, director of special projects, and now regional director. [13:06] Megan emphasizes the importance of building brand recognition and making your center a household name in the community. [14:17] Community outreach strategies and partnerships with early childhood networks. [17:43] She encourages leaders to recenter on their program's unique strengths to maintain and grow enrollment. [19:52] In her new company-wide compliance role, Megan oversees SOP alignment, staff file audits, and training expiration alerts using BambooHR. [24:05] She finds value in the Academy's team program for helping leaders feel less alone and more connected. [27:05] Megan uses playful leadership tactics like inflatable costumes, scavenger hunts, and holiday games to boost team morale. [30:27] She prioritizes understanding how each team member feels appreciated using workplace love languages. [33:59] Megan shares how her leadership team supports one another through challenges with trust and shared commitment. [34:24] She defines a childcare rockstar as someone who shows up every day to serve children and families with heart. [36:28] Hamilton Heights recognizes excellence through company-wide shoutouts and the annual "Hammy Awards" celebration. Quotes: "The thing that I've recognized about myself is that I'm a lifelong learner. That fuels me. So being able to do that and put it into my toolkit is just great." — Megan [12:31] "I think the big thing to learn in all of this is that it's important that you put your footprint in the community that you're serving." — Megan [14:09] "I think that in that team room, something special happens. In the main room, too. You don't feel alone; you're hearing that people are struggling with the same issue you are, and it makes you feel better. And that you're not in it alone." — Megan [24:02] "Not everybody has the same heart and drive that I do, and that's okay. It's what sets me apart." — Megan [37:44] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Ep 202 with Adrianne Agulla Hamilton Heights Child Development Center

It's solo episode time! Kris shares insights from her new book, The Antidote to Fear, and outlines three practical ways to trust yourself and the process. She talks about embracing fear and self-doubt, including her "yoga mat" moment that changed her career direction. Kris discusses manifestation as a giving process and highlights the importance of creating quiet spaces for intuition and growth. She also gives an update on her recent women's retreat in Maui. Key Takeaways: [2:22] Kris explains the concept of "trust the process" from the Success Academy's guiding principles. [11:11] How fear can come in and stop us from taking action on following our intuition and going towards our calling. [14:28] The yoga mat moment that came from a moment of stillness and changed Kris's life. [15:00] Hug your fear? Why going towards your fear is actually one of the best things you can do to alchemize it. [17:25] The importance of tapping into gratitude. [18:08] Overcoming self-doubt. [21:24] Calling out the "B.S." in your life, and why having a coach or mentor to help you through the process is great. [22:04] Manifestation as a giving process. [33:26] Kris talks about manifesting a fun book club where she is surrounded by sisterhood, and her beautiful partnership. Quotes: "When you feel fear, the ultimate strategy, the ultimate antidote to fear, is to move towards it. It's to actually embrace it and to feel it and hug it." — Kris [15:24] "The opposite of fear is actually love. So the way to alchemize the fear is to love it, and to tap into gratitude." — Kris [17:25] "Manifest from the giving energy, the loving energy, and everything in your world can change." — Kris [33:26] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Mana Awakening The Antidote to Fear

Kris welcomes Ashanti Ordone, the Founder and CEO of Gifted & Talented Academy, and the 2025/26 Child Care Rock Star Award winner! They talk about expanding from a home daycare to three locations, transforming her school's culture, and overcoming challenges in the early childhood education landscape. Ashanti shares her powerful story of building a thriving early learning center, detailing how she developed rock-solid core values and poured into her leadership team, implemented innovative leadership strategies, and turned her school's culture into a model of excellence. Key Takeaways: [6:02] Ashanti shares her background, starting Gifted and Talented Academy in Indiana with her mom in 2002. They are family-owned and family-focused. [6:21] Fun fact! They started with a home daycare and expanded to a center within three months due to high demand. [14:31] Ashanti discusses her transition from practicing law to early childhood education, driven by her passion for working with children. [17:07] How Ashanti's legal training and education background have been instrumental in her success in the child care industry. [18:21] Ashanti talks more about her family and personal life, along with her love of a good beach! [21:53] What led Ashanti to Kris and the Child Care Success family in 2018. [23:47] Ashanti implemented strategies from the academy, focusing on core values and culture, which led to significant improvements. [25:42] Ashanti explains how they crafted their core values: family, education, respect, excellence, and fun. [31:30] Teachers were involved in the interview process to ensure a good cultural fit, and core values were incorporated into interview questions. [36:19] They have a core value of the month award to recognize team members who exemplify each value. [38:21] Ashanti gets candid about the struggles that providers are facing, and the importance of staying focused on your mission and staying on the course. [42:30] The power of keeping a positive mindset and building with consistency and focus. Quotes: "I don't think there's anything more important as a cornerstone, a foundational element to your culture, than core values that you actually live and breathe." — Kris [4:55] "She is absolutely my why. She is the reason that family and education are so important to me." — Ashanti [10:13] "I think that that combination of just that core value of education, growing up with a mom who is an educator, and having a passion for young children, combined with the legal training, is what helps me to be successful in business." — Ashanti [17:33] "For me, I think the biggest game changer that first year was focusing on our core values and really starting to turn our culture around." — Ashanti [26:40] "If family is one of our core values, then you have to fit into this family." — Ashanti [35:26] "Excellence, again, means we're a culture of continuous improvement, so we don't settle for where we are right now. Our culture is amazing, but culture is living and breathing, and so we're always working on it, and we're always striving to make it better." — Ashanti [35:47] "When you feed yourself with a positive mindset and you really spend time working on your spirituality and your growth mindset, it helps you actually prepare for the challenges, be grateful for them, and work through them." — Ashanti [42:43] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Gifted & Talented Academy Ashanti Ordone LinkedIn

Kris welcomes Josh and Pamela Hernandez, owners of Montessori Kids Universe Stone Oak. The duo talks about their path into early childhood education and opening up MKU, tips for starting out with cash flow out of the gate, and enrollment strategies that worked for them. They also chat with Kris about using referral rewards, how they balance family and business, marketing tools that help them build trust and stand out in their community, the need for the industry to collaborate more, and how they keep their staff happy and inspired. Key Takeaways: [5:04] Joshua and Pamela talk about the history of MKU of Stone Oak, and how they got into the ECE field. [8:58] They currently have 37 team members. [9:27] The wins and challenges of creating (and keeping) great employees. [14:50] Joshua and Pamela discuss their marketing strategies, including Google and Facebook ads, and their active presence on social media. [15:19] The importance of referrals in their business model, offering bonuses for both staff and families who refer new enrollments. [21:06] Working as a husband-wife team and the importance of dividing responsibilities based on their strengths. [26:04] Pamela shares her inspiration from her mother, who was a social worker and professor, and her own passion for education, while Joshua talks about his mother's influence and the importance of hard work and dedication. [30:03] Thinking long-term with employees and getting them in a mindset to stay with the company for years to come. [34:48] Will an expansion be in the future? [38:14] Remembering that building something new takes persistence, but it is one step at a time, so keep going! [40:24] The need for better collaboration. Quotes: "At this stage in both of our businesses, we're more firefighters right now. So wherever there's fire, that's where we go." — Joshua [5:11] "We have a beautiful culture that we've built, and we go above and beyond to show our teachers how much we care and love them, and want them to be a part of the team." — Pamela [10:40] "We both bring our strengths to the table, and we have created what I feel is a beautiful team of husband and wife." — Pamela [21:39] "Growth is a process, and sometimes the best lessons come from challenges." — Joshua [35:05] "Building something meaningful takes time, persistence, and a lot of heart, but it's worth every step." — Joshua [38:03] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Montessori Kids Universe Stone Oak

Kris welcomes Dominique Gill, heart-centered leader and owner of Unique Kids Childcare in Nashville and Smyrna, Tennessee, to share her journey to multi-site child care leader. Dominique opens up about starting as a young mother seeking affordable child care, working in exchange for tuition, and eventually moving from home-based care to two thriving centers. Dominique built her program around love, family, and celebrating every child's uniqueness. She discusses the challenges of opening during the pandemic, shifting into leadership, raising tuition for the first time, and creating a supportive culture where both children and staff can thrive. Key Takeaways: [7:00] Dominique talks about her two centers, and more about her background, starting as a teen parent and transitioning to in-home child care due to financial constraints. [8:41] She describes the evolution of her business, eventually expanding to a licensed center during the pandemic. [12:28] Dominique is a busy woman! She has a large, beautiful family, including four foster children. [14:02] Dominique explains the origin of her center's name, "Unique Kids," and its significance in embracing diversity among students. [15:21] She describes the family-oriented atmosphere at her centers, with herself and her mother actively involved daily. [15:25] Building a family-centered culture that supports both staff and parents. [19:37] Dominique's struggle shifting from home-based provider to confident leader of a team. [19:52] A game changer from joining the Academy — surveys! Dominique talks about how the surveys conducted with parents and staff revealed areas for improvement, particularly in management and fairness. [20:18] Dominique reflects on the importance of setting clear expectations and contracts to maintain order and respect within the organization. [21:33] How parent and staff surveys humbled her, revealed blind spots, and strengthened her leadership. [24:36] Going from people-pleasing to people leading. [26:37] The hardest challenge she faced was raising prices, and how accountability helped her push through. [30:23] Dominique explores additional revenue streams, such as hosting birthday parties, offering in-house field trips, and partnering with external providers. [32:33] Dominique's fun fact: she's shy and introverted, even though she's often on the dance floor at Academy events! [34:42] How an accountability partner from the Academy kept her on track and boosted her confidence. [37:34] Dominique's vision: building legacies for her children and creating lasting impact through her centers. Quotes: "Find your uniqueness in a world of differences. Our kids are from different areas of the world, the city, and situations, but they're still unique in some type of way." — Dominique [14:39] "Treat people fairly, but not the same." — Academy Coach Tamina [24:55] "Having accountability partners was just amazing." — Dominique [27:38] "Everywhere I'm going is where I need to be, so I appreciate where I'm going and how I'm getting there, and all the obstacles that are putting me through. So I'm grateful for the company and everybody around, because without anybody here, I don't know how I would be able to just get up and keep going, but we are headed to creating legacies for my kids, and that's my biggest thing." — Dominique [37:50] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Unique Kids Child Care Center

Kris is joined by longtime friend, business visionary, and rockstar early childhood leader Rachel Supalla. Rachel is the founder of Vision Tree, a TEDx speaker, and the author of The Playful Leader's Toolkit, a book packed with wisdom on leading with joy, grounding, and energy. With 10 schools across Montana and Utah, Rachel shares how she's scaled her business while embracing what she calls "ruby slipper leadership." They talk about managing energy instead of time, why remote teams need tight leadership structures, and how playfulness is more than just dress-up — it's a strategy for productivity. Rachel also opens up about living with ADHD and how it shapes her leadership style, creativity, and drive. Key Takeaways: [5:26] Rachel shares her evolution from center owner to coach and consultant, and how joining the Child Care Success Academy changed her career path.[6:36] She talks about scaling rapidly across three regions and how Vision Tree emerged as her consulting and leadership training brand.[9:05] Rachel loves lake life and is a proud mom of four kids and grandma to baby Zeke. [10:39] Fun fact: Rachel's trip with her grandma (who some thought was her sister) to Ireland at age 13, including a spontaneous solo in a pub, was an early clue that she'd someday take the stage.[12:46] Rachel explains how The Playful Leader's Toolkit came out of her ADHD-fueled trial-and-error experiences, and why she believes burnout is not a badge of honor. [14:12] Ruby slippers became a metaphor for grounding, confidence, and leadership clarity, especially in high-pressure seasons. Once you've got the right shoes on, you can do anything! [16:41] Managing energy (not just time) helps Rachel structure her day and lead effectively, especially as a neurodivergent leader. [20:24] She breaks down the "max of 10" rule for direct reports and why it protects leadership bandwidth across large teams.[24:34] Rachel gives a deep dive into her favorite systems: Playground, JotForm Enterprise, Teachable, and Zapier.[27:16] Playfulness isn't fluff — it's a mindset that supports innovation, brain-based leadership, and mental reset when teams are stressed.[32:03] Rachel walks through her M.A.G.I.C. framework, the five pillars of playful leadership. [35:40] Doing a TEDx Talk was terrifying and transformational; the unexpected outcome was a deeper conversation about ADHD and leadership. [39:15] Rachel shares her seasonal schedule, non-negotiables like football and summer in Montana, and the power of team infrastructure. [41:48] She teases her upcoming course, focused on helping women scale their culture without losing their soul. Quotes: "I think that's probably where I learned the most about how to run a remote team, was being an employee for the Child Care Success Academy." — Rachel [7:46] "You go up the ladder in life when you're succeeding and you're accomplishing, and you get to this level of contribution, and that's the level that I feel like I'm at. And I want to give back. I want to help people do it faster, the right way, from my mistakes. So that's what inspired me to write my book." — Rachel [13:46] "That's when I'm most productive, when my energy is managed. It doesn't have anything to do with time. You can have time blocked. You can have all the time in the world. But if your energy sucks, you're not going to get anything done." — Rachel [17:46] "I think that's been the biggest thing, learning to manage my energy." — Rachel [18:29] "From the beginning, we have learned to automate, delegate, eliminate." — Rachel [21:10] "Play is not just, let's dress up and have a potluck. It's a mindset."— Rachel [26:15] "I am very passionate about this playful leadership concept. It's an idea. It's silly to some, it's weird to others, and it's powerful to others. And I really do think that if you embrace it, it's going to change the way we teach children, it's going to change the way we lead our companies, and it's going to make the world a more happy, innovative, creative place, which is what we're lacking right now, and so I am very passionate about that." — Rachel [36:48] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal The Playful Leader's Toolkit A Quest of Creative Culture Building with Rachel Supalla The power of play for better leadership | Rachel Supalla | TEDxParkland Vision Tree

Kris welcomes the joy-inducing and magnetic Regina Miller, a nationally recognized trainer, author, and owner of Trailblazers Academy in Wichita, Kansas. With nearly five decades in early childhood education and 35 years in leadership, Regina shares fantastic insight into what it really takes to lead a team, stay connected as an owner, and build lasting impact in your center. Regina shares some great takeaways from her new book Leadership Lessons, including how to hire smarter, mentor without ego, and avoid becoming an absentee owner. Kris and Regina also talk about how to stay engaged, inspire your staff, and create a culture that works, starting at the top. Key Takeaways: [5:05] Some exciting new info about the Summit! [7:06] Regina brings more than 47 years of experience in early childhood and 35 years in leadership, with a clear focus on mentorship, literacy, and building long-term community impact. [8:58] After losing her daughter in 2022, Regina downsized her center to honor her daughter's dream and now focuses on a smaller, literacy-driven program model. [11:46] She has no plans to retire and emphasizes purpose-driven longevity in leadership, reinforced by consistent self-care and boundaries. [14:13] The beauty of an early wake-up time. [17:02] Her newest book, Leadership Lessons, was years in the making and centers on transparency, personal growth, and lessons from mistakes made as a leader. [20:34] Regina encourages leaders to stop being intimidated by talented hires. She views strong team members as a resource to grow the organization, not as a threat. [23:18] New directors often assume the title alone is enough. Regina challenges them to build systems, listen to input, and avoid siloed decision-making. [25:59] Veteran leaders can become disconnected. She emphasizes the importance of owners remaining present and actively involved in culture-building. [30:18] Regina is deeply involved in policy advocacy and stresses the need for early educators to be consistently vocal with legislators, not just during funding crises. [34:04] Fun fact: You may catch Regina on the dance floor, and she moved for four hours at her own birthday party! [34:24] Joy and energy are core to Regina's leadership style, and she believes team morale can be shifted through presence, celebration, and meaningful connection. [36:13] The connection between dancing and leadership. [39:03] For introverted leaders, Regina recommends finding trusted allies, preparing in writing, and participating in leadership through small, strategic actions. [41:54] Regina uses creative, real-world training exercises, like immersive people-watching in Las Vegas, to help emerging leaders build confidence and self-awareness. [45:04] Her upcoming literacy program not only supports child development but also functions as an enrollment strategy by drawing families back into the center. Quotes: "I believe that all of us have a part. So there's no better school, bigger school, best school. There's all of us, and then there are all of these children that need us." — Regina [8:43] "Hire someone smarter than you." — Regina [22:08] "As a new leader, be willing to listen." — Regina [24:14] "Leaders cannot ask of their people what they're not willing to do themselves. And a lot of times you can't just delegate that down." — Regina [29:28] "Once I dance, I make everybody dance. I can boogie off anything you give me." — Regina [39:29] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Leadership Lessons Trailblazers Academy Funding and Advocacy for ECE, Across All 50 States with Cindy Lehnhoff Sasquatch music festival 2009 — Guy starts dance party

Kris welcomes Brett Neller, CEO of LineLeader by ChildcareCRM, to explore the real meaning of the customer journey in child care, and why it's critical for sustainable growth. Brett shares insights from his professional evolution, including how dropping his kids off at care centers helped him deeply understand the needs of operators. He and Kris talk about enrollment challenges, operational bottlenecks, mapping a full customer journey, and how automation can power human connection, not replace it. They also discuss fear-based leadership, what small businesses often get wrong in scaling, and why "state-of-the-art" doesn't have to mean complicated. From CRM misconceptions to the power of unified data, Brett drops insight after insight on how to grow with intentionality, and why understanding your brand touchpoints matters now more than ever. Key Takeaways: [6:49] Brett shares how he got started at LineLeader in 2018 and how the mission of the early childhood industry drew him in. [9:30] Brett explains how their offering goes beyond a CRM. [10:20] What is the customer journey really, and how does understanding it boost your enrollment? [12:18] Many small businesses are still using whiteboards and sticky notes to manage leads, and why that doesn't scale. [13:02] Brett breaks down what most get wrong in enrollment. [15:08] How automation can be a gift for parent experience, and why tech doesn't have to feel robotic. [16:07] Brett shares more about his family life, and how he and his wife rely on child care as well. [18:28] Fun fact — Brett grew up in a military family and moved many times throughout his childhood. [19:30] The biggest mindset shift for owners: from reactive to data-driven. [22:04] How to spot where you're losing families in your funnel. [25:55] The real ROI of mapping your journey: improved staff morale, better conversion, and clarity. [27:03] The "wow" experience. [30:31] Brett and Kris talk about the danger of fear-based leadership and the difference between helpful automation and shiny object syndrome. [34:17] Practical tips on how to start your journey mapping even with a small team. [39:45] What it really means to lead with empathy and insight. Quotes: "I love the mission behind the space. I love having kids and then dropping my kids off every day at childcare centers. So every day I see operators. And it's been fun to live the professional journey in parallel with, you know, the personal journey of raising kids." — Brett [6:46] "Our thesis is to provide the best unified platform experience for staff and parents from a digital experience perspective." — Brett [10:12] "That's the most important aspect of the family journey when they're seeking care, is that you need to execute a great tour. If you don't, that's the make or break point, where a family is either like, I'm in or I'm out." — Brett [23:02] "Yeah, you have to get your teams excited about engaging and selling your school. It shouldn't be a dirty word. We have the opportunity to serve this family. Sales is service, and so let's just use that service mindset and get our teams excited about being able to win that family over so that we can actually make a difference in the life of that child." — Kris [28:19] "The first thing we generally ask is what's your customer journey, and have you mapped it out?" — Brett [33:09] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal LineLeader