Child Care Rockstar Radio Podcast Por Kris Murray arte de portada

Child Care Rockstar Radio

Child Care Rockstar Radio

De: Kris Murray
Escúchala gratis

OFERTA POR TIEMPO LIMITADO. Obtén 3 meses por US$0.99 al mes. Obtén esta oferta.
Early learning leaders around the globe are breaking through challenges, leading the way in innovation, testing new best practices, and impacting children and families in a much more powerful and positive way than ever before. Each week, tune in to top child care business guru Kris Murray on the Child Care Rockstar Radio podcast for interviews with early childhood leaders and experts that will leave you inspired to get to the next level of success, whatever that means for you. Kris Murray is President of Child Care Marketing Solutions, and the Founder of the Child Care Success Academy, the world’s largest and most comprehensive business coaching program for early childhood entrepreneurs and leaders. She is the author of two top-rated books on early learning business, and the mom of two great kids. She and her team are based in the mountains of Colorado. Listeners are encouraged to visit https://www.childcaresuccess.com/podcast/ and leave a message for a chance to have your questions/thoughts featured on a future podcast episode!©2021 All Rights Reserved
Episodios
  • Episode 211 with Jennifer House and Jenni Grawvunder — Chasing Cows and Building Dreams Into a 12-Center Empire

    Episode 211 with Jennifer House and Jenni Grawvunder — Chasing Cows and Building Dreams Into a 12-Center Empire
    Sep 25 2025
    Kris welcomes “The Jens”, aka Jennifer House (CEO) and Jenni Grawvunder (COO) of Children’s Choice Preschool, to share the remarkable story behind their 12-center child care empire in San Diego County. What started as a nonprofit program with 25 children has grown into a thriving operation serving nearly 1,300 kids across 11 centers (with a 12th on the way) and supported by a team of over 300 staff. From pet chickens to RV-based school openings, the Jens talk about blending practical business strategy with fun, managing both nonprofit and for-profit centers, building culture through grace and accountability, and how a vivid vision exercise helped reawaken their passion (and their animal sanctuary dreams). They also share some great advice on marketing, building a community, and not staying stuck as a leader. Key Takeaways: [8:24] The Jens join Kris from sunny San Diego. [9:37] Jen House reflects on starting Children’s Choice in 1998 as a nonprofit with 25 children. [10:11] They now operate 11 schools, with the 12th in escrow. [11:27] Jenni G shares how she started as an aide in 2008 and worked her way up. [12:28] The hilarious Yellow Pages story of how Jenni found her job and showed up with a posse. [13:35] They now care for nearly 1,300 children and manage over 300 employees. [14:25] The pet mascots of Children’s Choice. [17:29] How a vivid vision exercise during a mastermind reignited Jen’s goals. [18:08] Why events, parent engagement, and low ratios keep them nearly full. [19:56] How they separate their nonprofit and for-profit businesses. [22:55] Culture tips: give grace, hold accountability, and never stop training. [23:51] Why adaptability has been key to their continued growth. [24:05] Their dynamic: Jen is the visionary; Jenni is the implementer and numbers brain. [26:34] Jenni recalls stepping up as a leader during COVID after Jen’s family loss. [28:18] Jen reflects on shedding the nonprofit scarcity mindset and embracing self-worth. [30:15] Their marketing strategy includes events, banners, mailers, and constant hustle. [33:38] Why they gave up enrollment specialists and returned to director-led tours. [36:02] Jenni’s personal journey of staying in California and building a life she never imagined. [37:33] Their next move? An RV to launch school #12 on the road. [39:12] The Jens share their fun facts, including chasing cows and running a puppet business. Quotes: “I told her, when I interviewed with her the first day, I said, ‘I’m gonna run one of your schools one day.’ And here I am.” — Jenni Grawvunder [11:43] “You say give grace, but we also have to hold accountability.” — Jennifer House [23:13] “Everything that we do, we learn from, we grow from, and who I am today is because of the things that I went through.” — Jennifer House [35:17] “You’re always marketing. Even when you’re full, you keep marketing.” — Jennifer House [32:52] 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 LocaliQ Trainual Children’s Choice Preschool Children’s Choice Academy
    Más Menos
    44 m
  • Episode 210 with Dominique Gill — When You Love Kids This Much, Success Comes Naturally

    Episode 210 with Dominique Gill — When You Love Kids This Much, Success Comes Naturally
    Sep 11 2025

    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
    Más Menos
    40 m
  • Episode 209 with Tea Shong and Trina Romanowski - A Family Affair! Tales of a Multi-Generational ECE Company

    Episode 209 with Tea Shong and Trina Romanowski - A Family Affair! Tales of a Multi-Generational ECE Company
    Aug 28 2025
    Kris sits down with Tea Shong and Trina Romanowski, the powerhouse mother-daughter duo behind a thriving, multi-site early childhood business in Michigan. Winners of the Partnership of the Year Award at the Child Care Success Summit, Tea and Trina share how they scaled from an in-home daycare to three high-quality centers, all rooted in purpose and shared vision. They discuss navigating family dynamics, leading with clarity, embedding nature-based learning, and using creative systems like coaching calls and color-coded lanyards, to keep their team culture strong across every location. Key Takeaways: [3:26] Kris starts to shift to all things Summit prep! [7:03] Tea and Trina talk about their family’s involvement in education and coaching, blending their expertise in both fields. [9:03] The business has grown from a small in-home center to a high-quality program with three locations, serving approximately 250 children. [11:24] Tea and Trina talk about winning the Partnership of the Year award at the Childcare Success Summit, and what that meant to them. [12:49] Tea and Trina share their impressive fun facts! [15:55] Their family dynamics and the challenges and rewards of working together in a family-owned business. [17:08] How they incorporate natural elements into their centers, including outdoor nature trails and using natural materials. [20:02] Their coaching structure, including weekly Zoom meetings and collective coaching calls. [21:19] Having a VA to help them with administrative tasks. [22:13] How joining the Academy helped them. [27:57] Using a color-coded lanyard system to reinforce core values, and other techniques that have become culture drivers. [31:52] Running a business that empowers both the staff and the children and their families. [33:24] Investing in a CRM system. [34:05] ECE owners are very sometimes reluctant and shy about telling their story, and it’s important to know and share yours! [39:44] Tips for moving away from a fear-based mindset and being able to separate from people that aren’t a fit for your business. [41:27] The importance and beauty of self-love. [44:08] What’s next for Tea and Trina? Quotes: “Sharing your vision with your team sets the course, and it gets everybody excited and enthused and energized and in a positive mindset around where you're headed, and that can reduce fear, anxiety and that questioning that goes on in people's minds.” - Kris [2:44] “From being a small in-home center to just basically keeping everyone alive and healthy and learning basic stuff to now a company that's doing all of this curriculum just being that next notch of a childcare center, that’s where we're at now.” - Trina [10:09] “Our mission is to ignite the spark. So if that speaks on the passion and all that goes with it, I think that's what truly sets us apart from other programs, and then just really valuing nature as an aspect of our program as well.” - Trina [17:08] “I think we need to give shout outs to this organization. If Tea hadn’t talked me into joining here, I would still be the director and drowning and trying. I could never be in the position where I am coaching and inspiring people.” - Trina [19:10] “Be patient with yourself. Do little by little, and keep reaching for those higher goals.” - Trina [21:05] “I think if there's one thing that I can say made a huge difference, the biggest difference would just be investing in a CRM system.” - Tea [33:40] “Knowing that whatever happens to me is happening for me, not to me.” - Tea [44:08] 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 Birth Toddlers & Beyond
    Más Menos
    47 m
Todavía no hay opiniones