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 

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 Gigi Schweikert, CEO of Lightbridge Academy, to explore what it takes to lead at scale and stay grounded in the human side of early childhood education. With 85 centers across the U.S., Gigi shares how she thinks about quality, culture, and decision-making at the organizational level, and why trust is still the best metric. They discuss industry trends, mentorship, and the habits that help leaders grow. Gigi also reflects on what she’s learned after publishing 18 books, raising four children, embracing grandmotherhood, and showing up consistently for her team and community.

Key Takeaways:

[6:52] Gigi explains how Lightbridge Academy evaluates quality across its network and why it comes down to trust more than checklists.

[8:52] Gigi talks about her passion for mentoring women in leadership, her new role as a grandmother, and how watercolor painting gives her space to recharge.

[10:54] Both Kris and Gigi reflect on the importance of creating safe spaces where women can speak openly about challenges and goals.

[13:42] Gigi breaks down the balance of running a business with high accountability while preserving joy and mission-driven work.

[16:08] Lightbridge is made up of 20% company centers and 80% franchise centers.

[20:38] The Serene Seedlings rollout program.

[23:50] Gigi reflects on how technology, when used intentionally, can improve connection and enhance the customer experience in early childhood environments.

[25:45] She shares a (funny) standout memory from a speaking engagement in China and what it taught her about cultural differences and the universality of leadership challenges.

[33:51] Kris and Gigi talk about the upcoming Child Care Success Summit, with Gigi returning as a main stage speaker, and why she’s especially excited for this year's event.

[41:22] Why you have to spend money to make money, and you can’t save your way to success.

Quotes:

“I really see ECE so much as that quality piece, that education piece, that opportunity to make sure that every child gets the best start, from zero to three, zero to six, etc. And so I’ve always said that early childhood education is the trust business.” — Gigi [6:52]

“At the end of the day, when I am out in the field and looking at quality, my judgment of quality is trust.” — Gigi [7:56]

“Being a mentor for women is one of the most meaningful and fulfilling things that I do.” — Kris [10:37]

“I just want to make sure that I can create a safe space wherever I go, where people can feel like they can be themselves and talk about their vulnerabilities and talk about their aspirations with equal enthusiasm to overcome whatever barriers and boundaries they might have.” — Gigi [11:45]

“Families are about love, reconciliation, understanding, and about getting through tough times together, and about having each other’s backs and all those things. I think childcare centers are the same. They just look different all over. So my desire, my personal desire and passion, is that every child has access to affordable, quality childcare. I just think it’s paramount.” — Gigi [19:36]

“I want people to recognize that in so many ways, when you think you can’t, you can.” — Gigi [35:19]

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

Lightbridge Academy

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 young inspiration and rising leader Whitney Burkman, owner of Magnolia Academy in Payson, Utah. Whitney shares more about her journey from in-home childcare to a full 125-spot center before age 30. She talks about building confidence as a young business owner, gives some great advice for hiring, marketing strategies, leadership challenges, and the critical role of mindset in growing her successful childcare business.

Key Takeaways:

[4:55] Whitney opened Magnolia in 2022, and they are currently at 122 enrollments. [7:43] Opening a center at age 27 and what inspired the move from home to center.

[12:59] How is Magnolia Academy different from its competitors? 

[15:44] Becoming an off site owner and the shifts she had to make in her habits and mindset when going from in home to an actual center.

[21:09] Whitney’s chaotic home life (in the best way) with a busy husband and four boys. 

[23:43] Whitney shares some of her best marketing and branding tips. 

[27:12] Enrollment and staffing is always cyclical. 

[28:42] Using organic content for social media to show the cool things going on at Magnolia Academy. 

[30:30] Lessons learned in leadership and building a team. 

[35:04] Reminding staff that there is always something that can be fixed, but they also must remember it is a business with parents and children depending on them. 

[38:06] Whitney shares challenges as a young leader and owner. 

[40:53] What’s next for Whitney in the rest of 2025 and beyond? 

[45:57] How joining the Academy and shifting her mindset helped change things for Whitney.

Quotes:

“I feel like I've really been able to pull that in-home feel into my center, which makes us stand out a lot.” [13:56] - Whitney 

“I feel like our program has just far exceeded just giving trust into my teachers and my directors and letting them do what they're supposed to do.” [20:08] - Whitney 

“You can't make everybody happy.” [30:56] - Whitney 

“To me, leadership is not for the faint of heart. It's not easy to do all those things. It's much easier just to smooth it over or pretend like everything's fine and shut your door, but that's not really serving people.” [37:02] - Whitney 

“Once I was able to change my mindset, then just everything else fell into place, my enrollments, my staffing, just everything. It's just weird how it works.” [46:02] - Whitney 

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

Magnolia Academy  

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

In this episode, Adrianne Agulla, CEO of Hamilton Heights Child Development Centers in Nebraska and the true definition of an education entrepreneur, joins Kris. Adrianne shares how she went from working in the corporate world to owning six successful daycares and a catering business called Milton’s Amazing Kitchen. Together, she and Kris talk about growing from three to six locations, empowering a leadership team, using VAs to streamline operations, creating a strong scorecard, and what it really takes to scale with excellence. Adrianne goes through the very real ups and downs of growing with intention and building a company that inspires.

Key Takeaways:

[6:19] Adrianne owns and operates Hamilton Heights Child Development Centers, with six centers across Nebraska. She originally purchased three as a package in 2017 and has grown from there. She also owns Milton’s Amazing Kitchen, a catering company focused on child nutrition. [8:27] Hamilton Heights believes that it’s their professional responsibility to protect childhood from all of the external threats in today’s world, and they have a focus on play. [9:31] Adrianne’s earlier career included leadership roles at Coca-Cola and ConAgra, before pivoting into child care.

[11:30] She juggles the business while raising three busy teenagers.

[13:46] Adrianne shares reflections plus a funny story about upgrading her wardrobe from a trip to Vietnam. [15:19] What benefits Adrianne has found being part of the highest-level membership of the Child Care Success Academy: the Empire level. [22:15] She explains her leadership structure, including a director of ops, finance lead, and a high-tenure team.

[24:15] The leadership team meets weekly to review scorecards and KPIs. Accountability plus support equals success.

[28:55] Adrianne shares how she works with three virtual assistants (VAs), including one for marketing, one for data and reports, and one for administrative support.

[31:05] She talks about the industry-wide challenge of attracting and retaining staff and how her company stays focused on its leadership vision.

[38:37] Her 2025 goals: simplify, streamline, and build an even stronger team.

[40:55] Why she acquired a catering business and how it’s improved their food program and opened new business channels.

Quotes:

• “We say that we’re very serious about play. And we believe that it’s our professional responsibility to protect childhood from all of the external threats in today’s world.” — Adrianne [8:27]

• “That combination of loyalty and commitment and tenure and then new energy and new ideas and fresh faces, has created a really, I think, a unique and just a sustainable culture.” — Adrianne [9:12]

• “We are working to create an Early Learning Company that inspires because of the opportunity it creates for staff, families, and children, and so we are just trying to be single-mindedly focused on what it means to create abundant opportunities for our staff from a professional development standpoint, from a wage standpoint, and from a benefit standpoint.” — Adrianne [34:40]

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

Hamilton Heights Child Development Center

Milton’s Amazing Kitchen

Zac Alcampo, Creative Director at Grow Your Center, brings a fresh perspective to leadership, culture, and creativity in early education. With two decades of experience in the gaming industry, Zac is a dynamic entrepreneur and inventive strategist who has helped build immersive digital experiences that merge gamification, artificial intelligence, and user engagement. Now, he’s applying those same ideas to the world of child care — reimagining everything from team collaboration to marketing to parenting itself.

In this episode, Zac joins Kris to talk about gamification in parenting, business, and leadership. They cover how AI can boost productivity and creativity, how to use jam-style collaboration in your team culture, and how behavioral design can be a powerful tool in both the classroom and the breakroom.

Key Takeaways:

[6:15] Kris shares her summer travel adventures and spiritual coaching work. [7:48] Zac joins from Minsk, Belarus, where he splits his days between parenting and leading creative tech projects.

[9:12] Zac explains how his video game industry background led him to gamify tools at Grow Your Center. [13:24] From Microsoft to Bangkok startups, Zac’s global career shaped how he solves problems creatively and at scale. [18:23] He shares how he co-parents a bilingual preschooler and how every moment becomes a playful game. [25:51] Fun fact: Zac is a seasoned street dancer and battle organizer who once crowdfunded a street culture festival in Thailand! [33:07] Kris and Zac talk about the tools that the GYC team uses to build next-level content.

[37:48] Zac explains how “art directing” AI is the key to using it effectively. It’s not about replacing creativity but amplifying it. [45:31] Zac outlines the structure of a “session” — collaborative cycles that build energy, creativity, and connection.

[48:26] Gamification isn’t just games; it’s strategic behavior design. Done well, it increases engagement without being overwhelming.

[53:45] Ideas for using gamification in parent events, leadership retreats, classroom behavior, and team training. [55:08] Tip: Split leaderboards into categories so everyone has a lane where they can win and feel valued. [56:28] S3 clients will soon see new gamified systems for onboarding, tracking progress, and celebrating wins.

[58:59] Zac spills some beans on what’s coming to S3, including visual progress tools, Slack AI, and more rewards.

[1:01:35] Zac shares what he’s most excited about: launching the M3 platform (Marketing Made Easy) for 2026.

Quotes:

• “I always tell people, GYC is childcare center marketing on the outside, but inside it’s this crazy, cool tech, innovative kind of machine going on inside.” — Zac [9:40]

• “I have to say, I have a huge sense of purpose with everything that I’ve learned in my career beforehand and applying it to child care centers.” — Zac [12:10]

• “Everything turns into a game, and it’s quickly become like having a little best friend.” — Zac [18:50]

• “That’s the biggest thing, the mentality shift in the team, instead of like a doer, or just like, you know, a run-of-the-mill worker, really put into their heads to just act like the art director of what you’re doing, and use the AI as a pencil, a really, really fast pencil. And you still have to know what looks good. You still have to have your design principles and your theory in there, but you can just produce so much more content with that.” — Zac [40:11]

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

Zac Alcampo LinkedIn

He’s back! The great Vernon Mason returns as one of the podcast’s most popular guests to help celebrate this milestone 200th episode. He and Kris reflect on leadership, legacy, and what it really means to be present.

In this episode, Vernon shares his beautiful wisdom and journey from growing up in an in-home child care program to building and selling a five-site child care business, and now helping grow The Nest into a 52-location powerhouse. Together, he and Kris chat about the realities of leadership today including accountability, toxic positivity, turnover trends, universal pre-K challenges, and financial uncertainty. They also remind us that every day is a gift, and leadership is all about showing up authentically, building real relationships, and staying grounded in gratitude.

Key Takeaways:

[6:15] Kris, the bucket list queen, talks about her adventure to the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.

[8:09] Vernon is the only person to be on the podcast three times!

[9:19] Vernon talks about being the “trifecta” in child care. He shares how he grew his child care company from one to five centers before selling, and how that transition shaped his leadership.

[16:18] Is labor starting to stabilize?

[22:04] The mindset to get out of fear-based leadership, crisis mode, and the scarcity mindset. 

[24:26] The difference between toxic positivity and effective leadership and management.

[27:33] Strategies for accountability and preparing for the unknown in the future.

[30:15] The importance of both staying optimistic and taking action in the right direction.

[34:15] Building a parent referral reward program.

[38:29] Vernon talks about The Nest and maintaining relationships with leaders.

[42:47] Incentivizing teachers to stay present and view the classroom as a safe space.

Quotes:

• “We don’t have a dress rehearsal for this. This is the real show here, right? There are no do-overs, right? This is the life we’ve been given, and I want to make an impact. I want to be the best person that I can be.” — Vernon [15:17]

• “Accountability without a relationship is viewed as harassment.” — Vernon quoting Stephen [19:22]

• “Your people will never be more enthusiastic than leadership.” — Vernon [22:04]

• “Whatever you focus on most, you get more of.” — Vernon [25:57]

• “To me, presence is everything. That’s it. We only have this moment, so we’ve got to just juice it up and just be here for it.” — Kris [42:16]

• “The kids, they have that sixth sense, that intuition, they’re going to feel that whether the teacher is coming to the day with the energy of openness and presence or worry and stress and fear and arms crossed.” — Kris [44:41]

• “I really feel as if this industry is in my DNA.” — Vernon [46:52]

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

Don’t Waste a Crisis, by Vernon Mason

The Nest

This is an inspiring and impactful episode with Rachel Davis, founder of Children’s Promise Centers, an early childhood program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Operating 20 hours daily, her centers provide critical support for working families often overlooked by traditional child care models.

Rachel chats with Kris about her journey from the Denver Rescue Mission to creating a faith-driven, community-focused child care network where high standards, deep relationships, and genuine care intersect.

She shares the heart behind her mission to support nontraditional working families through innovative programming and reflects on her leadership evolution, from being hands-on with every detail to stepping into a visionary role. Rachel also discusses navigating hiring challenges, working with refugee families, and building a program where inclusion, safety, and excellence are the foundation.

Key Takeaways:

[5:33] Rachel launched Children’s Promise Centers in 2009. Now she operates two locations in Albuquerque and is open 20 hours a day, serving families who need flexible care. [6:37] Her journey began in Denver at the Rescue Mission, where she discovered a passion for supporting the working poor. [10:50] Starting Children’s Promise wasn’t easy — Rachel faced funding barriers and self-doubt but found clarity by leaning into faith. [13:29] One grant rejection helped her clarify her mission — family support, not just academic outcomes. [16:35] Rachel became an early adopter of online learning tools and video systems long before it was common in child care. [22:21] Her passion is serving the working poor — families who don’t qualify for help but still struggle to access care. [24:10] Children’s Promise is the only program in Albuquerque open until 2 a.m., meeting a unique community need. [24:45] Monthly family dinners offer a chance for connection, storytelling, and celebration. [25:58] Her team focuses on relational care, celebrating small wins, like a child’s first steps. [27:00] They’ve supported families who are refugees, including children with medical needs and trauma backgrounds. [30:24] Security is high-tech, featuring “James Bond-style” systems and extensive training for staff. [32:19] Rachel reflects on her shift from being in every detail to trusting her team with day-to-day operations. [36:40] She now focuses more on visionary leadership, delegating while maintaining accountability. [41:04] Her staff go through the same training she’d want for someone caring for her own kids.

[43:54] One of her locations features an open-concept floor plan, encouraging transparency and teamwork. [50:39] She speaks on the power of prayer and being intentional about the energy she puts into her work. [52:04] It’s not about growing for growth’s sake but also about community development and showing up with excellence. [53:15] Rachel reminds us: Don’t grow until your heart and leadership are ready.

Quotes:

• “I’ve always had a passion for the working poor, and I like to say that because it’s not those that are homeless, but they’re working to try and get a hand up, but they just can’t, and they just don’t get the same quality and excellence as others. And so that’s really where a lot of my passion has come from.” — Rachel [22:45]

• “We create kind of a relational community approach to everything. So whether it’s our staff or families or whoever it may be, we’re all about building the community and working with the resources around us.” — Rachel [21:32]

• “The other big thing is just wins, to celebrate each other, right? Even if little Johnny just took their first step, let’s celebrate that, because it’s a big deal to those families.” — Rachel [25:58]

• “I’ve always told people, I’m not going to put them in our program if I wouldn’t leave them with my own kids.” — Rachel [41:04]

• “We’re about the community and how we develop, not about just necessarily growing the business. We’re about community and helping people develop and grow, and that’s our focus.” — Rachel [52:04]

• “We want to do everything with excellence, and the only way to do that is to put my heart in.” — Rachel [53:15]

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

Children’s Promise Centers