At the Child Care Success Company, we recognize how important it is for child care business owners to take a minute to celebrate and share the “wins” in life – whether they are big or small. We are honored to be able to share in the “wins” and celebrations of our Child Care Success Academy™ members by featuring them in our Member Spotlight, hoping that their stories inspire other child care business owners.
In this Member Spotlight, we are excited to feature Academy Members Chantel and Zack Pettengill, owners of Pettengill Academy in Lewiston, ME! Chantel and Zack were happy to share some details with us on how they have transformed their child care business and what their journey has been like with the Academy since joining. You can read their full Q and A interview with us below!
How did you hear about the Child Care Success Academy™?
“From a fellow child care owner.”
What are the top issues you were struggling with before you joined the Academy?
“The year before we joined the Academy, we were trying to come back from receiving a conditional license. We had a difficult time retaining both staff and parents and setting a standard for PA. We were letting the business run us vs. us running the business.”
When & why did you decide to join the Academy?
“Throughout the year, we would see sponsored posts from Kris Murray but never took the jump. I was the chair of the state childcare advisory council and Brian Duprey held one of the seats on the committee as well. After friending him on Facebook and seeing more about the Academy, we started following more closely and attended one of the free webinars on enrollment and then making the decision to talk with a coach. We officially joined the Academy in February 2019.”
Tell us about some of the results you’ve experienced since you’ve been a part of this group:
“We have made some big strides in 2019. We have grown 30% since beginning the Academy due to enrollment. We have opened two new classrooms, increased our license from 100 to 144 to allow us more growth. We have set up tracking systems and parent retention systems with emails and letters going out every month, as well as sending our first quarterly survey. We were able to leave the business for 3 days in October. Chantel was able to stay home while she was sick in October vs being sick in her office dealing with the business.”
How have these results impacted your life and your business?
“We are beginning to have freedom. We can leave with less fear of something happening or fires needing to be put out. We are working on our company culture and it is less toxic. We are quicker to get rid of riders and walkers, which is helping our culture. For the first time ever we are able to put money into our business savings account!”
Have there been any eye opening experiences or A-ha moments you’d like to share?
“Mindset…I am such a perfectionist and have extremely high anxiety especially when things are not going as perfect as I want them to. I am learning to let go and delegate (in babysteps). I am working on having a more positive and grateful mindset. Looking at the good things that are happening in our business, finding the positive in bad things, and finding ways we can make it better.”
What’s your favorite thing about being a part of the Child Care Success Academy™?
“The community, I am not alone in this adventure and my issues are not unique. I am only one person and I know I don’t know it all, and I’m always willing to learn. I never want to be the “smartest person” in the room. The Academy gives me a chance to learn from others outside my normal circle. Maine is such an isolated state, and this gives me the ability to look beyond. This year was the first time I traveled on a plane since I was 13 (I am now 35). I tend to stay home or close to home, and I was able to step out of my comfort zone. I am still a workaholic but it is getting better.”
If you would like to give a shout out to any of our coaches or team members – who, what and why?
“Brian is the one that got me into the Academy and we are from the same state so definitely him!”
Why would you recommend the Academy to other child care business owners?
“It saved us. I was on the brink of selling my daycare and going back into the public education sector. It wasn’t worth losing my health and family over. Now, I am adding classrooms and looking to add more locations!”
If you’re interested in learning more about the Child Care Success Academy or how working with our team can be of service to your child care business, we invite you to schedule a free 45-minute Coaching Call with one of our Coaches!
