Chantel Pettengill started young. At 14 she was babysitting with her own business cards, and from there she taught karate, worked in daycare, studied elementary education with a math concentration, and served as a summer camp director, a JV softball coach, and a public school teacher. When the public school system no longer matched her teaching philosophy, she walked away and opened a home center with her family, licensed for 12 children.

Then growth happened fast. She expanded to a 144-child center, and eventually to three centers serving 484. But she grew too fast without infrastructure. Despite strong enrollment, there was constant payroll stress, severe anxiety and burnout, and a stretch where she considered quitting entirely. The turning point was hard-won: she could not do everything herself, and the right people in the right seats changed everything.

Today Chantel operates largely hands-off, with a team that proactively flags issues and clean licensing inspections to show for it. She helps owners build intentional enrollment, hiring and training structure, and the leadership mindset that raises a business ceiling. She works best with operators who are open to partnership, communicate clearly, and respect structure. Her promise is grounded in one truth: enrollment fuels the business, but systems and leadership sustain it.

Signature line: “Enrollment fixes everything, but only if your systems can support it.”