Ep. 209 - A Family Affair! Tales of a Multi-Generational ECE Company with Tea Shong and Trina Romanowski

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