Ep. 212 - Leveraging Word of Mouth Marketing for Fast Growth with Josh and Pamela Hernandez
Release Date: 10/09/2025
Ep. 226 — The Intentional Path to Your Next Location with Thomas Brawner
Child Care Rockstar Radio
In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Thomas Brawner, owner and CFO of Alta Schoolhouse in Lakeland, Florida, to talk about what it really looks like to grow with intention. Thomas shares how he made the decision to overstaff his first location so he could create the space to focus on expansion, prepare for a second school, and keep the first one strong at the same time. Their conversation gets into the real pieces behind that kind of growth: knowing your numbers, making smart tuition decisions, building a team that stays, and learning how to let go of the things that do not all...
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Ep. 225 — The Real Reason You Can’t Let Go with Barbara Tedrow
Child Care Rockstar Radio
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Ep. 224 — This is Why It Still Keeps Coming Back To You with Toni Bedford
Child Care Rockstar Radio
Real leadership takes time, clarity, and the willingness to slow down and lead with intention. In this episode, Jennifer reflects on a recent VIP Day at the Child Care Success Company’s new corporate office in New Orleans, and the perspective owners can gain when they step out of the daily rush long enough to think differently about how they lead. That sets up her conversation with Toni Bedford, owner of Bedford Learning Programs, a network of six family child care homes, about what it takes to stop being the person everything keeps coming back to. Toni shares how a strong team...
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Ep. 223 — Protect What You’ve Built with Sharita Brown
Child Care Rockstar Radio
In this episode, Jennifer shares a personal moment that slowed her down and clarified what matters most: impact, leadership, and protecting what’s been entrusted to you. That framing sets the tone for a grounded conversation with Sharita “Rita” Brown, a long-time early childhood leader and Child Care Success Company coach, about one of the fears many owners carry quietly — the allegation that can shake everything. Rita walks Jennifer through a season where her centers faced a false report, and they couldn’t immediately produce the proof they needed. Instead of spiraling,...
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Ep. 222 — When Loving Kids Isn’t Enough with Michael Ingram
Child Care Rockstar Radio
A new season of Child Care Rockstar Radio begins with Jennifer Conner, CEO of the Child Care Success company, stepping in as host! Jennifer shares the real behind-the-scenes of her own journey: buying a struggling center, realizing “love and passion” alone won’t sustain a business long-term, and learning how systems, finances, and leadership create the stability that protects your mission. Then Jennifer welcomes Michael Ingram, a legacy child care leader and school owner with multi-generational roots, to talk about the kind of leadership growth that doesn’t show up on an org...
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Ep. 221 — Happier Mamas, Happier Babies with Camille St. Martin
Child Care Rockstar Radio
In this heartfelt sendoff episode, Kris sits down with her very first hire, Camille St. Martin, for a deeply meaningful conversation about the postpartum experience, nervous system regulation, and the importance of truly seeing and supporting new moms. Camille, now a mother of two and the founder of Ritual Movement Mama, shares how her own experience of isolation and identity loss after childbirth sparked a mission to help mothers reconnect with their bodies, their breath, and their inner wisdom, one slow movement at a time. Together, Kris and Camille explore what it means to return...
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Ep. 220 - Becoming Stronger and Getting Better Each Day with Cynthia Maher
Child Care Rockstar Radio
Are you ready to grow stronger as a leader and show up bigger for your center? This week, Kris sits down with Cynthia Maher, owner and founder of Bedford Child Development Center in Michigan, and a proud finalist in the 2025 Child Care Rockstar Contest. Cynthia shares what it felt like to be on that big stage, the personal breakthroughs she experienced, and the mindset shifts that are helping her move forward with more clarity and confidence than ever before. With over 20 years in the field, Cynthia opens up about her team culture, marketing strategies, and why her center’s...
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Ep. 219 - Having a Seat at the Right Table Is Everything with Kyleigh Tolman and Keaton Ross
Child Care Rockstar Radio
Kyleigh Tolman and Keaton Ross are the powerhouse sister duo behind Klever Kidz Academy in rural Southeast Oklahoma. With three centers and over 300 children served, Kyleigh and Keaton have built something deeply rooted in family, community, and intentional leadership. During their chat with Kris, they share how they’ve infused fun, core values, and heart into their culture, from heart-shaped tattoos with their leadership team to parent survival kits and walkout-proof staff meetings. They also open up about enrollment challenges in rural areas, personal development routines, and...
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Ep. 218 - Stamp Your Center’s Footprint in the Community with Megan Ferring
Child Care Rockstar Radio
Happy New Year and welcome to 2026! In this episode, Kris sits down with Megan Ferring, a dynamic regional director at Hamilton Heights Child Development Center, where her 16-year journey began as a preschool teacher. Megan’s deep commitment to both operational excellence and playful leadership recently earned her the Director of the Year award. Kris and Megan talk about how Hamilton Heights approaches leadership structure, branding, and enrollment strategy across its six locations. Megan shares her perspective on centering community connections, building team culture, and...
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Ep. 217 - Not Your Typical Childcare Center with LaVonda Paul
Child Care Rockstar Radio
This week, Kris welcomes LaVonda Paul, a trailblazing early childhood leader and fourth-generation entrepreneur, for an inspiring conversation about legacy, leadership, and the power of showing up. As the owner of Small Impressions Child Development Center in Taylors, South Carolina, LaVonda has spent 19 years building a community-first program. In the episode, LaVonda talks with Kris about how she’s cultivated deep trust with families, built a rock-solid team culture, and gone all-in on advocacy, helping shape policy while showing up for children, parents, and educators alike. She opens...
info_outlineKris welcomes Josh and Pamela Hernandez, owners of Montessori Kids Universe Stone Oak. The duo talks about their path into early childhood education and opening up MKU, tips for starting out with cash flow out of the gate, and enrollment strategies that worked for them. They also chat with Kris about using referral rewards, how they balance family and business, marketing tools that help them build trust and stand out in their community, the need for the industry to collaborate more, and how they keep their staff happy and inspired.
Key Takeaways:
[5:04] Joshua and Pamela talk about the history of MKU of Stone Oak, and how they got into the ECE field.
[8:58] They currently have 37 team members.
[9:27] The wins and challenges of creating (and keeping) great employees.
[14:50] Joshua and Pamela discuss their marketing strategies, including Google and Facebook ads, and their active presence on social media.
[15:19] The importance of referrals in their business model, offering bonuses for both staff and families who refer new enrollments.
[21:06] Working as a husband-wife team and the importance of dividing responsibilities based on their strengths.
[26:04] Pamela shares her inspiration from her mother, who was a social worker and professor, and her own passion for education, while Joshua talks about his mother’s influence and the importance of hard work and dedication.
[30:03] Thinking long-term with employees and getting them in a mindset to stay with the company for years to come.
[34:48] Will an expansion be in the future?
[38:14] Remembering that building something new takes persistence, but it is one step at a time, so keep going!
[40:24] The need for better collaboration.
Quotes:
“At this stage in both of our businesses, we’re more firefighters right now. So wherever there’s fire, that’s where we go.” — Joshua [5:11]
“We have a beautiful culture that we’ve built, and we go above and beyond to show our teachers how much we care and love them, and want them to be a part of the team.” — Pamela [10:40]
“We both bring our strengths to the table, and we have created what I feel is a beautiful team of husband and wife.” — Pamela [21:39]
“Growth is a process, and sometimes the best lessons come from challenges.” — Joshua [35:05]
“Building something meaningful takes time, persistence, and a lot of heart, but it’s worth every step.” — Joshua [38:03]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal