{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ep. 209 - A Family Affair! Tales of a Multi-Generational ECE Company with Tea Shong and Trina Romanowski","description":" 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019t a fit for your business.  [41:27] The importance and beauty of self-love.  [44:08] What\u2019s next for Tea and Trina?    Quotes: \u201cSharing 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.\u201d - Kris [2:44]    \u201cFrom 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\u2019s where we're at now.\u201d - Trina [10:09]    \u201cOur 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.\u201d - Trina [17:08]    \u201cI think we need to give shout outs to this organization. If Tea hadn\u2019t 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.\u201d - Trina [19:10]    \u201cBe patient with yourself. Do little by little, and keep reaching for those higher goals.\u201d - Trina [21:05]    \u201cI 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.\u201d - Tea [33:40]    \u201cKnowing that whatever happens to me is happening for me, not to me.\u201d - 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    ","author_name":"Child Care Rockstar Radio","author_url":"https:\/\/childcaresuccess.com\/podcast\/","html":"