Opening Keynote - Erica Saccoccio
Erica Saccoccio will be our Day 1 host, bringing hands-on leadership and entrepreneurial insight to the stage. She has opened six childcare centers and co-founded a 5,000-square-foot dance studio with her sister Chris, and continues to operate three thriving locations. Erica has scaled centers up and down, from opening from scratch to turnkey operations, managing everything in between—including leasing and purchasing real estate for her sites.
As the beloved host of The Childcare Directors Chair Podcast, she travels the country supporting owners and directors with honesty, understanding, and practical wisdom. Erica knows the turbulence our industry is facing in 2025 and is here to inspire leaders to navigate it with confidence and clarity.
Lunch Keynote - Kate & Carrie
HR Strategies to Build a High-Flying Team
Shaping the future of childcare — one presentation at a time.
Kate and Carrie deliver dynamic, engaging, and insightful presentations that inspire leaders to tackle challenges with confidence and humor. Through relatable strategies and practical tools, we empower educators and business owners to streamline tasks, embrace resilience, and achieve success without sacrificing joy or authenticity.
Thursday, May 7th
Wheels Up: Your Day 1 Flight Plan!
8:00 - 9:00 - Registration & Opening Welcome - Erica Saccoccio - Leading From the Inside Out: Mindset, Energy, and Impact
Before diving into strategy and operations, this session helps you reset and step into leadership with clarity and intention. Through guided reflection and interactive exercises, you'll explore how your mindset shapes decisions, team culture, and overall success. You'll leave energized, focused, and ready to fully engage in the day’s practical sessions.
9:00 - 10:00 - Joe Pinsonneault - Charting Your Course: Strategic Planning for a Stronger Tomorrow
Running a childcare center without a strategic plan can feel like flying without a flight path, but this session gives you the tools to chart a clear, future-focused course. In just one hour, you’ll learn how to use a simple SWOT analysis, set priorities, and align your team around a shared vision. You’ll leave with a focused “flight plan” to guide decisions, strengthen operations, and position your center for long-term success.
10:00 - 11:00 - Dr Jamie Lewis - Staying in the Pilot’s Seat: Navigating Turbulence and Turning Challenges into Triumphs
Childcare leadership can feel like nonstop turbulence, but this session helps you regain control, rebuild confidence, and reignite your passion. Through real stories and practical tools, you'll learn how to manage stress, strengthen your mindset, and navigate challenges with clarity. Leave with strategies to stay resilient and keep your team inspired—even in the roughest skies.
11:15 - 12:15 - Mark Davilus - Flying Your Childcare Enrollments to New Heights
12:15 - 2:00 Lunch Keynote - Kate & Carrie - HR Strategies to Build a High-Flying Team
Every strong childcare program depends on a skilled, committed team. In this workshop, administrators will explore HR strategies that ensure smooth hiring, effective onboarding, and staff retention that keeps your team flying high. Learn how to design clear job roles, streamline recruitment, and implement policies that support professional growth. Leave with actionable tools to strengthen your HR systems and keep your staff motivated, engaged, and ready to reach new heights.
2:00 - 2:30 - Famly
Your childcare management software: Less paperwork, more playtime!
2:45 - 3:45 - Dr Cheryl Hovey - Fill Your Cup: Protect Your Peace, Find Your Joy: A Resilience Refresh
This session helps early childhood providers protect their peace, rediscover daily joy, and build practical resilience. Through quick resets, boundary scripts, and playful peer activities, participants leave with simple habits they can use at work and at home. Expect movement, music, and real talk that honors the work and keeps it moving...sitting is not required!
3:45 - 4:45 - David Encarnacion - Flying in the Green: Navigating Profit, Overhead, and Smart Tax Strategies for Childcare Owners
Your childcare business should do more than break even—it should take off. In this fast-paced session, David from Daycare Accounting Pro shows you how profitable centers think, where hidden costs are holding you back, and which tax strategies can put thousands back into your program. You’ll leave with a clear plan to boost profitability, reduce waste, and make confident financial decisions.
4:45 - 5:00 - Wrap-Up
Day 1 Speakers
