We believe independent childcare businesses are a distinctive part of the childcare industry. They are an essential part of the community in which they are located and serve. Unlike large regional and national chain operations, independent childcare owners and their businesses often have a personal connection to their communities and families. Independent childcare businesses have a local identity and the high trust of parents, school system teachers, and community leaders.
While we recognize the risks, stress, and challenges inherent in operating a childcare business, we believe there are proven insights and practices that can dramatically improve a childcare business’ odds of success. This is what ChildCareOwner.com is all about — substantially improving your chances of real, sustainable childcare business success.
If you are an independent childcare owner, we want you to know that we are serious about our Mission. We are committed to providing practical, proven insights and resources to enable you to build a better childcare business, a more financially healthy childcare business, and, most importantly, a better life for you, your family, and your entire team.
Our Mission
OUR FOCUS
Child Care Owner is the leading professional organization for child care business owners.
It’s a membership about the “Business Side of Child Care”!
We focus on helping child care owners with the business side of child care – financial management, exit strategy planning, marketing, real estate, facilities, mergers & acquisitions – everything child care business related. We provided resources, webinars, courses, live question and answer session, private and group coaching, and in-house and quest experts.
And it’s packed with in-depth, practical training and resources on all the business aspects of planning, building, running, and growing a successful child care business. PLUS the community support you need to ensure your childcare business achieves its full potential.
CHILD CARE BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES
ChildCareOwner members across the USA have access to specialized professional advisory services designed specifically for the childcare industry.
- Bookkeeping and Accounting
- Financial Budgeting and Planning
- Cash Flow Management
- Business Consulting and Coaching
- Capital Expenditure Analysis
- Financial Management
- Exit Strategy Planning
- Business Valuation
- Business Value Acceleration
- Funding and Loan Application
- Growth Through Acquisition
OUR TEAM
Donna Dailey M.Ed., LREB, SBA, BEC, CVA – Founder & CEO of ChildCareOwner.com
Donna has 30 years of experience in child care mergers and acquisitions, and commercial and child care real estate. Donna has been helping people buy, sell, and improve child care businesses since 1995.
As a business analyst, Donna has helped hundreds of childcare owners improve their child care businesses’ profitability, financial health, and value.
Donna focuses on creating more ChildCareOwner.com resources and training programs that support the creation of more independent childcare business success stories. And the continued growth of the specialized childcare advisory services available through ChildCareOwner.com
Former Multi Location Child Care Owner
Business Consultant
Cindy Gibbons is a recently retired childcare business owner. She has over 40 years of experience in the early education field. Starting as a classroom teacher, her desire and love for the field led her quickly to a management position and then to her dream of ownership. In 2005 she opened her first childcare center location with a passion to provide a quality early learning center that best supported the families of the community. After years of successful ownership and community support, she opened her second center in 2013. With her and the support of her staff, both facilities received state-level recognition and program awards.
After 40 years in the field of early education, it is now time to support the future leaders of early childhood education by sharing her knowledge and real-life experiences of efficiently managing financially secure childcare businesses.
Cindy Lehnhoff
Director of NCCA
Advocacy, HR & Leadership
Cindy Lehnhoff has been a leader in the child care industry for nearly 40 years, with extensive experience in early childhood education, accreditation, and advocacy. She began her career in 1980 as a Preschool Teacher for La Petite Academy (LPA) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Over the next 36 years, she advanced through multiple leadership roles, including Center Director, District Manager, Division Director, and ultimately Division Vice President for Learning Care Group (LCG), overseeing operations across 12 states. She retired from LCG in 2016 as Division Vice President for Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.
Cindy has a deep passion for improving the quality of early care and education. She played a key role in guiding numerous child care centers through state Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) and national accreditation processes. Under her leadership, over 100 centers achieved accreditation from the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA).
Her commitment to advocacy and policy is evident through her long-standing involvement with several national and state organizations. She has served on the boards of:
- Oklahoma Child Care Association (1995-2009)
- Governor’s Advisory Board in Oklahoma (2000-2009)
- National Child Care Association (NCCA) (1995-2000; 2019-present)
- National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA) (2001-present)
- Frog Street’s Early Childhood Curriculum Advisory Board (2022-present)
- The Compliance Alliance Advisory Board (2024-2025)
Since August 2019, Cindy has served as the Director of the National Child Care Association, where she has been instrumental in revitalizing its advocacy efforts on behalf of child care owners, providers, and educators. Additionally, she continues to serve as a Policy Advisor for NECPA, furthering her mission to elevate early childhood education standards nationwide.
Donna Marcus, CIC
Child Care Insurance
Donna Marcus-Doughten, CIC is the CEO of Phoenix Associates Insurance Agency a family-owned company in business for over 40 years!
Donna specializes in insurance programs for Private Schools & Child Care Centers throughout the state of Georgia and the Southeast.
Ann Nonemaker
VP Business Development – Celtic Bank
National SBA Lender
Ann has a significant banking background, 20 years of which have been in SBA lending. Ann offers insight-driven perspective and solution-focused expertise
with business acquisitions, commercial real estate purchases, construction & renovation, and expansion capital for business growth.
She supports clients nationwide and has been instrumental in helping clients achieve financial success.
Industry Guest Experts
