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,