SHIFT AGENDA

+ 6:30 - 7:15 AM | Sunrise Yoga

Make your way to The Bluff each morning before breakfast for a sunrise yoga session with the one and only Beth Cannon!

+ 7:30 - 8:30 AM | Registration & Breakfast

Check in (if you haven't already), grab some brain food and network with your fellow conference attendees! Breakfast is complimentary and will be out and available on the Bacara Terrace until 9:00 AM. Sponsored by Big Blue Marble Academy.

+ 8:30 - 9:15 AM | "Welcome to SHIFT 2024!" - Kathy Ligon

Our opening session sets the stage with inspiration and insight into the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities in the early education industry.

+ 9:15 - 10:00 AM | "Investment Trends in Early Education" - Phil Vaccaro & Malavika Dhawan, EY-Parthenon

Join Phil Vaccaro and Malavika Dhawan from EY-Parthenon as they delve into current trends and strategic insights crucial for stakeholders in the early education sector. Whether you're a provider, investor, or industry vendor, this session will equip you with the necessary knowledge to navigate the investment trends shaping the future of early childhood education.

+ 10:00 - 10:30 AM | Mid-Morning Break

Take 30 minutes to have a good stretch or refill your SHIFT water bottle before the next session.

+ 10:30 - 11:30 AM | "Forecast of Funding in Early Education" - Radha Mohan & Elsa Jacobsen, ECEC

Join us for an insightful discussion on the forecast of federal and statewide government funding for early childhood education. Hear from policy experts and advocates, Radha Mohan and Elsa Jacobsen from the Early Care and Education Consortium, who will provide valuable insights into upcoming budget allocations, grant opportunities, and legislative initiatives that can shape funding decisions at both federal and state levels.

+ 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Breakout Speaker Introductions — PLUS a Special Announcement

Kathy will introduce our Tuesday afternoon breakout speakers as well as share a special announcement with our attendees!

+ 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Lunch & Networking

Re-energize with a complimentary lunch on the Bacara Terrace and free time for networking! Sponsored by Kindercare Learning Companies.

+ 1:00 - 2:00 PM | KNOW Breakout: "The Fundamentals of Staff Recruitment & Retention" - Aleta Mechtel & Nan Rikard

When it comes to staffing in child care, sometimes you just have to get back to the basics. Join early education entrepreneurs Aleta Mechtel and Nan Rikard for a 101 course in staff recruitment and retention strategies.

+ 1:00 - 2:00 PM | GROW Breakout: "Strengthening Experiences and Performance" - Amit Dhanani

Explore your childcare center through the lens of designing experiences. In this session, Amit will discuss "journey mapping" and how it allows us to better understand, visualize, and optimize our employee and family experiences.

+ 1:00 - 2:00 PM | LEAD Breakout: "The Power of Positive Leadership" - Tym Smith

Based on Jon Gordon’s bestselling book, certified instructor Tym Smith will practice skills to help leaders become more cohesive, committed, and creative. This session includes strategies to maintain optimism through adversity and change while transforming negativity in the school.

+ 1:00 - 2:00 PM | GLOW Breakout: "Positioning Your School as a Smart Risk" — Samantha Phillips

Securing and maintaining liability insurance coverage has become increasingly difficult for early education business owners over the last several months. So, what can you do now to lessen the impact on your school? Join childcare insurance specialist Samantha Phillips as she reveals preventative measures you can take now to limit liabilities and keep your must-have coverage.

+ 2:00 - 2:30 PM | Break

Take a 30-minute brain break before the next sessions.

+ 2:30 - 3:30 PM | KNOW Breakout: "The Fundamentals of Financial Strategy" - Kathy Ligon & Marnie Rhen

In child care, you must be financially healthy and thriving to provide excellent care and education. So, in an industry that is difficult to manage with low profit margins, how can you control costs to better serve the families in your care? Join HINGE Advisors Founder Kathy Ligon and Financial Analyst Marnie Rhen for an interactive session discussing the fundamentals of healthy spending for your childcare business.

+ 2:30 - 3:30 PM | GROW Breakout: "Exceeding Enrollment in Early Education" - Kevin Kilgore

As one of the highest grossing revenue schools in the Kids R Kids franchise, Kevin Kilgore knows how to build enrollment and keep occupancy high. In this session, he will share his tried-and-true strategies for holding capacity in your childcare business.

+ 2:30 - 3:30 PM | LEAD Breakout: "From Struggle to Success: Maximizing Staff Potential" - Prerna Richards

During this interactive and informative session, attendees will explore the different types of stress and their effects on individuals and teams. Prerna will also introduce different leadership styles and their impact as well as teach mindfulness, intentionality, and reflection in each leadership approach.

+ 2:30 - 3:30 PM | GLOW Breakout: "Beyond Expectations: Six Cornerstones of a Standout Center" - Andrea Majewski

Discover six key areas of your childcare business that will attract families and make them proud to enroll their children at your school. From implementing green initiatives to creating unique learning spaces, learn powerful strategies that will elevate your center and win the hearts of parents in your community. This session covers eco-friendly practices, engaging classroom environments, exceptional teacher training, top-notch safety protocols, standout parent experiences, and much, much more.

+ 3:30 - 4:00 PM | Afternoon Drinks & Snack Break

Before returning to the main ballroom for our keynote speaker, make sure to stop by the bar in the Bacara Foyer for an afternoon pick-me-up of beer or some of the Bacara's famous housemade trail mix. Sponsored by FunnyDaffer.

+ 4:00 - 5:00 PM | Keynote: "13 Principles of a Lazy Genius" - Kendra Adachi

Feel like yourself and get your stuff done by being a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't. Managing your time has never felt so refreshing! Learn helpful strategies and practical wisdom from Kendra Adachi, New York Times bestselling author, podcaster, and expert on compassionate time management. Welcome to the Lazy Genius way!

+ 5:00 - 7:00 PM | 'A Day at the Races' Cocktail Hour

Join fellow attendees on the Bacara's Ocean Lawn as it's transformed into a Kentucky Derby-themed extravaganza complete with big hats, bowties, and bourbon. We will also host a silent auction fundraiser to benefit our BOOST non-profit for teachers! Sponsored by Procare Solutions.

+ 6:30 - 7:15 AM | Sunrise Yoga

Make your way to The Bluff each morning before breakfast for a sunrise yoga session with the one and only Beth Cannon!

+ 7:30 - 8:30 AM | Breakfast

Start your second day off right with a complimentary breakfast and a bit of networking with fellow attendees. Breakfast will be out and available on the Bacara Terrace until 9:00 AM. Sponsored by Better Beans Branding.

+ 8:30 - 9:00 AM | "Making Cents: A Financial Literacy Sprint" - Tom Wood

Join Ramsey Master Financial Coach Tom Wood as he introduces a new kind of sprint focused on the four foundations of good, personal financial discipline.

+ 9:00 - 10:00 AM | "Benefits of Partnering with Local Employers to Support Working Families" - Fran McIntyre, Pendulum Dependent Care Solutions

When approached strategically, childcare providers can gain numerous advantages by partnering with employers to offer their employees childcare solutions. Find out how in this information-packed session with HR and childcare business expert, Fran McIntyre.

+ 10:00 - 10:30 AM | Mid-Morning Break

Take 30 minutes to have a good stretch or refill your water bottle before the next session!

+ 10:30 - 11:45 AM | Panel: "How Remarkable Women Lead" - Leigh-Ellen Louie, Gigi Schweikert, Mary Ann Curran & Zubeen Saeed

Are there characteristics that women leaders have in common that help them drive and sustain success? Yes! And in ECE, full of women leading and women being led, we should know what they are! Join us to hear about one of the classic models for what makes women leaders uniquely successful, both at work and in life, and hear from a panel of women CEOs about their key lessons learned!

+ 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Breakout Speaker Introductions

Kathy will introduce our Wednesday afternoon breakout speakers.

+ 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Lunch & Networking

Re-energize with a complimentary lunch on the Bacara Terrace and free time for networking! Sponsored by Kangarootime.

+ 1:00 - 2:00 PM | KNOW Breakout: "The Fundamentals of Marketing & Enrollment" - Kathe Petchel

Join Kathe Petchel for a Marketing 101 session as she shares her top marketing must-haves for growing enrollment and attracting quality staff to your childcare business.

+ 1:00 - 2:00 PM | GROW Breakout: "Inspiring Excellence: Motivation and Mentorship in Early Education" - Rachel Supalla

Discover effective strategies to inspire educators and administrators to reach their full potential by exploring the power of mentorship in fostering professional growth, building resilience, and nurturing a supportive community within early childhood settings.

+ 1:00 - 2:00 PM | LEAD Breakout: "Unshakeable Leadership: Building Confidence as a Leader" - Tom Wood

Whether you're leading a small team or an entire organization, leadership requires self-assurance, resilience, and the ability to inspire others. Learn how to overcome self-doubt, strengthen your leadership mindset, and build lasting confidence that fosters trust and respect among your peers and team members as Leadership Coach Tom Wood shares the key strategies to developing and maintaining confidence as a leader.

+ 1:00 - 2:00 PM | GLOW Breakout: "Happy Staff, Happy Kids: Building Your Child Care Super Squad" - Dan Berzansky

Discover the secrets to creating a positive and thriving work environment that keeps your childcare team motivated and engaged. Join Dan Berzansky, CEO of OneTeam360, as he shares what drives retention — including ideas for incentive programs and methods for consistent communication — and guides attendees through practical strategies for fostering a culture of collaboration, support, and joy. Start building your Child Care Super Squad today!

+ 2:00 - 2:30 PM | Break

Take a 30-minute brain break before the next session.

+ 2:30 - 3:30 PM | KNOW Breakout: "The Fundamentals of Real Estate Investment" - Rich Hubschman & Laurie Denny

Understand all of the real estate investment options for your childcare business — and which options are best at each stage of your business' life cycle — in this information-packed session.

+ 2:30 - 3:30 PM | GROW Breakout: "Financial Solutions for Expansion and Beyond" - Melissa Bane

As you move past the start-up phase, you need comprehensive tax and financial strategies to ensure success. Learn how to accelerate and protect your wealth in this seminar for established business owners. Melissa Bane, Financial Advisor with Greenwood Capital, will dive into the details of 1031 Exchanges, Deferred Sales Trusts and Cash Balance Plans.

+ 2:30 - 3:30 PM | LEAD Breakout: "Building Your Leadership Playbook" - Beth Cannon

Join Beth Cannon for an empowering session designed to help you create a personalized leadership playbook that drives success. In this interactive workshop, Beth will guide you through key principles and strategies for effective leadership, offering practical tools to navigate challenges, inspire your team, and foster a culture of excellence. You'll learn how to define your leadership style, align it with your vision, and implement actionable steps to lead with confidence and purpose.

+ 2:30 - 3:30 PM | GLOW Breakout: "Shining Schools, Growing Revenue: Essential Strategies for Childcare Leaders" - Vernon Mason

In today’s childcare landscape, maintaining and improving program quality requires more resources than ever before. The paradox of enrollment, profit, and quality is real—without enough revenue, programs struggle to thrive. Join Vernon as he shares key insights and leads a collaborative discussion on 25 innovative, actionable strategies to increase revenue without sacrificing quality. Discover how to boost your center’s income, ease financial stress, and reinvest in what matters most—your program and staff. This session will spark creativity and collaboration as leaders brainstorm fresh ideas to help your school shine, even amidst rising costs.

+ 3:30 - 4:00 PM | Afternoon Drinks & Snack Break

Before returning to the main ballroom for our keynote speaker, make sure to stop by the bar in the Bacara Foyer for an afternoon pick-me-up of beer or some of the Bacara's famous housemade trail mix. Sponsored by IntelliKid Systems.

+ 4:00 - 5:00 PM | Keynote: "The Power of Transparency" - Wei-Li Chong

Many companies struggle to leverage the Power of Transparency as a way to accelerate business performance and financial results. Join Wei-Li Chong for a robust discussion on how to overcome specific challenges, best practices to implement, and success stories that can be applied in your workplace.

+ 5:00 - 7:00 PM | Boho Beach Bon Voyage

Join fellow attendees for our final evening cocktail hour on the Ocean Lawn as it's transformed into a breathtaking boho beach for a relaxing send-off complete with complimentary food and drinks.

+ 6:30 - 7:15 AM | Sunrise Yoga

Make your way to The Bluff before breakfast for a final sunrise yoga session with the one and only Beth Cannon!

+ 7:30 - 8:30 AM | Breakfast

Start your final day off right with a complimentary breakfast and a bit of networking with fellow attendees. Breakfast will be out and available on the Bacara Terrace until 9:00 AM. Sponsored by Kids 'R' Kids.

+ 8:30 - 9:00 AM | "The Leadership Trifecta" - Tom Wood

What sets a great leader apart? Join Leadership Coach Tom Wood as he explores the top three qualities that define outstanding leadership: Enthusiasm, Confidence, and Integrity. Discover how these core traits work together to inspire teams, build trust, and drive success.

+ 9:00 - 10:00 AM | "Own It: How to Lead with Strength" - Thad Joiner

Join Thad Joiner for an inspiring session on how to take charge and lead your team with confidence. Discover how to foster a positive workplace culture while maintaining control and ensuring your business thrives. Whether you're facing challenges with staff management or seeking to enhance your leadership skills, this session is sure to equip you with practical insights and actionable steps to lead your childcare business with strength and resilience.

+ 10:00 - 10:30 AM | Mid-Morning Break

Take 30 minutes to have a good stretch or refill your water bottle before the next session!

+ 10:30 - 11:45 AM | "Utilizing A.I. to Scale" - Nick Williams

Eighty-eight percent of businesses globally already use A.I. in some fashion for their human resources and marketing. Join Childcare Business Growth's Nick Williams as he reveals the lastest A.I. tools and how they can increase efficiency in your childcare business.

+ 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Closing Remarks

Kathy Ligon will wrap up the conference and send everyone on their way to explore beautiful Santa Barbara, CA!