Business of Child Care Events
Whether we’re hosting strategy sessions or partnering with local communities, every event is focused on implementation, clarity, and the future of child care as infrastructure.
Explore three ways to engage with us:
Strategy Sessions
Topical, facilitated sessions hosted by Business of Child Care, featuring expert guests and grounded in actionable strategy.
Out & About
Community events and speaking engagements where we’re partnering on the ground or presenting to regional and national audiences.
Past Events
View recordings and recaps of previous sessions on our YouTube channel.
Strategy Sessions
Designed and delivered by Business of Child Care. Each session focuses on a key system challenge, with clear takeaways for implementation.
Who’s in Charge? Clarifying Roles to Strengthen Child Care Centers
Date & Time: July 24, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT
Best For: Nonprofit child care boards, executive directors, funders, and civic partners
Featured Guest: Sally Rutledge-Ott, Nonprofit Consultant and Governance Coach
Strong child care centers start with strong boards.
Summary:
This session focuses on nonprofit child care governance: clarifying board roles, resolving communication breakdowns, and aligning internal operations with external funding readiness. From day-to-day decisions to long-term sustainability, we’ll examine what it really takes for nonprofit child care boards to function as a strategic asset rather than an operational liability.
Workforce Anchors – The Employer Case for Child Care
Date & Time: August 7, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT
Best For: Economic development directors, HR managers, chambers, mayors
Featured Guests: Matthew Henry & Jacob Pomi, Tootris
What if solving your workforce shortage starts with solving child care?
Summary:
This session highlights how employer-aligned child care investments boost retention, reduce absenteeism, and strengthen the labor force. Practical strategies and ROI framing included.
The ROI of Localized Child Care – How Communities Are Solving the Infrastructure Gap
Date & Time: August 12, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM CDT
Best For: Civic leaders, funders, employers, county development teams, and system-level coordinators
Featured Guest: Business of Child Care team
We don’t ask families to build their own roads, so why do we expect them to navigate child care without infrastructure?
Summary:
Explore how the Hosted Spaces and Child Care House models address the infrastructure gap in small towns and edge communities. A real-world session on ROI, startup alignment, and scalable care.
Out & About
We also engage directly in communities supporting local events, presenting to regional audiences, and walking alongside leaders doing the work on the ground.
Mapleton Community Picnic & Hometown Grant Celebration
Date & Time: August 14, 2025 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM CDT
Location: Heritage Park, 300 Central Ave S, Mapleton, MN
Business of Child Care Role: Participating Partner
An evening of music, celebration, and hometown investment.
Summary:
Business of Child Care will join Mapleton’s annual community picnic in celebration of the town’s T-Mobile Hometown Grant award. The event will feature live music and local engagement as part of the “Songs on the Lawn” series. Our team will support conversations on how the grant, and the broader effort, can strengthen local child care infrastructure and economic development.
Midwest CDI – 2025 Conference
Date & Time: August 14, 2025 | Time TBA
Location: President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, 701 E Adams St, Springfield, IL
Business of Child Care Role: Featured Keynote – Jeff Andrews
“Address for Success” – how to help communities take the first step toward solving child care.
Summary:
Jeff Andrews, President of Business of Child Care, will deliver a featured keynote at the 2025 Midwest Community Development Institute (CDI) in Springfield, IL. His keynote, “Address for Success”, equips civic and community leaders to start where they are, make early moves with confidence, and turn child care into a measurable part of their economic strategy. This appearance is part of a four-day regional training for economic developers and community leaders across the Midwest.
Mardi Gras Economic Development Conference 2026
Date & Time: February 11–12, 2026 | More details TBD
Location: Hilton St. Charles or Residence Inn, New Orleans, LA
Business of Child Care Role: Keynote Speaker – Jeff Andrews
“Address for Success” – guiding communities to move from awareness to impact in child care strategy.
Summary:
Jeff Andrews will deliver the keynote session “Address for Success” at Next Move Group’s Mardi Gras Economic Development and Site Selection Conference in New Orleans. His presentation will help leaders understand how child care ties directly to economic development and community competitiveness. This event gathers economic developers, site selectors, and public-sector leaders for immersive training, panels, and networking.
