I was asked to serve on the board of an aging non-profit preschool near downtown Charlotte in 2007. I quickly learned about the critical importance of early childhood education and a child’s “first 2000 days.” Through prayer, patience and persistence, I, with my wife’s encouragement, opened our first early learning facility in southeast Charlotte in 2012 and its sister facility next door two years later. Both schools have a 5-Star rating undergirded by 15 out of 15 quality points and with a combined licensed capacity of 345 preschool-age children plus a 25-child after-school / summer camp program. We employ 70-75 teachers and eight management staff. In addition to our licensed curriculum we implement a Christian curriculum and use the Reggio Emilia approach to teaching early education. We are very proud of our nutrition program whose four seasons menu includes vegetables harvested year-round from our on-site gardens. My wife and I have five children and seven grandchildren.