Meet Our Board
The National Childcare Owners Association Founding Members
The National Childcare Owners Association founding members provide mission-based leadership and strategic governance for the association. Serving on the NCOA Board of Directors is an extraordinary opportunity for passionate members about NCOA’s vision and mission, deeply committed to its values and beliefs, and skilled leaders with a track record of practical governance experience.
RAYMOND
MAXWELL
President
Raymond Maxwell is a MAN IN CHILDCARE. Mr. Maxwell is the inspiration and founder of The National Childcare Owner’s Association, Inc. Serving in the capacity of Vice-President and Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Maxwell holds a Certification in Business Planning from Temple University’s Fox Chase School of Business. With over 5 years of childcare experience, Raymond Maxwell is the Co-Owner of Open Arms Early Learning and Development Center with his wife, Joy. Raymond Maxwell noticed Childcare Business Owners had recurring problems and enacted the NCOA, Inc. to specifically address issues for Childcare Business Owners around, Staff Professional Development, Company Strategic Planning and Process Implementation, Special Project Operations, and Fund Raising.
"The National Childcare Owner’s Association, Inc. provides essential resources and is a network hub for childcare owners to help resolve issues and problems they face in the childcare industry. By becoming a member, you are connecting to a community of leading and innovative childcare owners and professionals."
Asia
Rivers
Vice President
Asia Rivers, EMBA is a business credit expert who partners with CEO's, executives and entrepreneurs to establish, utilize, and protect their business credit. Rivers, the CEO, of Seal The Deal Credit Consultants also owns Talk Childcare Inc., which is a licensed childcare operations and publishing company. With nearly a decade working in her own business, Asia is well versed and knowledgeable about what drives a business, how to increase revenue, and wealth building. She states, that it all boils down to how well you manage personal assets, leverage business credit, and staying focused on the endgame. Rivers is able to showcase this through conferences she hosts focused on these very topics
"The childcare industry needs to be reformed. We need substantial reimbursement for livable wages for our staff. Oftentimes, we feel discounted as a vital piece in our own community. Childcare providers are essential. We need benefits packages suitable for those that spend a lifetime caring for the next generation. Advocacy, so that we have representation at the table when regulations and laws are written governing childcare as a whole. As well as sustainability grants open to not only non-profits centers.
If every childcare center closed its doors today....what would providers do? What would families do?
We are essential. Childcare workers are crucial. We are mandatory for America’s next direction into a future that involves virtual learning, educating birth through five with social-emotional development, and helping to put America back to work."
Erica
Rodgers
Erica Rodgers, is Founder of Helping Hands Child Care & Development Center, an early childcare center in Michigan. She serves in dual capacities within the National Childcare Owners Association, Inc. (NCOA, Inc.). She serves as both, Assistant Director of Human Resources and Assistant Secretary of the Board of Directors. Erica has a passion for childcare and realized she is here to uplift, encourage, and inspire individuals to understand that “Greatness Groows”.
With over fifteen years of childcare experience and over 10 years of childcare business ownership experience, Mrs. Rodgers understands the importance of professional support group. She decided that devotion of her time and effort to see NCOA, Inc. become a positive force in Childcare Professional Development is essential. This sacrifice of time and energy has produced an organization who assists and provide advocacy standards to childcare business owners. By providing high quality referrals and resources, NCOA, Inc. is the creation of childcare business owners for childcare business owners.
"One should become a member of NCOA to be apart of change. There are several non-profits that advocate for teachers, center directors, trainers, and families. But, NCOA will advocate for the childcare business owner. Showing owners how to protect their childcare asset, and all of it's liabilities.
Daphene
Booker-HARRIS
Treasurer
Daphene Booker-Harris serves as the Treasurer for the National Childcare Owners Association, Inc. With over 15 years of childcare business ownership experience, Mrs. Booker is a third-generation childcare business owner. She has taken all her classroom and ownership experience and has development a winning model for childcare business success. As a multi-site owner, Mrs. Booker found a lack of support for emerging childcare business leadership. There was no clear path to childcare business ownership, therefore, she became engaged with the founders of what is now known as the National Childcare Owners Association, Inc. (NCOA, Inc.).
"The NCOA, Inc. is a huge step for childcare business ownership advocacy. The NCOA, Inc. provides childcare owners with access to essential industry information, access to best practices information, implementation procedures, and managerial and technical training and support in order to increase owner knowledge and business capacity.
You should join the NCOA, Inc. in order to remain on the cutting edge of the childcare industry. The NCOA, Inc. is the place to build a limitless network with other like-minded childcare owners."
Todd
HARRIS
Executive Director
Todd Harris is the husband of Daphene Booker-Harris and Co-Chief Executive of Daffy Duck Learning Akademy, LLC and Global Children Services, Inc. As a professional real estate broker, Todd Harris brings site selection and real estate transaction structure to the body of the National Childcare Owners Association. Todd currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Childcare Owners Association.
As a graduate of the University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business, Todd is a resource for members looking to become comfortable with childcare acquisitions, expansions, financing, renovations, and construction. Todd Harris is the founder and principal broker for Metropolis Real Estate Services. He has brokered over $20 mm of real estate sale and lease transactions throughout his career. As a preschool purchase and lease specialist, Todd Harris has provided clients with insight on how to evaluate a programs value, feasibility of acquisition, and facilities assessments. From start-up to business with real estate purchases, Todd Harris has the experience, skill, and expertise to get you to a desired end.
Todd is the Summer Camp Coordinator and Enrichment Program Coordinator within his childcare businesses. This experience has motivated Todd to develop and implement enrichment programs to expose youth to career paths as early as 5 years of age.
"The National Childcare Owners Association is a necessary advocacy group because it promotes and protects the interests of Owners. Additionally, it provides a judgement free resource pool who aims to improve operations who are struggling, rather than punish them."
JOY
MAXWELL
Professor Joy Maxwell serves as The National Childcare Owner’s Association, Inc. (NCOA, Inc.) Curriculum and Accreditation Coordinator. Professor Maxwell, has 20 years’ experience in education and childcare, including roles in after school program development, curriculum building and family engagement initiatives. Professor Maxwell is a proud graduate of Eastern University, where she received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and Multi-Cultural Education. Professor Maxwell graduated with her second master’s degree in 2017 from Gwynedd Mercy University with concentration in Child Psychology and School Counseling.
Professor Maxwell’s introduction to childcare was as a high school student. She worked in a Family Childcare business which is what sparked her interest in education. Before becoming a Childcare Business owner, Professor Maxwell spent 10 years as an elementary school teacher, adjunct professor and curriculum developer for the City of Philadelphia.
"The NCOA, Inc. is necessary. As owners of childcare businesses in urban areas, the obstacles we face are different from those of other owners. We saw a need. And, rather than complain and do nothing, we have decided to converge our human capital into one location in order to become a trusted and respected Association."
William
Rivers
William Rivers is A Man In Childcare. Mr. Rivers is an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in business management and a licensed realtor. Together with his wife Asia Rivers, they've been able to grow their childcare business into multiple respected facilities within the city of Louisville, Ky. Currently, he holds a seat on the board of the NCOA, Inc., where his role is dedicated to assisting in marketing strategies by bringing awareness to other Childcare Business Owners and creating a more united industry. This will allow others the opportunity to join a network of like-minded professionals within the childcare industry.
"Working parents need childcare, and the research shows that there is major demand not met by the current supply. Now is the time to invest in childcare. It’s likely that the demand for childcare will continue to be high through the fall. A timely investment in a childcare center could both help meet the rising demand while providing a good chance of a return on investment."
Nyric
Rodgers
Nyric Rodgers is a MAN IN CHILDCARE. He serves as The National Childcare Owner’s Association, Inc. (NCOA, Inc.) Director of Marketing. With over 12 years’ experience in childcare, Mr. Rodgers has extensive knowledge of childcare management and childcare transportation. NCOA, Inc. is a wealth of information for childcare owners, directors, and staff.
"The resources and guidance members receive are critical to improving the rendered services, fiscal management, and overall operation of your childcare business.
You should seriously consider becoming a member of the NCOA, Inc. because the mistakes one makes when operating a new or expanding childcare business have been made by the founders of the NCOA, Inc. and its members. It is no reason why you should make those same mistakes because we are here to shorten your learning (mistake) curve."
Rashawn carter-kamau
Secretary
Rashawn Carter - Kamau is a family childcare owner and specialist. Her preschool is located right outside of Kansas Missouri. She has served her community as an early childcare educator for almost 30 years. She has owned her family's childcare program for over 20 years.
She has a B.A. in Early Childhood Education Administration from Ashford University.
Rashawn has coached others to find simplified solutions to everyday challenges in their family childcare businesses. Rashawn is a member of a number of advocacy groups. She is a member of the national Napsacc planning group, and a member of the Childcare Aware Family Childcare Network her program was chosen as one of the first family childcare programs to install the Quality Rating System in the state of Missouri. She is the newest board member of the NCOA.
“The NCOA is comprised of members who are succeeding in spite of all the obstacles that are often faced in this industry. We know what it is like to need real resources that will help all childcare businesses of any size, find solutions and success to generate profit as a higher standard of quality childcare services. Our group provides in-depth resources that one can really use to produce a change in business. We focus on the topics that no one else is brave enough to discuss. The National Childcare Owners Association brings class, professionalism, intelligence, integrity and dignity to our industry.”
Your Next Steps
Become A Member
Support our efforts to provide resources for childcare owners for self-development, financial education, and strengthening quality early childhood programs
Support The NCOA
Donate to help The NCOA advance a strong and dynamic early childhood profession and connect childcare owners to innovative and equitable resources.
Become A Partner
Would your organization like to connect with professionals in your community at conferences, networking events, advocacy efforts, leadership opportunities, and more? Partner with us and become an affiliate.
Copyright 2021 The National Childcare Owners Association Inc. (NCOA, Inc.)