With Expertise and Dedication, Little Blessings Advocates for Best Child Care Standards
Dianne Hartwell is a true blessing to her community, and not only because she cares for and treats each child that steps through her door with love and dignity. She is inspiring—a true champion for child care as a whole, and a genuine representative of someone doing this difficult work successfully.
Hartwell, the owner and founder of Little Blessings Learning Center, has been licensed and operating in the Lansing area for over 30 years. The business has received the Governor’s Quality Care Award and maintained a 4-star rating in Michigan. They partner with Great Start to Quality, a program that works with statewide organizations, facilities and parents to provide quality learning and training experiences, as well as with the Association for Child Development Food Program that ensures proper resources are available to maintain healthy eating habits for young children and families.
Hartwell also invests in her community by serving on a number of boards (including SBAM’s), and maintains memberships that keep her business moving forward and prospering. She’s also instilled the same passion for child care into her own five children who work with her day-to-day and behind the scenes, advocating for the highest child care standards.
Focus caught up with Hartwell, asking her about her secrets to business longevity, what values guide her and how working with children has shaped her views on life:
Focus: Thirty years in the child care industry is amazing! Tell our readers how your business got its start.
Hartwell: I feel like it is my calling! I have tried other career avenues, and nothing sparked my interest more than working with kids. I started babysitting at a young age; I was always around kids and loved teaching them. I realized we need people who care as much as I do and who want to impact youth in a positive way. I loved kids so much that I went on to have five kids of my own and start my own business! Now I’ve expanded to three locations and purchased property next door to the center where I hold events and support fundraisers to enrich and cater to the needs of our families and community.
Focus: What is your secret to business longevity?
Hartwell: I enjoy it! It’s just as much a hobby as a career. I want to make sure these children get the best care possible. What’s most rewarding is watching them grow to be professional basketball players, singers, bankers, lawyers, judges, etc. I have watched so many of them raise families of their own and become productive adults. I remember when they used to play and pretend to be all of these things right here in my home or center. I have also seen so many troubled youths come my way, and impacting their lives so that they end up making better life choices is more rewarding than money.
Focus: You have family members working with you, and plan to pass the torch to them. What succession planning are you using to ensure a smooth transition?
Hartwell: Currently, my younger daughter and youngest son are the directors of my business. The other three stand as advocates and assist with after-hours operations that ensure the business runs smoothly, such as communications, advertising and social media.
My kids have been raised in the business since they were born. They probably know it better than me! I constantly work with them to make sure they have trainings and resources to be up-to-date on child care and community resources. We have monthly meetings about changes and toss around ideas about new rules and regulations and ideas that can help improve child care. I could walk away tomorrow, and I’m sure they have it down pat. However, I don’t ever plan to retire.
Focus: What key things do you believe are essential for our nation to tackle its child care challenges?
Hartwell: We must ensure that children have the most exceptional care possible, and to do that, we have to be sure that our families have the funds and resources to afford that proper care. Good quality services are necessary for care, so investing in our staff brings more qualified, motivated people to guarantee our future is in good hands.
Focus: What values guide you and how you run Little Blessings?
Hartwell: I believe every kid deserves a chance to be their best. I understand that children are our future, and we must ensure we start at a young age and give them and their families all the opportunities and resources we can. Who said the village is gone? As long as Little Blessings is around, children will always have that village to support them.
Focus: How has investing in your staff — through trainings, continuing education, etc. — helped you retain them?
Hartwell: Investing in my staff has cut down a lot of turnovers, which is suitable for this field. Children undergo many changes as they grow and are still learning to handle and understand their emotions. Adults—we know what to do, whether we take a coffee break, leisure activity, counsel, etc., to soothe our souls. Children don’t.
That’s why it’s essential to avoid having people constantly running in and out of their lives. They need to develop trusting relationships to feel safe in their surroundings. So, whatever I can do, I do, from higher wages and bonuses to staff outings, recognition, etc. All this is very costly, but well worth the investment. It’s not just rewarding my staff; it’s letting them know they are appreciated. I wish I could do more.
Focus: What are a few things you’ve learned from working with children that you apply to your business life?
Hartwell: I’ve had children from all different cultures and personalities come through my childcare, and I’ve worked through language barriers and cultural differences. These challenges have taught me to be humble and appreciate the business relationships that I have developed.
The children I’ve taught have also allowed me to see business ventures and community needs differently—I’m more open-minded to what comes my way, and see things from a different perspective. I can step out of the box and create relationships that assist me while opening new opportunities for all the children and families that walk through my door.
Focus: How has being an elite member of SBAM helped you run your business more efficiently?
Hartwell: Being part of SBAM has made me feel more important. I love the interaction that members share with each other. I enjoy all the information that SBAM provides, and I especially appreciate how their officials are always looking out for our businesses. It feels wonderful to be a part of something that says, “We see you, we hear you, and we’re working on your behalf!”
I have connected with other small business owners who are like me, and met many people from which I can use their resources to further my business. I’ve even met individuals with businesses I didn’t even know I needed. Also, SBAM brings about a status that allows me to look at myself on a personal level and gives me the ability to take advantage of opportunities that contribute to not just the well-being of my company but also to me as an entrepreneur.
By Bona Van Dis; originally published in SBAM’s July/August 2024 issue of FOCUS magazine
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