Who We Are

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About US

Zero to Five Montana’s Child Care Business Connect (MCCBC) supports starting, growing, and expanding providers and community initiatives thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), granted through a Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) competitive process awarded in May 2022.

As part of the vision to stabilize, innovate, and build early childhood systems, Zero to Five Montana has developed the Montana Child Care Business Connect (“Connect”) program – Montana’s statewide hub for child care business development and innovation. Connect is dedicated to working with community partners, employers, child care business entrepreneurs, and business owners to build and stabilize programs to help meet the demand for child care across the state.

Uniting robust tools and resources, a team of experts, and partners from across the nation, Connect is the child care business development champion for Montana. Connect aspires to make a lasting change in our state by supporting the success of existing child care providers, inspiring entrepreneurs, employers, and communities to take action, and creating respect for the vital importance of the child care provider industry.

MISSION STATEMENT

Montana Child Care Business Connect (MCCBC) supports the start, viability, and expansion of high-quality, early child care businesses in Montana and helps cultivate child care business stability and sustainability. Connect is contributing to successful futures in Montana by providing small business support which will create big community impact.

Our Team

COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Heide Borgonovo

For marketing, social media, website and outreach support, please contact Heide.

POLICY AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Alex Dubois

For questions related to early childhood community and state advocacy, other local early childhood efforts around the state, systems building, and Family Forward Montana please ...

CHILD CARE BUSINESS ADVISOR

Kendra Edlin

For assistance starting, growing, expanding, stabilizing, exiting, hiring, or financing your childcare business, contact Kendra.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Richard Heitstuman

For general support, please contact Richard.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Caitlin Jensen

For overarching questions about the work of our organization, the Montana early childhood system, policy strategy, as well as general questions pertaining to government relations, ...

SENIOR CHILD CARE BUSINESS ADVISOR

Jason Nitschke

For assistance starting, growing, expanding, stabilizing, exiting, hiring, or financing your childcare business, contact Jason.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Rhonda Schwenke

For general questions regarding MT Child Care Business Connect, specific questions related to the Mentorship program, trainings and special events, or if you don’t know ...

COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR

Shelby Whelan

For community capacity building support, community development, 1:1 support, and general questions about how to convene community efforts around child care please contact Shelby.

Value Proposition Statement

Understanding the diversity and varied challenges of our state, the Connect program provides invaluable one-on-one consultation and coaching opportunities. The program is spearheaded by our team of business and industry experts who facilitate in-depth, personalized pathways for solving complex issues. Their goal is to guide immediate and long-term goals of child care providers and engage employers and communities in the shared vision of an elevated child care system.

Montana Child Care Business Connect is contributing to successful futures in Montana by providing small business support that will create big community impact. Together we aim to build confidence, bring professionalism, create more opportunities for connection, boost economies, and inspire pride within the child care industry – because better child care systems mean thriving communities. And that matters for everyone.