A letter from Linda Piper…

   
To my fellow Child Care professionals,
 
It was with much excitement, in November of 2004, that I accepted the responsibility of leading the North Carolina Licensed Child Care Association into a new era.
 
I’d like to tell you a little about myself.  I am the mother of three children ages 8, 14 and 17, and I have a very supportive husband.  I earned my undergraduate degree in Accounting many years ago, and more recently earned a masters degree in Child Development and Family Relations from East Carolina University.  I am currently on the board for our local Smart Start partnership.  

For 18 years I was involved in a family child care business with my mother.  Our center, Jo Ann’s Child Care, began when I was three years old, in two rooms in the back of our home, so I have grown up being involved in child care.  In 1988 my mother and I opened a new facility, followed by a second location in 1991.  We sold the second center in 1996, and eventually expanded our original location to a capacity of 260 children.  

Prior to my accepting this position in 2004, I was already attending National Child Care Association meetings and Child Care Commission meetings, and had been a member of NCLCCA’s  board for three years.  I had realized how much our association could benefit from having a single person to help coordinate the efforts of the association.   When someone suggested to me that I should consider applying for the new position, I realized that this is something I have always wanted to do.  After much consideration and discussion with my family and co-workers, it was a unanimous decision that I should apply for the job.  I did the work part--time, while continuing to work in my center, for 18 months.   In April of 2006, we sold our center.  My mother has since retired, and I am now focusing all my attention on the North Carolina Licensed Child Care Association!
 
My hope is that I can continue to bring a few fresh ideas, offer much-needed support to the volunteers who are already giving tirelessly of their time and talents, and help move our association into a position of offering tremendous benefit to the private child care providers of our state.
 
I am open for ideas, I have a positive outlook, and I’m excited!  Coupled with the involvement of you and the others in your neighborhood, your county, and your part of the state, I believe NCLCCA can do good things!  Let me know how I can help!
 
Sincerely,
Linda Piper  
Executive Director
North Carolina Licensed Child Care Association