Video | July 6, 2021

Business Leaders Supporting Child Care

Business leaders explain the importance of child care

In a new ReadyNation video series, business leaders from across the country are sharing why child care is so important to their employees and the economy at large. Each week, a different ReadyNation member will share their unique perspective on why it is imperative to protect and strengthen the child care sector.

The vlogs appear in reverse chronological order.

Ankur Gopal, CEO, Interapt

Kentucky-based business leader Ankur Gopal shares his perspective on the impact of infant-toddler child care on the workforce and ways businesses can get involved to help strengthen the sector. In his role as the CEO of Interapt, he has seen firsthand how a lack of child care, especially during the pandemic, has been challenging for his employees. He calls on other business leaders and lawmakers to work together to address the child care crisis.

Debra McGee, Senior Vice President and Director of Minority Business Development, BankPlus

Mississippi business leader Debra McGee shares how infant-toddler child care impacts employers and parents in the Magnolia state. In her position as Senior Vice President and Director of Minority Business Development for BankPlus, she has seen firsthand the challenges that employees face when they do not have access to affordable, high-quality care.

Nancy Moody, Former Vice President of Public Affairs, DTE Energy

Former Vice President of Public Affairs of DTE Energy and longtime ReadyNation member, Nancy Moody, explains the connection between infant-toddler child care and workplace productivity. She shares that during the pandemic, all local child care providers closed, leaving her employees and their young children without options. This leads Moody to emphasize that business leaders, along with legislators, have a responsibility to advocate for their employees and help ensure quality, affordable child care is accessible for the workforce.

Hugh Welsh, President and General Counsel, DSM North America

Hugh Welsh, President and General Counsel of DSM North America, shares the impact of the pandemic on child care providers, leaving working parents and employers without adequate support. He mentions that finding infant-toddler care is especially challenging in rural areas due to the child care crisis. Welsh calls on his fellow business leaders to advocate for increased investments in early care to strengthen the workforce.

Doug Baker, Executive Chairman, Ecolab Inc

Minnesota-based business leader, Doug Baker, shares how employers and legislators can work together to increase access to infant-toddler child care in a powerful new blog. He offers insight on how the child care crisis impacts the workforce and early childhood brain development. As we recover from the pandemic, Baker reminds our policymakers to invest in our children.

Adam Saks, President, UltraStar Multi-Tainment (Part 2)

In a continuation of the previous vlog, Adam Saks, President of UltraStar Multi-Tainment, Executive Director of the Maricopa Economic Development Alliance, and ReadyNation member, explains why child care is, at its core, a business issue. High-quality care, particularly for infants and toddlers, helps set the foundation for future success and provides parents the security to return to the workforce. Saks emphasizes that to fully recover from the pandemic, we must invest in child care.

Adam Saks, President, UltraStar Multi-Tainment (Part 1)

Adam Saks, President of UltraStar Multi-Tainment and Executive Director of the Maricopa (AZ) Economic Development Alliance, explains why infant-toddler child care is inherently a business issue. As an employer, Saks has seen firsthand that workers are happier and more productive when they know their kids are safe and well cared for.

Maxine Clark, Founder and former CEO, Build-A-Bear Workshop

Founder and former CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Maxine Clark, shares why high-quality child care for infants and toddlers is critically important to both working parents and the economy. Over the course of her career, Clark has seen first-hand the impact of affordable care for employees and businesses. Maxine also serves as Co-Chair of the ReadyNation CEO Task Force on Early Childhood.

Billy Canary, Retired President and CEO, Business Council of Alabama

Retired President and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, Billy Canary, shares the critical importance of child care, particularly for infants and toddlers. As a prominent member of the Alabama business community, he has seen first-hand the impact of reliable, affordable child care for working parents and employers alike. Canary shares how businesses and government can come together to address the shortcomings of our child care system and ensure kids and parents have access to the care they need.

Jack Brennan, Chairman Emeritus, Vanguard

Jack Brennan (Chairman Emeritus, former CEO, and Senior Advisor with Vanguard) shares why access to high-quality, affordable child care for infants and toddlers is crucial to our economic recovery and development. He explains that child care is a critical consideration for reopening businesses and retaining parents in the workforce.

Jack McBride, CEO, Contec, Inc.

Jack McBride underscores the irreplaceable, earliest years of learning, noting that healthy brain development for infants and toddlers is essential for building the foundational skills that set these young children up for success in school, work, and life as they grow. Investments in high-quality early child care help put young children on a path to that success.

Jennifer Flynn Dear, Managing Director of Community Impact, KPMG

Jennifer Flynn Dear, Managing Director of Community Impact for KPMG, explains how high-quality child care plays a vital role in early childhood brain development. She also notes how the infant-and-toddler child care crisis keeps many businesses and employees from operating at full-strength.

Antwanye Ford, President & CEO, Enlightened, Inc. and Vice Chair, U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce

President & CEO of Enlightened, Inc. and Vice Chair of the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce, Antwanye Ford, shares his perspective on how high-quality, affordable child care impacts the workforce and overall economy. He highlights that the infant-and-toddler child care crisis is a critical business issue and more must be done to preserve and strengthen the early childhood sector.

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