Kangarootime’s 2023 Bounce Conference

Kangarootime hosted their second annual conference in Buffalo, New York on July 18-20, 2023 at the Aloft Hotel. This event brought early childhood educators from all over the country together to connect, learn, and grow. The goal of this event is to help childcare providers expand their knowledge in order to advance childcare forward. With over two days of content, attendees were able to learn tangible tips and strategies from industry experts to bring back to their teams. The conference also provided a space for like-minded individuals to gather and share ideas and experiences. The Bounce 2023 crowd was left motivated, energized, and inspired.

Day 1: Tuesday, July 18

Ask the Experts

Bounce 2023 started with Ask the Experts, a small group discussion with industry experts where attendees can ask questions and resolve problems relating to their business. The sessions were a success, and everyone left feeling accomplished.

Welcome Reception

The Rooftop Welcome Reception, held at Patrick’s Rooftop, was the perfect setting to reconnect and meet new people. Attendees got to see the views of Buffalo as the sun set while enjoying food and drinks.

Day 2: Wednesday, July 19

Kick-off

Bounce Emcee, Brandy Woods, started the conference with high energy after opening remarks from Kangarootime Founder & CEO, Scott Wayman.

Fred Joyal started as the keynote speaker to show attendees how to Live a Bolder Life. Each attendee received a copy of his book, Superbold, signed by Fred himself.

Next, Chanie Wilschanski took the stage. She shared new insights and connected with the audience during her presentation, Reimagining School Leadership: The New Horizon Amidst the Industry’s Midlife Crisis.

After recharging during lunch, attendees chose their track, Owners or Directors, and headed to breakouts.

Breakouts

Owners kicked off with Summer Picha, sharing tips and tricks to hire and fire the right people at your center. Kathe Petchel from Hinge Advisors followed and worked with attendees to find ways that they could increase the value of their schools.

Directors started with Buffalo local, Christina Fecio, presenting on EQ and Well-Being, an important topic in the ECE community. Rachel Supalla shared her talents next by talking more about Mastering Mentorship and Strengthening Your Middle Bench.

After breakouts, attendees headed back to the Forbes Theatre to hear from Tymothy Smith. Tym discussed Conscious Discipline for Administrators, an eye-opening and crucial topic for childcare providers.

Riverside Rendezvous Party

Once the content ended for the day, the Bounce 2023 crowd headed to Kangarootime Headquarters for a Riverside Rendezvous party. The theme was Aloha, Buffalo! and featured a Hawaiian menu, leis, a DJ, cornhole, and so much more! The party was a great way for everyone to have fun, relax, and connect before heading into the final day of Bounce 2023.

Day 3: Thursday, July 20

The last day of Bounce started with Bounce Emcee, Brandy Woods, talking about how to Ease on Down the Road to Success. Her energy started the day right and got everyone excited for what was to come.

After Brandy, a Kangarootime favorite took to the stage with his humor and candor. Vernon Mason presented on No Cost: A Leader’s Guide for Building a Dedicated Staff and Raising Morale. He left us all laughing with his stories from working in a center.

Then, Beth Cannon, ECE superstar, shared with the audience how to Build Your Leadership Bench. Attendees learned all about leadership, mentorship, and growth.

After an hour of lunch and networking it was time for breakouts.

Breakouts

The Owners breakout showcased Shira Leibowitz sharing more about creating a Purposeful Approach to Education. Following Shira, Evelyn Knight, Founder of Childcare Business Professionals hosted her Creative Recruiting Bootcamp to help attendees fill their centers with the right staff.

Meanwhile, the Directors breakout heard from Prerna Richards about Transforming Your Program from Stressful to Joyful. After, Lori Buxton from AELL discussed how to Turn Falling Stars Into Superstars, a key topic with the childcare staffing crisis.

Panel

The final day of content concluded with an insightful panel from industry experts. Scott Wayman, Tony D’Agostino, Andy Kaplan, Michelle Ellis, Christina Fecio, and Frances Powell came together to talk about The Current State of the Industry: Managing Mindsets and Moving Forward.

Buffalo Harbor Boat Ride

Bounce 2023 wrapped up with a beautiful boat ride along Buffalo Harbor. The ride was a great way to say goodbye, recap what we learned, and share our excitement for next year.