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Upcoming events

    • 20 Mar 2025
    • 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
    • Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center 2880 Mountain Road, Glen Allen VA 23060
    Register

    MEMBERS: LOG-IN To Access discounted pricing.

    Make plans to join us for the 2025 Spring VCCA Conference in Glen Allen, VA.

    Doors open at 8:00am. Registration includes a light breakfast and catered lunch.

    Click ">> Show Details" for full overview including speakers & bios

    Presenters/Sessions Include:

    • Vernon H. Mason, Jr. M.Ed. - Author, Humorist, Keynote Speaker and Workshop Trainer 
    • Kathe Petchel - Business Development Specialist, Hinge Advisors and Founder & Owner, Bright Beginnings Preschools
    • Matt Benedetti, VCCA Lobbyist
    • Representative(s) from VA Dept. of Education to discuss new licensing regulations
    • VQB5 update
    • Lunch raffle drawings
    • VCCA Legislator(s) of the Year awards                           

    Our Speakers:

      Vernon Mason, Jr., M.ED. - Author, Humorist, Keynote Speaker and Workshop Trainer

      Vernon Mason has been an early childhood administrator for over 24 years with a master’s degree in early childhood administration from National Louis University. In 1991, he opened his first child care center and eventually grew his operation to four centers with 85 staff caring for 500 children.

      During this time, Vernon began consulting, training, secret-shopping and giving keynote addresses – garnering a reputation for his inspiring storytelling, candor and humor at conferences large and small. His popular keynotes and trainings come from real life experiences over decades fulfilling nearly every role in childcare – from director to plumber.

      In 2015 Vernon launched Directors Leadership Solutions out of his desire to make directors’ paths to success easier, sharing information he has learned along the way. Parent communication, staff turnover, tuition rate increases, developing a healthy work environment – these are only a handful of the topics he covers on his website and through presentations. 

      Kathe Petchel - Business Development Specialist, Hinge Advisors and Founder & Owner, Bright Beginnings Preschools 

      A graduate of Penn State University, Kathe earned her B.S. in Elementary Education with an early childhood emphasis. She began her education career working as a public school teacher before opening her first Bright Beginnings Preschool in Virginia in 1984. She now owns three sites serving more than 300 families in Charlottesville.

      In 2017, Kathe joined the team at HINGE Advisors as a staffing and operations consultant to support selling clients in the early and late stages of their transaction process. Now in her Business Development role, Kathe focuses on building relationships with potential sellers and working alongside our financial analyst as a liaison to provide support as sellers seek the value of their company.

      Kathe is the content queen at HINGE—presenting on a range of childcare topics from best hiring and onboarding practices to financial strategies for growth. She has spoken at state, national and international conferences and is involved with a number of associations including PACCA, VCCA, GCCA, CQEL, McCormick Institute, AELL, and the World Forum on Early Care and Education.

      Matt Benedetti 

      Matt Benedetti has more than twenty-eight years in business, marketing, and government relations.  The last eight at the helm of his own government relations company.  A comprehensive lobbying and consulting services firm, Matt Benedetti & Associates represents its clients' interests before legislative bodies and administrative agencies at the state and local level, as well as helping navigate the often rough and muddy waters of the governmental procurement process. MB&A also specializes in multi-state government relations consulting and management. 

    Virginia Child Care Association (VCCA) is a statewide, nonprofit membership organization of business leaders, directors, and teachers of privately owned and operated early education facilities.

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