A new Kiddie Academy, which provides schooling programs for children up to 5 years old, has opened off I-195’s Exit 11 in Upper Freehold. UPPER FREEHOLD – The opening of the new Kiddie Academy at Cox’s Corner has been an adventure for owners Kathy Naugle, Millstone, and Pam Maxwell, Upper Freehold.
The two have known each other professionally for 13 years and were former co-workers at Merrill Lynch. At Merrill Lynch, they had worked as a team to develop process improvement plans for their division.
“The one process improvement plan we struggled with was creating a work-and-life balance for ourselves,”Maxwell said. “As working mothers with our own children in day care, we never received the level of services we desired.”
She continued, “That became the basis for our plan, to provide the ultimate child-care experience for both the child and the parent.”
The owners celebrated the grand opening of their Kiddie Academy on Jan. 26, although students have been attending the center since Dec. 21.
When asked why they selected the Kiddie Academy franchise, they said because of the company’s teaching philosophies and exceptional curriculum. Both owners also cited the Kiddie Academy’s unique food service program, which provides children with a family-style dining experience that ensures good nutrition, exposes students to a variety of foods and teaches self-help.
They also said the company allowed them to make the Kiddie Academy their own by taking the traditional service model to the next level.
The academy provides services for children ages 6 weeks through 5 years old and also includes a full-day kindergarten program. They have a license to enroll 166 children and currently have 47.
Mayor StephenAlexander said he has a tremendous amount of admiration and respect for Pam and Kathy.
“I watched them throughout the entire process of opening their business and they handled everything with the utmost professionalism,” he said. “They truly embody the entrepreneurial spirit.”
Alexander said the Kiddie Academy is one of the types of businesses that Upper Freehold needs. He said the academy has a great location at Cox’s Corner off I-195’s Exit 11 and Route 524.
“I think the business is good for Upper Freehold and wish Kiddie Academy all the success,”Alexander said. “The Kiddie Academy will be a great neighbor and business resident in Upper Freehold.”
KiddieAcademy is the first business to open in the Cox’s Corner commercial subdivision. Doug Walsh, the developer of the subdivision, attended the academy’s ribbon cutting ceremony.
“First and foremost, I commend Pam and Kathy for constructing a first-class building,” he said. “This is now the cornerstone at Cox’s Corner for which business will need to follow moving forward.”
Walsh believes Kiddie Academy enriches the township with a much-needed business that provides a service to the community.
When asked about future businesses in his subdivision, Walsh said he has entertained numerous requests from businesses with applications that would “just not fit in Upper Freehold.” Walsh said he is currently working closely with an agricultural support retailer.
“With three of the building sites already sold in 2007, we anticipate a very strong 2008 and will share the news when it happens,” he said.