Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My children were my inspiration! My whole purpose was to help my kids, and then another parent asked me to help her daughter, who was struggling to read. She told a friend. Then that friend told another. And before I knew it, what started at my kitchen table turned into something much bigger. It never stopped being personal for me. Every student I work with reminds me of those early days with my own children. The frustration. The self-doubt. The stress they feel.

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated knowing that we are helping students, some are adults who graduated from high school on a 3rd grade reading level, learn to read and allowing them an opportunity to pursue their dreams, which may not have been possible without our help.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the $25,000 to invest in a specialized reading program I have had my eye on that teaches students how to read in significantly less time, often in two-thirds less time than our current approaches. In addition, the funding would support training for our instructors so the program is implemented with fidelity, ensuring students get the full benefit of the approach.