Strong Coffee Strong Women - Business Briefing: The Childcare Industry in Brevard

Name: Strong Coffee Strong Women - Business Briefing: The Childcare Industry in Brevard
Start: 2025-11-13T08:30:00-05:00
End: 2025-11-13T10:00:00-05:00
Location: Rockledge Country Club

Schedule

Thu Nov 13 2025 at 08:30 am to 10:00 am

UTC-05:00

Location

Rockledge Country Club | Rockledge, FL

Join weVENTURE Women's Business Center for a Strong Coffee Strong Women purposeful networking event. Enjoy delicious coffee with other ambitious women in our network at the beautiful Rockledge Country Club. Let us fill your cup with coffee and inspiration!
Join a community conversation around the critical importance of childcare and early childhood education to our community.
An expert panel will share data around the current childcare capacity on the Space Coast and how that is impacting families and employers, as well as data about the proven positive impact early childhood education has on a child's future performance in school and life. weVENTURE WBC and the Early Learning Coalition will share information on how we are working together to support childcare businesses and home-based childcare, including announcing new scholarships for our IGNITE 360 business mentoring program, thanks to grant from Wells Fargo.
· Childcare Capacity in Brevard County - current quality and quantity, as well as a projection of needs. # non-profit vs for profit
o Laura Gambino, CEO Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County

· The importance of early childcare on the labor force. The need for a variety of care options to help ensure parents can continue to work.
o Rick Banciella, Director, Business Engagement for Bosses for Babies, The Children's Movement of Florida

· Information about the new Age of Learning program being implement in all VPK classrooms.
o Susan Provost, Age of Learning, Inc.

· Conversation about barriers to entry or challenges existing businesses face
o Workforce
o Costs associated with center care
o Regulatory environment

· New weVENTURE WBC initiatives to help launch and grow more childcare businesses on the Space Coast!
We invite the community to participate in this important discussion - employers, parents, community organizations and business leaders - as this industry impacts all others!
We are also excited to offer FREE admission to those working in the childcare industry, thanks to sponsorship from Age of Learning. Qualifying individuals can use the discount code "CHILDCARE" when checking out.

Agenda:
8:30-9:00AM Networking and Coffee
9:00AM Welcome Remarks
9:15-10:00AM Presentation
10:00 - 10:30 Networking

About the panelists:
Laura Gambino is the Chief Executive Officer of the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County. She has served in that role since 2019, bringing over twenty years of nonprofit experience and management expertise. As the CEO, Laura has led the agency through transformation and growth during the period of change and environmental challenges. She is responsible for a staff of more than 40 and manages the statewide contract providing childcare subsidies and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten programming for more than 10,000 children and families in Brevard County with an annual budget of $39 million dollars.
Ric Banciella has led The Children’s Movement of Florida’s Bosses for Babies initiative for the past two and a half years. Through this effort, he and The Movement are building a statewide network of business and community leaders who champion early childhood by advancing family-friendly workplace policies. Under his leadership, the network has grown to include more than 120 leaders across Florida.
Susan Provost is the Florida Account Executive for Age of Learning, bringing over 27 years of experience in early childhood education and EdTech to her work with schools and districts across the Southeast U.S. A former early learning teacher with a lifelong passion for literacy and learning, Susan partners with the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard to implement Age of Learning’s evidence-based programs, including My Reading Academy and My Math Academy, in VPK classrooms throughout the county.