As the founder of Kids N Us, Lori built more than a childcare business; she built a safe, loving, and educational environment families counted on during their children’s earliest years. Now, after 42 years, Lori is stepping into a new chapter, entrusting Kids N Us to a new owner who aims to push the standard even farther. The decision was made carefully, guided by the same values that shaped her work from the very beginning. Lori’s story is not a promise of success, but a reflection of what can happen when persistence, vision, and community support come together over time. It is a journey that began not with certainty, but with necessity and a belief that childcare could be done better.

Lori’s path did not follow a traditional trajectory. She was navigating adulthood without many of the safety nets others relied on, having left high school in tenth grade before later earning her GED. Making ends meet was difficult, and when she became a single mother, the need to provide became even more immediate. Despite the challenges, Lori carried a strong sense of vision and tenacity. That resolve sharpened when she began dropping her daughter off at daycare and felt an unease she couldn’t ignore. The environment did not feel as safe or nurturing as she wanted. At that moment, a thought took hold: “I can do this, and I can do it better.” What began as a personal solution soon grew into a larger mission. Lori set out to raise the standard of childcare by creating an early learning environment where safety, nurturing, and the development of essential skills always came first.

The vision was ambitious, but the beginnings were modest. Lori obtained a home childcare license and began caring for about ten children, often making do with what she had. At the same time, she returned to school to earn a degree in education, grounding her work in formal training. Progress came gradually and demanded constant adjustment. Reflecting on that period, Lori recalls, “I didn’t really take the challenges as a negative. They were opportunities to learn new things.” Even then, she saw a future where childcare could grow in both scale and quality. With the support of trusted connections, she soon moved the program out of her home and into the first Kids N Us location in 1988, laying the groundwork for what would become her legacy.

As Kids N Us found early success, Lori realized that providing truly high-quality childcare also required the right physical space. Unable to find an existing building that met her standards, she chose to design her own. Working alongside a developer, she purchased land and began constructing childcare facilities from the ground up. “Why can’t we treat children as our primary customers?” Lori asked. Guided by that philosophy, the buildings were shaped with intention: rounded doors with pinch guards, miniature sinks, and clear lines of sight all designed to create the safest possible environment. Parents who visited could see that care reflected in the space, giving them confidence that Kids N Us was built with their children’s well-being at its core.

From a single location grew a network of seven purpose-built schools, serving thousands of children. Under Lori’s leadership, Kids N Us offered care from infancy through fifth grade, supported by a highly trained team of educators, including her two children, Amber and Brennan, all focused on building confidence, independence, and problem-solving skills. Many of those teachers remained with the organization for decades, a reflection of the culture she worked to create. That impact became especially meaningful over time. “A lot of our students from 30 years ago are now our staff and our parents,” Lori says. Her commitment to excellence also gained national recognition in 2015, when Lori was named Washington State’s Small Businessperson of the Year. Nominated by her peers, the award honors business leaders who make a significant impact on their communities, employees, and industries. “It felt so validating,” Lori recalls after traveling to Washington, D.C. during National Small Business Week and being recognized at the White House.

With decades of experience behind her, Lori had the perspective to recognize when the needs of the industry were changing. As childcare regulations and expectations grew more complex, the responsibility of sustaining the level of care she demanded became heavier. After 42 years, Lori began to see that protecting the future of Kids N Us meant thinking beyond herself. The decision to step away was neither sudden nor easy and was guided by a desire to ensure the mission she built would continue to grow rather than stall. Before passing on the keys, she knew she needed to find the right successors who shared her values and had the capacity to carry that mission even further.

When Lori decided it was time to turn the page, she received multiple offers. She took time to carefully evaluate each option, guided by one central question: Who would best honor the values the organization was built on? After months of consideration, Lori chose to sell Kids N Us to Busy Bees, an international early childhood education provider whose mission closely aligned with her own. “I don’t think I could have picked a better company to take on my legacy,” she says. Lori is confident that Busy Bees’ commitment to quality care and strong educational standards will allow Kids N Us to continue serving families at the highest level. The transition also opens new doors for staff, offering expanded training and career pathways. For Lori, the transition offered peace of mind that the children, families, and staff she cared so deeply about would remain supported.

With the transition complete, Lori is looking ahead with the same sense of intention that has guided her throughout her career. She plans to remain active in real estate and continue finding meaningful ways to support the communities she has long served. She’s also allowing herself a well-earned pause, spending time with her grandchildren, traveling, and enjoying time on the golf course. “I’m not going anywhere,” Lori says. Having watched Mill Creek grow into the city it is today, Lori sees a reflection of her own journey. Through Kids N Us, she made a point of giving back, supporting local families and community events with the belief that successful businesses should strengthen the places they call home. That connection remains central to who she is, even as her role evolves.

Lori’s legacy lives not only in the schools she created, but in the example she set, one shaped by passion and a willingness to keep learning. Her journey shows that lasting progress is rarely the result of a single moment, but of steady effort, clear values, and the support of a community over time. “If you work hard, and really commit yourself, you can make your dreams come true,” she says. It’s not a guarantee, but a belief formed through decades of resilience, intention, and the shared growth of the community she has long called home.