Child care expo offers tips to veteran, novice owners

Utilizing outside resources is one technique Lubina Sultana has used in growing her Schaumburg child-care center.

For the past two years, Sultana has attended the Child Care Business Expo, where she picked up valuable information on how to expand Bode Pre-School and Child Care, a business she has owned for the past decade.

She plans to attend the expo, presented by the Women's Business Development Center, again this month. The educational event takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 21 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago.

"Even though I'd been in the industry for a long time, the expo provided workshops and training, which was a blessing," Sultana said.

The one-day event is designed for new and established home-based and center-based child-care entrepreneurs. Aspects of the expo are designed for beginning, intermediate and advanced child-care practitioners. Business experts and veteran providers will share insights on the basics of starting a child-care business in the home; record-keeping and tax issues; making a profit; how to expand a child-care business; child-care business management; computer basics, powering up your personal finances; and balancing business and self, said Liz Gardner, Women's Business Development Center director.

"We want to help the person move to the next level," said Gardner, who expects about 600 participants at the event, now in its 10th year.

Sultana says attending the expo in the past helped her with an expansion nearly two years ago when she added an infant and toddler facility. She is now planning another expansion in October, enabling her to accommodate up to 85 toddlers.

This year Sultana, of Schaumburg, is hoping to attend workshops designed to help build her management skills, and has a particular interest in a workshop on how to motivate staff members.

Sultana will also talk to vendors about how to provide health benefits to employees.

Sultana, 39, said as a director of a child-care facility, she often feels like she's on her own.

"Everyone in the neighborhood is your competition. The expo provides a support system," she said.

Gardner agreed that networking is an important aspect of the gathering.

The luncheon forum features speaker Westina Matthews Shatteen, Merrill Lynch managing director of community business development. She will explore the connections between personal and business finances, and share her personal and professional insights as a prominent black woman in corporate America, weaving in her experience of being a "preacher's kid."

"She's a wonderful motivational speaker," Gardner said.

The cost to attend is $55. For more, go to www.wbdc.org.

Building launch: The Hampton Inn & Suites broke ground Tuesday at 2061 W. Shell Drive, Libertyville.

The four-floor, 96-room hotel is due to open next spring. Sandy Sun of Sun Reality owns and will manage the property. She currently owns and operates the Country Inn & Suites and Comfort Suites in Gurnee, and a Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Libertyville.

She previously owned and operated the Buffalo Bar and Grill in Libertyville where the Walgreens now sits, at the corner of Buckley Road and Milwaukee Avenue.

Knit in public: Wool and Co. in downtown Geneva is holding a knitting event at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Knitters of all abilities are invited to bring their lawn chairs, knitting needles and lunch, and sit in front of the store at 23 S. Third St.

The event is being held in honor of World Wide Knit in Public Day.

Drawings for prizes will take place. Staff will be on hand from 2 to 3 p.m. to assist in teaching beginners.

Fitness focus: Butterfly Life recently opened at 333 W. Irving Park Road in Wood Dale. The franchise combines many aspects of women's fitness clubs. Its exclusive Life Vision system provides access to world-renown ed experts in fitness, nutrition, motivation and fashion. Members can stick to the express circuit workout or choose from more than 50 different fitness classes, including Cardio Kicks Discover Yoga and Pilates.

For more information, call (630) 860-1361 or check out www.butterflylife.com.

Kim Mikus covers small business. She welcomes comments at kmikus@dailyherald.com or (847) 427-4567.