It was the fall of 2020 when the YMCA of Greater Michiana launched a small child care center in the Northside Child Development Center in Niles. Begun with the hopes of providing care for 12 infants and toddlers, the center burgeoned rapidly over the next 18-months, outgrowing their space and serving more than 200 youth. The result is the team has advanced from not only running child care, but to providing preschool, before and after school care, and summer camp for their students, forcing them to open a second location in the near future to help continue to provide for families in the community. Nominators contend that working from outside of the location you can really see the impact the center has had on the community and the youth they serve, driven by three key words that best describe their operations: family, culture and committed. Thanks to management that is always listening, always available, yet always challenging the staff, employees feel very much like a family, and there is always someone you can go to to work out issues on a daily basis. When the program began, the plan was to have 2 full time and 2 part time staffers. Now, they are at 14 full time and 20 part time and growing again. The Northside Child Care Center at the YMCA of Greater Michiana has garnered a place among the 20 Best Places to Work in Southwest Michigan for 2022.
What is the name of the business you are nominating?
Northside Child Care Center
Who are the owner(s) and/or principals in this company?
YMCA of Greater Michiana. Director: Holly Dienes
Business Contact Information
Northside Child Care Center, 2020 N 5th Street, Niles, MI 49120
How many people work at the company you are nominating?
30 at the Child Care Center
Tell us the story behind the nominated company. What does it do, and what sets them apart from other companies in the region?
In October of 2020 the YMCA of Greater Michiana started a small child care center in Northside Child Development Center. The center started in hopes of providing for the care for 12 infants and toddlers. Over the past year and a half they have outgrown their space serving over 200 youth. They have moved from not only running child care but to providing preschool, before and after school care and summer camp. They will be opening a second location at Hope Church in the near future to help provide further care for families in the community. Northside Childcare Center does its best to provide affordable child care and help families that need it the most.
In your own words, why do you think this company deserves to be declared to be one of the 20 Best Places to Work in Michigan’s Great Southwest?
Working from outside of this location you can really see the impact it has had on the community of Niles and the youth they serve. The Y always tries to set itself apart in running childcare throughout all of Berrien County. Staff have the opportunity to further their education while working in childcare with the option of getting their CDA. The Y also looks to hire families that could benefit from child care and the discounts that go along with being a staff member at the Y.
What makes workers proud to say they work there, and keeps them a part of the team?
Everyone feels like family. There is always someone to go to. Staff are willing to help each other out. Management is always present and working in the classrooms. Staff have the ability to further their education through a CDA program. Staff have the ability to take advantage of free or reduced price child care.
Let’s pretend you’re writing a review for Yelp! or Trip Advisor. Give us your best recommendation for the nominated company that would make the rest of us wish we worked there, too.
Having my own daughter in one of the classes, you can tell how much the teachers care about these children. We get multiple daily updates about our children and what they are doing in the classroom.
What three key words best describe why this company is a Best Places to Work caliber company?
- Family
- Culture
- Committed
As a Best Places to Work company “Super Hero,” what are the two most magical “Super Powers” this company seems to have on a day-to-day basis? (i.e., Ability to read minds, fly, invisibility, etc) And why?
Super Power One: Caring
Super Power Two: Efficiency
Tell us about the leadership of the nominated company and what they do in order to:
A] Keep spirits and motivation high? — Present in classrooms and listens to staff. Fills in where needed.
B] Keep innovation and fresh ideas advancing? — Shares ideas, leads by example, takes others advice/ideas.
C] Keep communications open? — Always listening, always available, challenges staff.
Explain a specific “wow!” moment in this company’s history that is virtually “Hall of Fame” or “Best Practices” worthy, as an example to other companies in the region.
When this childcare center first opened the plan was to have 2 full time and 2 part time employees. Throughout the past year and half Northside now employee 14 full time and 20 part time employees
Best Places to Work have a reputation for not only working hard, but also for playing hard.
A] How does the nominated company honor or reward success? — Bonuses, annual raises, paying for CDA program
B] How does the nominated company socialize as a team? — Monthly get togethers, Professional Leadership Labs
C] How does the nominated company get involved in community events? — Through the YMCA (Healthy Kids Day, PGA, Trunk or Treat, School Events)
D] How does the nominated company celebrate life? — Support one another outside of work
Write a brief, but compelling, recruitment ad telling people about why they should come and work there, too.
Family Environment, Flexible Scheduling, YMCA membership, Free and reduced childcare, Education advancement.
What one thing is special about your nominated company that most people in the community have no idea actually happens there, but should be shouted from the rooftops because it’s that cool?
They truly care about the kids and watching them advance and grow. This goes beyond the kids as well as staff who are also there to help one another achieve their goals
Give us three employee perks or benefits that you think make the company you have nominated worthy of a Best Places to Work trophy?
- Flexible scheduling
- Free and Reduced Child care
- Free YMCA membership
If this is your company and you win, write the best headline ever for your company newsletter describing your successful selection to the list, and be as specific as you can about how you would celebrate the win if money were no object.
Congratulations to all the staff that make Northside the place it is!
Tell us anything else you want about this company that you suddenly realize we haven’t asked you about, but you’re sure will be the thing that puts you squarely into the winner’s circle! (Wait a minute! Can you put a square in a circle?)
The YMCA of Greater Michiana is a great place to work offering jobs in many different areas of expertise. Child care has excelled and expanded in great ways recently. Northside Childcare Center is a great example of this and how to build a special team that go above and beyond for one another and all the kids involved. Success like this takes great leadership and someone that is constantly committed to excellence and seeing all parties excel.
