Owner of The Goddard School of Reno (Somersett), NV, recognized for excellence in franchising

Denise Cross, owner of The Goddard School of Reno (Somersett), NV, has been named a 2023 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association (IFA). Cross was nominated by Goddard Systems, the manager of The Goddard School franchise system, and celebrated at the 64^th IFA Annual Convention.

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Owner of The Goddard School of Reno (Somersett), Denise Cross, has been recognized as a 2023 Franchisee of the Year by the IFA. (Photo: Business Wire)

The Franchisee of the Year Award recognizes leading franchise owners from IFA member brands whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model. Individuals are selected for their involvement in their communities, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit, fostering a strong and healthy culture with their workforce, and assisting their fellow franchisees when called upon.

“I am truly honored to have been nominated by Goddard Systems and recognized by the IFA as a Franchisee of the Year,” said Cross. “After spending 25 years in the corporate world, I was eager to start my own business and Goddard proved to be the perfect fit, combining a profitable business opportunity with the ability to serve my community. From day one, I wanted to create a school where teachers would have a rewarding career and children would receive an exceptional education. I couldn’t be prouder of what our team has built and can’t wait to continue providing the highest quality care and education for the Reno community for many years to come.”

The Goddard School of Reno (Somersett) is one of more than 630 locations in The Goddard School franchise system, the nation’s leading provider of premium early childhood education. With a background in business coupled with a passion for education, Cross opened the school in 2010 and has consistently delivered exceptional results across a variety of categories, including business and operational performance, health and safety, education, teacher retention and parent satisfaction. Moreover, Cross’ school is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), one of the nation’s highest early childhood education recognitions.

In addition to her day-to-day excellence as an entrepreneur and small business owner, Cross is committed to the betterment of the entire Goddard School system. As a member of the inaugural class of the Goddard Systems Advisory Council, she has helped shape the direction of the organization, including providing valuable feedback around the evolution of Goddard’s educational approach. Cross also provides functional direction and feedback to the Goddard Systems team by serving on the Marketing and Operations Excellence Franchisee Input Groups.

“The sustained success of the Goddard system for more than 35 years is a testament to our passionate and dedicated franchisees, and there is no better representative of what makes our system special than Denise,” said Dennis R. Maple, chairman and CEO of Goddard Systems and IFA board member. “Denise consistently advocates not for herself, but for the quality of our system with a focus on building a strong, unified future for Goddard Schools. I was honored to present our Chairman’s Award to Denise last year in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions to Goddard, and now am excited to see her recognized by the IFA. Our entire Goddard team, as well as all of the families she serves, are fortunate to have Denise on our side.”

In further recognition of Cross’ leadership and performance, The Goddard School of Reno (Somersett) was recognized as a member of the 2023 Goddard School Circle of Excellence, which honors the top-performing Goddard Schools nationwide that elevate the Goddard brand, reputation and business performance through outstanding achievements in education and operational delivery. To be selected, schools must meet criteria that measure excellence in performance, education, parent experience and brand stewardship.

For more information about The Goddard School, please visit GoddardSchool.com, and to learn about franchise opportunities, go to GoddardSchoolFranchise.com.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION

Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 806,270 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.7 million direct jobs, $858.5 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.

ABOUT GODDARD SYSTEMS, LLC

Established in 1988, Goddard Systems, LLC, is the manager of The Goddard School^® franchise system. The Goddard School is the acknowledged leader in the premium early childcare and education market segment. Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, Goddard Systems has been consistently named one of the leading franchises in the United States by Entrepreneur (#68 in the 2024 Franchise 500) and one of the top franchise systems in worldwide sales by Franchise Times (#70 in the 2023 Top 400). Additionally, Goddard Systems is included in Franchise Business Review’s Top 200 Franchises, a recognition of the best franchise opportunities based solely on ratings and reviews provided directly by franchise owners. Goddard Systems currently licenses more than 630 Goddard School franchises that serve almost 100,000 students in 37 states and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit GoddardSchoolFranchise.com.

ABOUT THE GODDARD SCHOOL^®

Learning for fun. Learning for life.^®

Children learn best through experience. For 36 years, The Goddard School has nurtured the extraordinary in every child, employing academically endorsed methods to ensure that children have fun while learning the skills they need for long-term success in school and in life.

The Goddard School provides every child with a warm, caring and safe environment that supports their individual social, emotional and academic development and appreciates their unique talents and personalities. The Goddard School’s proprietary educational program—backed by expert knowledge, data-driven insight and unwavering compassion for growing minds—encourages children to explore their curiosities and interests as they discover the wonder of learning. A team of acknowledged experts in various fields of early childhood education guides the children through their learning journeys.

The Goddard School serves almost 100,000 students from six weeks to six years old in 37 states and Washington, D.C. To learn more about The Goddard School, please visit GoddardSchool.com.

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