She’s not just the CEO, she’s also a client. When Nicole Carr started working at Little Sunshine’s Enterprises Inc. in 2008, there were three locations. Now, the company has expanded to 10 states with 20 locations. She was named CEO in 2016 and developed Little Sunshine’s proprietary LuvNotes, an electronic communication platform allowing teachers to send secure messages to parents throughout the day. Carr’s talents don’t end there. She is an executive officer for Pediatric Brain Foundation and obtained certified franchise executive credentials as a member of the International Franchise Association.
What was your first job? I was a salad bar attendant at Springfield’s Incredible Pizza.
What is your theme song? “Who Watches the Watchmen?,” by The Prize Fighter Inferno
What is your best productivity hack? My favorite productivity hack as of late is taking the majority of my calls on speaker phone to free up both of my hands for multitasking with emails, taking notes, eating, etc.
Where’s your favorite place for a business lunch? Ocean Zen
What was your professional “aha” moment? Pretty early on in my career I realized how important having the right people in the right places is for an organization, which resulted from seeing a really great employee struggle with a role she was not a good fit for. We were able to get the employee repositioned to a role she was better suited for, where she flourished.
CrossFit Republic LLC changed ownership; Springfield nonprofit Care to Learn relocated; and the Fresh Gallery in downtown Springfield transitioned into a commercial venture.