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Emma Richardson is a Program Developer for the Child Care Business Lab at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), a Maine-based community development financial institution with a mission to build just, vibrant and climate-resilient futures for people and communities in Maine and rural regions by integrating finance, business expertise and policy solutions in ways that make the economy work more equitably.

As CEI’s Program Developer, Emma works with the Child Care Business Lab team where she develops programs and resources for both aspiring child care owners and open providers who are already serving their communities. Her programs bookend Child Care Business Lab: Get Licensed, so she enjoys working with business owners who are in different phases of their journey. Emma’s support focuses on self-reflection as she helps individuals answer questions like, “How do I know if child care ownership is right for me? What is the best location for my business? What does it mean to be a good boss?”

Prior to joining CEI, Emma spent five years as a toddler and preschool teacher where she learned to communicate with parents, work alongside fellow staff, and gained lessons in classroom leadership. While teaching and completing her graduate degree, Emma co-founded Cooperative Parenting Solutions LLC, a company whose goal was to develop an app to support co-parents in high conflict relationships. Emma went on to coach student entrepreneurs through idea building, market research, and pitching as the Student Innovation Coordinator at the University of Maine. Today Emma enjoys building relationships with everyone she works with and incorporating her experience from both inside and outside of classrooms into her work.

Education

• University of Maine at Orono, B.S. in Child Development and Family Relations
• University of Maine at Orono, M.A. in Human Development