Alongside my husband, Nick, I am the owner of The Learning Experience of Bel Air, a preschool that provides the essential building blocks to the littlest learners of our community. We are so grateful to service families in the community and to provide a safe and comforting learning environment for their little ones to learn, play and grow amidst this fast-paced world that we live in.
Stepping back to my roots, I am proud to say I am a true local! I was born and raised in our community. Growing up, I attended Youth’s Benefit Elementary, Fallston Middle and Fallston High School. I am so grateful to be a part of this community, with my loving family, and all the amazing friendships I made here and still hold dear to this day.
People often ask what led me to where I am today. Well, let’s just say the ‘owner of a Preschool’ wasn’t the answer I provided as a child when someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was going to be an engineer, set out to change the world! As a child in high school they tell you to choose a career path, and you know nothing more than to look at your interests and pick a direction. For me, I had a love for math and science and this burning desire to make a difference in the world. So, just like everything else I did, I set out to chase that dream, with every ounce of my being. Spending countless years with my head in the books, I took to the path I chose without looking back. I checked all the boxes, obtained the degrees, a bachelor’s in bioengineering from UMD and a master’s in mechanical engineering from JHU to be exact, and landed a dream job as a biomechanical engineer, working for the army to design protective gear for our front line. I had made it! I did everything right. But what I had forgotten to do along the way, was follow my heart. When it was all said and done, while I loved my job, something was missing.
We grow, we learn, we change paths, with the hope to ultimately find something we love. And I truly believe that if we follow our heart, it will lead us to right where we belong. And that’s exactly how it happened for me. Along the beaten path, while I thought I was chasing my dream to be this world changing engineer, I discovered my true passion was to work with children and to teach. But after all my studies and 10 years as an engineer, I was scared and didn’t know how to fill the void.
The true change happened for me in 2017, with two life-changing events. Nick and I brought our first beautiful baby boy into this world, opening my eyes to what life is truly all about; family and love. And then shortly after, my father passed away. Time stopped still for me in that moment. And I quickly saw that life can change in the blink of an eye. If the opportunity was ever going to arise to make a change in my career, where I felt stagnant, that was the time. February my son was born, April my father passed, September we learned about The Learning Experience and November we signed the contract. We barreled in headfirst and it was the best career decision I could have ever made. I thank my husband everyday for standing by my side, believing in me, and taking the risk.
And so today, I am right where I want to be, with a loving husband, two beautiful children, a mother with a heart of gold, family and friends that I adore, and a career that I can truly say that I love.
So, while in the end I may not be making a huge difference in “the world”, I am so proud to be making a difference in “our little world”, right here in my hometown of Bel Air; one teacher, one family, one little learner at a time… with the hope that they will grow, follow their dreams, and one day leave their own footprint in this big old world we live in.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My husband, Nick and I have been together for 15 years and married for 9. In addition to being my wonderful husband and father of our children, Nick is also my business partner at The Learning Experience. He worked for Under Armour for 12 wonderful years, before leaving in February 2023 to join me full time. We have two children, Henry, age 6, and Zoey, age 4, who are our everything. We are so grateful for our beautiful and healthy children who have made our family complete.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Before opening The Learning Experience of Bel Air, I was a biomechanical engineer at the Army Research Lab at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. While I loved my work as an engineer, I just didn’t feel complete in my career. I felt that while I could make an impact through my research in many years to come, I wasn’t making the impact in our community today that I ultimately yearned for. Joining the Learning Experience family in 2017 was the best decision for me. This career change has provided me the opportunity to make the difference I was looking for. I can honestly say that I love what I do each and every day. It’s that feeling you get when seeing the progress and development of children in your care and the smiles on their faces because of the love, care and education you’ve provided them. It’s simply unmeasurable.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Mucho Gusto, Tutto Fresco, The Local, and 111 Main.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
My entire life! I am so grateful to now be raising my family here in my own hometown.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Alice Puckett. She was my field hockey coach at Fallston High School and the one who inspired me to continue on to play hockey in college. In our community, Alice Puckett is a sports legend.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I love both action movies as well as romance comedies. I’m a sucker for Hallmark movies, especially around the holidays. As far as TV show… Friends, New Girl, Survivor.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Find what makes you happy and do it with all your heart. Be persistent; ask questions; make mistakes; learn from your mistakes; give yourself credit; be proud; be confident; word hard. If you have a dream, chase it. Don’t let anyone or anything stand in the way.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Of those businesses still around, The Harford Mall, Forest Hill Lanes, Ice World and Friendly’s. These were a few of the older businesses that remind me of my childhood.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Carrie Underwood. I’m a country girl to the bone and have followed Carrie since her start on American Idol. I would go to the local for their good local food, comforting atmosphere, and live music.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I love that Harford county is a place that so many people have chosen to call “home” for life. Of those who were born and raised in this town, although many have gone away for college or work at some point in time, they always seem to find their way back here to settle down and raise a family of their own.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
In addition to the hope of expanding our business, in 5 to 10 years, I also look forward to spending more quality time with my family.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I was an avid athlete growing up in our community. While playing both softball and field hockey through high school, I continued on to play field hockey at the University of Maryland at College Park. While my closest friends and family do know, most people do not know that I was so fortunate to be a part of 2 national championship wins for field hockey at the University of Maryland in 2005 & 2006. Being a part of a team competing at that level was an incredible opportunity and an experience I will cherish forever.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My family. They are my everything.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My husband, my mother, and my children, for different facets of my life. Together, my husband and I balance each other so well. His strengths are my weaknesses and he not only inspires me each day, but also provides the support to help me grow both personally and within our business. As a mother myself now, my mother is also my inspiration. She has taught me to have strength, to be patient, and to accept the things that I cannot change. My children inspire me to be adventurous, to be creative, to dream, and ultimately to love unconditionally.
Q: What community service or volunteer work do you participate in for your local community?
I am a member of the PTA at my son’s school. Along with my mother, Terry Ziegler, and sister-in-law, Melissa Ziegler, I help raise money for the Jeremy Ziegler foundation through an annual bull roast each fall. Through this foundation we strive to help provide assistance to those in the local community who suffer from addiction. Jeremey Ziegler was my brother, who unfortunately passed away in September 2019 after a long battle of addiction.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Unconditional Love, Trust and Safety
