Red Balloon Child Care Center will soon be under new ownership as Sandy Forster and Dennis Yoerg decided to put the business up for sale and got a bite.

 

“It really happened quite fast,” said Forster. “We put it on the market and 10 days later we got a call.”

 

That call was from Alise McGregor, a Plymouth woman who already owns and runs three other child care centers in the Twin Cities.

 

“We just knew right away she’d be a good fit for our business,” said Forster. “She shares our values of safety, education and high expectations for staff.”

 

McGregor has three businesses all under the name of Little Newton’s Nest Childcare. They are located in Plymouth, Champlin and Maple Grove. 

 

Forster and Yoerg first opened the doors to Red Balloon back in 1994. Sandy had been (and still is) a teacher and Dennis was subbing at a child care center in Princeton while he was looking for a teaching job when they first met. Sandy needed a business partner and through the Princeton child care’s boss, she and Dennis birthed the child care center in Becker.

 

“I knew it was a good fit since Sandy seemed very organized and is great at getting things done,” said Dennis. “We are different and have an amicable relationship that has worked.”

 

They built the current Red Ballon facility that first year, then added a kitchen in 1996 and eventually added a second half to the structure later on.

 

“I knew right away Dennis would be a great business partner,” said Sandy. “He’s a hard worker and is such an asset to the business.”

 

Their goal has always been simple from day one — create an educational setting where families have a safe and fun place to leave their children.

 

Because both owners are school teachers, the focus for the center is on educational programing. McGregor’s businesses are nearly identical in philosophy, so the company shouldn’t see too much change when the turnover happens.

 

“She’ll (McGregor) be bringing in a curriculum for our teachers to assimilate, but other than that, there really shouldn’t be a big change in how the business goes,” said Forster.

 

Forster and Yoerg had been contemplating selling the business for a while and were actually looking at a five-year plan to slowly ween themselves out. They approached staff with their plan and even asked employees if any of them might be interested in buying the company.

 

Nobody stepped forward.

 

So, with that five-year plan in their back pockets, they put the business on the market with little expectation they’d get an interested party so soon. Yoerg and Forster then sat down their employees and gave them the news.

 

“Some were shocked, some were surprised but everyone seemed happy for us,” said Yoerg.

 

Then, Yoerg and Forster had the unenviable duty of telling the parents and families.

 

“For the most part, they were very happy for us and supportive,” said Forster. “Some were a little concerned but we assured them the transition will be seamless.”

 

Besides the change to curriculum, McGregor plans to add playground equipment, security cameras and a locked entrance to the building. 

 

Currently, Red Ballon features Bulldog University which offers flexible scheduling, field trips, themed activities, homework time, outside playgrounds, and academic activities.

 

In 2003, Forster and Yoerg kicked off the  Ready Set Go program to enable children to successfully enter the school system socially, intellectually, and physically ready for kindergarten. 

 

Forster and Yoerg also own TLC University Child Care in Foley where Sandy’s daughter, Kaitlyn, is the director.

 

“It’s been a great time at Red Ballon and one of the best things was seeing families bring their kids and then see those kids go through our programs and then see some of them come back later on to work here,” said Dennis. “That is satisfying.”

 

Sandy agrees.

 

“Yes, we got to see them as babies at first, then it’s so much fun seeing them enter my sixth grade class,” she said. “It’s been great being connected with so many people.”

 

The turnover of the Red Ballon company from Yoerg and Forster to McGregor will occur May 2. As a thanks to the parents, kids and families that have been part of the Red Ballon success, Sandy and Dennis will be holding a day of celebration April 29 at the facility in Becker. They plan to have bouncy castles for the kids and serve food to visitors and several past and present families attending.

 

Sandy and Dennis — because they are teachers — will arrive to the festivities around 4 p.m. to thank all families for trusting them and their staff for 22 years of service.

 

The celebration is open to the public.