Learning Care Group, Inc. (LCG), the second-largest for-profit early education and child care provider in North America, announced the appointment of Tracie Wickenhauser as Chief Operating Officer, effective July 28, 2025.
In her role as COO, Wickenhauser will drive operational strategy and execution across LCG’s network of early childhood education centers, ensuring the schools continue to provide exceptional care and learning experiences for children and families.
“We are pleased to welcome Tracie to LCG,” said John Bork, CEO of Learning Care Group. “Our commitment to providing high quality care starts the minute a family is introduced to one of our schools. With Tracie’s track record of operational excellence and passion for exemplary service across all areas of the business, we believe LCG will be primed for continued operational innovation and growth under her leadership.”
Wickenhauser brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in operations, strategic planning, and customer experience across nationally recognized retail and service brands.
Before joining Learning Care Group, Wickenhauser served as Chief Operating Officer at Milan Laser Hair Removal, where she led operations for almost 400 clinics nationwide. Her leadership was instrumental in scaling the organization, improving operational efficiency through automation, and enhancing the employee and client experience.
She also served as Senior Vice President of Services at PetSmart, where she oversaw grooming, training, and PetsHotel operations, achieving record growth in revenue through customer satisfaction. Tracie’s career also includes senior leadership roles at Michaels Stores, where she served as SVP of Artistree and VP of Store Operations, implementing enterprise-wide operational improvements across more than 1,200 locations. She also held key operational roles at Kohl’s and Target, where she developed deep expertise in retail operations and team leadership.
“I’m delighted to be joining Learning Care Group and to be driving forward a mission that serves others,” said Wickenhauser. “I see an incredible opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our children, families, teachers, and communities through the work LCG is doing, and I am honored to be a part of it.”
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