Local entrepreneurs operating second Chicago-area Academy location
Kelly Harper and Chris Grahn, owners of Kiddie Academy® of Lemont, are the new owner-operators of Kiddie Academy of New Lenox, having acquired the franchise location in March upon the previous owner’s retirement. As multi-unit owners, they customize each Academy to serve the needs of its respective community. The couple has a third location under development in Lockport.
“New Lenox is in the perfect spot for parents who work on the Silver Cross Hospital campus, especially since we offer a 6 a.m. drop off,” said Harper. “It’s also well positioned to provide drop-in care for at-home caregivers to spend a few hours enjoying the amenities of the new Crossroads Sports Complex, directly adjacent to our center.”
Kiddie Academy of New Lenox is a state-of-the-art facility featuring 10 classrooms and a large playground located at 674 Cedar Crossings Drive. Along with Kiddie Academy of Lemont, located at 15907 127th Street, Harper and Grahn serve a combined 310 children and employ 41 educators in the Chicago area.
Harper, a mother of four, holds an MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship and a background in legal-technology sales. Grahn brings his expertise in technology to Academy operations, hosting synchronized holiday light shows to enhance the family experience. Harper and Grahn seek to improve the quality of educational child care offerings in Chicagoland, which led them to pursue a career in early childhood education franchise ownership. When Harper and Grahn opened Kiddie Academy of Lemont in 2021, it was recognized as the New Academy of the Year across the Kiddie Academy system.
As Chicago natives, the couple understands the importance of being fully immersed in the community, sponsoring Little League in nearby Joliet and supporting several New Lenox community events.
“We want to meet parents where they are in the New Lenox, Lemont and Lockport neighborhoods we serve with quality educational programs,” Grahn said.
For more information, visit kiddieacademy.com/new-lenox.
