Nanny of the Year Acceptance Speech Jenny Brown: 2005 INA NOTY

I am honored and overwhelmed at being chosen the 2005 INA Nanny of the Year. I thank the International Nanny Association, (INA), and specifically the INA Nanny of the Year Selection Committee for giving me this opportunity to be recognized for something I passionately love. I am so thrilled to be involved with such a highly acknowledged and respected group as the INA. This is such a wonderful venue for a “career nanny”, such as myself. It is truly amazing to come to this conference and realize how many nannies feel the same way.

I started my child care career as a lead preschool teacher. I loved what I was doing, but the politics associated with corporate daycares, became too much. I met the Otterholt family who attended the daycare and found out they were expecting their third child. In July of 1994, they asked if I would be their nanny when the mother went back to work. I had never thought about nannying, but I liked the prospect. I accepted the offer and never looked back.

I started my nanny career with Casey (now 15-years-old), Kris (now 13), and Cody (now 10) November of 1994. The first year was great but also a little lonely. I decided I needed to get connected with other nannies. I met a couple of people who told me about the Northwest Nanny Association, (NWNA), co-founded by Tonya Sakowicz. I was extremely eager to be involved with this group. I became very involved and in 1998 was elected secretary. The following year, the president decided to step down and I was elected to her post. I have been the president for the NWNA since May 1999. With the help of my board members, we have tried to make the NWNA a positive resource for nannies to connect with each other through scheduled play dates, nanny night out, and hands on training with speakers specializing in topics such as car seat safety, infant child CPR, Heart Saver First Aid, and Poison Control. We even had Joseph Garcia, author of Sign With Your Baby, speak at one of our monthly meetings. I was able to get a local community center to donate space to hold the presentation. Fliers were made for the event, which were placed at stores, community centers, and libraries. We had over 100 people in attendance and Joseph Garcia sold out of his signing kits. I have tremendous interest in any information, classes, seminars and literature that could help and inform myself and the members of the Northwest Nanny Association.

There are many people I would like to acknowledge today. First, I want to thank my family for traveling from Seattle to Las Vegas for the INA Nanny Of The Year Lucheon with me. My sister Becky and her boyfriend Joe, thank you for being you and for always making me laugh. Dad, thank you for coaching the Chickadees in sixth grade. This was my first experience on a softball team and you taught me how to be a team player. Although we won only three games, the Chickadees were definitely a team and I developed my love of the sport. Grandma, the matriarch of our family, thank you for showing me the value of family. I only wish Grandpa could be here, too. And Mom, you taught me everything I know. I respect you as a single working mother. You always taught me right from wrong and instilled the values I carry to work and through life everyday. You are my rock. Thank you and I love you all.

I would like to thank Leann Brambach, owner of Home Details, Inc. for secretly working with my employer on this nomination. I was touched by your kind words. Thank you, Michelle McNabb for introducing me to the INA and for your support through the INA Nanny of the Year nomination process. Angela Fooshee, you have always welcomed Sofia, Dylan, and I with Jenny Brown open arms when we travel to Virginia. Thank you for your hospitality. The Board members, sponsors, and members of the Northwest Nanny Association, including Michelle McNabb, Gwen Otey, Kimberly Waterhouse, and Jan Barnes, who are also here today. I appreciate all of your support and continued participation of the NWNA. I am so proud of our organization for showing the Northwest we are true professionals and strive to keep a positive image for our profession. I want to recognize the agencies and educators here today. Your work is extremely valued and without it, some of us wouldn't have our wonderful jobs and continued education. A special thank you to someone who was unable to make the trip this year, Judi Julin, who has always been there when I needed a temp job to earn some extra money and who placed me in my current job, for which I just celebrated my four year anniversary.

Finally, I want to thank Lee Dawson and Venetia Espinoza- Dawson for allowing me the privilege to be the nanny for Sofia who is 4-years-old and Dylan who is 2-years-old. I am so lucky to have the two greatest kids look to me for guidance and structure through their day. I truly love them and learn something new from them every day.

This coming year will be full of excitement and I hope I honor the INA and make them proud. Michelle La Rowe, watching you accept your award last year, inspired me to be the best nanny that I could be. I would like to use this year as a means of bringing some positive attention to the Seattle area. I'm encouraging my members to get involved with INA. At last year's INA Conference in Boston, there were two of us. This year there are five.

I'm looking forward to personally getting involved with the INA. Thanks again, for entrusting me to represent the International Nanny Association as the 2005 INA Nanny of the Year.