Mary Rizzardini of Westmont is a co-owner of Grand Avenue Preschool and Day Care, which has locations in Western Springs, La Grange and LaGrange Highlands.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have two sons, 29 and 26.
Q: What are the locations of the Grand Avenue Preschool and Day Care?
A: In the Grand Avenue Community Center in Western Springs, at Spring Avenue and Seventh Avenue School in La Grange and at Highlands Middle School in LaGrange Highlands.
Q:What is the age range of students?
A: We have 575 students, from 2 years old to fifth grade.
Q: What makes your school unique?
A: We’re more academic based. We feel we get children ready for kindergarten. We also help them develop self-help and social/emotional skills.
Q: What do you enjoy about the business?
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A: It sounds cliche, but making a difference for children and their families. It’s also a small community so knowing the families makes it a great place to run a business.
Q: What is a funny thing a child has said?
A: We had a career day. One girl’s mother was an attorney and her father worked at Pizzeria Uno. She said, ‘My mom makes the money and my dad makes the pizza.’
Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: I just saw “Moonlight” so that comes to mind.
Q: What’s your favorite book?
A: I really liked “The Kite Runner.” It wasn’t like my usual reads, but I really liked it.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I do yoga and play racquetball. I live on a little lake is Westmont so I kayak.
Q: What’s a favorite vacation?
A: Every year, my sister from Alabama and I go to Appleton, Wisconsin. We spend a week with my other sister. We go to the Joy Conference, which is a one-day conference that has speakers who talk about motivating topics.
Q: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
A: To be a mind reader. In this business that would really be handy.
Twitter @triblocalam