New Franchisees Bring a Passion for Tech & Education to Code Ninjas in Wake Forest, NC
The Preddice and Dabal families can hardly contain their excitement about bringing a fun STEM and coding program to kids in their community.
From friends to business partners, Michelle Preddice and Andrea Dabal have begun a new adventure together as Code Ninjas franchise owners. They look forward to providing kids in their community with a fun and valuable STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program combining problem-solving, logic, adaptability, creative thinking, and of course, the language of it all: coding. Help us welcome them to the Code Ninjas family!
1. Please tell us a little about yourself — background, interests, family, and anything else you want share.
With Code Ninjas, we found the perfect opportunity to combine our interest in entrepreneurship, background in technology and passion for children and education. Just as exciting, we found the perfect partner for this new adventure in each other! We met through our children years ago and are thrilled to be embarking on this new adventure together. Now, let us tell you a little more about us and our supportive families.
We found the perfect opportunity to combine our interest in entrepreneurship, technology, children, and education!
Andrea Dabal: Originally from Brazil, our family moved to South Florida when I was 11 years old. Though I’ve traveled the country for work, my husband Scott and I love the East Coast and were ecstatic to find Wake Forest here in North Carolina. Our sons enjoy soccer, golf, taekwondo, drums, and video games. We love to travel and learn about new cultures, and I find the four languages that I speak often come in handy! We have a hectic lifestyle with two corporate jobs and two active young boys, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Michelle Preddice: I am a native New Yorker who has called beautiful Wake Forest, North Carolina home for the past ten years. We love our neighborhood trails, swimming pools, and backyard fun with friends and family. My husband, Matt, and I have two children; our son is barreling through middle school while my daughter is rocking elementary! Work, school, sports and activities keep us busy, but family comes first, and we always make time for vacations — usually involving a beach or lake.
2. What was your profession or career leading up to joining the Code Ninjas franchise?
We both come from the world of technology, following different paths that combine into complementary skill sets, offering both depth and breadth in business to Code Ninjas. Michelle has delivered results as an internal operations expert aligning processes, technology and resources, while Andrea excels in sales, problem-solving, and external client management.
We both come from the world of technology, offering both depth and breadth in business to Code Ninjas.
After studying Health Services Management at the SUNY Institute of Technology, Michelle quickly branched out spending time in healthcare, financial services, and most recently the open-source software world where collaboration and clarity were keys to success. Michelle brings a depth of knowledge in data analysis and business strategy, and excels at working cross-functionally with a myriad of teams and levels within the organization.
Andrea studied both engineering and business, graduating with High Honors in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Florida. She then went into an intensive leadership program with a Fortune 100 healthcare company, where she currently serves as an Executive Client Director helping large health systems provide better patient care through technology and change management. She has won numerous awards for her sales leadership and was recognized as a growth champion.
Mentorship and training are important to both partners, and they have been recognized for their leadership in these areas. Putting people first is a core philosophy.
Mentorship and training are important to both partners, and they have been recognized for their leadership in these areas. Putting people first is a core philosophy.
3. What made you decide to become Code Ninjas franchise owners?
With children ranging from five to twelve years of age, we have experienced most of the after-school, summer, and track-out camp enrichment opportunities that are available. While we felt good about the number of sports and outdoor activities as well as creative pursuits, we didn’t see a lot of STEM options — and certainly very few that sounded fun! The opportunity to create our own business with the support of the Code Ninjas team and bring the fun and collaborative learning environment that Code Ninjas provides to our community was just too good to pass up.
The opportunity to create our own business and bring the fun and collaborative learning environment that Code Ninjas provides to our community was just too good to pass up!
4. What are you most excited about as a Code Ninjas franchisee?
While we appreciate that our children are growing up as fearless users of technology, we know that the power lies not simply in the usage but in the understanding of the underlying STEM concepts of problem-solving, logic, adaptability, creative thinking, and of course, the language of it all: coding.
We are both energized by the idea that we can introduce our children — and future leaders — to a community where they are learning valuable skills that will impact both their lives and the lives of others. We love that Code Ninjas’ four-year curriculum will allow us to really build relationships with kids and families in our community. And as women in technology, we are thrilled to be part of a program that encourages both boys and girls to pursue their interests in technology.
As women in technology, we are thrilled to be part of a program that encourages both boys and girls to pursue their interests in technology.
5. What do you think will be the most challenging part of being a Code Ninjas franchisee?
Containing our excitement! As we have shared our new venture with family, friends and members of the community, we have received a tremendous amount of validation that Code Ninjas is the right idea at the right time. While we are thrilled about the “If you build it, they will come” reception, we know that we need the right people on our team to succeed. We are looking for a team of smart, enthusiastic, and caring individuals who will help us create a community that encourages and empowers students to not only earn their next belt, but also grow in the skills and confidence that will positively impact all their endeavors.
We have received a tremendous amount of validation that Code Ninjas is the right idea at the right time!
6. What advice do you have for anyone considering owning a Code Ninjas franchise?
Although a young company, Code Ninjas has invested in their franchise program to help you bring Code Ninjas to your community very efficiently and effectively. There are a variety of partners in place to enable success; including building out your center, marketing to your community, and operating your center on an ongoing basis.
In addition to corporate support, we have been most impressed with the community of franchise owners and their willingness to share ideas and work together to build the Code Ninjas brand nationwide. Living up to the Code Ninjas promise, they have created a community of collaborators in their franchisees where new ideas are encouraged and sometimes incorporated in the overall program.
We have been most impressed with the community of franchise owners and their willingness to share ideas and work together to build the Code Ninjas brand nationwide.
Of course, we agree with our fellow franchisees when we tell you to go visit the mothership (Code Ninjas HQ) in Pearland, Texas!
Code Ninjas Wake Forest is projected to open Summer 2018. Visit their website and like their Facebook page for updates.
Code Ninjas® is the leading kids coding franchise, with hundreds of locations opening nationwide. In our centers, kids ages 7–14 learn to code by building video games in a fun and engaging environment, with support from our Code Senseis. Parents are amazed as their children gain ninja-like skills and confidence, progressing from white to black belt. Code Ninjas: Kids have fun, parents see results.®
