HINGE Early Education Advisors Celebrated with Prestigious American Business Awards

Recently, HINGE Early Education Advisors received notable recognition by winning two Stevie® Awards at the 24th Annual American Business Awards®. Competing against over 3,600 entries, this distinguished childcare advisory firm was honored with a Gold Award for its outstanding contributions to advancing the early care and education sector.

Acknowledging Excellence in Childcare

The American Business Awards® are recognized as one of the premier accolades in the United States, celebrating organizations that showcase exceptional performance, innovation, and substantial impact. This year, the awards distinguished more than 250 professionals from across the globe who evaluated and selected the winners, further emphasizing the significance of HINGE's achievements in a competitive environment.

Kathy Ligon, the Founder and CEO of HINGE, said, "At HINGE, everything we do is rooted in supporting the individuals who make early education possible. They play a critical role for families and lay the groundwork for the next generation, but their contributions are frequently underappreciated. We take pride in standing behind childcare leaders, assisting them in building robust educational institutions, fostering enduring value, and broadening their influence within their respective communities."

Unwavering Support for Childcare Business Owners

The Gold Stevie Award awarded to HINGE highlighted the firm’s commitment to empowering childcare owners and enhancing the early childhood education (ECE) industry. Founded in 2003, HINGE Advisors has made a name for itself as the leading resource for those looking to grow and sell childcare businesses. Their comprehensive business insights and financial coaching have placed them in a unique position to ensure that early education providers are financially sound, allowing them to focus on delivering high-quality care and education to young children.

HINGE Advisors also emphasizes community engagement through various initiatives like BOOST by HINGE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping ECE teachers through personal financial challenges; LaunchPad, a program focused on financial literacy for early educators; Leadership Sprints aimed at maximizing team efficiency, and VALUE Workshops tailored for helping school owners make informed future decisions.

Focused on Community Engagement

In addition to receiving the Gold Award for their entrepreneurial support, HINGE was recognized in the Community Engagement Event category for the SHIFT Childcare Leaders Conference. This event stands out as it gathers an impressive array of independent childcare owners, multi-site operators, industry service providers, and private equity stakeholders, fostering collaboration and enriching dialogue that ultimately drives improvements throughout the early education landscape.

The Rising Importance of Early Education

The recent honors HINGE received come during a critical moment for early education, as national awareness regarding its significance continues to grow. With a rising demand for top-tier childcare options, the need for sustainable schools and strong leadership is increasingly recognized as indispensable for communities. “Organizations across the United States continue to set a high standard for innovation and performance,” stated Maggie Miller, President of the Stevie Awards. “The sheer diversity and quality of nominations received for the 2026 American Business Awards showcase a vibrant and competitive business ecosystem driving growth and generating meaningful impacts.”

To discover more about HINGE Advisors and their award-winning resources designed for early education business owners, you can visit hingeadvisors.com.

About HINGE Early Education Advisors

HINGE Early Education Advisors stands at the forefront of the childcare sector, boasting a wealth of over 300 years of combined experience among its team of former childcare business owners, financial specialists, and commercial brokers. They proudly maintain the largest network of qualified early education buyers and investors within the industry. Their proven methods have led to them closing more childcare transactions than any advisor nationwide, ensuring that owners maximize the return on their investment when selling their businesses. For further information, visit hingeadvisors.com.