Former Occupational Therapist and Insurance Broker to Develop 5 KidStrong Franchises in Central Pennsylvania

Justin and Lauren Griffey knew they wanted more than traditional career paths could offer. After years in health care and insurance, they saw an opportunity to create a business that combined family involvement, community impact and a clear mission. When they purchased an existing KidStrong location in Lancaster in July, it marked the beginning of a new chapter that allows them to pursue work they feel good about every day.

For the Griffeys, KidStrong is more than a business venture. The program reflects the values they want for their own children: strength, confidence, emotional literacy and an active lifestyle. Their kids spend time at the center each week, building friendships and learning alongside other families in the community. By investing in KidStrong, the couple is also investing in a healthier, more well-rounded future for children in central Pennsylvania.

The Griffeys are aiming for five centers in five years so they can serve more families. Backed by KidStrong and their conviction in the brand, they’re building a durable business and a family legacy grounded in community.

1851 Franchise sat down with the Griffeys to discuss their franchising journey with KidStrong, their passion for child development and their plans for the future. Here’s what they had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Lauren Griffey: Before this, I was an occupational therapist. Fitness has been a huge part of my life since I was a kid. I played sports year-round and was in the gym every day from middle school on. I knew I wanted to do something in the health and wellness space, so I went to school for occupational therapy and worked in that field for 15 years.

When we moved to Pennsylvania and had our kids, I became a stay-at-home mom. My daughter started kindergarten this year, and my son will go next year. I knew I didn’t want to go back into health care. Through that transition from being a full-time occupational therapist — when we were living in NYC/NJ metro and working long hours for someone else’s dream — I realized that wasn’t what I wanted anymore. At the same time, I saw how important movement and exercise were not just for my body but for my brain and emotional well-being, especially when dealing with postpartum changes.

We wanted to translate that to our kids, raising them to be active, strong and well-rounded. They hike, play sports and spend most of their time outside. On top of that, I felt it was important to give them emotional literacy, to help them regulate their big feelings and understand what they’re experiencing. That wasn’t something talked about when we were kids, but I think it should have been, and it’s something kids still struggle with today.

Society is heavily focused on academics and excelling at sports from an early age, but teaching kids how to deal with the pressure that comes with that seems to get overlooked. At the same time, more sedentary lifestyles are creating problems. I did a lot of reading when my kids were little, and one book that left a lasting impression was “Spark” by Dr. John Ratey. He explores the effects of exercise on the brain and ran an experiment at a high school where students started the day with physical education. The results were remarkable: improved academic performance, better focus and even kids with ADHD coming off medication.

I knew then that creating an active lifestyle for kids had to be a priority. We have a friend who owns several KidStrong locations, and when he told us about it, I realized it aligned with everything I believed in and wanted to provide for my kids. I thought, “Why not make this my second career?” As an occupational therapist I often worked with people at their hardest moments. KidStrong allows me to make an impact at a foundational level.

1851: What was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Lauren: This is our very first experience with a franchise. I don’t know this for sure, since it’s the only franchise we’ve been involved with, but I feel like KidStrong does a really nice job of making that personal connection with you, making sure your purpose lines up with theirs. The first time I ever flew down to headquarters, I sat across the dinner table from the CEO/founder. I don’t think that’s something you would experience at other franchises. I can’t say for certain, but I don’t believe it is.

Justin Griffey: My primary business is in insurance. It’s not a franchise, but it’s very similar to a franchise model — you’ve got a corporation, structure and support, but we’re all independent contractors. I sell Aflac insurance, and it’s comparable in some ways. What impressed me most about KidStrong early on, and still today, is the level of support. Everyone is here for the right reasons: to make an impact on kids and to build a great business. 

That support is a huge factor in finding success. From what I was told, the franchise always did a great job, but it’s completely different now. It’s next level because of the scale. With that growth comes even more support, more tools, more resources and a level of technology that makes a big difference. I’ve had experience on the insurance side. It’s not a franchise, but it’s very similar in terms of the business model. I think KidStrong is doing a great job helping us build a profitable business while also making a real impact on the next generations in our community. That’s huge. It has made a big difference for us personally with our own kids, and being able to extend that to other children is very fulfilling for us.

Lauren: If I could add to that, we talked about this a lot before we committed. Justin sells insurance for a living, which has provided us a nice lifestyle, but at the end of the day, it’s still selling insurance. For me, working in health care began to feel like a factory-type experience with the way the industry is moving now.

When I left, I didn’t feel good about it anymore. As we debated whether to move forward with KidStrong, we realized this is a way to make a living that we could feel good about every single day. It was also important for us to have family involvement, to allow our kids to be part of what we were doing and to still have the freedom to never miss the important moments in their lives.

Becoming part of a community has been my favorite part so far, getting to know all the families at KidStrong, being part of their lives and creating a place where people can come together for a meaningful purpose.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Lauren: Mainly being able to foster an active lifestyle in kids and teach concepts that often get overlooked today, things like emotional literacy, teamwork and sportsmanship. Those values sometimes get lost with everything else that gets pushed onto kids, but they’re critical for success in other areas of life, too. For us, KidStrong reinforces the exact values we were already trying to instill in our own children.

Justin: I’m excited about the future of the brand. I think KidStrong is on a rocket ship, and it’s only going to keep getting better as it continues to evolve. If there’s ever a time to get on board, it’s now.

I also have a friend who owns 12 centers, and having him as a resource has been huge. He kept telling me, “You need to get on this train. It’s growing like crazy.” On the East Coast especially, it’s really taking off, which is great. The thing that excites me most is just knowing we are part of something really cool. This brand is on the rise, and now is the time to be part of it.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Lauren: I think it ties back to what we’ve said before, being able to make a positive impact on kids at a young age, helping them build a strong foundation for their future and being part of the community. For us, it’s about building community, creating a place where families can come together and having a part in molding the future generations’ children. Those are the most important goals.

Justin: Five centers in five years. For us, reaching five centers would mean growing an organization. I do that in the insurance world, and I’m excited to translate some of those skills and processes into this business. The idea of building five well-rounded centers is exciting, but even more meaningful is how many kids and families we’ll be able to impact along the way. On the business side, achieving five centers in five years would be an incredible accomplishment, and we’re full steam ahead on that vision.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Lauren: We’re really excited, not just for everything we’ve already mentioned, but also for this to be our family business. Our kids are with us two or three times a week for hours at a time. They are a part of it. They take the classes, they help the coaches wipe down equipment at the end of the night, they take part in planning the “fun events”. We want them to learn at an early age that “work” can be fun, it is possible to earn a living doing work that means something to you- but also, you need to work hard to maintain that.

They’ve also already built great relationships with the coaches in the short time we’ve owned it, and they’re making progress themselves. It’s a fun place for them to make new friends, meet new kids and continue to build community. I keep coming back to that word, but it really is what this is all about.

Justin: I think where we are in central Pennsylvania, there’s nothing in the marketplace like this. There’s no other brand or concept that really ties together all of these factors. That’s part of why we’re so excited. Of course, there’s always competition in the child development space, but when most people come in for the first time, they’re blown away. They say, “This is amazing.” And it is amazing, which is why we want families to be part of KidStrong. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Lauren: I think the first thing is, make sure you are investing in something you believe in. And the next- someone gave us this advice when we first jumped in, and it stuck with me: “It’s absolutely awesome, but be prepared for the emotional ups and downs.” The sale itself is an emotional roller coaster. Then you get into it- for us, we came in super excited, but we had some staffing challenges. We ended up having to terminate the GM in the first month, which was stressful and not something we wanted to do. I would say the third piece of advice: staffing is everything. You have to make sure that everybody is in the right seat of the bus and there for the right reasons. We hired a new GM, and within two weeks the vibe in the center was completely different. So my advice is to be prepared for those ups and downs, but also stick with it. If you believe in the product, you’ll make it successful.

Justin: At the end of the day, I think the biggest piece of advice is have fun with it. Be fully invested in the mission of the company and the brand. The biggest factor is having the backing, support and back-end systems that help you succeed — whether you want one center, three centers or five. This franchise has streamlined systems and processes and helps owners pursue their vision. They care about our vision for five centers, and that level of support has been great to see.

About KidStrong

KidStrong was founded in 2015 by Matt and Megin Sharp because they wanted a program focused on developing strength and confidence for their daughter Ella and other kids like her. Together, they partnered in 2017 with Matt's best friend and Co-Founder Lincoln Brown to help grow the program. Later, Megan Stein joined as a Co-Founder. Together they developed KidStrong, a science-based kid's training program focused on brain, physical and character development for ages walking through 11 years old. KidStrong offers a science-based curriculum that is parent-focused and taught by professionals to help accelerate milestone development and promote social and emotional strength. Today, KidStrong has grown exponentially, with more than 400 franchises sold to date since the company opened its first center in 2015. Over the next five years, KidStrong plans to have 500 open centers nationwide. For more information, visit www.kidstrong.com.