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As chief executive officer of Lightbridge Holdings Group, Schweikert is leading the Iselin-based enterprise through a significant period of expansion. With over 150 child care centers either open or in development, the 26-year-old company is regarded as an industry leader in educational child care franchising. It’s also consistently recognized as one of the fastest-growing private businesses in the U.S. by Inc. 5000, Franchise Times and Entrepreneur Magazine. Over the past year, Lightbridge has celebrated eight grand openings, as well as the awarding of 17 new franchisee deals. Schweikert – who was named CEO in October 2021 – believes the growth underscores “the persistent demand for top-tier childcare, our team’s unwavering commitment to providing solutions for working families and streamlined processes that accelerate the time to open. … At Lightbridge Academy, we are steadfast in our mission to deliver exceptional educational childcare that families can confidently trust as part of their Circle of Care,” she said. “As we move into the latter half of this year and beyond, we will leverage this momentum to extend our reach to even more families. Our proven business model continues to resonate deeply with both entrepreneurs and communities, reaffirming our role as a trusted leader in early childhood education.” Before joining Lightbridge Franchise Co. in 2015 as president, Schweikert was in charge of developing and managing on-site employer-sponsored childcare programs for numerous Fortune 500 companies, including Merck, Prudential Financial and Bright Horizons. Her background also includes serving as the director of the United Nations Child Care Centre. In addition to her CEO role at Lightbridge, Schweikert is president of the company’s nonprofit foundation, which provides more than $800,000 in grants and scholarships to support the health, education, and well-being of children and their families.