Loyalty: this virtue has been the guiding force in Isaac Hester’s life.

After graduating from Western Michigan University, he spent six years at The Coca-Cola Company in sales and marketing. But the family business drew him home. His parents and aunt had started a daycare business 30 years ago that needed his help. He stepped up. Isaac handles transportation, personnel, government regulations, safety, and the endless details that need to be addressed by any business. However, in the world of daycare, the business is not only important, it’s precious. 

Isaac navigated the business through the challenging years of the pandemic.  “Our family did everything as we lost staff, we worked hard and survived,” he reflected. Now Kiddos Village Academy in Detroit is thriving, serving 55 children from the age of six weeks up to 12 years olds in the after school program. The Hester family has expanded their business and is now operating two additional centers in Houston, Texas.

Such an intense business called for a diversion, however.  Once again, Isaac came to the rescue when his friend James Sharp ’07, the director of the Alumni Association Softball League, passed away.  It was a perfect fit for Isaac, a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

“This is a great way to spend time with friends and to serve the school I love,” Isaac said.

The success of his family’s business is leading to another expansion. When he was asked the location, Isaac just smiled and said, “Detroit, of course!”

Loyalty:  to his Family, to his City and to CC.  Thank you, Isaac, for continuing the work of Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge.