Young Entrepreneur Celebrates Milestone Success in Business

Just two years into her business, Lisa DeRienzo, chief executive officer of A Smart Nanny, a childcare referral company based in Ossining, has gone from recruiting a handful of qualified nannies to recently signing up her 100th college-educated child care professional.

It’s a tour de force for this 31-year-old entrepreneur who prides herself on providing families in Westchester and Fairfield counties with the best childcare options.

Most parents usually look for trustworthy candidates who have several years of experience working with children, but nanny agencies don’t often require their applicants to hold a college education.

And while a nanny career isn’t the first thing that college-educated women might think of right out of college, DeRienzo, who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in childhood education, says combining a college education with a passion for children is the perfect blend.

“Early on I saw the value that such qualified caregivers could give to children and their families, and that was really the driving force behind my company right from the start,” she says.

DeRienzo knows only too well the situation that many bright young women often find themselves in. After completing her graduate education at Mercy College, she was unable to find a teaching job. She worked instead as a nanny for a local Westchester family and before she knew it, friends and family were asking her for help finding similar jobs, which is how A Smart Nanny was conceived.

Not only do DeRienzo’s nannies come with a college education, many of them have extensive backgrounds as teachers and nurses. That’s a plus for anxious families seeking qualified candidates to not only care for their kids’ basic needs, but also to help with homework and provide necessary emergency help if needed.

DeRienzo’s diligent background checks, a successful rapport with families and a reliance on local talent has helped grow her business, and it is the perfect combination that local families are looking for when seeking dependable nanny care, she says.

Riding on the company’s success and based on current demand, DeRienzo has added babysitters and qualified tutors to her list of qualified candidates. All of the tutors she hires are qualified to tutor students in kindergarten through 12th grade in various academic subjects.