Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shelley Summer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Shelley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? We’d love to hear the backstory the illustrates how you grew the firm

Scaling up Palmetto Shared Services Alliance (PSSA) has been a journey defined by persistence, vision, and adaptability. We began as a program under Greenville First Steps, and in 2017, we ventured out on our own, launching as a 501(c)(3). In those early days, Executive Director Leslie Latimer, and I, sat across from each other at her dining room table, brainstorming and wondering what direction to take next. We had big dreams of earning a “seat at the table” with other influential agencies, and we poured ourselves into meeting with as many individuals and organizations as possible. However, the early days weren’t without challenges—many in the early childhood education (ECE) field were deeply rooted in the status quo and resisted the changes we were advocating. As disruptors in the field, we often faced skepticism, but we remained committed to our work and our vision for improving ECE in South Carolina.

After two years of relentless effort, we reached a milestone when we were able to hire a part-time professional development director, which significantly expanded our reach. In 2019, receiving a sub-grant from SC Child Care Resource and Referral created a turning point for our organization, enabling us to further increase our capacity and shift perceptions about who we were and what we could achieve. That same year, we brought on another part-time professional development specialist, growing our team to four. The pandemic, despite its challenges, cemented our role as a critical resource for childcare providers. During uncertain times, providers turned to us for guidance on policies, navigating shortages, and recovering from immense disruptions. By 2022, after a two-year negotiation process, we established a key partnership with SC Childcare, which marked the realization of one of our long-term goals. That partnership allowed us to scale up further in 2024 with a full funding contract through SC DSS/SC Childcare—making all our resources free for providers statewide and paving the way for new initiatives, like a substitute workforce program. As we prepare for our 10th anniversary in 2026, we remain grounded in our motto: patience and perseverance. Every challenge has propelled us closer to our mission of strengthening and supporting South Carolina childcare programs.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I went to college and graduate school fully convinced I was going to be an art history professor! I fell head over heels in love with art history in my intro course and never looked back… that is until I got into my Master’s program. I quickly realized that I really wasn’t that academic and that the professor life might not be the thing for me! In 2005, I found myself as a single mother with a 4 year old and a 4 month old and no money. I had to find a job quickly, but I knew I didn’t want to leave my kids behind. The night I found out about the Assistant Director’s job opening at Christ Church Episcopal Preschool, I had my first lightbulb moment. What I mean is that the woman who had the job was telling a group of us that she was moving and literally the whole room when dark and out of focus and in my head I heard over and over again, “That is your job.” I applied the next day and got the job. I spent 11 years as the Assistant Director learning the ins and out of childcare and realizing very quickly, this field is no joke! I loved it because my kids could come to work with me – it was the best of both worlds for me. AT that time, I was not diagnosed yet with ADHD, but I knew from past experiences that corporate life was not for me. I thrive in a job where no two days are alike, especially one where I can make a difference in other people’s lives! I learned so much about myself during the 11 years I worked at CCEP and was so ready when the job opened at Greenville First Steps to start a shared services network for our state! I spent the first year of PSSA’s life researching how this organization should look, what resources we wanted to provide and this process itched a scratch in my brain that I never knew I had! This journey has allowed me to grow creatively, to learn new technologies, and to improve my skills as a relationship builder and i LOVE it! I am so proud of what we have accomplished in almost 10 years and I know that we make a difference in the lives of providers every single day! I used to call this my accidental career path, but now I know this is where I was meant to be all along!

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

Goodness… we have had many near misses in the past 9 years! When you rely on funding from other agencies, you have no say so in timelines. We have gotten to the point several times where because of timing, we had to ask for a temporary loan to get us through. We’ve been so lucky to have family, friends, and partners that believe in what we do, that have helped us get through the tough times. We are so passionate about what we do and I think that rubs off on everyone around us and they want us to succeed! We are so lucky!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Aside from Operations, I also manage all marketing for our organization! Everything I have learned over the past 9 years is completely self-taught. It has been a journey, but I try to put myself in the shoes of the providers, easier since I have done their job, and I think about what I would have wanted to know about from agencies supporting my work. You have to come from a place of understanding to get people to trust you and that is literally what I have focused on! I post everyday and I make it a mix of important information, fun days, and sharing info from other ECE agencies so my providers don’t miss out on anything! I have analyzed my interactions and likes, and have been able to whittle down which platforms are most impactful rather than using everything out there and stretching myself too thin!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://palmettoservices.org/
• Instagram: @palmettoservices
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palmettosharedservicesalliance
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/palmetto-shared-services-alliance

Image Credits

The group shot is by Amy Randall Phillips – local Greenville photographer – all of the others are taken by our team and are standard images.