Chicago Kiddie Academy Owners Win IFA Award
Kiddie Academy franchise owners Preeti and Vic Gulati received the IFA 2026 Franchisees of the Year award for three Chicago locations.
Kiddie Academy multi-unit owners Preeti and Vic Gulati have been named the International Franchise Association’s 2026 Franchisees of the Year. The Chicago-area operators run Kiddie Academy of Arlington Heights, Kiddie Academy of Vernon Hills and Kiddie Academy of Mount Prospect. They were selected for entrepreneurship, community outreach, workforce development and service to others. The Gulatis were among 89 award recipients honored at the IFA26 Advocacy Summit Luncheon in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 15.
Recognition for Three Locations
The IFA Franchisee of the Year awards recognize top-performing franchisees from IFA member organizations nationwide. The Gulatis’ award recognizes their work across three Kiddie Academy locations in the Chicago area.
Casey Miller, chief executive officer of the Kiddie Academy brand, said:
“We are always excited to see our franchisees go above and beyond, and are thrilled to see two dedicated members of the Kiddie Academy system receive national recognition for their hard work. Preeti and Vic have set a standard for operational excellence and community impact. We congratulate them on this well-deserved award and thank them for their continued dedication to Chicago's Kiddie Academy students, educators and families.”
Chicago Area Footprint
The Gulatis opened Kiddie Academy of Arlington Heights in 2015 and have built their footprint across the greater Chicago area. Their current locations also include Kiddie Academy of Vernon Hills and Kiddie Academy of Mount Prospect.
Preeti Gulati said:
“We are honored to receive this distinction and grateful to the brand for the nomination. The support we have as owners within the Kiddie Academy system makes creating a safe, nurturing space for children, families and educators an easy task.”
A National Franchise Honor
The award gives the Gulatis national recognition within the Kiddie Academy system, which has more than 375 open Academies in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Each franchised location in the system is independently owned and operated.
