Tierra Encantada, the nation’s leading Spanish immersion early education franchise, today announced the appointment of Shelly Sun Berkowitz – founder and Executive Chairwoman of BrightStar Care® – to its Board of Directors. The move comes less than a year after Tierra closed a landmark investment round with Susquehanna Growth Equity to accelerate franchise development across the United States. Sun, one of the most respected and decorated leaders in franchising, also acquired a small minority stake in Tierra Encantada through a secondary transaction with Susquehanna. Her appointment brings world-class franchise acumen and a powerful vote of confidence to the fast-scaling brand.
“Shelly’s experience building a high-growth, high-integrity franchise brand is unmatched,” said Kristen Denzer, Founder and CEO of Tierra Encantada. “She understands the value of operational excellence, culture, and care – values that define Tierra. We’re thrilled to welcome her to our board.”
Shelly Sun Berkowitz built BrightStar Care from one location to over 400 across the country, becoming one of the most iconic names in franchising. She served as Chair of the International Franchise Association (IFA), earned IFA’s Entrepreneur of the Year honor, was featured on CBS’ Undercover Boss, and is a published author on franchise growth strategy (Grow Smart, Risk Less).
“Franchising has the power to scale mission-driven services – and Tierra Encantada is doing that in a truly differentiated way with its unique approach to childhood education,” said Sun Berkowitz. “They’ve created a model that’s deeply needed, highly scalable, and values-led. I’m honored to support their expansion.”