Among the distinguished honorees named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s prestigious LA500 and Inside The Valley Top 200 lists this year is Dr. Michael Olenick, President and CEO of Child Care Resource Center (CCRC).
Dr. Olenick’s inclusion in both publications speaks volumes about his legacy of advocacy, innovation, and service – a legacy that continues to shape the landscape of child care and family service across California and beyond. As the Greater Valley region continues to evolve, the leadership of individuals like Dr. Olenick ensures that equity, access, and opportunity remain at the heart of that progress.
“Being recognized in the LA 500 by the LA Business Journal recognizes the importance of CCRC in supporting children, families, and communities. I think this is the first time a company focused on supporting young children has been included,” said Dr. Olenick.
For Dr. Olenick, this is not the first time he has been honored as a leader of influence. In fact, this is the eight year in a row he has made The Valley 200 list. These well-deserved recognitions underscore Dr. Olenick’s powerful leadership and long-standing commitment to improving the lives of children and families across California. With a sharp focus on community, Olenick has built an organization that now supports over 100,000 children, families, and child care providers each month through child care assistance, early education programs, and more.
“I appreciate the recognition, but no-one achieves these accolades without the support of everyone at the agency. I appreciate all the hard work that everyone at CCRC does every day.”
Since taking the helm of Child Care Resource Center in 2003, he has overseen remarkable growth in both impact and scale. Today, he manages an almost $800 million budget and leads a dedicated staff of 1,400 professionals. But his leadership extends well beyond CCRC. He has played a pivotal role in shaping early childhood policy statewide and nationally. His past leadership roles
include President of Child Care Aware of America, the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network, and the Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles. His expertise has also been sought by lawmakers; he was appointed to both the California State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care and the Speaker of the Assembly’s Blue-Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education.
He was recently featured in the Hart & Hustle podcast where they discussed his journey as an early education advocate, the importance of storytelling, his personal leadership philosophy, and giving back. Watch the full podcast now.