Franchise Luminary Shelly Sun Berkowitz Joins Tierra Encantada Board

May 09, 2025, MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Tierra Encantada today announced the appointment of Shelly Sun Berkowitz – founder and Executive Chairwoman of BrightStar Care® – to its Board of Directors. 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.”

Founded in 2013, Tierra Encantada is disrupting early childhood education through its distinctive franchise model – one that fuses Spanish immersion, global scratch-made meals, sustainability practices, and a play-based curriculum.

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.” Sun Berkowitz’s appointment follows Tierra’s 2024 capital infusion from Susquehanna Growth Equity, which is being used to accelerate franchise openings and further invest in systems, support, and brand visibility.

SOURCE Tierra Encantada