ECE CEO Biography Podcast

A passionate and published leader, speaker, and advocate, Chad Dunkley drives the strategy and culture of continuous improvement at New Horizon Academy. After earning a Juris Doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law, Chad followed his mom’s footsteps into early childcare and education. He says the moment he held his infant son in his arms, he knew there was no more important work than providing the best early education programs for young children and their families.

Throughout his career, Chad has earned international recognition as a leader. Chad was named a Most Admired CEO by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (2017) and an Exceptional Emerging Leader by the Child Care Information Exchange (2015). In 2004, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal recognized Chad as one of the region’s most outstanding leaders as one of their Forty Under 40 award recipients. Chad is President of the Minnesota Child Care Association (MCCA), Co-Chair of The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC), an executive board member of the Chad Greenway Lead the Way Foundation, and a board member of the Minnesota Business Partnership. Chad also completed a four-year term on the governing board of The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 2017.