Leadership

Daniel Dzikowski

Owner/ President

Daniel Dzikowski is the proud President and Founder of Bubbles Bears to Books, bringing a unique blend of business expertise, creativity, and a genuine passion for early childhood education. After spending 17 years as a professional chef, Daniel followed his entrepreneurial spirit and opened Bubbles Bears to Books in October 2006.

With a strong business mind, hands-on leadership style, and true love for children, Daniel has dedicated himself to creating a welcoming environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive. One of his greatest joys is interacting with the children and watching them reach important milestones, including having the special experience of watching his own three children grow through the center.

Daniel’s unwavering dedication, entrepreneurial vision, and commitment to excellence have been driving forces behind the company’s continued growth and success. He takes great pride in the team he has built and remains passionate about expanding Bubbles Bears to Books while preserving the family-centered values that have defined the company since its beginning. His vision is to create more opportunities for children, families, and educators while maintaining the highest standards of care across every location.

Outside of the company, Daniel shares his musical talents as an organist at St. Oscar Romero Parish in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. His strong leadership, warm personality, and dedication to both his employees and the families he serves continue to shape the future of Bubbles Bears to Books, building a lasting legacy rooted in quality childcare, meaningful relationships, and a genuine love for children.

Rachel Dzikowski

Owner/Vice President

Rachel Dzikowski joined the Bubbles Bears to Books family in 2021 and earned the title of Vice president in 2023. She grew up in the North Hills of Pittsburgh before attending West Virginia University, where she earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree. With more than 20 years of experience at Rite Aid, progressing from pharmacy intern to management, Rachel built a successful career rooted in strong leadership, operational excellence, and an exceptional work ethic. Known for her determination and ability to lead by example, she developed a deep understanding of how to build strong teams and drive lasting success. She continues her passion for healthcare as a clinical pharmacist specializing in rare disease when she is not at the daycare.

As a third-generation entrepreneur, Rachel comes from a family with a rich history of business ownership and a deep appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice required to build a successful company. Her entrepreneurial roots instilled in her the belief that lasting success demands more than hard work. It requires a clear vision, the courage to make difficult decisions, a healthy tolerance for calculated risk, and the perseverance to turn ambitious goals into reality.

Rachel is passionate about expanding Bubbles Bears to Books while preserving the warm, nurturing, and family-centered environment that has defined the company since its founding. Her unwavering commitment to excellence, strong business instincts, and forward-thinking leadership make her a driving force behind the company’s future. She firmly believes that great businesses are built through hard work, and the determination to turn a bold vision into lasting success.

Elyse Friend

District Manager

Elyse has been a valued member of the Bubbles Bears to Books family since 2013, when she joined the company as the Center Director of our Canonsburg location. With a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Education from Washington & Jefferson College in Washington Pennsylvania, Elyse brought a strong educational foundation, natural leadership abilities, and a genuine passion for early childhood education. Through her dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence, she successfully helped grow the Canonsburg center, earning her promotion to District Manager in May 2025. Today, she proudly oversees all of Bubbles Bears to Books locations.

Known as the team’s biggest cheerleader, Elyse has a remarkable ability to bring out the best in those around her. Her approachable personality, genuine kindness, and infectious positivity have made her one of the most loved and respected members of our organization. Whether supporting her team, connecting with families, or navigating the challenges of running multiple centers, Elyse has a way of making everyone feel valued and appreciated. She leads by example, creating a culture of teamwork, encouragement, and mutual respect.

What truly sets Elyse apart is her ability to balance the heart of childcare with the business demands of operating successful centers. She understands that strong leadership sometimes requires making difficult decisions, yet she approaches every challenge with confidence, compassion, and a level-headed determination to find solutions. No matter how demanding the situation, Elyse finds a way to get the job done with a smile on her face. Her ability to combine kindness with accountability, while maintaining high standards and a positive outlook, makes her an exceptional leader.

Francesca Spalick

Center Director, Cranberry Township

With a passion for early childhood education, a strong work ethic, and a natural ability to lead and inspire others, Fran Spalick has been a valued member of the Bubbles Bears to Books family since 2016. Throughout her years with the company, Fran has demonstrated exceptional dedication, steadily working her way up through the organization and earning increased responsibilities through her hard work, leadership, and genuine love for children. After successfully serving as Center Director of our Imperial location, Fran is taking the next exciting step in her career as the Director of our largest center in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.

Fran holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education (Pre-K–4th Grade) from California University of Pennsylvania and brings valuable experience working within the school system. Her educational background, combined with years of hands-on experience, gives her a strong understanding of early childhood development and the importance of preparing children for a successful transition into elementary school.

Throughout her journey with Bubbles Bears to Books, Fran has earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues through her unwavering dedication, supportive leadership, and willingness to go above and beyond for the children, families, and staff she serves. Known for her positive attitude, approachable personality, and ability to bring out the best in her team, Fran understands that a successful childcare center is built on strong relationships, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence.

Renee Ruggirro

Center Director, Southpointe

Renee is the dedicated and hardworking Center Director of our Southpointe location. With a bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Renee brings a strong educational foundation, a passion for early childhood education, and an unwavering commitment to excellence in everything she does.

Renee joined our company in October 2014, beginning her journey as a preschool teacher at our Canonsburg location. Her leadership abilities, creativity, exceptional work ethic, and dedication to providing high-quality education quickly set her apart. During her time in the classroom, Renee took the initiative to develop her very own preschool curriculum, thoughtfully designed to provide young learners with engaging, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate educational experiences. A true testament to her knowledge, creativity, and dedication, Renee’s curriculum continues to be used at our Canonsburg center today, leaving a lasting impact on the program and the children it serves. Her determination, attention to detail, and drive to continually improve made her the perfect candidate to lead our Southpointe center. In 2021, Renee was promoted to Center Director, a position she has proudly held ever since.

Renee is known for her outstanding organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and impeccable documentation and recordkeeping. She takes tremendous pride in ensuring that every aspect of her center operates to the highest standard. Her commitment to maintaining exceptional records, supporting her teaching staff, and creating a well-organized learning environment has been instrumental in advancing the Southpointe center achieving a STAR 3 designation through Pennsylvania’s Keystone STARS program, which was obtained in January of 2025.

Christina Acord

Manager

A Passion for Children, Families, and Building Strong Teams, Christina has been part of the Bubbles Bears to Books family since the very beginning! As one of our original team members, she played an important role in helping our centers grow and creating the welcoming, family-focused environment we are known for today. Christina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education from Kent State University and brings years of experience in early childhood education and childcare management.

After taking a brief hiatus to own and operate her own childcare center in West Virginia, which she still proudly owns today, Christina returned to Bubbles Bears to Books full-time in June 2025. Her experience, dedication, and hands-on leadership make her an invaluable part of our team. Whether supporting the staff, connecting with families, or stepping in whenever needed across our centers, Christina helps create a positive and welcoming atmosphere for everyone. Above all Christina has a genuine love for children and says she “can’t imagine a job where she isn’t working around children.”

Contact Us

Guidelines & FAQs

Hours of Operation

The hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM (Closed Saturday and Sunday).

Admission Enrollment Requirements

The following ages are required for programs.

Infants- 6 weeks – (children remain a part of infant ratio until they are 12 months)
Young toddlers – 12 months-23 months
Older toddlers – 24 months- 3 years
Preschool – 3-4 years
School Age

Drop off and Pick up

Please accompany your child into and out of the building when dropping off and picking up. When picking up, please meet your child at his or her room and then proceed to depart.
Please follow safety regulations when dropping off and picking up children.
No child is permitted to be left in a vehicle unattended.