Meet the Management Team

Name: Stratos Koulis
Start date: 6th January 1997
Position: Operations Director
Qualifications: HNC in childcare, First aid for childcarers.

Personal History: When we opened our first nursery at Lasswade I loved working in the Pre-School room. I am HNC qualified in child care and education and put this to great use in my hands-on role in the early days. As the company expanded I took a leadership and operational role; I feel it is important to give ownership to the nursery mangers but I am always available to support the nurseries and management team. My main areas are: maintaining standards and providing consistency throughout all nurseries in the company. I visit the nurseries and observe the staff/ child interaction, as well as noting health and hygiene, maintenance and improvement issues and lead the implementation of goals and plans for maintaining standards. I have regular ’Better Place To Work’ meetings with employees to get feedback on what improvements can be made. We are always looking at feedback from our service users on how to improve the service and love when we can implement new ideas.

Funny:Forever telling people about something that originated from Greece. I‘ve been known to sometimes sound like the Dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding!

Passion: I love everything Greek (naturally!)… the culture, the food and I love to have holidays in my homeland. Enjoy playing tennis and playing the drums.

Name: Lewissa Koulis
Start date: 6th January 1997
Position: Finance Director
Qualifications: HNC in childcare, First aid for childcarers,
Child protection management level 4,
ROSPA Managing safety.

Personal History: When we launched Pinnocchio‘s at Lasswade in January 1997 I had a wonderful time working in the baby room and am HNC qualified in child care and education which gave me a great grounding and understanding of the venture we embarked on. As the company expanded I took a leadership and operational role and now I support the management team, mainly in the areas of: accounts, forward planning for children‘s places, forward planning for staffing and over-seeing weekly schedules for strict staff/child ratios, updating nursery policies and procedure and health and safety risk assessments. I continue to keep up to date with training in first aid, child protection management level 4 and health and safety risk assessments. We are always looking at feedback from our service users on how to improve the service and love when we can implement new ideas.

Funny: Can‘t sing for toffee...when I first started working in the nursery I wondered how I ever managed to get a baby to sleep, they seemed to like it but the staff certainly didn‘t! I go around like a Tasmanian devil… always rushing around and juggling a million things at once!!!

Passion: Travel… Greece feels like a second home now, I travelled a lot as a child and got the bug… I love to plan our family‘s next adventure and explore different places around the world.

Name: Marie Macfarlane
Start date: 21st March 2008
Position: Accounts Manager
Qualifications:

Personal History: I joined Pinocchio's Nurseries in March 2008 as Accounts Manager. Having spent over 25 years in the financial sector, mainly in the hotel industry, I was able to bring to Pinocchios the benefits of developing and integrating the accounting systems.

I have had experience working in the Childcare Industry for 10 years and find it to be a fantastic environment to work in. I work closely with the Directors, HR and Nursery Managers, the teamwork and support being second to none. I am mainly based from home with regular visits to each nursery and I can be contacted in the evening up to 7.30pm and also on weekends.

Funny: When my brother phones me, he always opens the conversation with, "Marie, step away from the desk"! How does he know I am always at my computer?!? Working of course!… He knows me too well.

Passion: My kids of course! My whole family are so important to me – I like to spend as much time with them as I possibly can. Holidays in the sun.

Name: Claire Eakin
Start date: 6th January 2006
Position: Human Resources Officer
Qualifications: Professional Development Scheme (Graduate Member of the CIPD),
Executive Diploma in Management from the Chartered Management Institute (MCMI) and BA (Hons) Business Studies.

Personal History: I went to Stirling University where I studied Business Studies. I left university in 2005 and began working in Pinocchio's in 2006. I enjoyed the Human Resources part of my course and was pleased to gain a position working in HR. My position is a somewhat unique one, as the majority of private nurseries do not have any HR support. I am positive that this is how we are different to other nurseries and it enables us to have the highest quality of employees possible and in turn offer very high quality care to the children. My role is very varied. I am responsible for organising and developing the human resources function which involves working closely with all Nursery Managers in recruitment and selection, employment law, updating policies and procedures and offering management training.

Funny: I hate spelling mistakes; I am the 'spelling police' in the company. It is a bit of an obsession, so much so I manage to find spelling mistakes in nearly every newspaper I read!

Passion: I have a real passion for music, and I particularly enjoy seeing live concerts and DJs. My other hobbies include travel, films and running or cycling.

Eskbank

Name: Morven White
Start date: 30 June 2008
Position: Centre Manager
Qualifications: HNC, AAT, First Aid, commencing BA in Childhood practice in February 2011

Personal History: Prior to joining Pinocchio‘s I worked at management level for a group of private nurseries based in Edinburgh. At the end of my maternity leave I joined Pinocchios as the Manager of the Eskbank branch and was delighted to be so warmly welcomed into the ‘family‘ that is Pinocchios. I am very proud of each and every one of my staff here at Eskbank and over the past 2.5 years we have developed a real team ethos within the centre.

Funny: I once met Paulo Nutini whilst on a weekend break in London and the only thing I could think to say to him was 'oooooh you have lovely teeth'.

Passion: I was a keen and competitive horse rider up until I was in my early 20s. My 3 year old son is already developing a very keen interest in all things ‘horsey‘ so I am sure he will follow in my footsteps.

Name: Lorna Jenkinson
Start date: 10th October 2004
Position: Deputy Manager
Qualifications: SVQ2 & SVQ3 Early years and education, First Aid, Food Hygiene and Child Protection

Personal History: I joined Pinocchio's (Eskbank) in October 2004 as a Nursery Assistant. As I have improved my qualifications I have been able to gain promotions within the company. I was promoted to Junior Room Supervisor 3 years ago where I loved the new challenge and was given the responsibility of being 3rd in charge of the nursery. I have since been promoted to Deputy Manager and am thriving on the new challenges and experience I am gaining daily. I am currently studying SVQ4 in Childcare and Learning Development.

Funny: When I first started working with children I was asked to make playdough which I had never done before. There was flour and other ingredients everywhere, and to this day I still have trouble making it!

Passion: My family... when I'm not driving up to Aviemore to visit my parents, I am spending time with my niece and nephew. We love going on different outings and doing activities at home. So when not working I'm never off duty! I love it though!!!


Gilmerton

Name: Loraine Bridgeman
Start date: 3rd January 1997
Position: Centre Manager
Qualifications: SVQ4 in Early Years Care and Education,
HNC in Early Years Care and Education,
D32 Assessors Award, First Aid, Child Protection,
Food Hygiene

Personal History: I have now worked for Pinocchio‘s Nurseries for 14 years. I started my career as a nursery assistant, then progressed to study my formal qualifications to become a manager. I spent 7 years managing our Eskbank nursery and I was pleased when I was asked to take on a new challenge to open up our Gilmerton nursery. I have enjoyed the last 2 years working with the Gilmerton team to establish our newest nursery.

Funny: My staff call me a butterfly as I flutter in and out the playrooms all day!

Passion: Making sure we remember all the little things that matter to people.

Name: Nina Armstrong
Start date: 15th May 2006
Position: Deputy Manager / Pre-School Supervisor
Qualifications: NC Childcare and Education, First aid,
Child Protection, and currently completing SVQ Level 4 in Childcare,
Learning and Development.

Personal History: I have worked in the Childcare sector for 13 years. Before joining Pinocchio‘s I worked for two other Private Nurseries. During my time with Pinocchio‘s I have worked at both our Gilmerton and Eskbank branches in different capacities with children across the age range.

I became Deputy Manager at Eskbank before transferring to Gilmerton to lead the Pre-school team. I enjoy supervising the Pre-school Room and find it to be a challenging and rewarding age group. I am a D32 assessor and enjoy supporting students and offering training to colleagues.

Funny: when John & me were on hoilday in the Maldives we had forgotten to change our watches to the local time, after a long tiring journey we arrived at night & went straight to bed. We woke up starving in the morning so headed straight for breakfast but there wasn't anyone else eating.. we thought we were just early as the waiter said we could sit & wait until the food was ready ( It was a set menu) after a few minutes the waiter brought us a watery looking soup.... we thought this was part of their culture again we still hadn't realised that we hadn't changed our watches before it dawned on us that we had slept right through breakfast & it was lunch time!! So our first day's breakfast consisted of soup , grilled fish & salad (yum) only John doesn't eat fish haha.

Passion: Food and travel.


Heriot-Watt

Name: Lisa Murray
Start date: 17 October 2008
Position: Centre Manager
Qualifications: NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing ,
SVQ4 in Early Years Care and Education,
Food Hygiene, First Aid, Child Protection

Personal History: I was born in Newcastle and moved to Edinburgh in 2000. I have a five year old daughter called Jessica. I have management experience in retail and childcare. I first joined Pinocchio's nursery not long after the Gilmerton nursery opened and I have enjoyed helping the nursery become established and whilst working for Pinocchio's I have gained my SVQ4 qualification. I am now looking forward to putting this into practice within my role as Manager in Heriot-Watt.

Funny: I would love to be a west end stage star but I have bad singing and dancing!

Passion: To work hard and achieve my goals I set out in life and make a good future for myself and my daughter.

Name: Claire Moffat
Start date: 1st October 1999
Position: Deputy Manager / Pre-School Supervisor
Qualifications: SVQ Level 3 & 4,
SVQ4 CCLD,
Intro Diploma in Management,
First Aid, Food Hygiene & Safety,
Child Protection Level 2

Personal History: I have worked in the Childcare sector for 13 years. Before joining Pinocchio’s I worked for two other Private Nurseries. During my time with Pinocchio’s I have worked at both our Lasswade and Eskbank branches in different capacities with children across the age range.

I became Deputy Manager at Eskbank before transferring to Heriot- Watt to lead the Pre-school team. I enjoy supervising the Pre-school Room and find it to be a challenging and rewarding age group. I am a D32 assessor and enjoy supporting students and offering training to colleagues.

Funny: I love to dance, not that I am very good at it but it does cause a laugh when Charlie and I dance to Bad boys.

Passion: My passion in life is spending quality time with my family.


Lasswade

Name: Shirley Dickson
Start date:5th July 2004
Position: Centre Manager
Qualifications: NNEB


Personal History: I am a mother of three children. Twins age 19 and a daughter of 7. I have over 20 years experience within the childcare profession and qualified to NNEB standard and also registered with the SSSC.

I have worked for Pinocchios a total of almost 8 years. Before my posting here I was Deputy Manager at our Eskbank branch for 3 and a half years.

I am enjoying my time here at Lasswade where we have friendly inviting staff.

Funny: My friends find it funny to hear me get on my high horse about popular weekend reality shows as I am normally quite calm and collected! It doesn't stop me watching them though. I'd like to show them how it should be done!

Passion:When not at work I enjoy time with my family as working full time, at the weekend my family time is precious. My passion is music and I have been known to warble a tune or two.

Name: Marie McCaig
Start date: 21st July 2008
Position: Deputy Manager
Qualifications: PGDE Primary Education

Personal History: I have a Post Graduate Diploma in Primary Education and started working in the Pre-School room at Pinocchio's in July 2008. Before joining Pinocchio's I was a primary 6 teacher and had previously studied Management at Heriot-Watt University.

Funny: I can be forgetful sometimes and when my husband and I got new bikes he teased me for taking mine for a walk as I forgot how it works!

Passion: My passion is organisation or perhaps known to others as OCD. I have to write things down, make lists and be organised and know what I am supposed to be doing to the point my husband hears me talking about it in my sleep.


Penicuik

Name: Shonagh Ross-Nimmo
Start date: 1st March 2005
Position: Centre Manager
Qualifications: HNC in Childcare and Education,
SVQ Level 4 Early Years Care and Education

Personal History: After leaving school I went on to complete my HNC in Childcare and Education at the Scottish College of Childcare. The majority of my experience has been gained working in various private nurseries, although I spent an enjoyable 2 years nannying. I joined the Pinocchio‘s family in March 2005 as the Nursery Manager for the Penicuik branch. During my time with Pinocchio‘s I have gained my SVQ level 4 in Early Years Care and Education. I am registered with the SSSC as a Lead Practitioner.

Funny: A funny story which I remember well was when I was meeting with nursery parents. Out to impress and be as professional as possible went to sit down and sat on the floor instead. Quite embarrassing but funny looking back!

Passion: My passions would have to be spending time with my family especially my son who is full of mischief and keeps me on my toes all the time. I enjoy spending time abroad discovering new places and enjoying the food of the country.

Name: Kerry Quinn
Start date: 1st March 2005
Position: Deputy Manager / Toddler Room Supervisor
Qualifications: SVQ Level 3 Childcare and Education

Personal History: I started my career at a private nursery in Edinburgh where I gained my SVQ Level 3 in Childcare and Education. I have gained experience working with all age groups of children. I joined the Pinocchio‘s family in March 2005 returning to work after having my son. I first of all worked with the Pre-school children and then I was promoted to the Junior Room Supervisor in 2006. In 2007 I was promoted to become the Deputy Manager.

Funny: I think that one day I might be re-named Mrs Mop as I am a bit over the top about cleaning!

Passion: At present my passion in life is being a mum to my young son who takes up most of my time. I take him out on many different adventures. We enjoy spending relaxing but fun holidays together abroad getting into all sorts of mischief!!!


About the name... Why Pinocchio’s?

We wanted something that would stand out so we took inspiration for the nursery from the classic children’s story ’Pinnocchio’. Providing children with an adventure through learning was our vision for the nursery and the tale of Pinocchio’s reflects this perfectly!


About the Husband and wife team... Stratos and Lewissa Koulis

We met on a two week holiday to Greece 1990, a ’holiday romance’ blossomed and we soon realised it was a serious relationship and we wanted to be together. Within a year Stratos had moved to Scotland, we became engaged and married 6 months later in January 1992. We always knew we wanted to be self employed and had two small businesses prior to starting Pinocchio’s. We both loved children and with our first son Marcos 3 years old and another child on the way it seemed the perfect time to take that leap and open a nursery. When we opened Lasswade we had two staff members and six children, due to our success we have grown and grown! Now approximately 500 children are registered each week within the nurseries and we have over 100 employees. How time flies when you’re having fun...this summer our son Marcos, now aged 17, did work experience in our Pre-School room at Gilmerton - the manager Loraine Bridgeman has been with us from the first day we opened the business and used to look after Marcos when he was a Pre-School child!

Each expansion has been planned with regards to location, building interior design and layout of rooms. We have always had a minimum of 2 years gap between each new nursery to make sure each new addition has the support and focus from the directors to implement our ethos fully. When we open a new nursery we encourage some existing team members to transfer for promotion to ensure experienced staff are instrumental in guiding the new nursery.

We look to continually train our employees and encourage them to grow in their careers and have employees who have started as support workers, went through their training with us to become nursery nurses and then stepped up to become room supervisors, deputy managers and then managers. The advantages of having a nursery group is that when a nursery needs staff cover due to maternity, sickness or holidays there is a pool of floating staff that can transfer to provide support wherever needed. This means they are trained in our policies and procedures and staff enjoy seeing our other nurseries and sharing good practice and ideas for planning and activities. Stratos is the main drive for expansion so never say never to the next one!?...It’s always an adventure with Pinocchio’s!



The Koulis Clan celebrating 20 years on from the holiday romance in Crete August 2010. From the left is Theo aged 13, Stratos, Marcos aged 17 and Lewissa.

The boys enjoy visiting Greece every summer. The last two summers Marcos has gained work experience in water sports which has stood him in good stead for his current course in Health & Fitness. Theo is a keen rugby player and is the Kicker for the team.