Kintura certified as a ‘Family Forward NC Employer’

Published: April 14, 2025

The recognition is a coveted affirmation of Kintura’s commitment to offering its workforce the policies, benefits and opportunities that maximize one’s ability to best support the needs of his or her family and children.

“We are extremely proud to be named a Family Forward NC Employer,” said Mark Collins, executive vice president of Human Resources at Kintura. “Our organization places high value on our team members and is committed to providing them opportunities for the good of their families. Not only do our team members benefit from our core employment and work-life values, but our values also help make us an employer of choice in our field. Additionally, Kintura can better retain our most talented professionals. We’re honored to receive this special recognition.”

Launched in 2018, Family Forward NC is an innovative initiative to improve children’s health and well-being and keep North Carolina’s businesses competitive. It is employer-led change to increase access to research-based, family-friendly practices – big and small – that improve workplace productivity, recruitment and retention; grow a strong economy and support children’s healthy development.

A Family Forward NC Employer certification designates employers that offer policies and practices that support the health and well-being of working families and children. The certification looks at employer benefits such as paid leave and wages, accommodations for pregnant and breastfeeding workers, childcare supports, health and wellness benefits and scheduling practices.

“As working parents at River Landing, my fiancé and I truly appreciate the flexibility that allows us to be both dedicated employees and present, engaged parents,” said Donnae Dempsey, chef at River Landing at Sandy Ridge. “With our daughter enrolled in the on-site daycare, we have the support we need to remain full-time team members without compromising our family’s well-being. We also value the many opportunities to connect and fellowship with other families, which helps foster a strong sense of community”.

Family Forward NC defines best-practice policies through:

The North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation’s Pathways to Grade-Level Reading Measures of Success and Action Frameworks;
Guidance from medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics or the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
And guidance from partners in early childhood organizations, including the Child Care Services Association, MomsRising, the North Carolina Breastfeeding Association and others.

Among the family-friendly benefits that Kintura offers its team members and families include:

Parental school involvement leave;
Childcare supports;
Remote/hybrid work options when possible;
Thoughtful and flexible worktime scheduling;
Compressed workweek scheduling;
Access to a wide range of traditional and non-traditional benefits, which are affordable and family inclusive;
And development opportunities so team members can grow personally and professionally

“Employers want to attract and retain the best employees, and they want those employees to be happy and healthy,” said Theresa Roedersheimer, executive director of the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation.

“For children, our future workforce, there is a critical window of time for brain development during the earliest years of life. In fact, the first 2,000 days of a child’s life are so defining that by the time that child turns eight, his or her third grade reading outcomes can predict future academic achievement and career success,” Roedersheimer said. Decades of research have established that children need supportive and supported families and communities to build strong brains, along with health and development on track from birth and high-quality birth-through-age eight learning environments with regular attendance.”