Joe Keeley
Joe Keeley, a 2003 St. Thomas alumnus, didn’t expect a college “man-ny” job to eventually expand into 46 franchises in 20 states. But it did.
Keeley, who founded his successful College Nannies & Tutors company when he was a St. Thomas student, will be the next speaker in the St. Thomas Alumni Association’s First Friday Speaker Series at noon Friday, May 7, at Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power St., near downtown Minneapolis.
The 28-year-old entrepreneur, who recognized the need for nannies who were much more than babysitters, is now the largest legal employer of nannies in the country. He founded a specialized service that connected parents with safe and reliable nannies and tutors who were active role models for their children. And with $10 million in revenue this year, an anticipated $50 million in four years and plans to expand the Wayzata-based business into Canada and the United Kingdom, Keeley had a winning idea.
Keeley, who was an entrepreneurship major, is past president of the Minnesota chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and still volunteers with organizations focused on the advancement of entrepreneurship, including the Collegiate Entrepreneur organization, the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, Minnesota Best-Prep and Junior Achievement.
In addition, Keeley is a founding partner in the Wayzata-based Franchise Development Group and Live Green, Live Smart Builders. Keeley also travels all over the country talking to college students about how to bridge the gap between the “dorm room and the board room.”
On first Fridays of each month during the academic year, the St. Thomas Alumni Association’s First Friday Speaker Series offers lunch and a speaker of current interest. St. Thomas alumni and friends, along with the general public, are invited. Cost of each luncheon and presentation is $25. Student tickets are $15.
Reservations for the May 7 luncheon are due today, Friday, April 30. For reservations and more information, call the St. Thomas Alumni Association, (651) 962-6430, or register online at the alumni association’s Web site.
