Service Award Pin
Be recognized for your dedication and time working in the nanny industry through our Service Award Pins.
Individuals who have been employed as a nanny, newborn care specialists, nanny educator, placement agency owner, business staff, or other industry business owner for 5 or more years (working a minimum of 24 hours per week) and are currently an INA member in good standing may apply for the INA Service Award Pin.
Denise Collins: Owner of Aunt Ann’s In House Staffing she is a third generation owner of one of the oldest nanny agencies in the United States. Aunt Ann’s In House Staffing was founded in 1958 and Denise has been an employee since 1982. She purchased the business in 1989. Aunt Ann’s In House Staffing is a full service nanny and household staffing agency that finds employment for career NCS, Nanny’s, Family Assistants, Household Managers, Estate Managers and Personal Assistants in the San Francisco Bay Area. Denise was the original founder of APNA and served on the APNA board for over 20 years.
Kenda Horst: Kenda Horst has been a Nanny in San Francisco for 30 plus years. In her work, Kenda has been able to help foster a family home that is filled with joy, laughter, and love, for the parents to come home to at the end of the day. She has extensive experience working with families as they are anticipating their second child, helping new siblings to bond. In her work, Kenda views the entire family as a system, an ecosystem. Within this living system, she actively seeks to participate in a variety of ways—cooking healthy food and helping as needed around the house—to promote wellness and wellbeing in the family as a whole. Her employer, Ms. B. says of Kenda: “[My husband] and I were grateful that someone so nurturing, so pro-active, and so knowledgeable was caring for our baby. We were relieved to see her each morning. Kenda is exceptionally punctual and dependable.” Kenda is active outside of work in her communities. She is helps plan International Nanny Training Day for San Francisco, and she serves on a committee at First Mennonite Church of San Francisco. A fitness enthusiast, she swims each morning at 5:00 a.m. Kenda’s interests include continuing to expand her professional expertise and building community among nannies. Kenda is anticipating celebrating her 30 years as a professional Nanny at the 2024 INA Conference.
Shannon Worthy: Shannon Worthy is a nanny-turned Newborn Care Specialist with over 23 years of experience in in-home childcare in the Seattle area. Although she has many years of experience she feels that working with children keeps her young at heart. She has worked with ages from newborn up to 17 years old, and is excited to now focus solely on the newborn stage as an NCS and be a part of their growth and development from the very beginning. She is committed to providing a safe, calm, and caring environment while guiding infants and parents throughout their first months together. She loves ongoing professional development and education and is always looking for ways to expand her knowledge and experience in the field.
Dana Leigh Feltner: Dana Leigh Feltner has worked as a nanny and governess for 15 years internationally with all ages and mainly specializing in twins and rota positions since 2014 to present. She has devoted her career to nurturing young minds, inspiring creativity, overseeing social, emotional and physical development of young people most of her life. She has paid special attention to fostering creativity, teaching manners and resilience as well as teaching and educational development throughout her career caring for children as a governess and nanny and looks forward to continuing to do so for years to come.
Renee Curler: Renee Curler is a mix of high energy and calming presence. She has focused her career on helping children and young families with her completion of Doula and her NCS training. She loves to help children discover and explore this world. Renee has recently started working with the Safety Sat Squad nonprofit to provide families with car seat safety.
Ryan Jordan: Ryan Jordan is the founder and CEO of Educated Nannies, Educated Newborn Care Specialists, and The Educated Mama podcast. Ryan has over twenty-five years of experience working with children and families as a childcare expert, teacher, nanny, and tutor. She was also featured in the Northwestern Mutual 2020 fall campaign for female entrepreneurs who successfully pivoted during a pandemic. Ryan earned a multiple-subject teaching credential and Master of Arts in Education from Pepperdine University.
In addition to teaching, Ryan spent more than six years as a teacher and full-time professional nanny for high-profile families in LA. Known for her positive attitude and Midwestern work ethic, Ryan took her nickname “The Educated Nanny” and turned it into a thriving business. Educated Nannies earned the Red Tricycle Award for Most Helpful Childcare Agency in Los Angeles. Ryan was also featured in the Huffington Post for young entrepreneurs who inspire others, and she was nominated for the LA Business Journal’s Women Making a Difference Award. In addition to guiding families in finding childcare, Ryan is happily married and the proud mother to a son and daughter who fill her days with laughter, an abundance of love, and motherhood challenges. Ryan’s enthusiasm for learning, along with the joy of witnessing a child’s “aha moments” continues to inspire her today.
Kristen Purdum: With over 13 years of dedicated experience, Kristen Purdum, a compassionate, nurturing and seasoned nanny is committed to tailoring a caring environment for children aged 0-16. Specializing in the care of newborns and toddlers, neurodivergent and special needs children, and medically complex premature infants, Kristen brings a wealth of expertise and empathy to every childcare scenario. Kristen brings a unique blend of expertise as a former healthcare professional in Primary Care Pediatrics and GYN. A true advocate for first-time parents and infants, Kristen passionately collaborates with families, forming a united team to navigate challenges. Whether addressing sleep and nap troubles, establishing routines, introducing solids, or answering various parental queries, Kristen provides thoughtful guidance. With an individualized approach, Kristen works to ensures each child’s physical, emotional, language/communication and cognitive developmental milestones are met, working closely with families to accommodate their unique needs. Through a combination of hands-on experience and a genuine love for children, Kristen creates a safe and loving space where young ones thrive and families find reassurance in her capable and caring hands.
Jessica Rector: Jessica Rector is CACHE Certified Newborn Care Specialist with over 10 years experience in the private care field. Specializing in 24/7 support for busy first-time and veteran parents, Jessica takes pride in her ability to offer personalized newborn care services that meet the specific needs of every family she works with.
Jaime Casseus: Jaime Casseus is a professional childcare worker with over 5 years of experience as a Nanny,. She’s made it her mission to love and care for every child she works with as her own while instilling a safe, and strong developmental foundation for them.
Llaurel Colburn: Llaurel Colburn is an INA credentialed nanny with over 10 years experience serving families and children. She began her career as a Special Education teacher before transitioning to her career as a nanny. Llaurel has worked with infants and children through age 18 in her career. Her nanny career began while Llaurel attended college and where her love of children blossomed. She enjoys working with families to give them more freedom and peace of mind.
SkylaBelle Johnson: Skyla-Belle Johnson is a Professional INA certified nanny, with over 5 years of international, high profile, and high net worth families. She proudly, confidently, and above all else lovingly takes care of the smallest of hands, hearts and minds. She has made a lasting impact, and forever relationships watching her nanny children grow. She is a distinguished, and cherished nanny for all ages, needs, and families.
Prescilla Sanchez: Prescilla Sanchez is a professional nanny based out of Los Angeles county. In 2021, she started her own nanny placement agency while nannying two toddler boys. She earned the Newborn Care Specialist training in summer of 2023 from Newborn Care Solutions.
Anita West: Anita West is a Professional Qualified New Zealand Nanny based in Los Angeles with over 5 years of working with High Profile/UHNW Families in the entertainment industry.
Find further information below including:
Each year at the INA Annual Conference, Service Award Pins are presented during the INA Service Award Pin Ceremony. In 2025 applications will be open from September 1, 2024 – January 12, 2025. Anyone who applies and is accepted to receive a pin will be recognized at the 2025 Conference. However, attendance at the conference is not required. If you are not able to attend the 2025 conference, your pin will be mailed to you following the conference. All 2025 recipients will be a part of the video introduction.
2025 INA Service Award Pin are now open and you will need to do the following to qualify:
- Be a current INA member.
- Work legally in the country of employment within the in-home childcare industry for a minimum 1200 hours per year and be able to tell us the hours you’ve worked.
- Complete the digital form which includes general information, 3 references, a complete professional history, a bio of yourself in the 3rd person of around 200 words, and an
attestation that information given is correct. - Email a professional headshot of yourself with no selfies or other people in the photo PLUS two additional photos for the video.
Please note that we have streamlined the application process so that all applicants will be able to include their work history and bio within the digital form instead of needing to send in separate documents. We have also created a work history and bio example so that everyone can see the information we need. As you apply please keep in mind that your work history will be taken from your first paid position in the industry as an adult (18 years-old) through the end of our application deadline.
We will create a video of all Service Award Pin Recipients in addition to recognizing those pin recipients that are present at our annual conference. All images should be submitted with your application. If these images have children in them, we will need to have the parent or legal guardian of that child fill out a Photo Release form.
Please reach out to the office (memberservices@nanny.org) if you have questions about this.
Pin History
The Harriette Grant Service Award Pin is presented to nannies and specialty nannies. This award pin, named in honor of Harriette Grant, reflects Harriette’s dedication to the nanny profession. Ms. Grant was a founding member of INA, a founding member of the Association of DC Area Nannies (ADCAN) and was selected as INA’s very first Nanny of the Year in 1990. Ms. Grant later went on to be a co-founder of the National Association of Nannies (NAN).
The INA Service Award Pin is presented to nanny educators, referral agency owners (or their staff), and business owners (or their staff) who serve the in-home child care industry.
The Service Award Pin program originated within the National Association of Nannies in 1995. Thanks to the dedication and generosity of past NAN members, the Service Award Pin concept will continue on within INA and will share the same goal of recognizing those within the in-home child care industry for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to professional excellence.
Previous Videos
2020 May
2020 October
2022 May
2021 May
Professional History Example
All INA Service Award Pin applicants will need to include their professional history in their digital application.
- Owner at “The Company Name” : Start 9/2016 : Current : Full time //
- Nanny for NAME E Family : Start 8/2011 : End 8/2016 : Worked 180 hours a month //
- 8 month gap job hunting //
- Nanny for NAME D Family : Start 9/2009 : End 12/2010 : Worked 60 hours a month //
- Nanny for NAME C Family : Start 11/2008 : End 8/2010 : Worked 100 hours a month //
- 5 month gap for maternity leave //
- Nanny for NAME B Family : Start 3/2006 : End 6/2008 : Worked 200 hours a month //
- 1 year job outside of the in-home childcare industry //
- Nanny for NAME A Family : Start 1/2004 : End 3/2005 : Worked 160 hours a month //
Biography Example
All Service Award Pin applicants must provide a Biography in their digital application. This Bio must be written in 3rd person and under 200 words.
Third Person looks like:
Helen McCarthy is a Professional Qualified British Nanny (N.N.E.B) with over 28 years experience as a Nanny. She has devoted her career to the care of children at all stages of life, with all levels of needs.
Third person is NOT:
I am a Professional Qualified British Nanny (N.N.E.B) with over 28 years experience as a Nanny. I have devoted my career to the care of children at all stages of life, with all levels of needs. (first person)
You are a Professional Qualified British Nanny (N.N.E.B) with over 28 years experience as a Nanny. You have devoted your career to the care of children at all stages of life, with all levels of needs. (second person)