As a founder and professional educator, Rhondnita Reed’s philosophy focuses on one core principle: relationships first.

“I believe in building relationships with kids,” she explains. “You know, they’re little humans. They need a safe space to be themselves while being held accountable. Our motto is ‘Rules without relationship will lead to rebellion.’” This approach, rooted in trust and guidance, is at the forefront of the Because I Care Educational Services (BICES) model, which began in August 2020 as a tutoring and homeschooling service dedicated to serving students’ individual needs.

While Rhondnita started her business with a clear vision, established clientele, and a gift for teaching, what she did not have was a business location to call her own.

“I started out meeting my students at Panera,” Rhondnita says. “I would homeschool in the morning, and then I would get to Panera about 10 AM and literally sit in a booth and students would come see me from 10 AM to around 8 PM.”

With the growth of her clientele, Rhondnita’s business outgrew the makeshift meeting space at Panera, leading her to connect with Donna Norman, a Hampton Roads SBDC advisor. “I wanted a real office,” Rhondnita recalls. “My clientele was growing, and I was tutoring multiple students at once in an environment that wasn’t conducive to learning.”

With Donna’s guidance, Rhondnita secured an office at The IncuHub, where she could foster a structured, student-centered space. At the same time, Donna supported Rhondnita beyond finding a physical location. She helped Rhondnita work through the steps of formalizing BICES as an LLC, obtaining her business license, and establishing an operating budget for long-term, sustainable growth.

“Donna listened to me and pushed me to be my best. Without her, I probably wouldn’t be here,” Rhondnita shares.

Since securing office space, BICES has experienced significant growth.

Rhondnita outgrew the original space and upgraded to a larger suite where her business lives today. The dedicated workspace allowed her to accept more students, hire summer interns to meet demand, and provide a distraction-free learning environment.

“Our space at the IncuHub has been a blessing,” she says. “I see our program expanding and transforming into a school over the next year, offering comprehensive support tailored to each student’s educational journey.”

Because I Care Educational Services (BICES) has shown remarkable growth over the last six months, achieving a 50% increase in clientele.