My Story by Dawn Mucci

Thinking back to why I started Lice Squad, it is now clear to me that I was the child who was stigmatized by head lice. Yes, I was the girl with the long, thick, clean hair that got sent home nearly very time the Public Health nurses did a head check at my school. I recall being called names, ostracized and put through awful exposures to smelly chemicals and lousy nit combs that tore out my hair and burned my eyes. If anyone can empathize with head lice, it truly is me.

As an adult my first son brought a case of head lice home and instantly I was brought right back in that place of shame and fear. I ran to The Public Health Department only to be told that they do not deal with head lice anymore because it was deemed a social and not a health matter. I remember going home in tears thinking,"I would do anything and pay any amount of money to get some help. I did not want to follow their standard prescribed solution which was to go to the drug store and use a pesticide. I would not do that to my son or myself again for that matter. As a single mother at the time on Mothers allowance I felt defeated but I also felt called and challenged. I felt that if I could not find the help I needed, that I would become that help.

After two years of research and $500 dollars to my name, I took the risk and started Lice Squad. It was terrifying for me but I knew that people like me needed this help and so I began my many trips on the TTC with my Roley suit case going from home to home and literally nit picking for money. Soon the pace became overwhelming. I had no idea that so many people needed this help and I had to begin to train consultants to assist me with the service end of things. I was a high school drop out with little to no business experience but I was on a mission. I began getting calls from all over Canada and it was then that I realized that I have a niche market to fill. I had no idea how to meet the demand but I knew enough to seek out people who did. Thanks to the help of some reasonable lawyers, a business consultant, Carl Lehman, A web marketer, Cheryl Fergasun, and a graphic person Janet Tonello and the CFA, The Canadian Franchise Association, Lice Squad began to take shape. I set up a web site and began my journey into franchising. I felt that this would be the best way to reach as many people as possible. It turned out that many of my consultants ultimately became franchise owners as many still do and now people who feel called to this and have a real empathy and a desire to help seek me out about owning their own Lice Squad business.

I remain amazed at how far this company has come. Who ever thought you could make a career and business out of nit picking. More amazing is the job satisfaction that my consultants, franchise owners and I still have after nine years of doing this work. It truly is meaningful and rewarding. I continue to work hard at breaking the stigma associated with head lice as no child or parent should feel the way I did when it hits their family. Most important to me is providing education and alternatives to chemicals and pesticides. Too many children are being unnecessarily exposed and if I can do one thing in my life it would be to spare them from what I went through.

I never thought I would be called Canada's leading Nit Picker or be a franchisor for that matter. But I know that this was my calling and probably the reason I had to endure what I did as a child. People still scratch their heads about what I do and can't belief that there is a market for my business. I still get laughed at when I drive around in my car with Lice Squad advertising or tell others about what I do. However, in my mind and experience I know that if I can make you laugh and question what I do, You will surely remember me and Lice Squad if head lice ever hits your family. It gives me great satisfaction to be able to offer this meaningful help and career to others. I'm over the stigma and I don't mind if you make jokes. It's OK when you don't understand but even better when you find yourself in a place of needing to understand. At least I know I can be there for you when it's your turn. I have build a team of people to provide what I so desperately needed and what you and your family may need one day.

Serving others and doing what one loves to do is truly a blessing.