Tempe, AZ, May 12, 2023 –(CarryOnHarry.com)– Menlo Group Co-Founder and Designated Broker Grafton Milne, SIOR, CCIM, this week released a new book titled, “Childcare Center Success: How to Maximize Profits and Minimize Mistakes.” The book aims to help childcare owners start and run a successful center.
“When the pandemic hit in early 2020, I received daily calls from childcare owners asking for advice to get through that uncertain time,” Milne said. “As we had those crucial discussions, I felt inspired to compile my thoughts into a book.”
“Childcare Center Success” covers a variety of important topics, including choosing the right location, hiring the right team, and creating a business plan and budget. Throughout the book, Milne shares stories and quotes from successful childcare center owners from around the U.S. The book is available now on Amazon in hardcover and Kindle versions.
“At a little over 120 pages, this primer on the essentials of owning and managing a successful childcare center packs a great deal of useful information and thoughtful wisdom for anyone considering operating a childcare center,” said Jeff C. Young, an early reader of the book. “If you operate a childcare center (or want to), you will want to read this book. It’s indispensable.”
Milne’s experience in the childcare industry stems from his 15-year career in commercial real estate. He has worked with countless childcare professionals and investors to start, expand, relocate or sell their centers.
In addition to writing this book, Milne has pursued top commercial real estate industry credentials to better serve his clients. He is one of only a few professionals in Arizona to earn both the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS (SIOR) designations.
While helping childcare owners reach their goals, Milne also plays a pivotal role in the growth of Menlo Group, which he founded with his brother Tanner in 2008. The company has become a leader in the Phoenix commercial real estate brokerage market and, in recent years, expanded its services to include property management and project management.
Outside his professional achievements, Milne is a proud father of four children. His experiences as a parent also fuel his passion for quality childcare.
“Childcare professionals have an incredible impact on our communities,” Milne said. “I hope my book can help owners make sound business decisions to elevate the care they provide and better shape the next generation.”
About Grafton Milne
Grafton Milne is Designated Broker of Menlo Group Commercial Real Estate and author of “Childcare Center Success: How to Maximize Profits and Minimize Mistakes.” Grafton has worked with many different childcare owners and directors throughout the childcare industry. In writing his book, he had the pleasure of working with childcare experts across the country to learn Childcare Center Success. As a result, he provides a unique perspective from a 30,000-foot view of what it takes to run a successful childcare center.
Grafton has earned his Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS (SIOR) designations, signifying that globally, he is among those at the top of his field in commercial real estate. With a one-of-a-kind niche in childcare real estate, Grafton is affiliated and involved in many national and local early childhood organizations. He’s an Ironman Triathlete and enjoys scuba diving and anything else that lets him experience the world with the people he loves. Grafton lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with his wife, Laurisa, and their four amazing children.
About Menlo Group
Menlo Group is a full-service commercial real estate brokerage headquartered in Tempe, Ariz. We specialize in buyer/tenant representation, seller/landlord representation, investment services, real estate consulting, property management and project management. We exist to support clients, advisors and employees in their professional objectives through effective real estate strategies. Please visit www.menlocre.com to learn more.
At Rupizix Studio in Coventry, we believe creativity needs energy — the same kind footballers rely on. Hand‑knitting demands focus, stamina, and precision, so we look to athlete nutrition for inspiration.
Footballers eat foods that fight fatigue and sharpen concentration — rich in antioxidants, slow‑release carbs, and healthy fats. Inspired by that, we’ve created three simple snack combinations that help makers stay energised through every stitch:
Oranges + Cashews — quick vitamin C boost and magnesium for steady energy
Oats + Cherries — slow carbs and antioxidants for focus and recovery
Plums + Sunflower Seeds — hydration and vitamin E for lasting stamina
These combos aren’t just snacks — they’re creative fuel. Try them while you knit, design, or craft, and feel how your focus lasts longer.
If you’ve tried our combos and felt the boost — and want to discover more energising pairings — let Rupizix Studio help you find your next favourites. Get the “Fuel Like a Footballer” ebookand explore more food combinations that keep your creativity flowing and fatigue away.
Portland, OR, November 27, 2025 –(CarryOnHarry.com)– The FAN EXPO Portland celebrity guest list has always featured great variety, and five new additions to the 2026 lineup for the pop culture extravaganza are further proof of that. Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Saw), Gates McFadden (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Picard), Walter Koenig (Star Trek, Babylon 5), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place, Star Wars: The Acolyte) and “Peggy the Dog” (Deadpool & Wolverine) will now attend the event set for January 16-18 at the Oregon Convention Center.
Elwes gained wide acclaim for his portrayal of “Wesley” in the 1987 classic The Princess Bride and reached new audiences by headlining the Mel Brooks spoof Robin Hood: Men in Tights and later Saw. He also recently appeared in the Tom Cruise features Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One and Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning and portrays “Mayor Larry Kline” in Stranger Things 3.
McFadden had the key role of “Beverly Crusher” in TNG, reprising the role in Picard, Prodigy and other iterations of the franchise. She is also a stage actress, choreographer, director, teacher, and was the host of more than 300 episodes of the podcast “Gates McFadden InvestiGates: Who Do You Think You Are?”
Koenig is best known for his recurring television portrayals both of the hated, intensely driven “Alfred Bester” (Babylon 5) and the likable, perpetually cheerful “Pavel Chekov” (Star Trek). Koenig’s film work includes the first seven Star Trek feature films, for which he earned two Saturn Award Best Supporting Actor nominations. His many other films have been independent projects with challenging roles.
Jacinto played “Jason Mendoza” on the full four-season run of The Good Place (2016-20) and later appeared as “Lt. Fritz Avalone” in the blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick. Also among his more than 50 TV and film credits are runs on the Hulu series Nine Perfect Strangers and the animated series Hailey’s on It!
Peggy, earning the title of “Britain’s Ugliest Dog” in a national competition there, has gone on to stardom as “Dogpool” in the Marvel Universe in Deadpool & Wolverine. A portion of proceeds from her appearance at FAN EXPO Portland will support a local charity in the Pacific Northwest.
The five bolster an already impressive FAN EXPO Portland celebrity roster that includes: • The Lord of the Rings headliners Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan • Mike Colter (Luke Cage, Men in Black³) • Josh Holloway (Lost, Yellowstone) • Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek: The Next Generation) • Harry Potter duo of Matthew Lewis and Bonnie Wright • Judith Hoag (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Armageddon) • Robbie Rist (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Brady Bunch) • Ernie Reyes Jr. (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) • Brian Tochi (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Revenge of the Nerds) • Kenn Scott (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, director/Adventures of Johnny Tao) • François Chau (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Lost) • Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!, American Dad) • Cedric Yarbrough (Reno 911!, The Goldbergs) • My Hero Academia standouts Eric Vale, David Matranga, J. Michael Tatum, Brandon McInnis and Clifford Chapin • Hazbin Hotel regulars Christian Borle, Joel Perez and Krystina Alabado
More FAN EXPO Portland guest announcements will follow from the worlds of film, television, streaming, art, literature, gaming, cosplay, anime, animation and more in the coming weeks.
Adult, Youth and Child Single-Day Tickets, Three-Day Passes, Family passes, and Ultimate and VIP Packages for FAN EXPO Portland are available now at www.fanexpoportland.com. Advance pricing is available until January 1.
Portland is the second event on the 2026 FAN EXPO HQ calendar; the full schedule is available at fanexpohq.com/home/events.
About FAN EXPO HQ FAN EXPO HQ is the largest comic con producer in the world. Collectively it hosts over one million fans annually at FAN EXPO New Orleans, FAN EXPO Portland, FAN EXPO Vancouver, FAN EXPO Cleveland, MEGACON Orlando, Toronto Comicon, CALGARY EXPO, FAN EXPO Denver, FAN EXPO Philadelphia, FAN EXPO Boston, FAN EXPO Chicago, FAN EXPO Canada, FAN EXPO Dallas, VIDCON Anaheim, EDMONTON EXPO, Dallas FAN FESTIVAL and FAN EXPO San Francisco. The latest schedule of events is available on the website, along with up-to-date ticket information. Discover. Celebrate. Belong.
