How It All Started

Ellen Park, Peekadoodle CEO and Co-Founder, earned a degree in psychology from the University of Washington before graduating from UC Hastings College of the Law. She began her career as a lawyer in tax compliance, consulting, and estate planning. While she was passionate about helping clients, the legal work and late hours made “work-life” balance difficult.

When she became a new mom in 2006, Ellen noticed a massive gap in the market for a safe, fun, educational space in the city for families with young children. In conversations with her longtime friend and co-founder, she planted the idea for an indoor playspace. Less than a year later, the idea had blossomed into reality, and plans for Peekadoodle KidsClub were well-underway. 

In preparation for the launch, Ellen adeptly negotiated contracts, raised funding, and finalized both the business concept and the architectural plans. She worked alongside her business partner and architects to create a custom 10,000 square-foot family club, featuring creative spaces specially designed for little ones and their grown-ups. 

The KidsClub was San Francisco’s first premier family club, and its launch garnered a resounding nod of approval from the community. Much of this success was due to the relationships Ellen held within the San Francisco community and her unending commitment to connecting with fellow families.

When the needs of the KidsClub members grew, so did the business. In 2011, Peekadoodle became a licensed preschool, enrolling students as young as 20 months. Ellen poured her heart into the preschool, ensuring that the students and families would thrive at Peekadoodle. 

As a business owner and a mom, Ellen has championed Peekadoodle's balanced approach to learning. She continues to witness its success in creating confident and well-rounded preschool graduates and instilling a lifetime love of learning.

Ellen describes her investment in the earliest educational experiences of so many families as immensely rewarding and an inspiration for her own life and parenting journey.

Ellen has been happily married for over almost 20 years. She is mom to two children, Faith and AJ, who have attended Peekadoodle, Cathedral School for Boys, and Katherine Delmar Burke School. She has been an active member of her children’s school communities, where she has served as a room parent, Social Chair, and Annual Benefit Chair.