Meet Janell Panicko | Janell Panicko | Registered Nurse, Social Media Manager & Founder of Jordan’s Corner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Janell Panicko and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Janell, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“Knowledge is not power. Knowledge with action is power.”

This quote is special to me. I can’t remember how I came across it, but I find it quite relatable. I am not the smartest person in the room and I have never been the smartest person in the room, but I can promise you I’m probably one of the hardest workers in the room.

I have worked really hard my entire life to get where I am today. I am proud of my accomplishments. I’ve been through so many obstacles in life and have come to realize it does not take being smart to achieve your goals. It takes determination and dedication to see the finish line. It doesn’t matter if you’re smart. It doesn’t matter if you have money. It doesn’t matter where you are from. If you are not willing to put in the work you are not going anywhere. Work HARD. That’s what’s going to set you apart from the others.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
It was not easy to get here. I’m a mom of two under two. Our daughter, Jordan, is 23 months and has a speech delay. We wanted her to have a space to interact with other kids, run, play, and beat the heat. Our son, Nash, is 6 months and a helmet baby. Living in Arizona makes dealing with the heat difficult for him to play outside. Jordan and Nash needed a place to play, stay cool, and interact with other kiddos. I needed a place where I could sit down, drink a cup of coffee, and watch my kids play comfortably. Jordan’s Corner is that place.

Along the way I had to make sacrifices and turn off the noise of others. I overcame the challenges with the support of my husband, friends, and Jesus. I truly believe support goes a long way. I’ve learned to ignore the haters, hold onto the cash, and hire the professionals.

Jordan’s Corner is an indoor play place. This is not a typical play place. It is focused on kids 6 months to 5 years and encourages purposeful play. We are providing a space for children to work on sensory development, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills. Our play place is focused on an inclusive approach where the majority of our play area is wheelchair accessible and we are offering sensory friendly hours. We hope to accommodate as many children as we can.

Jordan’s Corner will be a safe place to visit with your children. I value the importance of safety, cleanliness, and purposeful play. I promise to provide this environment for you and your littles. I hope to encourage the moms who are scared to leave the house with a toddler and baby to come to Jordan’s Corner. We will be here to help. I will hold your baby if you need me to. I will watch your toddler (for a minute! HA) if you need me to. Jordan’s Corner is for the community. Let’s build a community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is tough! Are we dealing with the heat? We would definitely check out the river I always have so much fun when I go. Butters or Butterfields would be the first place we visit. Best breakfast in Arizona!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have so many people I need to thank. I had a rough childhood but so many people stepped in when they could to make it as normal as possible. I would like to thank and dedicate my shoutout to my high school teachers, parents of friends, my dad, and my grandparents. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for believing in me and encouraging me to seek Jesus in my times of darkness. Thank you for advising me to not throw the parties, but still loving on me when I did the opposite. Most importantly, thank you for taking on the caregiver role when I needed it. I’m here today because of you.

I would like to take a moment to recognize the teachers at South Hills High School. They truly saved me most days. These teachers led me with compassion and kindness. I was not a good student, but they never gave up on me. I cannot thank them enough. I graduated and went to college because of them.

Mr. Rogers, Mr Pontier, Mrs. Hirsch. Mrs. Cowell, Mrs. Hert, Shae, Dia, Mike, Debbie, Tricia, Eric, JC, Grandma, Grandpa, I love you all.

Instagram: @JordanCorner_

Facebook: @JordansCorner

Image Credits
@socreative_photo