Cheryl Appleman has been working in the after school enrichment industry for over 25 years, serving in every capacity the industry has to offer. Starting as a ballet teacher, she built a network of school programs that would become her first after school enrichment company and later evolved into Performing Arts Workshops. In 1988, Cheryl worked with LAUSD and assisted in developing the first district-approved licensing procedure which allowed privately owned enrichment programs to operate on school campuses. In 2003, with the after school industry becoming a vital part of the national educational landscape, Cheryl turned her attention to two fronts: first, to create a set of standards and practices and a certification process for enrichment teachers by founding the National Enrichment Teachers Association (NETA) and second, providing consulting to entrepreneurs wishing to start their own enrichment companies through NETA's After School Advantage Program.