Marie Willins has over 20 years of experience as an early childhood professional—as a teacher, trainer, and childcare administrator. Currently, she serves as a Manager for the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership program at the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency. Within her role, she also has the opportunity to support a variety of center and family childcare programs as a Quality Improvement Coach for Cincinnati Preschool Promise. She has a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Administration and Leadership and has a passion for advocacy within the field. It is important to her that all teachers and families have equitable access to quality practices for children to achieve their fullest potential.

Lisa Garofalo is a career early childhood education professional with expertise working collaboratively with teachers, school administrators, parents, and community agencies with a focus on supporting early learning, development, and connections to support school readiness. Lisa has worked in a variety of roles including as a Preschool Teacher, Ohio Child Care Licensing Specialist, and Early Childhood Education Manager with Cincinnati Public Schools and School & Community Manager with 4C for Children. Throughout her career, she has served on multiple boards, associations, and state committees including Ohio AEYC, Ohio Help Me Grow Advisory Council. She has also served on a variety of Ohio Department of Education committees and workgroups including Ohio Teacher Licensure and Standards Revision, Ohio Regulatory Rules Revision Workgroup, and Special Education Rules Revision. Lisa is now retired and works as an independent coach and consultant.

Steven Argentiero currently serves as Treasurer for SWOAEYC. After spending multiple years on the finance committee, he was appointed as Treasurer in 2021. He is a banker with U.S. Bank in Cincinnati and has a degree in business administration from Xavier University. He appreciates the opportunity to volunteer his time to forward the mission of high-quality early learning.

Kelly Compton found her life passion for early childhood education 32 years ago as a Head Start parent. As she moved from teaching in the classroom with children to administration as a manager, her love for sharing knowledge and teaching found a new outlet in supporting teachers as adult learners through professional development and training. She has held a variety of education and administrative positions through the years culminating in her current position as Program Development Manager with Council on Rural Services (CORS), the federal grantee for Early Head Start and Head Start services in 9 west central Ohio counties. She holds an undergraduate degree in early childhood education and a master’s degree in organizational leadership with a specialization in early childhood education. She is a certified CLASS trainer and a certified Professional Development Specialist with the Council for Professional Recognition. When not working, she enjoys time with her husband of 35 years, their two grown children, their spouses, and their five grandchildren.

Garri Davis is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. She has an MSM Degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in organizational management, where she graduated cum laude. Garri owns Water Lily Learning Center where she employs of 25 staff members and serves over 150 children. She is the CEO of the Garri Davis Agency and, as a transformation strategic business coach for childcare owners, she provides business development and leadership consulting and training. She is also a speaker and is the author of the international best-selling book CEO In Stilettos. Garri also serves as Board Chair for Dress for Success and Portulaca and as a Board Member for the African American Chamber of Commerce.

Cynthia Douglas is CEO and Director of Today’s Babies Tomorrow’s Future Early Learning Program. Cynthia obtained her associate’s degree in early childhood education from Sinclair Community College in 2010 and her bachelor’s degree from Central State University in 2023. She enjoys family time, shopping. bowling, skating, and traveling. She has been a family child care provider since January of 2007. Her program is 5-star rated and is partnered with Miami Valley Child Development Centers (MVCDC), Preschool Promise, Help Me Grow, 4C for Children, and Northwest Partnership Group. She loves what she does for the children she serves. She is looking forward to more upcoming projects and doing all that she can to serve within her community.

Kim Ginn is the Chief Program Officer at 4C for Children, a non-profit child care resource and referral agency serving 15 counties in Southwest Ohio and the Miami Valley. At 4C, Kim guides the strategic program development, works to strengthen community partnerships, and enhances the quality and reach of services provided to children, families, and educators. Prior to joining 4C in 2004, Kim earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University of Ohio and spent 10 years in the early childhood field as a teacher and administrator. She has presented nationally at NAEYC’s Professional Learning Institute and at the state level at the Ohio Early Childhood Conference. Kim’s passion is helping others recognize the importance of the early years in a child’s development.

Patti Gleason is an activist in early childhood education programs and systems. In the field for over 40 years, Patti began her journey at the University of Cincinnati, where she studied under accomplished researchers and authors June Sciarra and Ann Dorsey. Inspired to pursue the very best for children, Patti has also been greatly influenced by the work of the Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development and environment expert Anita Rui Olds. Patti began her career as a program director and was promoted over time to increasingly more senior level positions. For more than 30 years she led Cincinnati Early Learning Centers as the President & CEO before joining together with a longtime colleague to form the organization that is now Learning Grove. Patti is known throughout the early childhood community as a champion for children and expert in her understanding of child development, best practices, the business of early childhood education and advocacy on the state and local level. Patti has been at the forefront of important regional collaboratives Cincinnati Preschool Promise, Groundwork Ohio, and the Consortium for Resilient Young Children.

Lois Keil graduated from the University of Dayton with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and later added Ohio Certification for Kindergarten. After a few years, she received her Masters in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Concentration. Meanwhile, she directed a Sunday preschool religious education program for 7 years and a Bible school program for 14 years. She was director of the Developmental Learning Center (DLC) Preschool and Childcare Program for 24 years and Executive Director for 4 years for DLC and Cradles to Crayons, focused on infant to school-age care. She is past president of the Dayton Association for Young Children (DAYC) and has served on NAEYC affiliated boards for over 35 years. She is also a member of various community organizations.

Rachel Konerman is an early childhood educator, researcher, instructor and advocate with the Arlitt Center for Education, Research, and Sustainability at the University of Cincinnati. Her interests include exploring the processes of creativity and inquiry in teaching and learning, nature-based early childhood education, and child and teacher mental health. She is passionate about amplifying the voices young children and their educators. Her work has been featured in publications including Teaching Young Children, Early Childhood Research and Practice, and Children, Youth and Environments and through presentations at local, state, national, and international conferences.

Dr. Amy Kronberg is the Manager of Early Learning Initiatives at Preschool Promise as well as an adjunct professor in teacher education at the University of Dayton and the University of Cincinnati. She began her work in early childhood education, focusing on the Reggio Emilia philosophy, child-centered curriculum models, and playful learning environments. She completed her Master of Science in Education, studying early childhood leadership and advocacy so she could learn to support children and families in learning to value as well as celebrate play, rethink challenging behaviors, and mobilize community support for early childhood education. She has her PhD in Educational Leadership and specializes in early learning consulting for local nonprofits, infant and toddler learning, and social-emotional development.

Heather Lorenzo has been the Director of Preschool for the Miami County Educational Service Center since 2008, where she oversees the preschool special education programs in Miami County. Prior to that she was a preschool intervention specialist. Heather has a master’s degree in early childhood education and has 30 years of experience as an early childhood professional. She is passionate about ensuring that children with disabilities have access to high-quality early learning programs.

Angela Faye Lyshe-Thierry has worked in the Early Childhood field as a Family Child Care Provider for over 26 years. She is the founder and owner of Kids Are Special People Family Child Care, a SUTQ 5-Star Rated program, where the first floor of her two-family home offers a warm, inviting, safe, and fun learning environment for children and community resources for families. A funny and touching part of her work is she has cared for six generational children. Angela is also an Executive Board Member of AFSCME Local 4023 Child Care Providers Union, on the 4C For Children Board of Trustees, and also a member of the 4C For Children Provider Advisory Group. She was the inspiration of recognizing the work of Family Child Care which lead to the creation of the 4C For Children Provider Relations Committee in which she serves as a member. She has earned her CDA from University of Cincinnati and has completed all but three courses towards an Associate’s degree.

Dr. William Mosier is Professor of Child Development in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Graduate Education Institute at Istanbul Gelişim University in Istanbul, Turkey and Child Development Specialist for Iradem Merkez Rehabilitation Center for children of Syrian refugees. He is also Director of Research at the Lynda A. Cohen Center for the Study of Child Development in Dayton, Ohio. He is former Professor of Early Childhood Education at Wright State University and Early Childhood Educator and Director of Head Start and Migrant Head Start programs in California. He completed doctorates in early childhood education from the University of Southern California and medicine from the Universidad Central del Este in the Dominican Republic. He completed post-graduate training from the University of Nebraska-College of Medicine and is Professor Emeritus of the American College of Disability Analysts. He served in the USAF as a Lt. Colonel in the Bio-Medical Science Corp as an International Health Specialist for Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Missions throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Brittnii Pina is a dedicated early childhood leader committed to empowering educators and ensuring high-quality early learning experiences for children, birth through age 8. Her expertise connects practice, policy, and research to drive systemic quality improvements. As the Director of Quality Education at Cincinnati Preschool Promise, Brittnii spearheads comprehensive quality improvement policies, oversees a multi-million dollar quality improvement grant, and directs a coaching collaborative for early childhood providers. With a diverse background in teaching and administration, she previously served as a Lead Teacher at Miami Valley Child Development Centers and as an Early Childhood Education Adjunct Instructor at Brown Mackie College. Brittnii holds a Master of Science in early childhood leadership and advocacy from the University of Dayton and a Bachelor of Science from Tennessee State University. She is dedicated to systemic quality and accessible preschool, believing it prepares both children and parents for kindergarten readiness and develops vital learning skills for life.

Xiara Quinn (Ms./she/her) is an early childhood professional who has been educating, caring for, and advocating for children and families since 2015—inside the classroom, in the community, and nationally. Xiara spent nearly ten years as a toddler teacher. She is now a coach for family childcare providers. In 2022, Xiara was awarded Emerging Early Childhood Professional of the Year by the Southwest Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children (SWOAEYC). That same year, she joined Groundwork Ohio’s Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship and supported their launch of the Family Action Network. Xiara sits on the Governing Board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and serves on the Advisory Board for Queens Village Cincinnati. She is also a 2024 YWCA Rising Star Equity Leadership Program alumna. With a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Community Engagement from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Education from the American College of Education, Xiara uses her educational and field experiences to champion issues affecting young children and families.

Denise Steward is an early childhood professional with over 40 years of experience. She has served as preschool teacher, education coordinator, center director, Head Start Director, Operations Director and Director of Early Childhood Education for several nonprofit organizations. She recently retired as Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Learning Grove, a nonprofit that provides services to children, youth and families in both Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Denise holds a master’s degree in child development and family studies. She has served on the boards of 4C for Children, Cincinnati and Ohio AEYC’s, and currently serves as chair of SWOAEYC’s Equity Committee. She and her husband have four grown children, three grandchildren, and reside in Springdale, Ohio.

Dr. Monique Watkins, known as “Mrs. Mo” or “Dr. Mo” by the children in her classroom, brings more than 16 years of experience working directly with young children and families in early childhood education. She began her career in West Virginia and moved to Ohio in 2017, first serving as an assistant in an SCC preschool classroom before becoming a lead teacher. Monique currently teaches a Head Start class at Rosa Parks Elementary. She holds an associate and bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, a master’s degree in early childhood special education with a minor in autism, and a doctorate in early childhood education. Her work is deeply informed by her lived experience as a parent of a child with autism, strengthening her commitment to family-centered and inclusive practice. Monique and her husband, Nathan, have two sons and help care for her grandmother. She is active in her church, where she teaches nursery-aged children, and enjoys collecting socks, with over 200 pairs!

Sandra (Sandy) Woodall is the Founder and CEO of EC LEARN, where she oversees daily operations, strategic planning across twenty Kentucky counties, and partnerships with local and state agencies that promote kindergarten readiness and workforce development. Her early childhood career began with earning her CDA in 1999, followed by participation in Ohio’s first T.E.A.C.H. scholarship cohort, leading to an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Walsh University. Sandy has served as a teacher, center director, coach, and trainer, gaining leadership experience across multiple roles. She serves on several early childhood boards and currently holds an appointed seat on the Kentucky Child Care Advisory Council, where she advocates for children, families, and early childhood professionals. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in servant leadership, play-based learning, and strong relationships.

Dr. Ilfa Zhulamanova is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Early Care and Education at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College. Her professional interests include play-based learning, creative arts, family engagement, and culturally responsive early childhood teacher education. With international research experience, she explores how cultural values shape educators’ beliefs about play and learning. Ilfa is deeply committed to preparing reflective, compassionate, and advocacy-minded early childhood professionals.