Christina N. Taylor, MPH – Chief Executive Officer
Christina has the primary responsibility for leadership of the ECCLC. Her responsibilities include strategic planning, staff development and supervision, resource development and grant writing, budget preparation and financial management, advocacy, program development. Christina is also highly engaged with both community and state organizations, including facilitation of community initiatives and workgroups.
Lauren Powers – Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Lauren is responsible for managing all funding streams related to Council work, including grant reporting and spend down, and grant compliance. Lauren is also responsible for coordinating and overseeing office and staff operations, including bookkeeping and financial management, information technology, staff on-boarding, payroll, and general facilities management.
Heather Blanco, MA – Chief Program Officer
As Chief Program Officer, Heather oversees both the early childhood education and early childhood mental health programs for ECCLC. She also works to align UPK with our current programming.
Liz Means, MNM – Chief Strategy Officer
As Chief Strategy Officer, Liz is responsible for overseeing all of our special projects and initiatives, including workforce development across the early childhood sector.
Logan Mansanarez, MPH – Universal Pre-K Manager
As the Universal Pre-K Manager, Logan serves to guide local implementation of UPK as we move into a new era of ECE access in Colorado and locally. She does this by being a key leader of programmatic work, and supports the development, rollout, implementation and continuous quality improvement of the UPK system in Larimer County.
Melia Goto – Universal Pre-K Associate
As the Universal Pre-K Associate, Melia coordinates with our Universal Pre-K manager to support both families and providers in navigating Universal Pre-K. Melia also provides support in administrating the Larimer Child Care Fund (LCCF), which allows eligible families to receive additional support for childcare expenses.
Heather Soderberg, IMH-E – Early Childhood Coaching Manager
As Early Childhood Coaching Manager, Heather provides administrative and reflective supervision to our coaching team. She also provides formal and informal assessments for programs focused around the Colorado Shines Rating and the Professional Development Information System (PDIS). Heather provides coaching support to early care and education programs using coaching skills in order to improve quality services for children using research based tools such as Environment Rating Scales, and serves as the team lead for our Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler Care (EQIT) initiative. She is an IMH-E® Infant Family Associate, a certified Early Childhood Coach, a Certified Reflective Supervisor/Consultant, an Infant and Toddler Specialist, and an Approved Trainer through the Colorado Department of Education.
Taylor Osmundson – Early Childhood Coach
Taylor provides formal and informal assessments for programs focused around the Colorado Shines Rating and the Professional Development Information System (PDIS). Taylor also provides coaching support to early care and education programs using coaching skills in order to improve quality services for children using research based tools such as Environment Rating Scales. Taylor supports our workforce efforts, and serves as a Career Navigation Specialist for current or potential early childhood educators. Taylor is a Certified Early Childhood Coach, supports our workforce efforts, and serves as a Career Navigation Specialist for current or potential early childhood educators.
Erin Amidon, MA – Early Childhood Coach
Erin is a Certified Early Childhood Coach and provides formal and informal assessments for programs focused around the Colorado Shines Rating and the Professional Development Information System (PDIS). She also provides coaching support to early care and education programs using coaching skills in order to improve quality services for children using research based tools such as Environment Rating Scales.
Jamie Stewart – Early Childhood Coach
Jamie provides formal and informal assessments for programs focused around the Colorado Shines Rating and the Professional Development Information System (PDIS). Jamie also provides coaching support to early care and education programs using coaching skills in order to improve quality services for children using research based tools such as Environment Rating Scales.
Erica Johnson – Early Childhood Coach
Erica provides formal and informal assessments for programs focused around the Colorado Shines Rating and the Professional Development Information System (PDIS). Erica also provides coaching support to early care and education programs using coaching skills in order to improve quality services for children using research based tools such as Environment Rating Scales.
Karly Kampe – Early Childhood Workforce Manager
As Early Childhood Workforce Manager, Karly dedicated and focused on workforce recruitment and retention initiatives within ECCLC, including targeted outreach and career navigation services, higher education partnerships, professional development opportunities and more. She also provides support to individuals entering and advancing in the early childhood sector.
Maribel Leon – Early Childhood Program Associate
Maribel Leon joined our Early Care & Education team in October of 2022. As our Early Childhood Program Associate, Maribel supports our ECE programs. She brings five years early childhood experience to our team and looks forward to assisting providers in finding the resources and supports they need to become the most successful.
Letha Gillisse, MA – Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
Letha joined the Council in September 2021 as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (ECMH). She’s excited to contribute with the Council and our partners, as it brings together her passion, experience of working as a teacher, and integration of experiences as a mental health therapist. She works across a broad range of early care and education (ECE) settings to promote wellness in young children by increasing the capacity of adult caregivers to support children’s developmental needs.
Christina Gomez. LMFT, IMH-E – Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
Christina creates nurturing environments that advance social-emotional and behavioral health outcomes among children, families, and early childhood professionals in her role as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (ECMHC). She works across a broad range of early care and education (ECE) settings to promote wellness in young children by increasing the capacity of adult caregivers to support children’s developmental needs.
Emily Dougherty, MSW – Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
Emily Dougherty joined the council in March of 2023 as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (ECMHC). She completed her Masters in Social Work in 2020 while interning and working at a local elementary school. Emily is excited to work across a broad range of early care and education (ECE) settings to promote wellness in young children by increasing the capacity of adult caregivers to support children’s developmental needs.
Keiko Friar (they/them) – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager
As the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Manager, Keiko works to maximize our focus on DEI work in the early childhood sector both internally and externally. They provide feedback and guidance, and increase agency capacity for assessing and improving DEI practices.
Tessa Currie, MPH – Communications Manager
As Communications Manager, Tessa is responsible for implementing ECCLC’s communications strategy and digital marketing. She also provides oversight for Larimer Thrive by Five and Be Ready Campaigns, as well as plays a role in supporting Larimer Child Care Connect outreach.
Shannon Silvas- Office Manager
As Office Manager, Shannon is responsible for keeping ECCLC running smoothly. Shannon provides general office support, as well as clerical and administrative support to program and executive staff, Advisory Council and our Board of Directors. Shannon also supports all of our internal operations as we continue to grow as an organization.
