CCFP Roundtable 25th Annual Conference

Presenters and Speakers – 2016

Aimee Klevorn aklevorn@acdkids.org Aimee Klevorn is the Communications Manager at the Association for Child Development, a nonprofit organization that administers one of the oldest and largest CACFP sponsorships in the nation. With a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Michigan State University, Aimee is passionate about all forms of communication and seeks to increase CACFP

awareness and participation through social media, publications, branding, outreach efforts, and public relations.

Alan Michaelson amichaelson2@verizon.net Food Safety Consultant/Instructor I have been in the food-service business for 20+ years and have been a Certified ServSafe Food Safety and Responsible Alcohol Instructor with both the National Restaurant

Association and the California Restaurant Association since the onset of the ServSafe program. My training philosophy brings a unique perspective to food safety by combining extensive, practical hands-on experience, coupled with an interactive approach that is based on best practice learning methods. The focus of my presentation is to ensure that key personnel take the important knowledge they've gained back to their workplace and implement essential food safety practices and principles thus creating a strong food safety culture. A food safety culture focuses on proper food handling as a way of doing business. To develop a strong food safety culture, you’ll need to involve everyone in your restaurant, from the waiter to the manager I promote excellence among food service professionals by providing the highest quality Food Safety Certification training. Take advantage of my exceptional, results oriented training for the ServSafe Manager Certification class, Food Handlers card or the ServSafe Fundamentals of Responsible Alcohol Service by contacting me direct.

Alejandra Marin Santos alejandra.marinsantos@cocokids.org Alejandra Marín Santos is a Child Health and Nutrition Specialist for the Contra Costa Child Care Council; she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages and Socio-cultural Studies. Alejandra has worked in the child care field for almost 9 years, including experience as a trainer serving Spanish speaking communities in California.”

Andrew Manthe andrew.manthe@cdph.ca.gov Andrew Manthe has a master’s degree in public health – health education and has worked in public health for 30 years. He is currently employed by the California Department of Public Health and works with selected schools and child care sites to integrate more opportunities for children and adolescents to participate in physical activity.

Angela Russ-Ayon rivision@aol.com Music and Movement Specialist Angela Russ is an award-winning producer of children’s media, keynote speaker, trainer and author. With 13 years of experience under her belt, she has produced interactive music for

WIC, Head Start, First 5, Kaiser Permanente and the More Matters national team. Through fee-based contracts, she has presented to thousands of young children nationally in classrooms, museums and performing arts venues. Angela melds her lectures with an infusion of creative music and movement activities that encourage her audiences to actively participate in the learning process.

Andrea Farmer, MS, RD, LD andrea.farmer@fns.usda.gov Andrea Farmer, MS, RD, LD is a nutritionist with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Child Nutrition Programs. For the past 6 years, her area of expertise has been the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program, first at the State level and now at the FNS National office. She leads the USDA effort to create resources and guidance materials to

help child care centers and home providers meet the nutrition, physical activity, and screen time recommendations in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). Ms. Farmer served as the project manager for USDA formative research conducted in 2014 among CACFP audiences and manages an interagency workgroup of CACFP stakeholders that provides input to help USDA implement the HHFKA recommendations. Prior to working in CACFP, she held a number of diverse positions including adjunct professor in nutrition and fitness, private practice nutrition consultant, clinical and foodservice dietitian, and small business owner. Ms. Farmer has presented at numerous national conferences.

Barbara Sawyer bsawyer316@comcast.net Barbara has worked in the early care and education field for over 35 years. As a family child care provider in Arvada, Colorado, she participated in the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) pilot accreditation and became one of the first 28 accredited providers in

the nation. In addition to her 12 years as an active family child care provider, she has worked for state and national family child care associations, in child care resource and referral, and as a coach/mentor for both family child care and center based staff. She has served on association boards at the local, state, and national levels and is currently Vice President of the Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children. Barbara is a partner in a national training consortium – Child Care Consulting and Training Services, Inc. (CATS, Inc.) CATS, Inc. specializes in customized early childhood education services with an emphasis on professional development of the field and a particular expertise in family child care. Barbara is a nationally recognized expert on family child care, as well as a keynote speaker and trainer. She has a Master’s Degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College, Pasadena, California. Barbara is married and has two adult children who grew up in family child care. The lights of her life are her granddaughters, 2 ½ year old Annabelle and her 6 month old sister, Eliza. Barbara and her husband of 42 years, make their home in Arvada where they have lived for most of their married lives.

Barbara J. Smith Barbara.Smith@fns.usda.gov Barbara J. Smith is a senior Program Analyst in the Program Monitoring and Operational Support Division of FNS’ Child Nutrition Program. Her primary responsibilities are participating with Regional offices in CACFP management evaluations (focusing on the implementation of the SD and appeals processes) and coordinating CACFP Management Improvement Projects. She is the facilitator of the CACFP Management Guidance

Workgroup; primary author/editor of the SD Handbook; a member of the CACFP TA Workgroup; a member of the CACFP Meal Pattern Workgroup; and a member of the CACFP Paperwork Reduction Workgroup. She has coordinated and participated on taskforces (federal/state/CACFP community) to identify effective methods of addressing CACFP fraud and abuse and improving Program operations. She has presented at numerous National CACFP Sponsors Association and National CACFP Professional Association Annual conferences. She has been recognized for providing expertise and unwavering support to the CACFP Workgroup project to assist in leading and managing a team to update and review guidance. Barbara has a BS degree in Foods and Nutrition from Hampton Institute; a MS degree in Food Service Management from Michigan State University; and has pursued doctoral studies at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Barbie James Bjames@klcorp.com Field Manager, Knowledge Universe Barbie James has worked for Knowledge Universe supporting the subsidy food program since 2002. She oversees 21 CACFP monitors responsible for the participation of 800

KinderCare centers across 35 states.

Brooke ten Bosch btenbosch@capslo.org Prior to serving in her role as a Quality Development Specialist for the CAPSLO food program team, Brooke worked for the agency's Human Resources department in employee wellness. She graduated from Cal Poly State University, SLO with a B.S. in Kinesiology and an emphasis in Health Promotion.

Bryan Brown bbrown@capslo.org Mr. Brown has monitored child care meals at 46 centers for four years and has presented workshops at three conferences: NSHA in Washington DC; CCFP Roundtable in Sacramento; CaMSHS in Pismo Beach, CA. Mr. Brown has presented workshops on gardening with

preschoolers at three statewide and national conferences and attended Farm to Preschool workshops led by Julia Smith, National Farm to Preschool Specialist.

Casey Craft casey.craft@ywcachicago.org Casey graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Studies, specializing in working with parents and infants. After graduating, Casey began her career as a preschool teacher and was promoted to Assistant Director of the program shortly after starting. After realizing her love for children and being an important part of their

growth and development, she moved out of the administrative position back into a classroom where she taught in a classroom, working with ages 6 weeks to 2 years, for about 4 years. Casey began working for the YWCA in 2012. Throughout her time here she has gained extensive knowledge in working with teachers and children in the classrooms, as well as training on a variety of topics related to child development. Some of her other achievements include becoming a Registry and ITN Approved Trainer, being awarded her ECE and Infant Toddler Credential, and is a certified trainer for the Program for Infant Toddler Care curriculum.If Casey not training she is out in the field working with Early Childhood Educators offering support & guidance for ExceleRate Illinois, the quality recognition system that is shaping programs around the state of Illinois to promoting quality care for all children. Currently, Casey is in the process of achieving her Master’s degree, specializing in Child Development. It is her passion for working with families and children, being a mentor, and being a vital part of children’s success in early education that drives her work.

Catherine Stafford catherine.stafford@cocokids.org Catherine Stafford is the Child Health and Nutrition Supervisor for the Contra Costa Child Care Council. Catherine has a BS in Community Dietetics and 27 years of experience in family child care and the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Catherine is also the co-editor

of a monthly newsletter, the Nutrition Edition, which is distributed statewide.

Christina Hecht, PhD catherine.stafford@cocokids.org University of California Nutrition Policy Institute Dr.’s Hecht, Patel and Ritchie are national leaders in healthy beverage research and practice with a focus on access to, and consumption and promotion of drinking water. Each

has made numerous presentations on the subject at national conferences, both singly and together. The presentation will be lively, inclusive and interactive.

Cindy Vian Cindy@minutemenu.com Cindy Vian is the Director of Sales for Minute Menu Systems. Minute Menu Systems provides comprehensive management systems to childcare agencies and providers operating under the auspices of the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Prior to Minute Menu Systems, Cindy managed

a large non-profit CACFP organization for 10 years, and spent 14 years working in early childhood care and education. Cindy has utilized her extensive knowledge of childhood care to help hundreds of Sponsors improve the integrity of their programs while reducing their overall cost of doing business by transitioning to Minute Menu Software. She consults with organizations to streamline their processes, find new ways to market their services and learn state and federal regulations at a deeper level. She inspires them to provide more value to their clients with her energy and enthusiasm for the childcare industry. In addition to working with Minute Menu clients, she has trained state agencies and provides workshops at national conferences such as the CCFP Roundtable, National Association of Family Childcare, Association of Early Learning Leaders, National Afterschool Association and the Anti-Hunger Policy Conference.

Courtney Hardoin chardoin@cde.ca.gov I have worked at the California Department of Education for six years and my responsibilities include projects involving obesity prevention in early child care. I am lead for the Preschools SHINE program, a recognition program for sites that have exceptional nutrition and wellness environments. I have presented at Roundtable, California Child Development Administrators Association, Healthy Eating Active Living Collaborative and National Association for Family Child Care Conferences in addition to CACFP Mandatory Training workshops

Dawn Perez dawn@minutemenu.com Senior Implementation Specialist and Training Director Minute Menu Systems Dawn Perez is the Senior Implementation Specialist & Training Director for Minute Menu Systems. Dawn manages and produces new content for the website in the form of documents, videos, blogs, e-Learning courses, webinars and more. In

addition to her current 10 year tenure with Minute Menu, Dawn also worked for Southwest Human Development Services, one of the largest sponsoring organizations in Texas. Dawn worked closely with child care providers, processing their claims and developing a thorough knowledge of CACFP regulations. Dawn has provided training workshops at the NCA conference, Roundtable conference, and Minute Menu conferences and has also provided training to Minute Menu clients and state agencies across the country. Debra Louie debdtr@yahoo.com Debra has 16 years of experience working with CACFP, and a lifetime of experience growing fruits and vegetables. As a Master Composter with the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources, she helps others learn about the care and feeding of worms. Deborah Zaragoza dzaragoza@cdasandiego.com

Donna Pomerson, Director Operations Services, Sherrie Gomez,CACFP Supervisor, Staci Larsen, CACFP Supervisor dpomerson@learningcaregroup.com, sgomez@learningcaregroup.com , Donna, Sherrie and Staci have almost 90 years combined experience in Early Childhood and CACFP at almost 500 participating center based Early Childhood

Learning Centers in 33 states for the Learning Care Group. They have presented at the Roundtable for the past ten years, at several FRAC CACFP Leadership Conferences as well at NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children and local CACFP state conferences. As part of their company commitment to the Partnership for Healthier America/Let’s Move Child care and our companies Grow Fit program they are members of the Learning Care Group Grow Fit Steering Committee, which Donna is company lead, to ensure all Learning Care Group schools are ensuring opportunities for children to experience programs to learn skills for lifelong physical activity and healthy eating habits. Members of the CCFP Roundtable, National CACFP Forum, NAEYC, School Nutrition Association and National CACFP Sponsors Association.

Doris Fredericks, MEd, RD, RYT sgomez@learningcaregroup.com Former Executive Director, Choices For Children, and President, Continuing Development Incorporated, (CDI) and Child Development Centers (CDC). CCFP Roundtable Co-Founder, resident Registered Dietitian, Health Coach and certified Conference Yoga Instructor.

Elaine Piper LEPiper68@gmail.com Elaine Piper has worked and lived in the early childhood field for over 40 years. She began her career as a family child care provider in Nashville TN in 1974 when her oldest child was born and provided care for the next twenty-five years – almost to the day! While serving as Secretary for the Board of Directors of the National Association for Family Child Care, she

realized the importance of attaining accreditation even though she was already degreed to teach middle and high school and entered the accreditation process. She was one of the first 100 accredited providers in the US and maintained her accredited status until she left family child care as a provider in 1999. Also in 1999, Elaine received her Masters of Arts in Education from Concordia University in St. Paul. Over the next five years, she worked for the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) at Tennessee State University where she administered an apprenticeship project funded by the Department of Labor for family child care providers as well as center-based providers. Upon leaving TSU she opened her own very small child care center for several years. In March 2005, she began working for the Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network where she is still employed as both the Training Coordinator and the Network Family Child Care Coordinator. Elaine is a partner in a national training consortium, CATS, Inc. (Child Care Consulting and Training Services) which specializes in training for family child care providers and those who support them. Elaine has been a keynote speaker in over twenty states and has trained in nearly twice that many – almost exclusively on family child care related topics. Elaine has been married for over 44 years and has two children and four grandchildren. Elaine and Curtis live in Nashville TN.

Genevieve Pyeatt, Director of Nutrition and Health Education gpyeatt@cdicdc.org Nutrition and Health has always been a lifelong passion of mine. My husband of 16 years and my two daughters ages 6 and 9, live a healthy and active lifestyle. We love to ride bikes, swim, garden and travel as a family. I earned my Bachelors of Science in Dietetics from UC Davis in 1997. My interests in Nutrition and Health are specific to community

nutrition, child nutrition, prevention and wellness. I started my career with CDI/CDC in 1998 as a Nutritionist for the Sacramento Region. In 2001, I became the Director of Nutrition Services leading a team of Nutritionist agency-wide in supporting our centers in implementing the Child Care Food Program. In 2012 I added the role of Health Educator to my responsibilities. Then in 2015 I became the Director of Nutrition and Health Education leading a team of Nutrition Health Educators and Supervisors in all of the regions to provide a high quality Child and Adult Care Food Program and Health and Safety Education Program for the staff, children, and families. Nutrition and Health has always been a lifelong passion of mine. My husband of 16 years and my two daughters ages 6 and 9, live a healthy and active lifestyle. We love to ride bikes, swim, garden and travel as a family. I earned my Bachelors of Science in Dietetics from UC Davis in 1997. My interests in Nutrition and Health are specific to community nutrition, child nutrition, prevention and wellness. I started my career with CDI/CDC in 1998 as a Nutritionist for the Sacramento Region. In 2001, I became the Director of Nutrition Services leading a team of Nutritionist agency-wide in supporting our centers in implementing the Child Care Food Program. In 2012 I added the role of Health Educator to my responsibilities. Then in 2015 I became the Director of Nutrition and Health Education leading a team of Nutrition Health Educators and Supervisors in all of the regions to provide a high quality Child and Adult Care Food Program and Health and Safety Education Program for the staff, children, and families.

Geraldine Henchy ghenchy@frac.org Geraldine Henchy, MPH, RD is the Director of Nutrition Policy and Early Childhood Programs at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). FRAC is a research, policy, public education, and advocacy center working for more effective public and private policies to eradicate domestic hunger and improve the nutrition and health of low-income

individuals and families. Ms. Henchy was a member of the Institute of Medicine’s Committee to Review the Child and Adult Care Food Program Meal Requirements which issued a report with recommendations for revised nutrition standards to bring the meals served into compliance with the Dietary Guidelines. Ms. Henchy is the current chair of the policy committee of the American Public Health Association’s Food and Nutrition Section. She has been honored to receive awards for her work on the Child and Adult Care Food Program from the Sponsors Association, the National Sponsors Forum and the California Roundtable. Most recently, the National Association of Family Child Care honored Ms. Henchy with their Advocate of the Year Award. Holly Prestegaard Holly.Prestegaard@fns.usda.gov

Janet Phelan JPhelan@midwestchildcare.org I am a CEO of a non-profit organization with over 35 years of progressive experience in the Child Care Industry. My expertise lies in recruiting and training, low income women while coaching them in setting up their own child care businesses. Also, the program

management of a quality CACFP sponsorship for homes and unaffiliated centers with a 6.5 million budget. I am a visionary and creative strategist with strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to see the “big” picture to facilitate key decision making process and revenue generation. Jeanie Park jeanie.park@ccala.net Jeanie is the Program Coordinator for Choose Health LA Child Care at the Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles. She earned her Master in Public Health degree from the University of Southern California, with an emphasis in Health Education and Promotion and Global Health. Among her scientific interests are community-based participatory research and community mobilization.

Jeremiah Garza garzae@cox.net Jeremiah R. Garza, Associate with The Sarah Samuels Center for Public Health Research & Evaluation, oversees the planning, administration, and analysis of the pre- and post-child care observational assessments, provider interviews, and focus groups for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Choose Health LA Child Care program. Mr. Garza has authored manuscripts, reports, and presented results from quantitative and qualitative data at large conferences, particularly as they relate to place-based, policy-oriented, and community-driven obesity prevention strategies in Los Angeles County. Jeremiah holds an MA in Health Promotion and an MPH in Community and Behavioral Health, both from the University of Iowa, and a PhD in Health Policy and Management from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.

Jerry Bowers jerry1104@sbcglobal.net Jerry served as the Executive Director of FRAMAX from 1993 until his retirement in 2015. He now serves as a Policy Advisor to FRAMAX on an as needed basis. From his start with FRAMAX he recognized the vital role of the Roundtable in fostering mutual understanding

between federal, state and sponsors of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in California. He became a member of the Roundtable and served on the Roundtable Advisory Committee from 1996 until 2015. To help advocate for national policy issues that affect all CACFP sponsor Jerry became a member of the National Sponsors Forum, eventually becoming a member of the Board for the Forum. Prior to his involvement with CACFP, Jerry was in the U.S. Navy. He retired from the Navy after 26 years of service. While in the Navy, he served on Submarines, the silent service. His primary responsibilities included operation and supervision of the Nuclear Power Plant and the leadership and training of all enlisted enlisted nuclear trained personnel on board. He served on 5 submarines, including two new construction submarines. His shore duty assignments included two tours as Nuclear Power Training Unit Instructor and as the Force Electrician and Deep Submergence Type Desk on the staff of the Commander of the Submarine Force of the Pacific Fleet.

Jill Cox jnc14@psu.edu Jill received her graduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Allied Health Professions and her undergraduate degree in Clinical Dietetics from Purdue University. She completed an internship in Dietetics at the Medical College of Virginia. As Program Development Specialist with the Penn State University Better Kid Care program, Jill authors professional development materials on topics related to nutrition, health and wellness for

early care and education professionals. Her research experience has included chronic disease prevention in community-based settings related to nutrition education and physical activity promotion. She especially enjoys the many partnerships that have formed as she works with others to promote wellness in the earliest stages of life.

Julie Lefko jlefko@capslo.org Julie Lefko graduated from Cal Poly State University, SLO with a B.S. in Nutrition. As a Nutrition Specialist for CAPSLO, she helps coordinate the agency's Farm to Preschool efforts and conduct health and wellness based trainings for program parents, providers, and staff.

Jodi Kuhn jkuhn@kc-education.com Director of the Subsidy Food Program for Knowledge Universe, Jodi oversees the Child and Adult Care Food Program participation of more than 800 KinderCare Learning Centers across 34 states. Collectively, these centers serve more than 2 million nutritious meals and

snacks each month through the CACFP. Managing the largest private nationwide participant in the program, she has the perspective of working with many state agencies and sharing best practices across the country. Jodi serves as the Secretary for the National CACFP Forum Board of Directors, and participates on multiple national work groups including the USDA’s technical assistance and guidance group, USDA’s paperwork reduction workgroup, and the NFSMI’s CACFP National Advisory Committee.

Justin Adelman, CDE, NSD, CACFP Jadelman@cde.ca.gov Justin Adelman has worked for the California Department of Education for three years. He is a CACFP Specialist and works with Child Care Centers and Day Care Homes. He provides technical assistance and training to CACFP agencies to assist them with implementing the program.

Kelley Knapp, MS, RD KKnapp@cde.ca.gov Kelley is a registered dietitian and has worked in the Nutrition Services Division for more than 18 years providing training and technical assistance to agencies that serve infants, children, and older adults in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program. She earned her B. S. in Dietetics and Food Administration from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and her M.S. in Nutrition Science from San Jose State University.

*1997 to Present – California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division, Nutrition Education Consultant, *1995 to 1997 – California Department of Public Health, WIC Branch, Public Health Nutrition Consultant, *1987 to 1995 – Stockton Developmental Center, Director of Dietetics

Laura Bellows, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D.N. Laura.Bellows@colostate.edu Dr. Laura Bellows’ is an Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Colorado State University. Her research is focused on the

development of eating habits and physical activity patterns in early childhood; and the influence of parental behaviors and the home environment on the development of these behaviors. She received her bachelor’s in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from Miami University in Ohio, her Masters of Public Health in Human Nutrition from the University of Michigan and her Ph.D. in Community Nutrition from Colorado State University. In 2011, Dr. Bellows was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers.

Lauren Brightwell lauren.brightwell@cocokids.org Lauren Brightwell is the Project Coordinator for the Contra Costa Child Care Council nationally recognized Early Care and Education Learning Collaboratives project. She has a B.S. in Child Development and has worked as a Child Health and Nutrition Specialist for the CACFP. Lauren has 14 years of experience working with both Family Child Care and

Child Development Centers. Laurie Pennings LPennings@cde.ca.gov Laurie is a registered dietitian and a Nutrition Education Specialist at the Department of Education. Her focus is on Farm to School/Farm to Preschool. For the previous five years, Laurie was the Manager of the Child and Adult Care Food Program Unit.

Linda Cowling linda.cowling@cdph.ca.gov I have worked at the California Department of Public Health Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Branch for six years and has experience directing local and statewide programs designed to advance evidence-based obesity prevention strategies and practices. As a Registered Dietitian, I have worked as a clinical dietitian providing direct in-patient care to critically ill patients. I currently oversee the implementation of activities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded Prevention First Grant. I have presented at both the California WIC Association and CA Breastfeeding Coalition Conferences, as well as at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention workshops.

Lori Johnson Lori@minutemenu.com HX Implementation Specialist Lori Johnson is the Implementation Specialist for Minute Menu Systems, LLC. Minute Menu Systems offers comprehensive management systems for child care agencies and providers operating under the auspices of the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program

(CACFP). In addition to her current 5 year tenure with Minute Menu, Lori has thirteen years of experience with a large non-profit CACFP sponsorship, and over 20 additional years in early childhood care and education.

Kevin W. Concannon Kevin W. Concannon was nominated by President Obama and Secretary Vilsack and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July 2009 to serve as Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services in the United States Department of Agriculture. Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services has principal responsibilities and funding authority for Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which serves 1 in 4 Americans, and has lead responsibilities for promoting healthful diet through the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Working in

partnership with State and local organizations, FNS oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program; child nutrition programs including National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Summer Food Service Programs; The Child and Adult Care Food Program; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); the Commodity Supplemental Food Program; Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations; The Emergency Food Assistance Program; and other nutrition programs. The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion is a principal component of FNCS and is responsible for promoting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, MyPlate, and a number of dietary and economic reports which inform Americans. Under Secretary Concannon has had a lengthy and distinguished career in public service. Over the past twenty-five years, he has served as Director of State Health and Human Services departments in Maine, Oregon, and Iowa. He has championed expanded services, improved access, alternatives to institutions, consumer choices, affordable health care, diversity in workplace and programs, and modernization of public information technology systems. He has served in a number of national organizations, including serving as President of the American Public Welfare Association, President of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, trustee of the American Public Human Services Association, and board member of the American Humane Association. He has received a number of awards, including the Lifetime Human Services Award from the American Public Human Services Association in 2007, 2012 Catholic Charities USA Keep the Dream Alive Award, and the 2012 National WIC Association Leadership award. He is a native of Portland, Maine, a graduate of Saint Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia with both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Social Work degrees. He has continued his studies at the University of Southern Maine and the University of Connecticut Graduate School of Social Work. He was awarded a Doctor of Laws Degree honoris causa by Saint Francis Xavier University in 2013. Concannon has taught graduate courses at the University Connecticut, Portland State University, Oregon, and the University of Iowa as Adjunct Professor of Social Work.

Marion Standish mstandish@calendow.org Marion joined The California Endowment with an extensive legal and philanthropic background. As Vice President, Enterprise Programs, she is responsible for managing resources that will support collaboration and alignment across all TCE Departments to achieve TCE’s mission and Building Healthy Communities goals and outcomes.

Standish leads multiple philanthropic partnerships, provides strategic guidance to Impact Investing activities, and works closely with TCE’s Chief Learning Officer to achieve organizational goals. Standish serves as lead officer for the Endowment with the Partnership For A Healthier America, The First Lady’s Let’s Move Initiative, California’s Let’s Get Healthy effort and the National Convergence Partnership. Previously, Standish was Senior Advisor to the President of The California Endowment and the Director of Community Health where she oversaw multiple grant-making initiatives focused on transforming communities to reduce inequities and improving health. She played a key role in developing and implementing for many TCE signature initiatives, including the Partnership For the Public’s Health, Community Action To Fight Asthma and Healthy Eating Active Communities. Before joining The Endowment, Standish was founder and director of California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA), a statewide nutrition and health research and advocacy organization focusing on access to nutritious food for low-income families. Before launching CFPA, she served as director of the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, a statewide advocacy organization focusing on health, education and labor issues facing farmworkers and the rural poor. She began her career as a staff attorney with California Rural Legal Assistance, a federally funded legal services program. Standish received her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law, and both her M.A. and undergraduate degrees from New York University. Melba Hinojosa melba.hinojosa@cdph.ca.gov

Melissa Cannon melissa@cfpa.net Melissa works at the California Food Policy Advocates to promote access to nutritious, affordable foods in the child care environment and in schools. Prior to joining CFPA in 2015, Melissa worked at the Native American Health Center as a Registered Dietitian where she delivered nutrition services to the urban Native community and other under-served

populations in the Bay Area. Previously, Melissa supported health equity projects at Prevention Institute and provided administrative support for the Education and Nutrition Policy Unit at the California Department of Education.

Michelle Bommarito michelle@michellebommarito.com Michelle Bommarito is an accomplished Professional Chef, well -known Wedding Cake Designer, Food Coach and Motivational Speaker; popular TV/Radio personality, inspiring others to eat well and sharing her culinary techniques. Her work includes being a chef at the historic Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York, for Martha Stewart and as a Personal Chef for Athlete Michael Jordan. Throughout the years, she has appeared on Martha Stewart and

Food Network. Bommarito has also worked with Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) formerly National Food Service Management Institutes “Connect: Chefs to Schools” and “Healthy Cuisine for Kids”. Both programs are initiated by our First Lady, Michelle Obama in order to bring awareness of obesity in children. By request, she travels extensively-both nationally and internationally to teach “Eating Well” Culinary Demonstrations, Motivational Speaking Engagements, Inspirational Wedding Cake Design Workshops and to judge competitions. Michelle is known to whirl about the room, using Italian gesticulations, whipping up a variety of “super power foods” for an audience eager to sample and learn. Thrumming with energy, her compelling instruction empowers people of all ages. She is passionate about eating right and inspirational regarding how to improve health and wellness through diet. Her goal: To make a difference in the fight against obesity and disease… More importantly to remind people to take better care of “you”.

Mike Matukaitis mike@brightontraininggroup.com Mike Matukaitis has been developing online training for the past 16 years. Co-Founder of Brighton Training Group, Mike has led the development of Bright Track, an online tracking and training system that automates CACFP and SFSP training programs. In addition, Mike co-wrote and published a book about online education for the U.S. Department of Education.

Mike was K-12 classroom teacher, curriculum coordinator, web developer and instructional designer and is on a mission to make online training simple, effective and affordable.

Mimi Wu, MS, RD

Tsun-Min.Wu@fns.usda.gov Is a Nutritionist with the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service’s Child Nutrition Programs, where she develops and promote nutrition education and technical assistance materials that support those participating in Child Nutrition Programs, with an emphasis on projects that support CACFP. Prior to this role, she served as a Public Health Nutritionist for Eat Well Play Hard in

Child Care Centers, a SNAP-Ed program implemented in child care centers participating in CACFP in New York City. Mimi received her Bachelor of Science from Emory University in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology and a Master of Science in Nutrition and Public Health from Teachers College Columbia University.

Nora Geary yje7@cdc.gov Nora Geary is an ORISE Fellow in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA. Nora focuses

on supporting obesity prevention in Early Care and Education Settings (ECE) and provides guidance, support, and technical assistance to CDC grantees and partners on many aspects of childhood obesity. She also manages the First Lady’s Let’s Move! Child Care initiative. She holds Master’s degrees in Public Health and Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis.

Pat Crawford crawford@berkeley.edu Pat Crawford is the Senior Director of Research and Cooperative Extension Specialist at the Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI) at the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Prior to coming to NPI, she co-founded and directed the Center for Weight and Health at the University of California at Berkeley for 15 years. She is also an

Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health at UC Berkeley. Dr. Crawford studies ways in which nutrition programs and policies can improve children's dietary intake and reduce obesity. Dr. Crawford served on the California Legislative Task Force on Diabetes and Obesity and is an expert advisor for the Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force. She chaired the Institute of Medicine’s Workshop on Food Insecurity and Obesity and served on the IOM’s Committee on WIC Research, the Committee on Accelerating Progress on Obesity Prevention, and the IOM’s Standing Committee on Childhood Obesity Prevention.

Paula James paula.james@cocokids.org Director of the Contra Costa Child Care Council, Child Health and Nutrition Program. Working for over 30 years to improve the eating and activity environments in early care settings. Her program has developed tools to assist child care settings in assessing their nutrition and physical activity environments. Actively involved in advocacy for the Child and

Adult Care Food Program and public policy efforts focused on prevention of childhood overweight. Paula serves on the board of the National Child and Adult Care Food Program Forum, chairs the Child Care Food Program Roundtable, serves on the Steering Committee of the CA Strategic Alliance. A member of USDA Paperwork Reduction Task Force and the USDA CACFP Technical Assistance Task Force.

Sallyann Bergh sbergh@pewtrusts.org Sallyann Bergh, MPA is a senior associate for the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, DC. In this role she has primary responsibility in managing the early childhood nutrition portfolio. Most recently, Sallyann oversaw the project’s Health Impact Assessment on the CACFP proposed rule, which is expected to be published in December. Prior to this position, Sallyann managed Pew’s Prescription Project and worked

at the Association of American Medical Colleges where she led the Project Medical Education program and the ResearchMeansHope.org initiative. She received her MPA from the University of Delaware and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Studies from Duke University. She enjoys staying active and growing a health and wellness-focused business in her spare time.

Sharon Woodward sdinstructionalservices@gmail.com My name is Sharon Woodward. I was a family child care licenser in Massachusetts for twenty years. I also owned and operated a large child care facility in Vermont and am the proud parent of three children. My variety of experiences has allowed me to say that I’ve licensed child care, provided child care, and purchased family child care for all three of my children. I feel like I’ve covered all the bases. I have a great deal of affection for family child care and its remarkable providers. You do amazing work, and quite frankly, you provide a service that

very few of us could successfully replicate. It takes a very special set of skills to successfully interact with young children on a daily basis. It’s one thing to talk about family child care; it’s quite another thing to actually understand what is involved in operating a successful child care business out of your home. It is for that very reason that I and my partner, Donna Hurley, co-founded S&D Instructional Services. Our company, as well as our web-site, was designed specifically to support and encourage family child care providers. We really do understand the ever expanding challenges you face as small business owners and as professional child care providers.

Sandip Kaur Skaur@cde.ca.gov Sandip Kaur is the Director of the Nutrition Services Division (NSD) of the California Department of Education. Prior to her appointment as Director, Ms. Kaur served as Acting Director for one year and four months. From 2004 to 2011, Ms.Kaur served as the Chief of

the Administration and Food Distribution Program in NSD for seven years and was instrumental in the design, development, and implementation of the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System. Ms. Kaur was also responsible for making the NSD’s Food Distribution Program more cost effective for sponsors and competitive with private food distribution companies. She has nearly 29 years of experience in California State government and worked at the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Personnel Administration before joining the NSD in May 2004.

Sarah Samuel samuelroach@msn.com Sonya Barnes Sonya.barnes@fns.usda.gov

Stephanie Salazar Stephanie Salazar is a Nutrition Education Specialist and Registered Dietitian at the California Department of Education (CDE). She has worked for the CDE for five and a half years and for the last two years her focus has been on providing nutrition education to CACFP agencies including the New CACFP Meal Pattern.

Susan Johnson susan.johnson@ucdenver.edu Susan Johnson, PhD. Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Johnson has published extensively on nutrition issues including maternal feeding behaviors, obesity, child feeding, studies regarding ethnic differences in infant and

child obesity and self regulation, as well as a recent comparison of nutritional intake differences in ASD and typically developing children. Grant support includes feeding practices of child care professionals and effects of energy state on to visual and taste Stimuli and an Autism Speaks grant to investigate nutrient and food intake pattern in young children ASD compared to children with other neurocognitive impairments and typically developing children. Dr. Johnson serves as the Nutrition Discipline Director for the JFK LEND Grant.

Susan B. Ralston sralston@susanralston.com Susan B. Ralston is a Senior Advisor at the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. In her role, she is responsible for membership and partnership development, strategic planning, coalition building and project management for the Foundation. Prior to joining the

Foundation, Ms. Ralston was the Special Assistant to the President at The White House. She was responsible for managing the activities that comprised the Office of the Senior Advisor, including the development of policy, strategic planning, political affairs, public liaison, and intergovernmental affairs efforts of the White House. She was also responsible for managing CEO and corporate relationships, coalition members, and domestic issue campaigns, including Education, Healthcare, Social Security, Immigration, Energy, Budget and Economy, Environment, National Security, Iraq, Global Diplomacy and the Gulf Coast, as well as the development and production of presidential and major surrogate events. As a Filipino-American, Ms. Ralston was actively involved in the strategic planning and Asian Pacific American outreach efforts of the White House, including the creation of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. She was a member of the Presidential Delegation to attend the Inauguration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, of the Republic of the Philippines, in June 2004. During the 2004 re-election campaign, Ms. Ralston was the White House Liaison to Bush-Cheney ’04, coordinating the activities between the two entities. She also served on the Advisory Committee for “W Stands for Women,” the campaign’s outreach effort to women. Prior to her public service, Ms. Ralston was the Assistant Director of Governmental Affairs at Greenberg Traurig and has also worked for the lobbying firm of Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, LLP.

Susan Still sbstill@hotmail.com Susan Still has worked with Child Nutrition Programs for over 25 years. Before retiring, Susan supervised both the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While working with Pennsylvania, Susan also served on USDA’s Integrity Task force and training team developing the training

materials and training state and federal staff, and presented at many national conferences. She presently a member of Brighton Training Group developing e­Learning lessons for CACFP and the SFSP at the state, sponsor and site levels.

Valerie Newcomb valnewcomb@icloud.com Our program is part of a commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative to improve access to wellness education and teacher training for Pre-K. We have presented a similar workshop at Head Start and CACFP conferences in the past year. The Penn State Better Kid Care teacher training module, combined with curriculum developed by Discovery Education, is a proven, powerful AND FREE solution to providing wellness education and parent engagement strategies in early care and education programs.