2026 SHIFT SPEAKERS

Get to know this year’s fantastic lineup of speakers!

Keynote Speaker

Jean-Emmanuel Rodocanachi

John Rodocanachi is the Founder & CEO of Grandir, a global early education organization operating 1,200 nurseries, preschools, and summer camps across Europe, India, and North America, including Inspire Early Education in the United States. Over the past 20 years, Grandir has developed its signature 5C curriculum, centered on five key competencies for 21st-century learning. The organization serves families, governments, and businesses, partnering with more than 100 Fortune Global 500 companies, and is recognized as both a Great Place to Work and a mission-driven organization. John is a graduate of HEC Paris and the Harvard Institute for Child Care Design. He also chairs a not-for-profit children foundation for underprivileged families and the Grandir Academy for early childhood professionals. John was named France's Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021 and is the author of Mieux Grandir, which explores the future of quality early education amid declining birth rates.

Main Stage Speakers

  • Kathy is the Founder and CEO of HINGE Early Education Advisors. Trained as a public accountant, Kathy has a unique 35+ year background in educational operations. Early on, she directed growth management for a growing educational organization helping the company multiply from five to 125 sites operating in several states in the Southeast. In 2003, Kathy formed the early education advisory firm now known as HINGE Advisors where she and her team have successfully aided the sale of more than 300 school transactions.

  • A leader in EY-Parthenon’s Education consulting practice, Phil works across the global education sector with a focus on K-12 and early childhood education. Phil has led numerous strategy and business planning projects for school districts, non-profits, service providers, and private equity firms. He has also conducted market studies and strategic planning projects for some of the largest early childcare providers in the U.S. Phil has 20 years of experience as a teacher, district administrator and consultant to the pK-12 education sector.

  • Kathlyn McHenry is one of two directors of state policy and government relations at ECEC, leading advocacy in eight states. She previously served as a senior policy analyst for the Texas Workforce Commission, overseeing a $3.5 billion child care grant. Before that, she was Associate Director at the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Early Childhood Initiative and worked on early education policy in the U.S. House of Representatives. McHenry holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and is currently employed by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

  • Wei-Li Chong is the CEO and President of Otter Learning, one of the fastest-growing early education companies in the United States, where he leads a network of more than 70 schools dedicated to preparing children with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. He is also the Founder and Chief Impact Officer of WIN Consulting, helping organizations strengthen leadership, align culture with performance, and drive sustainable growth. Across both roles, Wei-Li is passionate about creating environments where people can reach their full potential and organizations can achieve lasting impact.

  • Amanda Sinkler is the owner of The Discovery Preschools, a growing early childhood education company serving families across Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She currently owns and operates two large preschool locations serving more than 500 families, with a third school in development. Amanda built The Discovery Preschools from the ground up with a focus on raising the standard of early education through strong leadership, intentional environments, and a premium family experience. She oversees company growth, operations, team development, and long-term strategy.  

  • Khedija El Bahri is the CEO of Inspire Early Education, where she leads a growing network of early childhood education programs across the United States. With an international background in education and business and experience spanning Europe, Africa, and the United States, Khedija brings a global perspective to early education leadership. She is passionate about building strong organizations that prioritize educational quality, support educators, and create safe, inspiring environments where children can thrive. Under her leadership, Inspire continues to grow while focusing on whole-child development and delivering high-quality experiences for children, families, and educators.

  • Malavika is a principal in Ernst & Young LLP’s Education and Government sectors serving ECE organizations, K-12 districts, foundations, curriculum providers and private equity investors. She has worked on engagements including organizational design, grant-making, business planning and financial management. Malavika has a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northwestern University and an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MPP from Harvard Kennedy School.

  • Nick Williams is co-founder of Childcare Business Growth, where he and his partner Jenna help childcare and early education owners all over the world fill their settings and keep them full, through done-for-you marketing and a coaching program. He came to marketing the hard way, first running childcare facilities, then building a digital agency for service businesses. Nick is co-author of TrustBuilt: The Marketing Method for Children's Services Businesses and the creator of the Trust Growth System, a seven-stage framework operators use to turn local visibility into lasting parent loyalty.

  • John LaBreche is the CEO of Ardent Preschool, a Christian early childhood education organization serving families across Alabama. Alongside his wife, Tracy, and their six children, John has built Ardent into one of Alabama's leading preschool providers, with eight locations licensed to serve more than 2,100 children. Ardent is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, Christ-centered environment that combines educational excellence with strong character development. John is passionate about developing exceptional leaders, supporting working families, and creating a lasting, positive impact on children, families, employees, and the communities Ardent serves.

  • Geren Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of Lantern Learning Group, brings over two decades of organizational leadership in business and early childhood education. He oversees growth strategy, finance, marketing and sales with a clear vision: to preserve what makes schools exceptional while helping them become stronger and more sustainable. Since opening the first Pillars school in 2009, Geren has led the expansion from a single location to a multi-brand network serving families across multiple states. He holds a BS from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Outside of work, Geren enjoys traveling with his family, fishing, and cheering on Texas Aggie Football.

  • Tom is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation, a Certified Partner with the Predictive Index Assessment Tool, and a Certified Mastermind Peer Group Facilitator. He has a consistent track record of success in strategic leadership, leadership development, financial management, facilities management, training and human resources leadership. As the Owner Success Leader for HINGE, Tom facilitates the execution and operations of all the company’s Success Services. These include the Framework financial app, 1-on-1 Financial Coaching, Mastermind Groups, and his own service, Leadership Sprints. Tom’s job is to ensure that each service is delivered effectively and efficiently to clients and that HINGE is serving our clients to the best of our ability. Tom earned his Bachelor of Science in Administrative Management from Clemson University.

  • Radha Mohan serves as Executive Director of the Early Care and Education Consortium, where she shapes ECEC's strategic vision using her deep knowledge of the child care sector. She quickly translates the complex, shifting political landscape into tactical action, driving policy change for ECEC members at the federal and state level. Radha bridges the gap between providers and legislators, helping members work directly with policymakers on solutions that expand access to high-quality child care. Radha holds a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law and an LL.M. from Northwestern School of Law.

  • Thad Joiner is the Founder of Better Beans Branding, bringing decades of entrepreneurial experience to branding, design, and business growth. At 21, he founded his first company, TS Express, and became the youngest Golden Corral franchise owner in company history. Since then, he has bought, grown, and sold more than a dozen successful service businesses. In 2016, Thad founded Better Beans to provide turnkey branding, interior design, and signage solutions for childcare, restaurant, and retail organizations. Today, he helps businesses create memorable brands and environments that fuel growth and leave lasting impressions.

  • Clark Peterson is the CEO of Northstar Preschools, where he leads one of the Pacific Northwest's largest early childhood education organizations. With more than two decades of leadership experience, Clark is passionate about building high-performing teams, developing future leaders, and creating exceptional learning environments for children and families. Under his leadership, Northstar has experienced significant growth while maintaining a strong commitment to quality, culture, and operational excellence. Clark is a respected voice in the early childhood industry, sharing practical insights on leadership, organizational growth, and building thriving childcare businesses.

  • Jessica Van Hoose is the Chief Executive Officer of The Nest Schools, bringing more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education and multi-site operations. Throughout her career, she has overseen hundreds of school locations across multiple states and held leadership roles spanning operations, education, training, advocacy, and revenue growth. Jessica is passionate about developing strong leaders, supporting educators, and building cultures where children, families, and teams can thrive. As CEO, she is focused on leading The Nest’s next chapter of growth while protecting the culture, relationships, and values that make each school special.

Breakout Speakers

  • Kate Woodward Young, M.Ed., is a speaker, decision-support advisor, author, and co-host of the award-winning Childcare Conversations podcast. For more than 35 years, she has helped entrepreneurs turn experience into credibility, visibility, and meaningful influence. Her work explores what it means to claim authority without shrinking, overexplaining, or waiting for permission. Through speaking, writing, implementation support, and strategic partnerships, Kate teaches practical ways to communicate expertise, build community connections, and create opportunities by becoming known for what you know. First published in 1993, she is now the author or co-author of 15 books.

  • Ankur is a teacher, school operator, and systems builder who has spent over a decade in early childhood education. He is the co-founder and CEO of CuePilot, an AI-powered, voice-native platform that helps educators teach more effectively and operators manage enrollment, staffing, compliance, communication, and everyday school operations. CuePilot now supports more than 2,000 schools internationally. Before CuePilot, Ankur founded Arth Early Learning Spaces, a Reggio-inspired preschool that has served over 1,000 families. His work combines classroom experience, operational insight, and technology to help schools scale responsibly without losing the human relationships at the heart of early learning.

  • The Better Beans Branding team brings together decades of expertise in branding, interior design, operations, and business strategy to help organizations create spaces that tell their story. Led by CEO Neel Sengupta, VP of Design Jordan Woodruff, COO Leah Wirtz, and Director of Branding Savannah Fernald, the team specializes in transforming brands into cohesive, scalable experiences through design, build coordination, and visual identity. Drawing on backgrounds in hospitality, early education, consulting, and creative design, they have helped hundreds of organizations nationwide build environments that inspire, engage, and support long-term growth.

  • Tameenah Collins is a dynamic HR professional with over 25 years of experience in human resources and fractional consulting. As the founder and CHRO of ChildcareHR, she supports childcare organizations nationwide with HR solutions rooted in leadership, compliance, and culture. Tameenah holds a bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership, SHRM-CP and is a John Maxwell Certified Coach. She is a sought-after speaker known for her engaging style and practical strategies. Her mission is to help leaders “bloom where planted,” building workplaces where teams thrive. With deep expertise and genuine passion, she transforms HR challenges into opportunities for growth and success.

  •  Jared Cook is a proud father of four daughters who brighten his life each day. He earned a degree from ASU in Finance and Marketing, then ended up in childcare in 2008 and fell in love. That was chapter 1. Since then he has led multi-site childcare programs across Arizona, hired, trained, and supported more than 1,000 employees, and founded MentorMePreK.com, a gamified learning management system that strengthens onboarding, training, and school operations.

  • Carrie Casey, MBA, is the founder of CEY Press, a hybrid publishing company created specifically for the childcare industry. A bestselling author and speaker, Carrie helps childcare owners and directors turn their experience, philosophy, and expertise into books and resources that educate families, build trust, and strengthen enrollment and retention. With more than 30 years of experience in early childhood education, she is also the co-founder of Director Success Academy, where she has helped support more than 5,000 childcare directors in strengthening their programs, developing their business knowledge, and clearly communicating what makes their work and their programs different.

  • Vernon Mason, Jr., M.Ed., is a nationally recognized speaker, leadership coach, and bestselling author with more than 30 years of experience in early childhood education. As the founder of Directors Leadership Solutions, he helps childcare owners and directors build stronger teams, improve retention, and create thriving center cultures. A former childcare owner and multi-site operator, Vernon combines practical leadership strategies with humor and authentic storytelling to inspire audiences nationwide. His engaging presentations equip leaders with actionable tools to navigate challenges, strengthen their organizations, and lead with confidence.

  • Jacob Jensen is the Co-Founder of Elevate Coaching and Consulting as well as the Executive Director of The Learning Station in South Carolina. He grew up in this industry and learned the business from every angle before stepping into operations. With no engineering background, he used AI to build the operational software his team needed, and it now helps run his centers along with centers around the country. He coaches childcare owners and directors on operations, systems, and practical AI. He lives in Myrtle Beach with his wife Alicia and their two boys.  

  • Aleta Mechtel is a business strategist, speaker, and multi-business founder with more than 26 years of experience in the childcare industry. After owning and operating high-performing childcare centers for over two decades, she successfully sold them in 2021. Aleta continues to lead The Teachers for Tomorrow, a substitute teacher placement company she founded to solve the ongoing staffing challenges in childcare. Today, she coaches small business owners across the nation and has developed a proven business-building system that helps entrepreneurs launch, operate and grow their own substitute teacher placement company. Aleta brings firsthand experience from every stage of business ownership, from growth and leadership to a successful exit.

  • Martha Mazor is an award-winning entrepreneur, real estate investor, podcast host, and Founder and CEO of Whiz Kidz Preschools, a six-site childcare organization serving families across the Phoenix area. Under her leadership, Whiz Kidz has earned Cognia accreditation, been named Best Childcare for seven consecutive years, and landed on the Inc. 5000 list six consecutive times. A John Maxwell Certified Coach and creator of The Empire Builder Method, Martha helps ambitious entrepreneurs simplify growth, strengthen profitability, and build lasting wealth. Her mission is to empower women to recognize their potential, expand their influence, and create meaningful legacies.

  • Vanessa is an Associate Principal at Tuscany Strategy Consulting, where she leads client engagements, guides case strategy, and helps develop the firm’s team and methodologies. Her experience spans the entire education lifecycle, from infant care to workforce development, with expertise in pricing strategy, market expansion, competitive analysis, site selection, brand optimization, school turnaround, and organizational design. Vanessa began her career teaching eighth-grade math at a Title I charter school in Baton Rouge through Teach For America before transitioning into nonprofit operations and marketing. She holds a B.A. in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin and an M.B.A. from Johns Hopkins University.

  • Ruth Ann Rose is the Founder and CEO of Rose Marketing Solutions, where she and her team help early childhood education owners fill classrooms, build lasting family trust, and grow marketing they can actually understand and sustain. With more than 18 years in the early education space, Ruth Ann has helped her agency manage over $5 million in ad spend, guiding hundreds of schools to be not just seen online, but ready to welcome families and build long-term community trust. An educator at heart, she empowers school leaders to own their messaging and get results they can feel, measure, and sustain.

  • David Long founded Tuscany Strategy Consulting in 2007, overseeing hundreds of engagements across demand discovery, market expansion, product development, acquisitions, and new ventures. With more than 25 years of operating and consulting experience across education—including early childhood, K–12, higher education, and workforce development—David has helped organizations create hundreds of millions of dollars in enterprise value. Today, David is pioneering a new model of strategic consulting that combines longitudinal data, artificial intelligence, and human expertise to help education leaders make smarter, faster decisions.

  • Sasha Reiss is the CPO & Co-Founder of Playground, the child care management platform used by 500K+ providers, teachers, and families across all 50 states. He's a co-author of More Than Tuition, Financial Leadership, and also Producer of Early Childhood Investigations, a free professional development platform for early education. Sasha's work focuses on building systems that reduce administrative burden and make excellent child care accessible to all.