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.

  • 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 the Founder of Childcare Business Growth, where he helps early childhood education providers attract more families, increase enrollment, and scale sustainable businesses through proven marketing systems. A former childcare owner with more than 18 years of industry experience, Nick has trained thousands of childcare professionals worldwide on marketing, leadership, and business growth. Through coaching, consulting, live events, and his podcast, he equips owners with practical strategies to stand out in competitive markets, build thriving organizations, and create businesses that provide both financial success and greater freedom.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Carter Bailey is the Founder and CEO of Educated Analytics, a data intelligence platform that helps early childhood education providers make smarter growth, real estate, and market strategy decisions. Drawing on his background in preschool development, real estate, and investment, Carter created Educated Analytics to give operators access to the actionable data needed to expand with confidence. Today, he works with childcare organizations nationwide, providing insights into market demand, competition, tuition trends, and acquisition opportunities. Carter is passionate about helping early education leaders replace guesswork with data-driven decisions that fuel sustainable growth.

  • 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 and leadership coach, entrepreneur, and early childhood education veteran with more than 22 years of experience as a teacher, director, owner, and coach. After building a thriving childcare organization with four schools and launching multiple businesses—including Teachers for Tomorrow, an early childhood substitute staffing company—she now helps business leaders optimize operations, strengthen leadership, and scale with confidence. Through coaching, strategic planning, and accountability programs, Aleta equips childcare owners with practical systems and proven strategies to build sustainable, high-performing organizations without reinventing the wheel.