Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Ohio Join Early Childhood and Business Advisory Council

Washington, DC – The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) launched the second cohort of the Early Childhood and Business Advisory Council, a joint initiative between BPC and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF), to support the expansion of quality, affordable child care in communities and states across the country.  The new cohort convened in Charlotte, North Carolina, August 9-10 to lay the groundwork for the year to come.

The Early Childhood and Business Advisory Council’s goal is to strengthen connections between businesses and early childhood communities in areas where local and state Chambers of Commerce have identified child care as a priority. The initiative began in June 2022 and involved nine initial states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Missouri, South Dakota, and Texas. Four more states are participating in the second cohort: Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Ohio.

The Council states teams will identify the greatest opportunities and most pressing child care challenges in their regions and create unified action plans. BPC and the USCCF will support the Council through expert technical assistance, resource development, and networking opportunities.

“For American business, the ability to recruit and retain top talent is more important than ever, and child care is key to solving this two-generation workforce challenge” said Caitlin Codella Low, Vice President of Policy and Programs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “This meeting showcased the great progress already made and the robust momentum toward continued transformative action. Even as challenges persist, the business community and early childhood education stakeholders are collaborating to find localized solutions to help their communities.”

The expansion of the council follows the enormous successes of the first year:

• Council member and CEO of Klein Visioneering Group, Kayla Klein, states, “The Early Childhood and Business Advisory Council gave our team in South Dakota the opportunity to ride a growing momentum of interested business leaders, economic development offices, and chambers that were all concerned about the child crisis. Having the name of the Bipartisan Policy Center and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation legitimized our cause and steps moving forward. I truly believe that if we would not have had that support our initiative would not be as far along as it currently is – 163 current members on our business collaborative list and active participation!’”
• BPC and USCCF hosted exclusive private webinars on the child care market and use of cost modeling to support business and policy investments.
• Renowned communication strategist, Frank Luntz, led an interactive session on child care messaging with conservative audiences, equipping Council members with effective child care messaging techniques.

Cohort 1 council members embraced these opportunities and were able to translate insights provided by these sessions into their state and local efforts in advancing child care.

The 13 regions included in this year’s council are led by early childhood and business stakeholders:

• Huntsville, Alabama
  • Bernard Houston, Administrator of Childcare Services and Workforce Development, Alabama Department of Human Resources
  • Gail Piggot, Executive Director, Alabama Partnership for Children
  • Faye Nelson, Deputy Commissioner, Family Resources for Alabama Department of Human Services
  • Georgianna Clemmons, Director of Communications, Business Council of Alabama
  • Lyndsay Ferguson, Vice President of Workforce, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce
• Alaska
  • Kati Capozzi, President and CEO, Alaska Chamber of Commerce
  • Rachel Roy, Executive Director, Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce
  • Stephanie Berglund, CEO, thread Alaska
• Maricopa County, Arizona
  • Angela Creedon, Arizona Public Affairs Manager, Intel Corporation
  • Grace Appelbe, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Lela Wendell, Assistant Director of Economic Security, Division of Child Care
  • Melinda Gulick, CEO, First Things First
  • Mike Hutchinson, Executive Vice President, PHX East Valley Partnership
• Idaho
  • Alex LeBeau, President, Idaho Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Aubrie Hunt, Program Manager, Child Care and TANF, Division of Self Reliance
  • Beth Oppenheimer, Executive Director, Idaho AEYC
  • Jessica Anderson, Director of Strategic Communications, Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry
  • Matthew J. Hunter, President & CEO, Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber
• Indiana
  • Maureen Weber, President & CEO, Early Learning Indiana
  • Jason Bearce, Vice President, Education and Workforce Development, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
• Kentucky
  • Andrea Day, Division Director, Department of Community Based Services Cabinet for Health and Family Services
  • Candance Brake, President & CEO, Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce
  • Charles Aull, Senior Policy Analyst, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
  • Sarah Taylor Vanover, Policy and Research Director, Kentucky Youth Advocates
• Louisiana
  • Amy Hook-Poirier, Executive Director of Early Childhood Strategy, Louisiana Department of Education
  • Brian Davis, Director of Education & Workforce Development, Louisiana Association Business and Industry
  • Ellie Ward, Director of Special Programs and Events, Greater Shreveport Chamber
  • Libbie Sonnier, Executive Director, Louisiana Policy Institute for Children
  • Tim Magner, President, Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
• Missouri
  • Brian Schmidt, Executive Director, Kids Win Missouri
  • Kara Corches, Vice President of Government Affairs, Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Ava Delsemme, Government Relations Specialist, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
  • Cathy Bennett, Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
  • Dallas Polen, Vice President of Government Affairs, Children’s Mercy Hospital
• Montana
  • Caitlin Jensen, Executive Director, Zero to Five Montana
  • Jody Lehman, Bureau Chief, Child Care, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
  • Kim Latrielle, Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Rhonda Schwenke, Program Director, Zero to Five Montana
  • Sheridan Johnson, Government Specialist, Montana Chamber
  • Scott Wolff, Workforce Development Director, Great Falls Chamber of Commerce
• North Carolina
  • Ariel Ford, Director of Child Development and Early Education, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
  • David Farris, President & CEO, Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Debra Derr, Director of Government Affairs, NC Chamber
  • Janet Singerman, President & CEO, Child Care Resources & Inc
• Ohio
  • Kara Wente, Director, Ohio Governor’s Office of Children’s Initiative
  • Rick Carfagna, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Ohio Chamber
  • Shannon Jones, President & CEO, Groundwork Ohio
  • Stephanie Keinath, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
• South Dakota
  • David Owen, President, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Kayla Klein, President and CEO, Klein Visioneering Group
  • Laura Menning, Child Care Services Program Administrator, Child Care Services, South Dakota Department of Social Services
  • Laura Jones, Housing and Community Development Manager, Elevate Rapid City
• Austin, Texas
  • Cathy McHorse, Vice President, Success by 6, United Way for Greater Austin
  • Gilbert Zavala, Vice President of Education and Talent Development, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce
  • Kwee Lan Teo, Vice President of Talent Development, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce
  • Néster Ho, President and Chief Legal Officer, Silicon Labs
  • Janice Lu, Senior Labor Council, Silicon Labs
  • Reagan Miller, Division Director, Child Care & Early Learning Division, Texas Workforce Commission
  • Stephanie Matthews, Executive Vice President, Texas Association of Business

The Bipartisan Policy Center would like to acknowledge support for this initiative from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, and the Ballmer Group.

About the Bipartisan Policy Center

The Bipartisan Policy Center is a mission-focused organization helping policymakers work across party lines to craft bipartisan solutions. By connecting Republicans and Democrats, delivering data and context, negotiating public policy, and creating space for bipartisan collaboration, BPC helps turn legislators’ best ideas into durable laws that improve lives. Since 2007, the Bipartisan Policy Center has helped shepherd countless bills across the finish line. Learn more at bipartisanpolicy.org.

About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation harnesses the power of business to create solutions for the good of America and the world. We anticipate, develop, and deploy solutions to challenges facing communities—today and tomorrow.