Co-Chairs

  • Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt, State of North Carolina
  • Senator Jim Burgin, NC General Assembly 

Other Members (in Alphabetical Order)

NamePosition
Jennifer AkinVice President of Strategic Alliances and the White Oak Collaborative, Blue Star Families 
Senator Jay ChaudhuriNC General Assembly 
Ashton ClemmonsAssociate Vice President of P12 Strategy & Policy, University of North Carolina System 
Representative Sarah CrawfordNC General Assembly 
Amy CubbagePresident, NC Partnership for Children 
Senator Ralph HiseNC General Assembly 
Lori Jones-RuffRegional Programs Manager, Southwestern Child Development Commission, Inc. 
Beth MessersmithNC Senior Director, Moms Rising 
Dr. Mary OlveraState Director of Teacher Education, Public Services, and Perkins Special Populations, NC Community College System 
Erica Palmer SmithExecutive Director, NC Child 
Ellen PancoastVice President of People Operations, Cone Health 
Susan Gale PerryChief Executive Officer, Child Care Aware of America
Rhonda RiversChair, NC Child Care Commission 
Dan RockawayPresident, NC Licensed Child Care Association 
Gary SalamidoPresident & CEO, NC Chamber 
Meka SalesDirector of Special Initiatives, The Duke Endowment 
Theresa StackerExecutive Director, NC Early Childhood Foundation 
Noelle TalleyDeputy Secretary for Advocacy, NC Department of Administration 
Dan TetreaultAssistant Director of Early Learning, NC Department of Public Instruction 
Representative David WillisNC General Assembly 
Mary Elizabeth WilsonChief of Staff & General Counsel, NC Department of Commerce 
Candace WitherspoonDirector, Division of Child Development and Early Education, NC Department of Health and Human Services
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This page was last modified on 03/24/2026