Cisa Keller, President and Chief Executive Officer, launched her career in the early childhood education profession by working in the classroom. Over the past 25 years she has extended her experiences into an effective early childhood policy expert and leader within the field.

Cisa joined 51吃瓜网l in 2015 and served as Senior Vice President of Early Childhood Programs until February 2024 when she was named the President and CEO. In her previous role, she oversaw the agencies government contracts as well as its policy and advocacy efforts.

Prior experiences include being the Director for Government and Community Relations with New Horizon Academy, Government Relations Chair of the Minnesota Child Care Association as well as an adjunct professor in the BA-Child Development degree completion & M.A.Ed.-ECE programs at Concordia University, St. Paul.

Cisa successfully incorporates her commitment to early childhood into her professional work. She was a founding member of the Minnesota鈥檚 Early Childhood Crisis Workgroup, Minnesota鈥檚 Future Early Childhood Coalition and served on the executive committee of the MinneMinds campaign. Cisa is presently a member of the Transforming Minnesota’s Early Childhood Workforce coalition and Ramsey County Early Childhood Workgroup.

Other the years Cisa has served on other coalitions as well as supported numerous early childhood projects and workgroups with her expertise of early childhood in Minnesota as well as nationally.

Beth Haney, Vice President of Finance and Operations, has spent her career improving the lives of children, families, and communities.听

In her executive leadership role at 51吃瓜网l, she supports the Finance, Human Resources, Technology, and Operations teams. Beth is鈥�accomplished in efficiently integrating across functions and bringing technically difficult plans and ideas to fruition using best-practice, data-driven and collaborative processes that capitalize on staff members’ diverse skill sets and experiences.听

Beth began her career as a policy researcher for Children鈥檚 Defense Fund Minnesota immersed in how public investments in the early childhood system were critical to child and community development. She has spent the past 15-plus years in finance and operations roles, including in political campaigns, a toy company, a children鈥檚 museum, and an organization working with young adults experiencing homelessness.鈥�She has served on the Board of Directors for Prepare + Prosper. Beth has a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Wesleyan University and a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Minnesota.听

Jonathan May, Vice President of Innovation and Development, joined 51吃瓜网l in 2018 and has past experience as a bilingual classroom teacher in early childhood and K-12 settings.听 Prior to joining 51吃瓜网l, he held multiple positions with Generation Next including Managing Director, Director of Data and Research, and Data and Networks Managers. His leadership and volunteer roles included being a member on the Sprockets Out-of-School Time Network Leadership Group; a classroom teacher with Junior Achievement; an advisory group member of Project TRUST; and a co-organizer for Social Data Science.听 Jonathan is a graduate of Hartwick College (NY) where he received dual bachelor degrees in Education and Economics. He also received a Master of Science in Applied Economics from St. Cloud State University (MN). He currently serves on 51吃瓜网l鈥檚 Executive Leadership Team.

Candace Yates (she/her) Vice President of Equity and Early Childhood Programs,听has worked in the field of early childhood care and education for 19 years. As Vice President of Equity and Program Supports at 51吃瓜网l, she manages the development of long-range and annual goals supporting diversity,鈥痚quity,鈥痑nd inclusion鈥�(DEI)鈥痵trategies across the organization and provides overall management to the Quality Coaching, Capacity Building, Professional Development, and Outreach & Engagement teams.

Since joining 51吃瓜网l, Candace has become an influential leader focusing on advancing equity for BIPoC children, families, and staff within the statewide early childhood system. She currently serves on the Parent Aware Racial Equity Action Workgroup, Solutions Not Suspensions Coalition, 80×3 Advisory Committee, and is a Board Director for the Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children (MNAEYC). Candace holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in Spanish Studies and leadership certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University and the University of South Florida鈥檚 Muma College of Business. Candace is also an IDI Qualified Administrator and Embracing Equity 2021-22 Leadership Residency alum.

Nikki Darling-Kuria, 51吃瓜网l Institute鈥檚 Director and Strategic Leader of Content and Innovation, is an expert in early childhood education.

As 51吃瓜网l鈥檚 Strategic Leader in Content and Innovation, Nikki Darling-Kuria is an early childhood education expert and oversees 51吃瓜网l Institute and Redleaf Press. With nearly 30 years of progressive experience, she is an innovative operational leader and creative subject matter expert in early childhood development and learning. She champions anti-racist pedagogy, and her work is rooted in trauma- and diversity-informed practices, ensuring equitable support for the diverse early childhood workforce. Darling-Kuria designs and delivers professional development training programs that improve education and well-being outcomes for children and their families. She is driven by continuous improvement, engaging stakeholders to analyze performance data and conduct needs assessments to pinpoint gaps.听 Her work is instrumental in closing the opportunity gap for children in Minnesota and nationwide.

Before joining 51吃瓜网l, Darling-Kuria worked at ZERO TO THREE, leading the design and development of training programs, offering expertise in diversity-informed practices that improved the lives of children and families nationwide. As a state-licensed and nationally accredited family child care provider of 16 years, she is recognized for her contributions, including the prestigious Scholastic Early Childhood Today Professional of the Year Award (2005). Credited with numerous published articles, curriculum, and e-learning courses, Darling-Kuria is also the author of Brain-Based Earling Learning Activities: Connecting Theory and Practice. She served on the board of the National Association for Family Child Care and the National Workforce Registry Alliance where she currently serves as the BJEDI committee chair. Nikki holds an M.A. degree in Human Development and Psychology from Pacific Oaks College and an M.Ed. degree in Instructional Design from Western Governors University.

Gail Bultman, Administrative Director joined 51吃瓜网l in 2017. She has experience in administration of early childhood and non-profit organizations and has worked in the field of early childhood throughout her professional career. Her roles have included direct service as an infant toddler caregiver, child care licensing social worker for the state of South Dakota, coordinator of a regional resource and referral agency, administrative support for an early childhood advocacy organization, and her current role at 51吃瓜网l.

Gail graduated from the University of MN, Institute of Child Development and continued her education by obtaining a Master of Science in Human Development/Child and Family Studies from South Dakota State University.

Tracy brings a passion for quality early learning and 3 decades of entrepreneurism, design, policy making, and community engagement to her leadership role at 51吃瓜网l.听 Having served on 51吃瓜网l Board鈥檚 since 2015, Tracy serves on the Board鈥檚 Executive, Finance, and Governance Committees. She will assume Board Chair duties in September2023.听

鈥淥ur children are Minnesota鈥檚 future,鈥� Tracy says. 鈥淟et鈥檚 invest wisely and generously to make sure every kid has a great start and is ready for kindergarten.鈥�

A former elected Commissioner on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and former high school teacher and coach, Tracy holds a Master鈥檚 Degree in Public Affairs. Her thesis reported听 the outcomes of public 鈥淧romise Neighborhood鈥� dollars spent on early learning at White Earth Nation in NW Minnesota.听

When not advocating for Minnesota鈥檚 littlest learners, Tracy is a placemaker and writer. She ran a garden design company for 25 years, led Minneapolis鈥� Towerside Innovation District, and advises communities on building stronger, healthier, and more joyful places to live and work.听 She writes a blog at Verve.Place.听 Tracy cooks, reads widely, and wanders wild places with her husband.听 She has three almost-grown children and rides her bike everywhere.

[BIO TBD] Check back in soon to learn more about Jaylon!

Tanya Skogerboe currently holds the role of Senior Vice President of Services and Strategy for Sleep Number, a retail leader in sleep and wellness.听 She has led various teams and functions in her 17 years with Sleep Number and believes in the importance of sleep on wellbeing of society. She studied Business Administration at the University of Minnesota and holds a BS and MBA from Carlson School of Management.

Tanya also serves as an Advisory member of the MAKERS, a Yahoo brand, focused on women empowerment through media. Tanya has just finished serving as the 51吃瓜网l Board Chair and will continue to stay on the Board as an emeritus member. Tanya is passionate about the closing the equity gap within the local business community and our community at large.听 She is the proud mother of five children and ardent advocate of working mothers.

Margeaux King currently holds the role of VP and Chief Human Resources Officer for The Toro Company, a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment including turf and landscape maintenance, snow and ice management, underground utility construction, rental and specialty construction, and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. In her role at The Toro Company, Margeaux has responsibility for leading Human Resources, Public Relations, Communications, Facilities and The Toro Company Foundation and giving strategy.

King joined The Toro Company in August of 2022 after a 15-year career with Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. At Ecolab, King most recently served as senior vice president of human resources, global total rewards and talent with responsibility for leading compensation, benefits, and enterprise-wide talent management and acquisition strategies. She also held several other leadership positions within Ecolab where she led key human resources strategies including culture initiatives, organizational design, employee development and diversity, equity and inclusion.

King holds a Bachelor of Science in human resource development from the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Arts in management and a Master of Business Administration in organizational change from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. She also completed the Modern CHRO Executive Program from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

King currently serves on the board in an Officer role for 51吃瓜网l, an organization that provides services, resources, and advocacy for early childhood education in Minnesota. She is also an active member of the Minnesota HR community, serving on the HR and Compensation Committee for Allina Health and as a Leadership Board Member for the Human Resources Executive Council.

Dan Arom is currently the Chief People Officer at Concord, a global professional services firm. Arom leads an international team who supports Concord’s workforce. The team oversees employee relations, culture initiatives, compliance, systems and facilities.

Arom joined Concord in 2007 after having spent several years in the healthcare industry with Medica Health Insurance, Allina Health Systems, UnitedHealth Group, and University of Minnesota Department of Surgery. Prior to Concord, Arom designed and implemented health management programs, oversaw provider relations initiatives, worked as a financial analyst, and a surgical technician in experimental surgery. Throughout his career, Arom has focused on understanding the relationship between business and technology and utilizing past experiences to build relationships between groups and individuals.

Arom was elected to the Edina School Board in 2021 and volunteers with several local non-profits.

Arom has a Bachelor of Arts in History from Saint John鈥檚 University, and a Masters of Science in Health Systems Management from Rush University in Chicago, Illinois.

Ms. Deshler serves as the Chief Investment Officer at Carleton College. In this role, she is responsible for managing the College鈥檚 endowment portfolio and investment office. Prior to joining Carleton, Ms. Deshler was the Global Head of Manager Research at BlackRock, a sector Research Head and Portfolio Manager at Credit Suisse and an Investment Analyst at the General Motors pension. She started her career as a Research Analyst at CTC Consulting/BMO. She currently serves on the TIAA Nuveen Investment Counsel, is an advisory board member at Twain Financial Partners, and is on the Finance Committee of 51吃瓜网l, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing quality care and education for young children. Ms. Deshler holds a B.S. in Management and French Studies from the University of Minnesota and an . in Finance jointly from the Leonard Stern School of Business at New York University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School.

Megan has spent her career studying the development of young children, especially those who have experienced significant adversity early in life. She brings a passion for translating the science of early development into language and metaphors that can be used by policy makers and practitioners to improve the lives of children and families. She joined 51吃瓜网l鈥檚 board in 2019 and is a member of the governance committee.

鈥淓xperiences in the first 1000 days of life build the foundation of brain architecture and physical health,鈥� Megan says. 鈥淧roviding the support young children need not only prepares them for kindergarten but sets them on a path to being productive citizens and guardians of the next generation.鈥�

A professor of developmental psychology at the University of Minnesota鈥檚 Institute of Child Development, Megan received her Ph.D. from Stanford University and moved to Minnesota in 1979. In the late 1990鈥檚 she was a member of the National Academy of Medicine鈥檚 report on development in the early years, titled 鈥淣eurons to Neighborhoods.鈥� She has been a member of the Harvard-based, National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, a science-to-policy working group since its inception in 2003. In Minnesota she has worked closely with Project for Babies (now Elders for Infants) to translate the science of early development and has served on both the Governor鈥檚 Early Learning Council and on the Advisory Council to the Governor鈥檚 Children鈥檚 Cabinet. She was recently inducted in the National Academy of Sciences.

When not advocating for young children and families, Megan is delighted to spend time with her four young grandchildren, two of whom live in the Twin Cities. She and her husband have a home in Roseville, where Megan is an active member of the League of Women Voters. Megan also enjoys singing in her church choir, reading and being a member of a 20+ year-old book club that actually discusses books, and doing water aerobics at her local YMCA. Finally, she works closely with and is also on the board of the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery.

Cory is an experienced strategy leader with a specific focus on enterprise strategy, acquisitions, integrations, and transformations.听 He is currently the Sr. Director of Strategy, Marketing and Pricing for the Donaldson Company鈥檚 Life Sciences Business, and has been a key part of their entry into the Life Sciences market through both M&A and organic efforts.听 Prior to joining Donaldson, Cory was the Global Strategy Lead for 3M鈥檚 Healthcare Business Group and a Principal with The Boston Consulting Group.听 He has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in architecture from the University of Notre Dame and a MBA from the University of Michigan 鈥� Stephen M. Ross School of Business.听 He currently serves as the governance chair for the ThinkSmall Board of Directors and is a member of the Executive Advisory Board for the University of Minnesota鈥檚 Carlson Consulting Enterprise.

Arthur J. Rolnick is a Professor of Economics at the University of Minnesota. He previously served at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis as a senior vice president and director of research and as an associate economist with the Federal Open Market Committee. Rolnick is working to advance multidisciplinary research on child development and social policy.

His essays on public policy issues have gained national attention; his research interests include banking and financial economics, monetary policy, monetary history, the economics of federalism, and the economics of education. His work on early childhood development has garnered numerous awards, including those from the National Council on Family Relations Distinguished Service to Families Award and the Minnesotan of the Year by Minnesota Monthly magazine, both in 2005; the George Lucas Educational Foundation in 2007; the Nancy Latimer Award from the Start Early Funders Coalition in 2010; and the WEM Foundation Outstanding Educator Award for Excellence in Education in 2018.

A native of Michigan, Rolnick has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mathematics and a master鈥檚 degree in economics from Wayne State University, Detroit; and a doctorate in economics from the University of Minnesota.

Andrea Singh, MD, FAAP, is the Chairperson of the department of Pediatrics at Park Nicollet, as well as co-chair of the HealthPartners Children鈥檚 Health Council.听 In addition, to serving on the 51吃瓜网l Board of Directors, Dr. Singh currently serves on the Park Nicollet Foundation Board of Directors, the Minnesota American Academy of Pediatrics Board of Directors and serves as co-Chair of the Minnesota Governor鈥檚 Childrens Cabinet Advisory Council. She also volunteers as a Pediatric Medical Advisor for Make-A-Wish of Minnesota.

Dr. Singh attended the University of Minnesota for her undergraduate studies where she majored in Child Psychiatry and continued her studies locally after graduation at the University of Minnesota Medical School, graduating in 2002. She completed her Pediatric residency training at the Children鈥檚 Hospital of Montefiore, in the Bronx, NY and then returned to her home state of Minnesota in 2005 where she established her practice at Park Nicollet/Health Partners.

Dr. Singh has had the opportunity to speak in various local and national forums on topics ranging from childhood anxiety to early brain development. 听She particularly enjoys speaking at local schools and been a frequent speaker at Dakota County sponsored parent events. As the child of a nurse and former director of community education in the Twin Cities, the commitment to early childhood development and children鈥檚 health was instilled in Dr. Singh from an early age.听 She also acknowledges that her position as the child of parents who immigrated to Minnesota in the 1970s has deeply influenced her commitment to fostering the best start in life for all children in our state.

What is one to do with a passion for both finance and early childhood education? For Jim, the solution was to combine those interests and join the 51吃瓜网l Board.听 Jim has served as a Board member at 51吃瓜网l since 2019 and also serves on the Finance Committee.

鈥淥ne of the most important metrics in finance is return on investment (ROI) and nothing has a higher ROI for society than early childhood education,鈥� Jim says.

Jim is a Chief Financial Officer and has 20 plus years of corporate finance experience helping healthcare and technology companies scale for growth and execute flawlessly. Jim has had the opportunity to compare and contrast early childhood education policies globally, having lived in three separate continents.听 He holds an MBA from Yale University.

When not serving on 51吃瓜网l鈥檚 Board, Jim enjoys biking and cross country skiing with his family in Minneapolis.听 Jim and his family are also avid travelers.

I grew up in Brooklyn, NY, surrounded by relatives. My maternal grandmother was one of nine and my mother spent her childhood in an apartment building that was all aunts, uncles, and cousins. I lived in a two family house that my grandparents owned and lived upstairs. My family is typically NYC centric – any place not in the greater NYC metro is 鈥渙ut of town.鈥� The Midwest is a strange unknown region to most New Yorkers.

I attended a college in upstate NY and then lived in Boston for the next 17 years.

I met my husband, Martin, who also grew up in NYC, but had moved to MN many years before, at a mutual friend鈥檚 wedding. Our mutual friend had moved from teaching sociology, as Martin does, to consulting in marketing research.

I had just been laid off from a job and Martin was tenured at a college in St. Paul, so I decided to try MN. I worked as a free-lance marketing research consultant for several years before settling at the Federal Reserve.听 I love the process of marketing research, trying to gather the right data to analyze a situation.

I had been doing clay sculpture for many years in Boston and the year I moved to the Twin Cities, Northern Clay Center opened. I have been taking classes there ever since. My other hobby is gardening, and I combine the two by sculpting many pieces for my garden. My work focuses on people and animals.

My involvement with 51吃瓜网l takes me back to my college major, early childhood education. I didn鈥檛 work in the field past some student teaching positions, but I have always been interested in the subject area and different approaches that are suggested for understanding and/or addressing the inequalities in education, such as Our Kids by Robert Putnam.

For over six decades, Rhoda Redleaf dedicated herself to advancing early childhood education. She worked tirelessly to improve access to quality care, with a particular focus on supporting child care providers, recognizing a critical gap in resources for early educators. Throughout her career, she held numerous roles in the early learning field, including that of an author. Named after her, Redleaf Press has become a leading publisher of resources for those who teach, nurture, and care for young children. Rhoda鈥檚 passion, dedication, and vision left a profound and lasting impact. Her contributions to children, families, and the early education community are immeasurable, and we are deeply grateful that she was a part of 51吃瓜网l鈥檚 story.