Meet The Board

James "Jamie" Richardson, Jr., our newly elected board president!

Jamie has been an active force on our board for years, consistently driving innovations forward. His dedication is rooted in his commitment to education and community service. He serves as an Early Childhood Educator at P&J Tender Care, Inc., a legacy built by his parents, Paquita and James, Sr., Jamie strongly believes in providing a safe and nurturing learning environment for young children.

His passion for serving the community is evident in his prior role as Board President of the Future Rocks Youth Basketball team, where he inspired youths to achieve their potential. He and his wife, Tonya, have been married for more than 20 years, and their children, James III and Janihe, now work alongside him at P&J Tender Care, continuing the family's tradition of excellence.

As Jamie says, “We are honored to be in a position that allows us to inspire and motivate those around us.” We can't wait to see the impact he makes!

Cindy has been in the early childhood education and care field for over 40 years. She has recently retired from ownership and serving as Executive Director of In A Kid's World, a private early learning center in Rock Island. As an advocate for children, families, direct-service providers, and high-quality early childhood experiences, Cindy is passionate about improving local ECE supports.

Cindy has also been involved with other ECEC organizations, serving on the Illinois AEYC board as a Past President, PDAC (Professional Development Advisory Committee for INCCRRA), and founding member of ILDOCC (Illinois Directors and Owners of Childcare Centers). Cindy's education includes an associate's degree in Child Development (1974), CDA (1991), a bachelor's WIU 1992), and a master's in early childhood administration NLU (2003).

 Danen entered the early childhood field based on a passion for high quality early learning experiences. With her degree in engineering, Danen worked as an engineer in Madison, WI until the birth of her first child necessitated a career pivot. She went on to found Bright Child Learning Center in Madison, WI, based on the Montessori approach she grew to love and appreciate while attending Villa Montessori School in Moline, IL as a child.

She returned to her QC roots and has been the Director of Villa Montessori School for over a decade. She has gone on to obtain her Montessori Teaching Credential and National Director Credential, present at local & national Early Childhood conferences, facilitate training through the Illinois Trainers Network & National Louis University McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, and serve as a mentor through the ECC Mentoring Program. 

Outside of her role as a Director, she is an active member of the Illinois Professional Development Advisory Council (PDAC), Eastern Iowa Community Colleges ECE Advisory Council, Birth to Five Action Council, and more.

Michael currently serves as the Vice President of Programs for EveryChild (a local community Agency dedicated to eliminating child abuse and neglect). In this role, he facilitates clinical supervision and oversees global programming. In support of the above duties, he serves as EveryChild's Mental Health Consultant, building staff capacity for reflective practice and enhancing awareness regarding Participant's Mental Health challenges and their influence on service progression. Additionally, Michael has served on a myriad of Local, Regional, and state-level Advisory Councils and Boards.

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Emily Cummings (she/her) is the Regional Council Manager for Birth to Five Illinois in Region 49. She believes that to build a strong community, we must start by creating a healthy foundation for the next generation of critical thinkers and problem solvers. For the past ten years, Emily has worked in various roles in early childhood, ranging from preschool teacher to home visits to center director. She led a home visitation program and a program that provides therapy to children 0-5 who have experienced trauma. Emily received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education Administration from Ashford University, where she began to understand the importance of empowering families and walking alongside them through the earliest years of their children’s lives. She obtained her master’s degree in Social Work to advocate for children on a more macro level. Emily lives in Rock Island County with her partner and three amazing children.

Tammy currently serves as the Regional Superintendent of Schools in Rock Island County. In addition to her current role, Tammy has served as an early childhood educator, parent educator, and early childhood program coordinator. She has been actively involved with various committees, councils, and boards throughout the community and state. Tammy strongly supports collaboration among community entities to serve the needs of children and their families. 

Marcy Mendenhall is the CEO of SAL Community Services, the parent company of five Skip-a-Long Centers, 2 Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, Home Child Care Network, a Welcoming Center and Open Door.  Located in the west side of Illinois, Marcy seeks to collaborate, partner, and elevate all things related to early care and education.  She is a staunch advocate for children and their families. 

Bio coming soon.

Angela Herrington is Midwestern Illinois's Director of Child Care Resource & Referral.  Previously Angela was the Quality Specialist at CCR&R as well as 25 years in the classroom previous to that.  Angela is passionate about providing children with high-quality Early Childhood experiences and serving in ways to help make those experiences possible. 

Julie Larson brings a plethora of experience to her position as YWCA Quad Cities President and
Chief Executive Officer. She initially served as Vice President and then President of the YWCA Quad Cities Board of Directors until she accepted a Co-Executive Director position in 1999. She has embodied the mission of the YWCA for over 25 years, working to improve the lives of women, girls, and communities of color through advocacy, local programming, and services.

   Julie is deeply committed to offering programming and services that support social change, help families and strengthen communities. She has been instrumental in growing and expanding the organization
through strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting, and grant writing. Julie’s forward thinking and collaborative mindset led to the creation of Theplace2b for homeless & at-risk youth, the
YWCA Empowerment Center and multiple special events to promote the YWCA’s mission.

Rose's journey in early childhood education began as a high school parent eager to be the best mother. As a teen mom, she took a Child Care course that ignited her passion for child development, teaching her about developmental stages and age-appropriate activities. After high school, she earned an associate degree in child development from Black Hawk College and continued her studies in Social Work and Educational Administration. With 25 years in the field, Rose takes pride in fostering a positive learning environment and is now focused on inspiring future educators. Outside of work, she enjoys family time, staying active, RV camping, and aims to visit all 50 states.

Georgia's academic background was in design and education. She has over twelve years of experience in early childhood development education, event coordination, and design. Georgia uses her unique skillset to guide the Early Childhood Coalition in marketing & design efforts along with strategic planning. Georgia is a dedicated advocate for families with young children and firmly believes that by working together as a community, we can build a strong foundation for our future leaders.