2023 National Child Nutrition Conference Program

cacfp.org 51 Thursday Program Admin/Operations Get the Facts! CN Labels and Product Formulation Statements (PFS) S3 Coronado D Kaushalya Heendeniya, MS, RD, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Debra Eisenbarth, MS, RD, USDA Food and Nutrition Service When should you request a CN Label or PFS? Is the crediting documentation for your product acceptable? Get clarity on common issues related to inaccurate or misleading product documentation. USDA experts will provide guidance on accepting documentation for meal pattern requirements and share sample Product Formulation Statements and CN Labels. Nutrition Identifying Whole Grain-Rich S1 Sepaort G Lisa Mack, National CACFP Sponsors Association Serving whole grain-rich (WGR) grains is an important element of the meal pattern. Learn how to identify which products meet the whole grain-rich regulations. Trainers can use this workshop to support CACFP participants. 1. Review what whole grain-rich means. 2. Learn the six methods used to identify if a product is whole grain-rich. 3. Understand the rule-of-three and whether a grain is creditable or not. State Agency Strategies to Address Food Insecurity in ECE Settings S7 Seaport F Caliste Boswell Chong, MS, Nemours Children’s Health Explore how food insecurity impacts young children and how two states partnered with early care and education programs to support families that are food insecure. Get resources and ideas for how you can support families in your program and state. 1. Examine current nationwide statistics and existing inequities. 2. Identify strategies to support families that are food insecure. 3. Learn how to replicate this model in your state. Nutrition Little Books for Little Cooks S1 Seaport H Theresa Patterson, MS, Alabama State Department of Education Cooking can help develop life skills such as reading, math concepts, literacy, and even develop self confidence as it relates to healthy eating habits. Learn how to explore literature with your children during cooking sessions to help them feel ownership and pride in dishes they created. 1. Discover how to connect cooking and literature. 2. Learn to enhance school readiness through cooking. 3. Get book ideas to introduce cooking. Nutrition Nourishing the Next Generation S1 Balboa Shannon FitzGerald, MS, RDN, LDN, Institute of Child Nutrition Learn why it matters how we raise the next generation of healthy eaters. Hear about interactive tools, education ideas and platforms to use in your program. Walk away feeling inspired and empowered to nourish and teach the next generation. 1. Understand the why behind healthy eating. 2. Gain tips and tricks to enhance nutrition education. 3. Take home child nutrition resources. Summer Food Recent USDA Studies on CACFP and Summer Meals Coronado A Catherine Doren, PhD, USDA Food and Nutrition Service This session will discuss findings from the Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings (SNACS), the Summer Meals Study (SUMS) and other relevant USDA research on CACFP and Summer Meals. Program Spotlight Turnip-the-Beet on Your Summer Meals Program Solana Beach Fausat Rahman-Davies, Rialto Unified School District Maria Rangel, MS, Rialto Unified School District Kristina Kraushaar, Rialto Unified School District Learn new ways to spice up your service from the award-winning program at the Rialto Unified School District. Hear the strategies and innovations in marketing, community relations and quality meal service that redefined Rialto’s program. 1. Learn how to market your program. 2. Discover how to create relationships beyond the cafeteria. 3. Get tips and suggestions to get your program recognized. Research & Resources, Hybrid Session Gardening Activities for Every Classroom S1 Seaport C Emily Campbell, MPH, CHES, Alabama Partnership for Children Christina LeVert, MS, RD, LD, CLC, Alabama Partnership for Children Ready to grow? Explore the many benefits of gardening with the children in your care. Learn about indoor and outdoor gardening activities to try in your classrooms. A love of gardening and dirt are not required. 1. Identify the benefits of gardening with children. 2. Learn how to incorporate gardening in your program. 3. Receive resources to implement gardening activities.

52 National CACFP Sponsors Association Featured Speakers | 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm Resilience is Everything S6 Seaport F Dee Hankins, Motivational Speaker Resilience: The ability to bounce back. It’s what enables students to come out of challenging experiences with a positive attitude about themselves and their futures. After 18 years in foster care and watching his daughter battle brain cancer, hear how Dee turned those unexpected events into incredible life lessons. Happy and Healthy with Sesame Street in Communities S3 Seaport DE Antonio Freitas, MS, Sesame Street Workshop Every child deserves healthy food, and every child can be empowered to make healthy choices! Even when families are having a hard time getting enough nutritious food to their tables, parents and other caring adults can remind children that our bodies are amazing and worth taking care of. Explore resources with some furry friends from your favorite Street to support healthy habits for everyone in the neighborhood. USDA SFSP Policy Update Seaport C Anne Fiala, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Kevin Maskornick, MPP, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Andrea Farmer, MS, RD, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Jess Saracino, MA, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Kaushalya Heendeniya, MS, RD, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Hear from USDA Food and Nutrition Service staff as they present an overview of new and revised policy guidance for the Summer Food Service Program and share a state-of-thestate update of the SFSP. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and obesity through the administration of 15 federal nutrition assistance programs including the Child and Adult Care Food Program, which is crucial to ensuring children have access to nutritious foods and where healthy eating becomes a habit. “If you give up on getting the children to taste new foods, they will too. I don’t give up.” Belinda Mercer, Family Home Day Care Provider

cacfp.org 53 Thursday Family-Style Meal Service Best Practices in the CACFP S2 Hillcrest CD What are some challenges and/or successes you have experienced with implementing family style meal service in the CACFP in California? Stephanie Salazar, RD, California Department of Social Services 38th NCNC: Orlando Suggestions Cortez Hill A Have ideas for conference next year? Come share what you loved about this year and what you want to see next year. We want to hear from you! Hannah Morris, National CACFP Sponsors Association Fundraising Brainstorm S6 Torrey Hills AB Need new fundraising ideas? Have ideas to share? Join us for an exchange on great ways to bring in money to your program. Alexia Thex, MEd, National CACFP Sponsors Association Secrets to Successful Virtual Events S3 Hillcrest AB More meetings and events are moving to a virtual platform. Exchange your best tips for running a smooth virtual event from start to finish. Brittany Uribe, National CACFP Sponsors Association Managing Remote Teams S6 Cortez Hill BC Working from home is now a thing. Let’s share ideas on how to manage teams that work remotely to ensure collaboration and community also continue. Lisa Mack, National CACFP Sponsors Association Shop Talks 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm USDA Town Hall | 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm Seaport C Join us at the USDA Town Hall and get the answers to your most commonly asked questions directly from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service team, based on those submitted in advance. Alice McKenney, MS, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Kevin Maskornick, MPP, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Andrea Farmer, MS, RD, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Jess Saracino, MA, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Anne Fiala, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Don’t Miss This! S7

54 National CACFP Sponsors Association

cacfp.org 55 Friday Friday, April 14 Rising Leaders Coffee Hour Hillcrest A | 8:00 am - 9:00 am You’re ambitious and passionate about the CACFP. Join us for a cup of coffee while we talk about how you can get more involved in the association and become a leader in your program. Alix Pasillas, CMP, CCNP, Food for Kids Annetta Rutland, CCNP, CMP, 4C for Children Denise Andrews, CCNP, CMP, For the Children Lisa Mack, National CACFP Sponsors Association State Agency Afterschool & Summer Meals Symposium 8:00 am - 12:00 pm | See ticket for location This interactive symposium for State Agency staff will be an opportunity for networking, peer-to-peer learning, and engagement between states and across USDA FNS regions. No Kid Hungry staff will facilitate small and large group discussions around important issues like streamlining and coordinating the Summer Food Service Program and the Child and Adult Care Food Program At-Risk Afterschool Meals; strategies to improve program integrity; tactics for enhanced outreach; and opportunities for program expansion. We look forward to a dynamic and productive session! Paige Pokorney, MPH, Share Our Strength Kelley McDonough, MPH, Share Our Strength Sponsored by CACFP Creditable Resources Hillcrest A | 9:15 am - 10:15 am Learn about the nutrition education resources which are available freeof-charge, including the guides for identifying whole grain-rich, determining sugar content in cereals and yogurt, and which milk to serve in the CACFP. Lisa Mack, National CACFP Sponsors Association More About CACFP: Ask Us Anything! Hillcrest A | 10:30 am - 11:30 am Don’t go home with unanswered questions. Want to know if something is creditable or meets the meal patterns? Have additional questions regarding audits? Need to clarify program administration or budgeting guidance? Get the answers you need from our experienced panel and make sure you go home with knowledge to impact your program. Alix Pasillas, CMP, CCNP, Food for Kids Annetta Rutland, CCNP, CMP, 4C for Children Denise Andrews, CCNP, CMP, For the Children CACFP Professional Certification Q&A Hillcrest A | 11:45 am - 12:30 pm Are you ready to earn your CACFP Management Professional or the CACFP Child Nutrition Professional designation but need more information? Bring your questions about certification requirements, acceptable documentation and the application process. Elizabeth Sherman, National CACFP Sponsors Association S3 S2

56 National CACFP Sponsors Association Register for and attend the CORE Training on Friday. Check your conference booklet for details. Register and complete the free online CORE CACFP courses at www.core-cacfp.com. Download the free USDA CORE mobile app and take the free CACFP microlearnings. Search the Apple and Google Play stores. WWW.CORE-CACFP.COM Corrective Action Trainer Success Claims & Reimbursement Internal Controls Financial Viability Monitoring & Ovesight Management Plans Serious Deficiency Budgets

cacfp.org 57 Friday Postconference Academy Pre-registration required. See your ticket for room location. 8:00 am - 10:00 am 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Training Tools for Record Keeping in the CACFP Get the tools and resources you need to train your CACFP providers on targeting their inefficiencies and maximizing their record keeping skills. 1. Review basic CACFP record keeping and record retention requirements. 2. Walk away with outlines, worksheets and resources to strengthen your training process surrounding record keeping. 3. Explore ways to identify your providers’ workflow inefficiencies and counteract common findings. Brittany Uribe, National CACFP Sponsors Association Happy Mealtimes in Child Care Settings Mealtimes are among the most important times for young children. Learn best practices for child care professionals to create positive and safe mealtime environments for young children. 1. Get tips for creating routines and schedules. 2. Learn how to serve family-style meals. 3. Review food safety practices and healthy habits. Erica Glaze, MPH, Institute of Child Nutrition Grassroots Advocacy As an operator, sponsor or stakeholder in the CACFP/SFSP, your participation in advocacy efforts for child nutrition programs is critical. Learn how to become an effective advocate for CACFP/SFSP. 1. Learn the importance of participating in advocacy. 2. Create an advocacy plan for yourself and/or organization. 3. Get tools and resources to get started easily. Alexia Thex, MEd, National CACFP Sponsors Association Medical Statements, Milk Substitutions, and Specials Diets Have you ever received a parent’s or doctor’s note describing a meal modification or substitution to serve a child or adult in your care? 1. Learn when you need to have a medical statement to serve safe, reimbursable foods in the CACFP. 2. Identify creditable and non-creditable milk substitutions in the CACFP, including what documentation you may need. 3. Gain knowledge on how to tailor foods for special diets, like vegetarian, pureed and gluten-free diets. Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Sponsors Association Strategies for Effective Time Management in the Kitchen Learn quality food preparation strategies to help better manage your food service operation. 1. Learn why time management is essential in the kitchen. 2. Identify three kitchen tasks that require time management skills. 3. Get tips to improve your time management skills in the kitchen. Chef Patrick Garmong, Institute of Child Nutrition CORE Training: Trainer Success Develop the characteristics of a successful trainer by participating in engaging activities. 1. Learn and practice effective communication and active listening skills. 2. Understand and practice modern trainer competencies. 3. Learn to handle challenging situations in face-to-face and virtual training environments. Danni Pruitt, MH Miles Company, CPA, PC Bernadetta Dickens, MH Miles Company, CPA, PC Meal Service In-A-Snap! Struggling to find delicious recipes that are not only quick to put together but also follow the CACFP meal pattern? This is the class for you! 1. Learn how to make different flavor combinations to change up a recipe. 2. Get ideas on quick and easy methods to prepare foods that are creditable within the CACFP meal pattern. 3. Identify ways to use leftover ingredients to add into another meal or snack during the week. Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Sponsors Association CACFP Meal Pattern Training Questions about the latest meal patterns? Learn all about the updates for the five components that you serve in the CACFP, as well as tips and strategies for implementation. 1. Review the CACFP meal pattern requirements. 2. Learn about updates and revisions to the meal pattern. 3. Get resources to implement the updated meal pattern. Erica Glaze, MPH, Institute of Child Nutrition Monitoring for Success Refresh your knowledge on quality monitoring techniques that minimize problematic reviews and setup providers for success. 1. Review important policies and procedures on monitoring reviews. 2. Learn effective strategies to minimize challenges and promote program compliance. 3. Gain impactful coaching techniques to build trust and form meaningful connections with your providers. Brittany Uribe, National CACFP Sponsors Association Marketing Your Program Ready to grow your program but not sure where to begin? Discover how to promote your program and the benefits of getting the word out. 1. Understand the importance of outreach activities and how to plan them. 2. Learn how to become a subject matter expert in your field. 3. Get tips and tricks to put your program on the map and get referrals. Lisa Mack, National CACFP Sponsors Association Grant Writing 101 New to grant writing or need a refresher? Learn how to read and respond to a Request for Proposal when applying for a grant. Get tips on how to write a statement of need, outline measurable objectives and evaluation measures and put together budget justifications. 1. Learn the grant process step-by-step. 2. Identify grant writing obstacles and how to overcome them. 3. Understand the three most important requirements when applying. Alexia Thex, MEd, National CACFP Sponsors Association CORE Training: Management Plans Learn the meaning behind management plans and how they relate to the CACFP performance standards. Participants will learn the importance of monitoring, evaluating and implementing a complete and comprehensive management plan through individual and group activities. 1. Identify the purpose and requirements of a management plan. 2. Learn how to evaluate, monitor, revise and submit a management plan. 3. Get management plan best practices for program success. Cherese Myree, CFE, MH Miles Company, CPA, PC Lenora Phillips, MS, RD, MH Miles, CPA, PC

58 National CACFP Sponsors Association brightfutures.aap.org Bright Futures (at the AAP) is a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative. Resources for families are featured. Booth #101 bvfoods.com Buena Vista Foods is the leading manufacturer of nutritious and delicious baked goods for the Child Nutrition Industry. Booth #415 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card butterbuds.com Making Healthy Happen by Butter Buds! No cook Butter & Cheddar sauces plus high temp pan sprays available. Booth #316 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card cdss.ca.gov/cacfp The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) administers the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in California. Booth #104 cadriedfruit.com The California Dried Fruit Coalition represents California’s date, fig, prune, and raisin industries. Stop by our booth for a sample! Booth #105 sph.unc.edu/cgbi Free resources to reinforce lactation support for families & staff. Simple job aides created with & for ECE professionals. Booth #417 centerpilot.com Are you paying first class prices for coach experience? FLY THROUGH YOUR PAPERWORK with our robust web based/mobile application! Booth #511 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card championfoodservice.com We produce nutritious prepackaged reimbursable shelf-stable meal kits for meals in schools, CACFP, SFSP, and emergency programs. Booth #501 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card chefables.com Cultivating healthy young eaters with child-inspired, chef-created, compliant meal programs and great tasting innovative food products. Booth #509 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card choicepartners.org A national co-op: competitively bid food, equipment and service contracts; EDGAR and USDA compliant; and may be used with federal funds. Booth #317 healthyeating.org Dairy Council of California is a nutrition education organization providing training, support and nutrition education resources. Booth #514 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card diversifiedfoods.com Diversified Foods is a food distributor of Pantry Fresh™ shelf-stable milk and other shelf-stable 100% real milk products. Booth #301 Opt in for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card doctoryum.org We are a pediatrician-founded non-profit on a mission to help families and communities overcome the barriers to eating well. Booth #314 dolefoodservice.com/k12 From time-saving products to menu trends and recipe inspiration, Dole brings Brilliant Fruit Solutions™ to K-12 operators. Booth #200 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card earlylearningventures.org Mission-driven nonprofit with a shared services model that provides one-on-one support for providers utilizing CACFP, EHS, & ECE programs. Booth #516 ekonopac.com A company with a long history of making food packaging easier and eye catching for institutional food services. Booth #211 esfoods.com Our Meal Breaks meal kits are available three ways: shelf stable, thaw & serve and heat & serve. Booth #204 Opt in for a chance to win 1 of 4 $50 Amazon gift cards Exhibitor Directory Door Prize Food Sample Giveaway Special Guest Industry Partner National Ally Community Ally

cacfp.org 59 thefarmerstruck.com The Farmers’ Truck empowers organizations with tools and expertise to launch and sustain mobile market programs in their community. Booth #505 pepsicofoodforgood.com In the US, Food for Good tackles child hunger by making healthy food more physically and financially accessible for low-income families. Booth #412 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card foodandsupplysource.com Since 1999 Food & Supply Source has been assisting child care centers in saving money on food and supplies. Booth #312 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card freshbaby.com Fresh Baby develops products to empower all ages with the knowledge to put US Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines into action. Booth #216 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card fshealthymeals.com Fresh Start Healthy Meals is a Minority Veteran-led Woman-Owned business serving quality nutritious meals to schools across CA. Booth #213 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card gasystemsmfg.com G.A. Systems, Inc. specializes in cafeteria serving counters, Grab & Go to Serve Up, Campus Carts, Sharing Stations & more. Booth #517 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card bellinstitute.com/specific-audiences/childcare At General Mills, we make food the world loves, including products that support the needs of childcare providers. Booth #400 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card gerber.com Gerber is a leader in childhood nutrition committed to being your partner in childcare. #AnythingForBaby Booth #203 Opt in for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card healthepro.com Health-e Pro provides best-in-class menu planning and nutrient analysis software with CACFP meal standards built in. Booth #202 Opt in for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card theicn.org Education and Training Resources for CACFP Professionals. All resources are FREE of charge and available for download on our website. Booth #210 integratedfoodservice.com We are a CA-based commodity and commercial manufacturer of K-12 items providing breakfast, lunch and center of the plate entrees. Booth #215 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card packagedmealkit.com Grab & Go Meals For Afterschool & Summer Feeding Programs. Booth #512 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card jjsnackfoodservice.com J&J Snack Foods offers healthy, nutritious, student approved products with offerings for every time of day! Booth #201 kaplanco.com Provides quality Early Childhood Resources that follow national standards and offer exciting ways to encourage learning through play. Booth #315 Opt in for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card kidkare.com Providing software solutions to meet the business management and food program needs of ALL aspects of the child care community. Booth #401 Opt in for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card mhmiles.com A CPA firm specializing in governmental compliance for CACFP, SFSP, & NSLP providing services to CNP sponsors, State agencies, and USDA FNS. Booth #500 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card strongnation.org/missionreadiness Retired admirals and generals strengthening national security by ensuring kids stay in school, stay fit, and stay out of trouble. Booth #103 Scan the QR code to opt into our Door Prize program and enter for a chance to win fabulous prizes!

60 National CACFP Sponsors Association mushroomsinschools.com Mushrooms are grown indoors and year-round, making them a nutritious and flavor-boosting ingredient to add to meals no matter the season! Booth #413 Opt in for a chance to win 1 of 2 $50 Amazon gift cards myersandstauffer.com Offers comprehensive CNP compliance review services, which are flexible and can be tailored to meet your state agency CNP goals. Booth #515 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card cacfp.org NCA has been the leading national organization for sponsors who administer the CACFP since 1986. Booth #308 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card bestpractices.nokidhungry.org No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids healthy food. Booth #303 novickchildcare.com Novick Childcare Solutions provides the services, food, and essentials you need to succeed with your CACFP nutrition program. Booth #313 Opt in for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card optimumfoods.com Optimum Foods is a shelf stable meal company dedicated to solving America’s child hunger crisis. Booth #300 Opt in for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card eatcannedpears.com Pacific Northwest Canned Pears are grown by family farmers in Oregon and Washington and packed by American canning companies. Booth #209 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare Better Kid Care provides evidence-informed professional development opportunities for those who care for children and youth. Booth #208 petersonfarmsinc.com Apples, Apple Slices, Applesauce, Juice, Lakewood, Peterson, Antioxidant, Organic Booth #513 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card primeroedge.com/state-solutions PrimeroEdge provides software solutions for State Agencies to manage Food Distribution, Reviews, Applications, Claims and more. Booth #212 Opt in for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card k12tomatoes.com Better Nutrition Made Simple™: Nutritionally Enhanced™ Sauces/Salsa; Naturally Balanced™ Ketchup/BBQ Booth #416 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon or Walmart gift card revolutionfoods.com Nourishing students, seniors, and communities with healthy meals. Booth #217 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card streamlinedconcepts.net Stream Pay is a compliance ready product, distributing payments between agencies and providers electronically, resulting in a positive impact. Booth #214 Opt in for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card fns.usda.gov/tn The USDA Farm to School & Team Nutrition are your support in administering the child nutrition food programs! Booth #100 unity-meals.com We deliver fresh, healthy meals to your students and are known for good food, service, and reliability. Serving CACFP, SFSP, NSLP, & SSO. Booth #414 Opt in for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card Door Prize Food Sample Giveaway Special Guest Industry Partner National Ally Community Ally Scan the QR code to opt into our Door Prize program and enter for a chance to win fabulous prizes!

cacfp.org 61 NCA Memberships • NCA Membership • Organization Membership • CACFP Sponsor Membership • SFSP Sponsor Membership CACFP Professional Certifications • CACFP Child Nutrition Professional (CCNP) • CACFP Management Professional (CMP) Partnership Opportunities Contact [email protected] to learn more Find it in the Marketplace Reach Over 100,000 Stakeholders • National Child Nutrition Conference • CACFP in the Kitchen • Sponsored Content • Visibility on cacfp.org CACFP Resources Order bulk printed materials for providers or to send home • CACFP Meal Pattern Reference Cards • Child Nutrition Today Magazine • CACFP Nutrition Calendar & Training Program • Whole Grain-Rich Quick Guides Scan the QR Code or visit info.cacfp.org/marketplace cacfp.org :: 1 :: 2021-2022 Child Nutrition For the Child and Adult Care Food Program Community Today COVID Updates Ounce Equivalents New Food Crediting Meals to Go & More! In This Issue

62 National CACFP Sponsors Association Kate Abernathy, MS, RD, LD, CMP, CCNP Chief Executive Officer Providers Choice Kate’s work focuses on expanding participation of CACFP healthy meals and snacks to children across Minnesota. Providers Choice sponsors over 3,000 homes and 60 centers. Kate’s in-depth nutrition expertise and leadership supports providers with managing special diets, creating resources to simplify the CACFP and overall program support to child care providers. She has a BA from the College of Saint Benedict and her MS from Eastern Michigan University. Alicia Alton Summer Support Specialist Kids at Their Best Alicia is currently a student at the University of Northern Colorado studying Psychology. Her background includes a decade of lived experience as both a recipient and provider of meal programs. Her expertise and ability to understand and engage community members in her work is one of her strengths. She straddles both America and Guatemala, having parents in both countries and balancing the best of both worlds. NCA Board of Directors Denise Andrews, CMP, CCNP Co-Founder and Executive Director For the Children Denise helped establish For the Children in Oklahoma in 2000, a nonprofit CACFP Sponsor for licensed child care homes in Oklahoma. In her position at FTC, Denise strives to develop cooperative working relationships with other sponsors and child care providers and hopes to do the same at a national level. She currently serves as Treasurer on the National CACFP Sponsors Association Board of Directors. Tatiana Andreyeva, PhD Associate Professor, Director of Economic Initiatives University of Connecticut Tatiana’s research on food policy and child nutrition focuses on the role of economic incentives in food choices and diet, with a particular focus on fiscal policy (taxes and subsidies) and federal food assistance programs. Her areas of expertise are in economic evaluation of food policy changes, assessment of the food environment and obesity cost analysis. She earned her PhD in Policy Analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Angela Russ-Ayon Early Childhood Trainer Russ InVision Company Angela has over 15 years of experience as a national early childhood trainer and keynote speaker, and over 5,000 volunteer hours engaging young children in educational settings. She has self-published six picture books in multiple languages and three educational resource books. Her independent label has received nine early childhood music awards of excellence and multiple literary awards. She has an AA in Early Childhood Education, a BS in Business, and holds a CA Master Early Ed Teacher’s Permit. Michelle Baldwin Procurement and Quality Assurance Specialist FLIPANY Chef Michelle works directly with vendors in menu development, improving menu offerings and quality. She is responsible for completing the procurement process including obtaining bids, contract execution and renewals. She received her diploma from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Featured Speaker Gurjeet Barayah, MS Staff Services Manager II, Nutrition Services Division California Department of Education Gurjeet has been with the CDE since 2015, previously serving as a compliance analyst and direct manager of the Summer Meals team. Gurjeet has a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Davis and earned an MS in Human Resource Development from Drexel University’s School of Education. Danielle Barrett, EdD, RDN Education and Training Specialist Institute of Child Nutrition Danielle is passionate about creating resources to support child nutrition professionals in providing delicious and nutritious meals to children throughout the country. She has a BS in Dietetics from the University of Kentucky, a MDA from Utah State University, and an EdD in Educational Technology Leadership from Morehead State University. Jennifer Basey, MEd Certification Program Administrator National CACFP Sponsors Association Jennifer has served in many roles for the association including membership, website, conference, sales, and education. She’s currently responsible for the development of education materials and oversees the Certification program. Jennifer spent ten years in education as an elementary teacher and as an instructional coach working directly with teachers. She holds a MEd from Texas State University. Meet All Our Speakers & Presenters

cacfp.org 63 Jolene Benedict Chief Administrative Officer UMCFood Jolene is responsible for accurately submitting claims to the state agency, and as such, leads a team of specialists that receive and compile the data needed to support the claims. After working for many years in the nutrition department of a local school system, Jolene has brought her expertise to UMCFood. Jolene is a graduate of Kent Sate University. Chef Garrett Berdan, RDN Education and Training Specialist II Institute of Child Nutrition Garrett has supported child nutrition programs through consulting, culinary training, recipe development, communications and marketing, menu planning, and operations since 2010. He is a graduate of Washington State University and The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. In 2011, The White House honored Garrett as a Champion of Change for his work with Chefs Move to Schools. Shelby Beverly, MSA, CCNP, CMP Recreation Program Supervisor City of Atlanta, The Department of Parks and Recreation Shelby has a passion for public service and community engagement with over 15 years’ experience as a Recreation Program Professional. Shelby has been engaged in training and development, programming, and new initiatives that support the health and nutrition habits of children and adult participants of CACFP. She is dedicated to making a difference in day-to-day programs and meal service that contributes to the wellbeing of young children and adults. She is a graduate of Virginia Wesleyan University and Central Michigan University. Richa Bisht Co-Founder WellFed Community Richa is a fourth-year medical student at the USF Morsani College of Medicine who is passionate about improving access to healthcare. She has taught nutrition lessons for kids across Tampa and co-founded Wellfed Community, which empowers families to adopt healthier eating habits through free cooking and nutrition lessons. She is also the co-director for the USF Refugee Clinic, which has distributed over 800 pounds of food through its “Food as Medicine” program. Get all of the current information in one manual to help you and your purchasing agent: • Buy the right amount of food and the appropriate type of food for your program(s). • Determine the specific contribution each food makes toward the meal pattern requirements. The Food Buying Guide Goes Digital! The web-based Interactive Food Buying Guide allows you to: easily search and navigate food yields, compare food yields, and create and save favorite foods lists. It also includes: The Interactive Product Formulation Statement Workbook allows manufacturers to easily calculate their product’s contribution statement and generate crediting documentation. The Recipe Analysis Workbook which helps program operators determine the meal pattern contribution for recipes! Easily search for creditable ingredients, calculate the meal pattern contribution, and print a contribution statement. The FBG Calculator assists Child Nutrition Program operators in creating a shopping list to streamline food ordering needs for their programs. Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs The Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs is available to download and/or print as a PDF. The Food Buying Guide Mobile App provides quick access to food yield information to help you make purchasing decisions from your mobile device. Download it today. foodbuyingguide.fns.usda.gov

64 National CACFP Sponsors Association FOOD AND EQUIPMENT CONTRACTS SAVE TIME AND MONEY Access Board-Approved, Quality, Legal, Competitively Bid Contracts BECOME A MEMBER www.choicepartners.org Division of Harris County Department of Education USDA Compliant Food Contracts

cacfp.org 65 Caitlin Boland, RD, LDN Childcare Nutrition Specialist Novick Childcare Solutions Caitlin has a passion for using nutrition to make a positive impact on the lives of children and their families. She spends her time researching new products that meet the unique needs of the customer as well as the updated CACFP requirements. She assists clients with menu planning, product questions and provides nutritional training. Caitlin received her BS in Nutritional Sciences from Pennsylvania State University and completed her dietetic internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Caliste Boswell Chong, MS Manager, Practice and Prevention Nemours Children’s Health Caliste supports state partners to embed nutrition and physical activity strategies and best practices into state systems, and to offer professional development opportunities for early care and education providers. She joined Nemours after working for over five years in Alabama to engage ECE programs in quality improvement initiatives focused on nutrition and physical activity and to facilitate state ECE systems change. Caliste earned her BS and MS in Human Development and Family Studies from The University of Alabama. Dayana Bray, MPH, RD Nutritionist USDA Food and Nutrition Service Dayana is a Registered Dietitian with 13 years of experience in various Child Nutrition Programs, including WIC, CACFP, and the SNP at the local, state, and federal level. Dayana has a dual bachelor’s degree in food science and human nutrition from the University of Florida and a Master of Public Health from Harvard University. Jessica Bridgman, MPH, LDN, RDN Breastfeeding Child Care Specialist Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute (CGBI) Jessica has five years of experience with a CACFP State Agency, where she also coordinated a Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care designation. She was an external reviewer for USDA CACFP resources, including Feeding Infants in the CACFP and Breastfed Babies Welcome Here! Currently, Jessica works with ENRICH Carolinas to improve maternity care and breastfeeding rates. She received her MPH from the University of Michigan. McKenzie Brunner, MGPS Policy and Outreach Specialist National CACFP Sponsors Association McKenzie is responsible for tracking nutrition policy trends and legislation and serving as a subject matter expert for CACFP. She is also tasked with developing nonprofit partnerships and promoting collaboration among CACFP providers. McKenzie received her Master’s of Global Policy from the University of Texas at Austin. With a background in international development and foreign policy, McKenzie is passionate about increasing food security through promoting equitable policy and cross-sector collaboration. Dhalia Bumbaca, MBA CEO, Founder WellFed Community Dhalia founded WellFed Community, a social enterprise addressing food sovereignty through cooking, gardening and general food education. Dhalia is also currently a co-host of podcast, Tampa Talk, aimed at sharing local news with Tampa residents. A proud USF Bull, Dhalia received her undergraduate degree and MBA at the University of South Florida and continues to work closely with students, faculty and staff in hopes of continuing to engage students in food sovereignty. Heather Burkhead-Goins, MEd Education and Training Specialist Institute of Child Nutrition Heather has over 20 years of experience in early childhood, special education, nutrition, preschool administration and undergraduate adult learning. Prior to ICN, Heather was a child nutrition consultant for KY DOE; served as a director in Head Start, afterschool, and family child care; and a state-licensed rater for ERS, assisting in the formation of the KY ALL STARS. She holds an MEd from Kentucky State University. Patrick Butler, MS Education and Training Specialist Institute of Child Nutrition Patrick worked for the Vicksburg Warren School District for five years as a Child Nutrition Manager for a K-6 school with approximately 1,200 students prior to joining ICN. Child nutrition is his passion, and he enjoys making a difference in a child’s life one meal at a time. Patrick received his MS from Belhaven University. Alec Calac MD-PhD Student UCSD-SDSU Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health Alec (Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians) is an MD/ PhD candidate at UC San Diego School of Medicine and Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science. He is the National President of the Association of Native American Medical Students and Chair of the American Medical Association Medical Student Section Committee on American Indian Affairs. His research interests largely focus on addressing Tribal public health issues through equity-centered practice. Natalia Calderon Staff Services Manager I California Department of Social Services Natalia provides collaborative support through technical assistance, educational guidance, and customer service to CACFP program operators when procuring goods or services. She has been working in public service for eleven years with an emphasis in program compliance. Natalia is a graduate of California State University Sacramento.

66 National CACFP Sponsors Association Emily Campbell, MPH, CHES Alabama Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Coordinator Alabama Partnership for Children Emily has experience in health promotion, physical activity & nutrition education, and disability inclusion. Using her experience in health education, she works to provide equitable educational opportunities to child care providers and embed evidence-based practices into state systems. Emily received her BS in Public Health and MPH in Health Education and Promotion from the University of Alabama. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist. Marion Campbell, MA Financial Services Coordinator, CCAP and Tummy YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Prior to joining the YWCA, Marion was a Mental Health Professional at a group home, working with at-risk youth. In her current role, she coordinates the Tummy Program through monitoring, processing claims to the state, issuing payments and supporting the monitors in the field. Marion ensures that providers receive relevant information from CACFP and the State via trainings and written communication. Marion holds an MA in Psychology from Calumet College of St. Joseph. Beth Carlton, CMP, CCNP Executive Director Child Care Links Beth has worked with the Child and Adult Food Care Program for over 25 years. This will be her eighth year as Executive Director at Child Care Links. She has held her CMP and CCNP for the last six years. Claudia Carter, MS Executive Director California Wheat Commission Claudia was born in Ecuador and is a recipient of the Farm-to-School grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. She founded Wheat2School to support education, procurement, and consumption of whole grains among students. Claudia brings a holistic perspective from working in agriculture, food, and nutrition to break the cycle, and growing public health challenges related to childhood obesity. She has a BS in Food Science, MS in Cereal Science, and is a PhD student in Exercise Science and Nutrition. Chelsea Casso, MA Director of Childhood Hunger Programs Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Chelsea leads a collaborative team on childhood hunger initiatives that are dedicated to ensuring that children have access to nutritious food through a variety of programs. Her responsibilities include coordination with community partners, efficient operations of federal and state level programs, outcome measurement, and building/sustaining partnerships that focus on moving families from poverty to food security and health. She holds an MA in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. Janelle Chan Student Bellevue School District Janelle is a senior at Interlake High School interested in exploring the intersection of technology management and healthcare. She discovered this academic interest after finding her love for tutoring children with disabilities and learning that health care institutions frequently lack good technology management. Her mentor, Ms. Lindzee Alvarez, mentors popular clubs at Interlake including HOSA, a health profession-related competition at which Interlake placed internationally last school year. Kenyatta Chandler, CCNP Senior Manager of Nutrition Services, Compliance and Accountability Houston Independent School District Kenyatta oversees the service of nearly 200,000 students across 274 campuses. Her regular duties include overseeing her department’s administration and adherence to federal, state and local policies and regulations. She develops systems of control to manage risk. Kenyatta is also responsible for training and development for nutrition services management and staff managing all Child Nutrition programs in which HISD participates. Katie Chatfield, MPH, RDN, LD Nutrition Manager Providers Choice Katie supports child care providers and staff in serving healthful, delicious food. She has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MPH from the University of Minnesota. Katie’s work, plus being a mom to her infant daughter, feeds her passion for childhood nutrition. Tracy Cheney, MEd Education Consultant Three Cheers Consulting For 20 years, Tracy has been overseeing the management of a multi-site organization. In her dual role of VP of Education & Compliance, she supports many levels of early learning professionals with a wide array of topics. A focus of Tracy’s career has been on supporting the professional development of Administrators and Teachers. Tracy is a member of NAEYC and is also a CDA Specialist and a Conscious Discipline enthusiast. Amanda Chisholm, MPA Child Nutrition Programs Compliance Monitoring Coordinator MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Amanda is responsible for the oversight and management of all child nutrition program reviews in Massachusetts. She is an expert in program regulation, and designing processes and procedures that support State Agency staff as they conduct administrative reviews. She received her MPA from Bridgewater State College.

cacfp.org 67 Angela Christopher, MS Executive Director Destiny of Greenwood Angela has over 20 years of experience operating nonprofits and serving as a nonprofit consultant and grant writer. She has operated CACFP and SFSP for over 15 years, and over the years has learned serveral ways to continue to grow and expand outreach to ensure that no child goes hungry. She holds a dual MS in Child Development and Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. Michael Clark, SNS, MPA Director, School Nutrition Crane School District Michael has worked in School Foodservice for nearly 30 years. In addition to his current role, he is also Adjunct Faculty for the Nutritional Sciences department at the University of Arizona in Yuma, Arizona. He loves to introduce himself as The Head Lunch Lady at Crane Schools. Michael completed his bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Management from Arizona State and earned his MPA with an emphasis in Healthcare from Grand Canyon University. Pam Cureton, RD, LDN Clinical Dietian University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics Pam specializes in the treatment of glutenrelated disorders and treatment for children with feeding difficulties and failure to thrive. Her work includes coordinating the clinical management of patients, presenting educational programs for the community and health care providers and involvement in research projects. She is the author of articles on celiac disease and children’s nutritional management including textbooks, journals, and patient education resources. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Brad Currie, CCNP, CMP Nutrition Coordinator/Fatherhood Champion Member Miami Valley Child Development Center Brad has been working with Head Start for seven years. He has taken a lead role in working to promote and support the importance of fatherhood with families and throughout the centers in the Dayton area. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing the piano, teaching fitness classes, camping and spending time in the outdoors. General Mills is proud to offer CACFP creditable products in both retail and foodservice from brands kids know and love! Brands Kids Love for CACFP Visit us in the Exhibit Hall at Booth #400 Sample CACFP Creditable Products Pick up recipes and other resources to help you plan menus Whole grain-rich cereals Yogurt to make snack time fun Creditable products for across your menu! Mix it Up! at the Welcome Reception Gain inspiration for kid-friendly snack mixes and create your own with General Mills CACFP creditable products! April 11 from 4:30 - 5:30 in the Exhibit Hall Visit us at: https://www.bellinstitute.com/audiences/childcare

Strengths-Based Programs and Advocacy Through NBCDI’s Action Agenda, publications, curriculum, programs, and unique products, the National Black Child Development Institute is changing Black families and the narrative surrounding Black children. Being Black Is Not a Risk Factor NBCDI produces national and state-based “Being Black is Not a Risk Factor” publications that highlight statistics, best and promising practices, and strengths-based solutions. This series is focused on drawing upon the considerable strengths, assets, and resilience demonstrated by Black children, families, and communities. Family Engagement The Family Empowerment Program provides a culturallyrelevant, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed curriculum that builds the capacity of parents as leaders of their families, equipping them to build the capacity of their children as learners and effectively advocate for them from birth. Health and Wellness To promote culturally-relevant healthy nutrition and fitness practices among Black families with young children, NBCDI developed and implements the Good for Me! and Grow Green Get Fit™ programs through its National Affiliate Network. The new Good for Me! Recipe Book supplements the Good for Me! curriculum with a series of healthy recipes and developmentally appropriate STEM activities. Literacy Developed by NBCDI, the Read to Succeed program is designed to promote early literacy and language development by providing families with children between birth and eight years old with culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate children’s books and supplementary resources to establish in-home libraries. In communities across the country, NBCDI is a membership-based organization with 24 Affiliates nationwide. Albany, New York Atlanta, Georgia Charlotte, North Carolina Chicago, Illinois Cleveland, Ohio DC Metropolitan Area Dallas/Ft. Worth Metro, Texas Denver, Colorado Detroit, Michigan Fort Lauderdale, Florida Greater Tampa Bay, Florida Greensboro, North Carolina Hampton Roads, Virginia Los Angeles, California Miami, Florida Mid-Hudson Region, New York Milwaukee, Wisconsin Nashville, Tennessee New York City, New York Paramus, New Jersey Pasadena, California Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sacramento, California Seattle, Washington Join our movement For over 50 years, the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) has been committed to our mission to improve and advance the quality of life for Black children and families through education and advocacy. With our National Affiliate Network, we develop and deliver strengths-based, culturally-relevant, evidence-based, and trauma-informed curricula and programs that focus on health and wellness, family engagement, and literacy. We support increased access to effective education by providing professional development scholarships for early childhood educators. NBCDI, the National Affiliate Network, and our members advocate and inform education policies at the federal, state, and local levels to ensure standards, regulations, and resource allocations support equitable systems for Black children and families. NBCDI National Black Child Development Institute 8455 Colesville Road Suite 910 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 202.833.2220 www.nbcdi.org [email protected] facebook.com/nbcdi twitter.com/nbcdi Instagram: @NBCDI_ Including a foreword written by BarBara T. Bowman Being Black is Not a Risk FactoR: a STrengThS-BaSed look aT The STaTe of The Black child Early Care and Education NBCDI’s Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) Early Childhood® Washington, DC Scholarship Program provides scholarships for the early learning workforce towards their Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education. NBCDI Annual Conference convenes 1,000+ early educators, advocates, leaders, policymakers, professionals, parents, and caregivers nationwide. National Black Child Development Week convenes more than 1,000 early educators, advocates, leaders, policymakers, professionals, parents, and caregivers nationwide. National Black Child Development Institute NBCDI 50 FORWARD

cacfp.org 69 Kathleen Czech, MA, EdD Faculty, School of Communication San Diego State University Kathleen has studied and taught communication for the past 25 years. Her areas of research involve organizational and co-worker communication. In addition, she has done consulting for organizations on improving teamwork and leadership skills. She received her MA from the University of Nevada – Reno and EdD from the University of San Diego. Jessica L. Dailey-Keithline, MFA Chief of the Field Services Bureau California Department of Social Services Jessica is responsible for program compliance and oversight, technical assistance and investigating complaints. She has Bachelor of Science degrees in Marketing and Psychology, minors in Ethnic Studies and African American Studies, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in English. She has worked in California state service for 14 years and with CACFP at the Department of Social Services for one year. She received her MFA from Mills College. Ella Daniels, MA Senior Manager, Partnerships Partnership for a Healthier America Working with early childhood educators, medical professionals and food industry leaders, Ella’s work is helping to transform the food landscape for our nation’s youngest eaters. Previously, she worked in government and corporate relations at the UN World Food Programme and the Capital Area Food Bank. Ella is also a member of the No Kid Hungry Early Childhood Advisory Group. She holds an MA in International Affairs from George Washington University. Debbi Davidson Aquatic/Special Events Director Arkansas City Recreation Commission Debbi has been the Supervisor for the SFSP and CACFP Feeding Programs at Arkansas City Recreation since its beginning in 2006. She supervises two swimming pools, an all-day Summer Camp, and special events as well. Her seasonal staff is comprised of approximately 160 teenagers and 20 adults. Debbi’s passion is serving her community by creating and supervising programs to help the Citizens of Arkansas City live their best life. Debbi attended Cowley County College. Xaviera Davis, MS Program Analyst USDA Food and Nutrition Service Xaviera develops nutrition education and technical assistance materials for CACFP operators and participants. Xaviera received her Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Nutrition from the University of Delaware and a Master of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from The University of Maryland University College. Featured Speaker Stacy Dean, MPP Deputy Under Secretary USDA Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Ms. Dean works to advance the President’s agenda on increasing nutrition assistance for struggling families and individuals as well as tackling systemic racism and barriers to opportunity that have denied so many the chance to get ahead. Prior to joining President Biden’s Team at USDA, Dean served as the Vice President for Food Assistance Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). She earned her BA and MPP from the University of Michigan. Terra (Olivia) Deavers, MPH, RD Nutritionist USDA Food and Nutrition Service Olivia develops national policy and provides technical guidance in the areas of breastfeeding promotion and support, nutrition education, and infant and toddler nutrition. She holds an MPH from West Chester University and completed her Dietetic Internship at UMD-Eastern Shore. Jonathan Delp, RDN Nutritionist USDA Food and Nutrition Service Jonathan has over 10 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian. Previously, he held private and public sector roles within the nutrition education and food security space at The Food Trust, the Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and a consultative role as School Nutrition Specialist for Genuine Foods, a New York-based quality focused food-service company. Dipti Dev, PhD, MS Betti and Richard Robinson Associate Professor and Childhood Health Behaviors Extension Specialist University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dipti is a social and behavioral scientist who studies methods to facilitate the diffusion of evidence-based practices into childcare settings for improving healthy food access and children’s dietary intake in childcare. She has developed the EAT Family Style responsive feeding program that has received national recognition for improving the childcare environment and children’s dietary intake in CACFP-funded child care programs. She received her MS from the University of Mumbai and PhD from the University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign.

70 National CACFP Sponsors Association Colin Diamond Manager Myers and Stauffer Colin participates in the CACFP and SFSP by training staff, managing scheduling and logistics, performing administrative reviews, and assisting in the quality assurance process. CACFP and SFSP reviews also include detailed reviews of financial statements, bank reconciliations, labor expenditures, comparisons of bank statements to reported costs, and reviewing purchased service documentation. He works closely with sponsor contacts both on-site and via desk reviews and has worked with various state clients. He received his accounting degree from Kennesaw State University. Suzanne Diggs Program Analyst USDA Food and Nutrition Service Suzanne is a subject matter expert in the Serious Deficiency Process and oversees the National Disqualified List (NDL). Prior to working for the federal government, she was a SNAP expert and trainer fo rthe Maryland Department of Human Resources for 17 years. Bernadetta Dickens Training & Development Consultant MH Miles Company, CPA, PC Bernadetta has 20 years of extensive organizational, leadership and learning development experience, partnering with organizations to improve business results, create successful and sustainable teams and retain high-potential employees. She impacts positive direction through content delivery, design, development and implementation of training programs that drive business and customer-focused solutions through culture. She creates effective collaboration between internal and external learning and development professionals by empowering and enhancing their core trainer skills as a master trainer. Liz Dixon, MS Education and Training Specialist III Institute of Child Nutrition Liz has designed food safety resources for schools, CACFP and SFSP for over nine years. She is certified in Designing Learning, Microlearning, and Writing for Instructional Design and Training from ATD Education. Liz holds an MS in Food, Nutrition, and Culinary Sciences from Clemson University and BS in Nutrition and Food Science from Auburn University. Myers and Stauffer offers comprehensive Child Nutrition Program (CNP) compliance review services. Our services are flexible and can be tailored to meet your state agency CNP goals. Find us on the agenda and visit us at our booth to learn more about the services we offer! www.myersandstauffer.com Program Compliance and Audit Preparedness for Sponsors Thursday, April 13 at 9:15-10:15 Program Compliance and Audit Preparedness for State Agencies Thursday, April 13 at 1:15-2:15

cacfp.org 71 Carrie Dooyema, MPH, MSN, RN Lead Health Scientist, Early Care and Education Team Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Carrie conducts and supports evaluation, applied research, surveillance, and provides technical assistance to states and communities to support healthy child growth, early learning, and school readiness. She received her Master of Public Health and Master of Nursing from Emory University. Catherine Doren, PhD Social Science Research Analyst USDA Food and Nutrition Service Catherine serves as Project Officer for multiple projects evaluating CACFP and school meal programs. She holds a PhD in Sociology with a minor in Social Welfare from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BA in Sociology from Wesleyan University. Annette Dove, MEd Executive Director Targeting Our People’s Priorities with Service After finishing eleven years as director with the HIPPY (Home Instruction Program Preschool Youngsters), Annette’s dream to return to her community and start a non- profit organization to help at-risk youth became a reality. Annette received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She received her Master of Education degree from Ouachita Baptist College in 1984, and Elementary Principal Certificate in 1987. Rebekah Duchette, BSN, RN Senior State Systems Specialist Nemours Children’s Health System Rebekah has experience working at the program, community, state and national levels to improve child health in early care settings. She has also worked in adult education for over 25 years. Rebekah currently supports state leaders working to enhance health practices in early care settings and develops training content. Rebekah is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and Troy State University. Laura Duckworth Health and Nutrition Coordinator SIU Head Start Laura has worked in Head Start programs for over 10 years. She holds a BS in Food and Nutrition, Dietetics and has spent her professional career working with community nutrition either in Head Start programs or public school settings. Her favorite and most rewarding part of her job with Head Start is watching the children light up when they are eating a meal they love. Mandi Dyes, CCNP, CMP Program Manager Georgia Nutritional Services Mandi began working at GNSI in 2014. She ensures that nutritional and healthy meals are provided to qualified participants on a daily basis. She is deeply committed to ensuring daycare facilities are serving balanced, nutritious meals to children/adults in their care and to help develop sound and nutritious eating habits. Mandi earned her BS in Computer Science at The University of Louisiana, Lafayette with a concentration in Business Administration. Debra Eisenbarth, MS, RD Nutritionist USDA Food and Nutrition Service Debra develops and updates resources and provides technical guidance related to menu planning and food crediting in CNPs. She received her MS Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University. Renée Farias Project Manager Dairy Council of California Renée supports marketing and digital programs by leading content marketing strategies, campaign coordination and social media engagement. She believes every child deserves a healthy start, which includes access to nutrition education and nutritious food to support optimal growth and development. She holds a BS in Nutrition and Food from California State University, Sacramento. Featured Speaker Andrea Farmer, MS, RD Branch Chief USDA Food and Nutrition Service Andrea has over 13 years of experience specializing in child nutrition programs, first in Florida then with USDA. She oversees monitoring of CACFP and the Summer Meal Programs. Previously, she was a Policy branch chief for 5 years. Andrea joined USDA in 2012 and served as a nutritionist who led a USDA effort to create resources and guidance materials for CACFP. She holds an MS in Food and Nutrition from Florida State University. Melanie Farris, MBA Senior Manager Myers and Stauffer Melanie manages a team that performs compliance audits of the CACFP and SFSP reviews for two state agencies. She has an extensive background in auditing and compliance work for government programs for numerous state agencies. Her experience includes performing data mining and analyses of Medicaid fee-for-service and managed care data; assisting with the recovery of Medicaid overpayments; managing Medicaid Promoting Interoperability pre- and post-payment review engagements for multiple state agencies. She earned her MBA from the University of Georgia.

Charcuterie for CACFP A charcuterie board, pronounced SHAR-KOO-TUH-REE, comes from the French word meaning “porkbutcher shop.” This fun and creative way of assembling cured meats and meat products has grown to be quite popular and now commonly includes cheeses, breads, crackers, fruits, vegetables, nuts and dips. Try using charcuterie to serve some #CACFPCreditable meals and snacks! CACFP is an indicator of quality care. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. If you serve family-style meals, using a charcuterie board is a great way to display the colorful foods that your participants are about to eat! All you have to do is arrange your meal pattern components in a way that your participants can simply grab one grouping of each food item to fill their plate. Here are some tips to get you started: • Choose a large, sturdy cutting or serving board. • Measure out your serving sizes before assembling the board. • When arranging the board, make sure that different components are next to each other, so there is no confusion about which portion to take. • Don’t forget to have everyone wash their hands. • Have fun! Try using the components to create lines, pockets for other components, curves, zig-zags and other shapes. If you do not wish to use family-style dining, you can still create beautiful charcuterie plates! Either arrange these yourself or provide your participants with all their components and they can let their creativity flow. Ideas to build your board Meats/Meat Alternates: Turkey, ham, dried meats, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, nuts Meal Pattern Reminders: • Check the product formulation statement to determine how to credit deli meats (If serving size is 1 oz and PFS says there is 75% meat in the product, serve 1.33 oz) • Nuts and seeds may only credit for half of the meat alternate component at lunch and supper Grains: Wheat crackers, pretzels, fish-shaped crackers, sliced baguette Meal Pattern Reminder: • At least one serving of grains per day must be whole grain-rich Vegetables: Carrots, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, snap peas, radishes Meal Pattern Reminder: • Two different vegetables may be served at lunch and supper instead of a vegetable and a fruit Fruits: Tangerine slices, berries, halved grapes, dates, apple slices, dried cranberries Meal Pattern Reminder: • Dried fruits credit at twice the volume served (1/4 cup credits for 1/2 cup) Serve with milk for a complete #CACFPCreditable meal Don and be mindful of choking hazards in younger children. 't forget! cacfp.org

cacfp.org 73 Dean Faulkner Chief Financial Officer UMCFood Dean graduated with a degree in finance, and then served as the finance and operational director for a mission ministry in Honduras. After the birth of his twin children, Dean returned to the states to join UMCFood. Nimali Fernando, MD, MPH Founder Dr. Yum Project Nimali is a pediatrician in Fredericksburg, VA, a founder of the website doctoryum.org and The Dr. Yum Project. She is the owner of Yum Pediatrics, a full-service general pediatrics practice with a focus on wellness and nutrition, and shares a large teaching kitchen and teaching garden with The Dr. Yum Project. Nimali graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and School of Public Health with an MD and Masters in Public Health. Featured Speaker Anne Fiala Branch Chief USDA Food and Nutrition Service Anne joined USDA FNS in 2012. She currently serves as the Branch Chief for Summer Policy and Summer Demonstrations in the Community Meals Policy Division. Prior to joining USDA, she worked as a legislative aide in the U.S. Senate advising on nutrition and agriculture policy. Tamika Figgs, MS Child Nutrition Specialist ESC Region 11 Tamika has always been passionate about food and nutrition. She started to focus on child nutrition after the birth of her daughter and during her employment at a mental health facility for adolescents. Tamika has a vast knowledge of the food service industry as she has worked in private dining clubs, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, industry association and child nutrition. She completed her MS in Hospitality Administration from the University of Houston. Madison Fellenz, MPH Nutrition Education Consultant California Department of Social Services Madison provides nutrition education training, and leads the Preschools Shaping Healthy Impressions through Nutrition and Exercise (SHINE) program and Farm to CACFP efforts. Madison has worked with CACFP operators since 2015. She received her MPH from San Jose State University. Shannon FitzGerald, MS, RDN, LDN Registered Dietitian Institute of Child Nutrition ICN Shannon is passionate about child nutrition, public health issues, food systems and social justice, creating a healthy path for the next generation. Shannon has a BS in Dietetics from Indiana University and MS in Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University. She is currently working on her PhD in Global Health at the University of Mississippi. Lenika Flores Quality Support Manager YMCA Lenika is an Early Childhood Educator with 22 years in the field. She is interested in developing conferences that touch the hearts of teachers and transform their practices to make children feel seen and accepted. Her mission is to support early childhood educators and improve their programs. Lenika has a BA in Child Development from Point Loma Nazarene. Featured Speaker Antonio Freitas, MS Director of Educational Experiences Sesame Workshop Antonio builds content for Sesame Street in Communities and Sesame Street for Military Families, and professionally trains caregivers and providers on ways to implement these resources in their work with children. Antonio has worked to create, implement, and refine professional development programs for Early Childhood educators for over 20 years as a classroom teacher, program director and company deputy. Antonio holds an MS in Teaching from Pace University. Stacie Frieze, MEd Early Childhood Director Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Stacie has held her position for six years. She lives in Joplin, Missouri, where she attended Missouri Southern State University and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She graduated in May 2020 with her Master of Education in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education from Grand Canyon University. Raquel Galvan Resource Coordinator Kids at Their Best Raquel is an expert in diversity, based both on her education and her background. She has worked in meal programs for the past ten years, sharing her expertise and lived experiences. Raquel knows firsthand the struggles facing displaced children. Raquel earned a bachelor’s in psychology with an emphasis in human resource management in Lincoln, Nebraska in 2022.

74 National CACFP Sponsors Association Luisyana Gamboa, MS Advisor, Food Security Save the Children Luisyana supports Save the Children’s strategy to combat rural child food insecurity, including program design, innovation, and growth of food insecurity programming. Prior to joining Save the Children, she was a Health and Nutrition Specialist. She is a Certified Nutritionist, and her educational background includes an MS in Hospitality and Dietetics Administration from the University of Kentucky. Andrea Garcia Schoelzel, MS Health Initiatives Administrator Office of Children’s Affairs, City and County of Denver With a passion for positive youth development, Andrea and her team serve as CACFP and SFSP sponsors for various sites across Denver. Andrea holds a master’s degree in humanitarian and disaster leadership from Wheaton College, and brings a wholistic approach to the work of hunger alleviation. Amy Garfinkel, MPH Farm to School Network Lead California Department of Food and Agriculture Amy works to facilitate collaboration and peer-topeer learning among farm to school practitioners and stakeholders throughout the state. She received her Master of Public Health from the University of California – Berkeley. Chef Patrick Garmong Associate Director of Culinary Education and Training Institute of Child Nutrition Patrick has been in the food service industry for over 19 years. Previously, Patrick was the Child Nutrition Director for the Ellensburg School District. Patrick has been the Executive Chef in various fields of the hospitality industry including higher education, restaurants, and catering. He is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education (Manhattan, NY). Nora Geary, MPH, MSW ECE Consultant McKing Consulting Corporation Nora provides guidance, support and technical assistance to DNPAO recipients and other early care and education stakeholders on systems-level approaches to ensure children get the healthiest start possible in child care settings. Nora received her Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Julia Gest, MEd Early Learning Program Specialist, Penn State Better Kid Care The Pennsylvania State University Julia’s areas of interest include social-emotional learning and equitable practice for ECE professionals. She has taught in Pre-K and elementary classrooms, written research-informed curriculum for educators, developed research to practice courses and resources, supervised staff, and trained and coached educators. Julia holds an MEd from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. NCA Board of Directors Deborah Gillison-Wilson, CCNP, CMP Founder and Executive Director Georgia Nutritional Services Deborah has over 20 years of experience working with CACFP and has been a CACFP sponsor since 1996. She has led over 40 annual CACFP and Civil Rights trainings and has an overwhelming internal library of knowledge of CACFP. Under her directive, GNSI exists to improve and maintain sound nutritional health of children and adults by promoting the development of good eating habits for participants enrolled in their clients’ facilities. She currently serves on the NCA Board of Directors. Angela J. Ginn-Meadow, RD, LDN, RN, CDE Senior Diabetes Education Coordinator University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology Angela leads programming and counsels patients on treating and managing diabetes and other endocrine diseases. She is passionate about food and helping people make better choices in their everday lives to improve overall health. Angela is a graduate of Morgan State University. LaKeasha Glaspie Child Care Health Consultant Smart Start of New Hanover County LaKeasha has worked at her organization on behalf of children ages birth to five since 2008. Much of that time has been spent offering technical assistance, coaching and professional development to early educators on best practices in health and safety, including child nutrition and outdoor learning. She has helped several facilities successfully implement the Farm to ECE initiative in their classrooms through gardening education. LaKeasha is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Erica Glaze, MPH Trainer Institute of Child Nutrition Erica is the Founder of Live Wellthy, a Phoenixbased company that focuses on health education and capacity building within organizations and communities. Over the years, she has worked with various USDA programs, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Erica earned an MPH from Grand Canyon University, a Certificate in Community Nutrition from Central Arizona College and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES).

cacfp.org 75 Valarie Glee Health and Nutrition Specialist Coastal Plain Area E.O.A. Valarie helps to oversee the daily health and nutrition operations of the Head Start Centers. She assists the Health and Nutrition Team with conducting staff trainings throughout the school term. Valarie holds an AA degree in Early Childhood and Child Development. Joseph Golden, CCNP Food Service Coordinator Acelero Learning Joseph has been with Acelero for over four years and working with the CACFP for almost three years. He previously worked in the hotel industry. He has a passion for helping others find success. Angela Gomez, RDN, SNS School Nutrition Coordinator LunchAssist In 2017, Angela started her career as a dietitian after unexpectedly falling in love with school nutrition during her dietetic internship. Angela enjoys creating social media content specific to school nutrition, managing special diets, and loves learning from and collaborating with other school nutrition professionals. Angela sees school nutrition as the perfect place to bridge her passion for tasty food, nutrition education, health equity, and food justice. She holds degrees from Arizona State University and Kansas Wesleyan University. Megan Gordon Program Director Page Alliance for Community Action Megan has held her current position for over seven years and works with parents, youth, schools, and community partners to improve the social-emotional health of the youth in Page County. She is a graduate of Bridgewater College with a BS in Health Science. Ann Hall, MRE, MSS, RDN, LDN Nutritionist USDA Food and Nutrition Service Ann has worked in the Child Nutrition Programs since 2011. Her duties include providing technical assistance and program guidance to Child Nutrition Program operators and industry. She has a BS in Dietetics from the College of Saint Benedict, a Master of Religious Education from Loyola University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Featured Speaker Dee Hankins Inspirational Speaker Dee Hankins Dee’s mission to instill the power of resilience in students all across the country especially resonates with audiences as Dee approaches storytelling with his life struggles and how he has overcome them. After spending 18 years in foster care and watching his daughter battle brain cancer, Dee knows that life is full of unexpected events, but our resilience can turn those experiences into an incredible life lesson. Dee is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach. Sean Hardin Section Chief California Department of Social Services Sean oversees the managers and staff that provide procurement and programmatic policy, outreach, onboarding of new sponsors and the Annual Update of returning sponsors. Sean has been with the state for almost 16 years and has worked with the child nutrition programs for approximately 10 years. Courtney Hardoin, MS, RD Nutrition Education Consultant California Department of Social Services Courtney provides CACFP meal pattern training and technical assistance, develops nutrition and meal pattern resources and oversees CDSS Bright Track, California’s online CACFP training platform. She has worked within the child nutrition programs for 13 years. She received her MS from California State University – Chico. For more information visit: https://brightfutures.aap.org/ Come visit us at Booth 101

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cacfp.org 77 Clarissa Hayes Deputy Director, School and Out-of-School Time Programs Food Research & Action Center Clarissa joined FRAC in February 2015. She works to expand access to the child nutrition programs and helps to develop, meet, and track the team’s goals. Before joining FRAC, Clarissa was an anti-hunger program associate at Maryland Hunger Solutions (an initiative of FRAC) and worked to increase participation in the child nutrition programs across the state. Clarissa earned a BA English and Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin. Christina Hecht, PhD Senior Policy Advisor University of California Nutrition Policy Institute Christina’s primary focus is on healthy beverages; she leads NPI’s work in drinking water safety, access and promotion. She coordinates the National Drinking Water Alliance, a network of individuals and organizations across the country working to ensure that all children in the US can drink water in the places where they live, learn and play. Christina holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. Featured Speaker Kaushalya Heendeniya, MS, RD Branch Chief USDA Food and Nutrition Service Kaushalya supervises a dynamic group working on CNP projects and initiatives related to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program, and the NSLP Afterschool Snack Service. She earned her Master of Science degree in Dietetics at James Madison University. Geri Henchy, MPH, RD Director of Nutrition Policy and Early Childhood Program Food Research & Action Center Geri’s work focuses on nutrition policies, such as increasing the healthfulness of nutrition programs necessary to reach the goals of eradicating domestic hunger and improving the nutrition and health of low-income individuals and families. She has been honored to receive numerous awards for her work and serves as an advisor to the National CACFP Sponsors Association. Geri holds an MPH from the University of California, Berkeley. Dyan Hes, MD Pediatrician Gramercy Pediatrics, for Grain Foods Foundation Consistently named one of New York’s Top Doctors by Castle Connolly since 2010, Dyan is the founder and medical director of Gramercy Pediatrics in New York City. She is Board Certified in Pediatrics and Obesity Medicine and served as Director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine for eight years. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dyan received her MD from the University of Tel Aviv. Carly Hillburn, MS, RD, LMNT EAT Family Style Program Manager University of Nebraska-Lincoln Carly’s research focuses on promoting responsive feeding practices in family childcare homes and improving healthy food access in rural childcare settings. She holds an MS in Community Nutrition and Health Promotion from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Daina Huntley, MPH, CHES Director of Community Activities and Breastfeeding Child Care Specialist Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute (CGBI) Daina focuses on preparing child care industry professionals as they navigate and implement practices that support breastfeeding families throughout their Early Care and Education journey. She conducts trainings and provides one-on-one technical assistance related to the CGBI mission. She is a member of the US Breastfeeding Committee and a co-founder of Queen City Cocoa B.E.A.N.S., a Charlotte, NC based organization with a mission to improve African American health through increased breastfeeding support. Daina received her MPH from Liberty University. Wendi Huntley, Esq. President & CEO Connecting Kids to Meals Wendi is an accomplished attorney and is a graduate of BGSU and The Ohio State College of Law. She works with Connecting Kids to Meals, a Toledo-based nonprofit, to provide hot, nutritious meals at no cost to at-risk kids ages 18 and under. CKM’s partners include schools, libraries, community centers, afterschool programs, and many others. The agency has utilized SFSP and CACFP for over 19 years and served about 700,000 children meals last year. NCA Board of Directors Susan Ison, CMP Executive Director Helping Hands With degrees in music performance and therapy, psychology, and recreation therapy, Susan stumbled into the child nutrition arena when asked to temporarily take charge of Helping Hands. Susan has been in the CACFP now for 26 years and is passionate that the at-risk kids in Salt Lake City have access to enough food to start life healthy and happy. Susan graduated from Southern Utah University. Virginia “Jenny” Jeffries, SNS Supervisor of Nutritional Services Page County Public Schools Jenny has led the Nutritional Services Department of Page County Public Schools (VA) since 2017. Her eleven years experience as a food inspector and trainer for the Commonwealth of Virginia sparked her interest in regulations. She enjoys finding innovative ways to resolve problems within the community. Jenny is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a BS in Chemistry.

Ashley Jeznach Hunger Free Kids Manager San Diego Hunger Coalition Ashley’s passion for hunger advocacy has brought her all over the country, working in Washington D.C., Massachusetts, and now California. She earned her BA in Communications & Media Production from Worcester State. Keith Johnson Exectuive Director Falcon Youth Service, Kooking4Kids Keith, a South Central Louisana native and past attendee of UCLA and Biola University, has developed one of Los Angeles’ premier food programs simply from discovering youth sports participants were coming to practice hungry. Since 2013, his agency provides free, hot meals to LA County’s most at-risk youth and proudly served over 1 million hot meals during the pandemic. Keith continues to find ways to bridge the hungar gap in his community. Alva Johnston, CMP, CCNP Vice President FP Assistance Alva is skilled in all areas of the CACFP and has performed all the tasks from top to bottom in the last 27 years. She is the Chairman of the Board at FP Assistance (FPA) and has been instrumental in the success of FPA’s growth and reputation during her 18 years of service. Alva is proud to be 100% Native American, a grandmother of 8, and newly married. Danielle Jones Account Manager KidKare by Minute Menu After teaching third grade in Honduras for two years, Danielle moved to Brownsville, Texas to continue teaching English Second Language students. While teaching, she learned about how the food program benefited her students and the importance of technology to allow more time to do what she does best, serve the needs of children. This led her to her current role with KidKare. Danielle graduated from Texas Christian University with a BS in Early Childhood Eucation. LaMonika Jones, MEd, GCPA Interim Director D.C. Hunger Solutions LaMonika oversees day-to-day operations working to end hunger in the nation’s capitol. Previously, LaMonika served as the Procurement and Purchasing Compliance Officer with Georgia Dept. of Early Care and Learning. LaMonika is also a 2021-2022 Equity Leaders Action Network (ELAN) Fellow working diligently to advance policies, practices, programs, and initiatives that intentionally redress racial marginalization and create racial equity in early childhood systems. She received her MEd from Georgia State University. www.kidkare.com/sponsors Learn more! Scan our QR Code Minute Menu CX and HX cut down on the hours you spend processing claims each month. With our software, you have everything you need to ensure compliance with CACFP regulations faster and easier than ever before. Minute Menu CX & HX Take back hours of your time Why Minute Menu Go Paperless With eForms No more missing or incomplete forms to chase down. Track Attendance & Meal Counts Be able to track meal counts & food expenses. Run over 200 edit checks on multiple claims at once with a few clicks. Maximize CACFP Reimbursement Manage Enrollments & Income Eligibility Enter household income directly. Milk Audit Meet the meal pattern requirements for the age groups being served. Plan Menus Ensure providers are serving creditable meals and foods. “Claims are due at the end of the month. I literally worked up until the last day to complete claims. Minute Menu CX definitely made a difference: The numbers, the calculations—that’s everything by itself.” - Amber Brown Minute Menu User

cacfp.org 79 Arnisha Jordan Child Nutrition Program Director/Manager Legacy Prep Charter School Arnisha is a servant-leader with extensive knowledge of food service in the education sector. She is experienced in budgeting, customer engagement, quality control, recruitment, and procurement. Arnisha prioritizes continuous professional growth, transparency and integrity in the management of programs that support teaching and learning. She currently is working to obtain her MS in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University. Lawrence Karow, CMP, CCNP, DDiv CEO UMCFood Lawrence founded UMCFood over 14 years ago, and has seen this organization grow to over 400 sites in two states. UMCFood was instrumental in providing meals to children during the pandemic, and has developed partnerships with schools, community organizations, and faith based organizations to make sure kids are fed. He received his BA from the University of Toledo and his DDiv from the United Theological Seminary. Maggie Mae Kennedy Assistant Director of Child Nutrition Spring Branch ISD Maggie Mae has worked in child nutrition for over 10 years and has held roles at Houston ISD and Galena Park ISD. She has contributed in the development and execution of the manager training program, L.E.A.D. and Leading Impact. She designed and implemented the current processes to streamline onboarding and training for incoming Operations Managers in the Nutrition Services Department, which has reduced early turnover complications and labor required to onboard. Sylvia Klinger, MS, RDN, DBA Nutrition and Culinary Consultant Hispanic Food Communications, Inc Sylvia is a global nutrition communicator, award-winning author, nutrition and culinary consultant, and the founder of Hispanic Food Communications. Sylvia is relentlessly passionate about helping people fall in love with creating and enjoying delicious and nutritious foods. She holds a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from Loma Linda University, an MS in Public Service Administration from DePaul University, and a DBA from California Intercontinental University. In October 2022, Loma Linda University awarded her Women of the Year award for her compassionate work with underserved communities. NCA Board of Directors Rhonda Kobylecky, CCNP, CMP Director of Food Services Acelero Learning In addition to her role with a multi-state Head Start organization that serves over 5,000 children, Rhonda consults for Acelero’s sister program, Shine Implement. She enjoys training and sharing her CACFP, SERV Safe and Head Start knowledge with others. Rhonda is currently on NCA’s Board of Directors and received her degree from the College of Southern Nevada. Kristina Kraushaar Program Innovator Rialto Child Nutrition Department Kristina has been with the Rialto Child Nutrition Department for the last 13 years. As the Program Innovator, Kristina oversees many of the program operations including menu development, work in the student gardens and operating the social media accounts for child nutrition. She holds a BS in Management with the University of Redlands. Chelsea Krist Farm to School Program Coordinator Iowa State University Extension Chelsea supports farm to school and early care efforts across Iowa. She serves as one of three co-chairs for the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition, supporting facilitation, collaborative grants, and evaluation efforts around statewide programs and events. Equitable and just food systems grow through farm to school and early care, and she is committed to centering this in her work and partnerships. She holds a BS from the University of Iowa. Jodi Kuhn, MS Director, Nutrition & Wellness KinderCare Education LLC Jodi oversees all aspects of the company’s Grow Happy nutrition program, creating a culture of wellness and helping more than 161,000 children develop healthy eating habits each day. She directs the company’s participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program across 34 states and in 750 child care centers. Jodi holds master’s degrees from American University and New York Institute of Technology. Jennifer Kuo, MS Nutrition Education Assistant California Department of Social Services Jennifer provides nutrition education and technical assistance related to the meal patterns for the Child and Adult Care Food Program. She has a BS in Nutrition and Food Sciences from the University of California at Berkeley and an MS in Dietetics from San Francisco State University. Lisa Laclede Marketing Director CenterPilot Lisa has worked with the CACFP for 30 years in three different roles. As a family day home provider, she was on the receiving end of CACFP benefits for 20 years. As a sponsor representative, she helps other providers and center staff become and remain compliant. And finally, she shares her knowledge of the features, advantages and benefits of CenterPilot to help other sponsors increase their compliance and save staff time.

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cacfp.org 81 Jill Ladd, MPH, RD, LD Nutritionist USDA Food and Nutrition Service Jill joined USDA in September 2022. Prior to joining USDA, Jill served for over a decade in Child Nutrition Program administration at the Kansas State Department of Education. She first discovered her passion for child nutrition while volunteering at a Summer Food Service site in high school. Jill is a Registered Dietitian and has an MPH from Creighton University. Fred Laforge CEO The Farmers’ Truck Fred was raised on a small farm, where fresh food was always in abundance. Growing up, his father owned and operated affordable housing units for low-income families. He began The Farmers’ Truck in 2015 by offering mobile farmers’ markets in New Brunswick, Canada. Today, The Farmers’ Truck empowers NGOs across North America to launch their own mobile market by offering a key-in-hand mobile market vehicle, training and much more. Miranda Lanning, MPH Child Care Health Consultant Chatham County Public Health Department Miranda is a former 6th grade teacher who switched careers to attain her Master’s in Public Health. Her career focus is on early childhood development, supporting growth through addressing health and safety. The majority of her work is focused on helping child care providers build, maintain and integrate produce gardens and eat local produce. She received her MPH from the University of North Carolina. Linsey LaPlant, MS, RDN Regional Sales Manager Health-e Pro Linsey has been an RD for 21 years with extensive experience in Child Nutrition Programs. She worked 11 years with Washington State Child Nutrition Services ensuring program compliance, and assisted program operators with implementing the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010. She worked in a school district as the Nutrition Services Dietitian Manager, where she implemented Health-e Pro software, leading her to her current role. She is a graduate of Central Washington University Jennifer Lemons Director Abundant Hearts Daycare Jennifer owns and oversees three centers. She is high energy and loves being a pillar for her parents and staff. She believes that positive motivation and creative solutions are necessary for the child care profession. Christina LeVert, MS, RD, LD, CLC Alabama Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Director Alabama Partnership for Children Christina has over 10 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian. Her experiences in nutrition and wellness led her to APC, where she coordinates efforts to embed child health and wellness strategies and best practices into existing state systems and provide training opportunities and technical assistance to child care programs. She received her BS and MS in Nutrition from The University of Alabama. Mary Ann Liby SFSP Coordinator Idaho State Department of Education With over a decade of experience in the social service sector, Mary Ann’s background includes a BA in Social Work, management of nutrition programs in the nonprofit sector, and an SFSP sponsor for 9 years overseeing 26 summer meal site locations. Her passion lies in helping to ensure children have equitable access to healthy and nutritious foods. Vicki Lipscomb, CMP President Child Nutrition Program Vicki has led the Child Nutrition Program to steady annual growth, and due to her background in public administration, she has a deep understanding of how to run an effective federal program. Vicki served on the NCA Board of Directors, serving as its president from October 2015 to September 2017. She also advocates for child care providers and sponsoring organizations as a member of the Paperwork Reduction Work Group. Sihong Liu, MS, PhD Research Scholar Stanford Center on Early Education Liu’s research focuses on understanding how early life stress shape child and adolescent development trajectories with specific emphasis on the interactions of multi-level social contexts, child behaviors and neurobiological processes. Using this knowledge, she aims to inform innovative practical strategies through intervention and policymaking to support children and their families. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia. Javier Lomeli Summer Support Specialist Kids at Their Best Javi is a community activist who promotes diversity and engagement on all levels. He believes that people want to come together for good and makes it his mission to provide pathways for that to happen. After returning to Colorado from Holy Cross University in Indiana, he is currently studying business at the University of Northern Colorado.

82 National CACFP Sponsors Association Cintya Loreto, MAS Child Nutrition Consultant California Department of Social Services Cintya has five years of experience specializing in the community child nutrition programs (CNP) and has special interest in CNP training, outreach, and community engagement. Cintya holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Sacramento State and a Master of Advanced Study in Maternal and Child Nutrition from UC Davis. Rebecca MacIsaac, MS, RD Nutritionist USDA Food and Nutrition Service Rebecca provides a variety of technical assistance and training for Child Nutrition Programs operators, State Agency personnel, and food manufacturers. Rebecca served as a team member in updating the Crediting Handbook for the CACFP. She holds an MS in Dietetics, Coordinated Program from Eastern Michigan University. NCA Board of Directors Lisa Mack President & CEO National CACFP Sponsors Association Lisa works with the Board of Directors to develop and implement the long-term operating plan to ensure the growth and success of the National CACFP Sponsors Association. Central to that plan is managing member relationships, resource and product development, training and conference programming, and partnership development. She has a BBA from Pace University. Patricia MacNeil, MS Nutritionist USDA Food and Nutrition Service Patricia’s work focuses on women and infant nutrition and health, including breastfeeding research and promotion. Previously, she worked in the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. She conducted systematic reviews to support the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and inform Federal Nutrition Policy and Programs. She holds a Master of Science from the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Maryland/College Park, with a concentration in Nutritional Epidemiology. Stephanie Manchester, CCNP, CMP Food Service Coordinator Acelero Learning Working with Acelero allows Stephanie to work with both of her passions - children and food. She’s been in food services for over 10 years and child care for more than seven years. Stephanie strives to serve fresh, nutritious meals to children, and helps create gardens at their sites to expose and educate their children and families. Stephanie received her certification in Culinary Arts and a BA in Psychology. Rosalinda Mancillas Youth Development, Organizational Psychology, Anti-Racism & Equity Consultant We Rise, LLC Rosalinda brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise -over 18 years - with a background in expanded learning, education, child development, psychology, social psychology, advocacy, educational leadership and critical race theory. She specializes in facilitation and shifting learning cultures using culturally sustaining practices to decolonize education. Rosalinda has worked with private programs, nonprofits, school districts, the CA Department of Education, The Office of Tribal Affairs, afterschool programs, summer camps, and workforce development programs. Leticia Marin, CDM Sr. Nutrition Services Manager Neighborhood House Association Leticia has over 20 years of experience in food service and currently oversees the production and delivery of over 6,000 meals per day. She studied hospitality and business management at Washington State University and earned her Certified Dietary Manager from the Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals. Malissa Marsden, SNS Consultant Child Nutrition Support Services Malissa consults for two agriculture marketing boards. She specializes in working with the USDA Food Distribution Program and Procurement. She creates recipes, meals and menus that utilize available Commercial and USDA Foods for Child Nutrition. Malissa focuses on speed scratch simple recipes and menus that schools can utilize in their operations and that the kids will eat. Malissa has a BA and AA from Purdue University. Brittany Martens, MPH Farm to Colorado Specialist Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Britt works to increase access to nutritious local food through the creation of resources, convening and leading the Farm to Child Collaborative, and creating and implementing pilot programs that advance strategic initiatives outlined in the Colorado Farm to Child Roadmap. Her knowledge, lived experience and passion for farm to child drives her to advance the work each and every day one step forward. She holds an MPH from the University of Colorado – Denver.

cacfp.org 83 Donna S. Martin, RDN, EdS, FAND, LD, SNS Director School Nutrition Program Burke County Board of Education Donna is responsible for the school nutrition of 4,300 students in five schools, serving breakfast, lunch, afterschool snacks, supper and the SFSP. She served as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ President in 2017-2018 and was the first School Nutrition Director to be named President. Donna’s work in the school nutrition program gained national attention when Michelle Obama and Al Roker visited Burke Middle School to help plant a school garden. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and University of Alabama. Amanda Mascia Hunger Free Kids Manager San Diego Hunger Coalition Amanda’s role is to provide management support to the HFK Task Force while supporting San Diego County districts and community-based organizations feed more children. Amanda has extensive communications, advocacy, and strategy experience. She is best known for creating The Good Food Factory, which led her on a path to teach children to cook, as well as start an afterschool supper program. She received her BA in Communications from Penn State University. Featured Speaker Kevin Maskornick, MPP Director, Community Meals Policy Division USDA Food and Nutrition Service Kevin has over 10 years of experience working in Child Nutrition Programs at the federal level, serving in multiple capacities and areas of responsibility. Prior to joining the USDA, he was a staff member in the United States Senate, where he focused on agriculture, education, and labor issues. He holds an MPP from The George Washington University. Shawn Mason New Partner Development Manager Food For Good Shawn is a solution-minded innovation project manager, focused on partnerships and collaborations to increase nutrition security around the globe. He knows that hunger is a complex issue that demands unique collaborations and ideas to solve. With 30 years of experience in PepsiCo, Shawn brings extensive skill sets in operations, distribution and collaborations. He drives breakthrough innovation that connects food to people and people to jobs, ultimately reducing poverty. Summer Fun with Mushrooms Childcare Edition Get a jump start on summer with our easy recipes, simple food literacy lessons, and fun children's activity books! Visit us at booth 413 @MushroomsK12 @MushroomsInSchools Explore all of our resources, recipes and more at MushroomsInSchools.com! Use our Mushroom Pizza Recipe #KidsEatMushrooms2

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cacfp.org 85 Stacey McDaniel, MS Manager, Movement Engagement & Food Programs YMCA of the USA Under Stacey’s leadership, the Y launched a peer mentor network to promote innovation and strategic planning, developed sustainability and fundraising resources to preserve programs for years to come, collaborated with community partners to mold a flexible framework for programs that uniquely builds upon each communities’ strengths and resources, and scaled USDA child nutrition programs to reach nearly a million kids. Stacey holds an MS in Project Management from Troy University. Kelley McDonough, MPH Associate Director of Education & Training Share Our Strength Kelley provides strategic and thought leadership to our work related to school and community nutrition programs; develops resources; and provides technical assistance at the national, state and local levels. Before joining Share Our Strength in 2017, Kelley managed a statewide youth tobacco control initiative in Louisiana with a focus on youth engagement and policy change. Kelley has a Master of Public Health from the Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine. Featured Speaker Alice McKenney, MS Chief, CACFP Policy Branch USDA Food and Nutrition Service Alice oversees a team that develops regulations and guidance related to the CACFP. She has worked for FNS since 2013. She began in the Food Distribution Division, mostly working on the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and transitioned to the Supplemental Food Assistance Program (SNAP) in 2017. Alice has been working in Child Nutrition since 2021, with experience in both CACFP and the SFSP. Alice has a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. Karen Melott Child Care Partnership Coordinator Early Leaning Ventures Karen has worked in the child care field for over 30 years as both an educator and a director. She has worked in Head Start programs for over 20 years, including Migrant Head Start and Early Head Start. Karen has personal experience utilizing the Child and Adult Care Food Program throughout her time in the child care field and has supported programs in navigating the CACFP through her role as a Child Care Partnership Coordinator. Tracie Mercado, CCHA, CCHC Childcare Specialist; Director Novick Childcare Solutions Tracie has worked in early childhood and nutrition programs for over 25 years, the bulk of her time spent in a multi-program Head Start. Tracie started as a health & nutrition coordinator, later becoming regional director responsible for seven centers across two states. Tracie holds a multitude of professional certifications and credentials and has collected over 2,000 PD hours. She attended Kutztown University, Reading Area Community College and North Carolina University. Stephen Miliano, MS Regional Civil Rights Officer USDA Food and Nutrition Service Steve is the Civil Rights presence in the region providing guidance and technical assistance to recipients of Federal Assistance who administer FNS programs at the State and local agency levels. He also develops and conducts Civil Rights training, special and routine compliance reviews independently, or in conjunction with NERO’s program Management Evaluation teams. He holds an MS in International Relations from Troy University. Monica Miles, CPA, CFE President and Managing Partner MH Miles Company, CPA, PC Monica has over 26 years of audit and accounting experience. She is highly skilled in CNP contract compiance and monitoring subrecipients of CACFP and SFSP funding. She speaks regularly at national CACFP conferences and provides a variety of training on financial management topics, including budgets, 2 CFR 200 cost priniciples, FAR 31, financial viability and indirect cost rates. Julie Miller Jones, PhD, LN, CNS Professor Emerita/Consultant St. Catherine University; Grain Foods Foundation Julie is an emerita professor at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, having taught nutrition for over 40 years. She has won numerous awards including the alumnae’s Myser Award, a professor impacting people’s lives. She is president of Cereals and Grains and active with Grain Foods Foundation. She has written many books and papers and given talks worldwide on the effects of diets, carbohydrates, and grains. Julie received her PhD from the University of Minnesota. NCA Board of Directors Melissa Moore Director of Programs Family League of Baltimore Melissa has been working with the federal nutrition programs for over seven years. In her role, she oversees the afterschool, summer and family child care home programs in Baltimore, Maryland. She is on the Board of Directors for the National CACFP Sponsors Association and chair of the Baltimore Partnership to End Childhood Hunger. Melissa received her BA in Sociology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

86 National CACFP Sponsors Association Elizabeth Moreno, MS, RD Nutrition Education Administrator California Department of Social Services Elizabeth has over 20 years of experience as a registered dietitian and working in the federal child nutrition programs. Elizabeth completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Fitness Management from the University of Oregon, and her Master of Science in Nutrition from Oregon State University. Sonjia Morgan Account Manager Wyoming County Schools Sonjia has been a cook in Wyoming County for 11 years and in her current role for the last 6 years. She is the president of the Wyoming County SNA Guyandottes. She holds her level 1 certification from SNA and holds the ServSafe certificate. Madeline Moritsch, MS, RDN National Advisor, Whole Child Health Alliance for a Healthier Generation Madeline focuses on nutrition and food access for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. With a passion for working at the intersection of food access and social justice, Madeline has worked to equitably enhance childhood nutrition, physical activity, and social-emotional health policies and practices to address the needs of the whole child. She received her MS from San Jose State University. Hannah Morris Event Specialist National CACFP Sponsors Association Hannah organizes all aspects of the conference, including hotel logistics, volunteer opportunities, workshops, scholarships, speaker management, attendee experiences and assists with marketing the conferences. She has planned events for various Marriott and Hilton properties and assisted with multiple hotel openings. Hannah graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BS in Hospitality Management. Jocelyn Moss, MA, CCNP, CMP Senior Program Director YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh Jocelyn has been working with the CACFP for the last six years. She brings a fresh perspective, with experience as a provider and now working on the administrative side of the CACFP. Jocelyn is passionate about child nutrition education and ensuring children have access to healthy and nutritious meals. She holds a BS in Exercise Science and an MA in Higher Education. novickchildcare.com | 215.467.1400 Get More From Your Nutrition Program

cacfp.org 87 Brandi Murray, MS, MPhil Senior Program Manager FLIPANY Starting her journey to fight child food insecurity in 2018, Brandi has since found her passion in helping others within the community, similar to those where she was raised, gain both knowledge and access to a healthier lifestyle. A graduate of both the University of Central Florida and Walden University, Brandi is dedicated to seeing social change take place on all levels and not just on those that can afford access to it. Barbara Muse, MDiv Executive Director Bread of Life Development Ministries Barbara’s personal mission is to eradicate world hunger by feeding physically as well as spiritually. BOLD Ministries provides free summer and afterschool meals to children in the Atlanta area. Barbara, a No Kid Hungry Afterschool Meals Champion, is a passionate anti-hunger advocate and author of the book “The Christian Response to Hunger in America.” She holds a Master of Divinity from Mercer University. Cherese Myree, CFE Vice President MH Miles Company, CPA, PC Cherese specializes in the USDA Food Programs and governmental compliance. She has over 15 years of experience in the fields of auditing, accounting and consulting with specialized experience in governmental contract auditing and contract compliance. She testifies as an expert witness for the CACFP and SFSP and manages MHMC’s review, consultant and training engagements across the United States. Cherese is a graduate of Clark University. Elana Natker, MS, RD Dietitian Grain Foods Foundation Elana is a nationally-recognized food and nutrition expert and spokesperson with over two decades of communications experience. Since 2008, Elana has worked with food companies and associations to help translate complicated science in a way that both consumers and health influencers understand. Elana served as the chairperson of Nutrition Entrepreneurs for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and as the Country Representative for Oman in the International Affiliate of the AND. She received her MS from Colorado State University. Erica Nelson Program Analyst USDA Food and Nutrition Service Erica spent a decade at the D.C. State agency providing compliance oversight of federal child care programs, including the CACFP. She is passionate about program integrity and community partnerships and is committed to expanding program impact. Maureen Neumann Senior Health Program Manager National Recreation and Park Association For the past five years, Maureen has supported the goals of equitably improving healthy food access, reducing obesity and chronic disease, and fostering social supports at local park and recreation sites through the vision of a Community Wellness Hub model. She holds her BA in Communications from Susquehanna University. Melinda Nguyen, MS, RDN, LD Senior Nutrition Specialist Texas Department of Agriculture Melinda provides nutrition support and services for federally funded child nutrition programs administered in Texas by TDA. She is passionate about supporting stakeholders involved in feeding children and adults nutritious and delicious meals while in the care of providers and schools. She enjoys visiting sites to see what participants are eating and discussing with the staff how they are preparing the best meals available. Melinda recevied her MS in Food and Nutrition from Framingham State. Ariana Noorzaie Membership & Registration Coordinator National CACFP Sponsors Association Ariana has a degree in family & child development from Texas State University, and is an active volunteer and advocate for housing & food justice and animal welfare in her community. She is passionate about ensuring healthy, affordable access to food for all and believes that an equitable and just society is successful when people help take care of each other. Joanne Norman, CMP, CCNP Claims Manager Providers Choice Joanne has worked with the CACFP for over 35 years. Her CACFP experience includes serving as a program monitor, nutrition educator, and the claims processing for family child care homes and child care centers. In her current role, Joanne is responsible for the oversight of processing and submission of CACFP claims to the Minnesota Department of Education. She holds BS from the University of Wisconson – Stout. Oby Okoye, RD Child Nutrition Consultant California Department of Social Services Oby has been a Child Nutrition Consultant for 29 years. She is a Registered Dietician and Nutrition subject matter expert.

88 National CACFP Sponsors Association • 1 lb chicken breast, skinless, boneless • 8 oz salsa • Seasoning to taste Place chicken in slow cooker and cover with salsa. Add taco seasoning or other seasonings to taste. Cook on low for 6 hours, then shred the chicken using two forks. Try serving this in tacos or stuffed peppers, or over sautéed vegetables. Serving size: 1/4 cup. Makes 7 servings. Crediting: 1 1 /2 oz eq meat • 2 cups steel cut oats • 8 cups water • 8 cups fruit, diced • Nonstick cooking spray Coat the inside of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Combine the oats and water. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours overnight. Serve in the morning with fruit. Serving size: 1/4 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup fruit. Makes 16 servings. Crediting: 1 /2 oz eq grains 1 /2 cup fruit • 1 /2 (16 oz) package whole wheat macaroni, cooked and drained • 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk • 1 1/2 cups milk • 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese • 1/2 cup melted butter • Seasoning to taste Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Pour into a lightly-greased slow cooker. Stir well, cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Serving size: 1/2 cup. Makes 11 servings. Crediting: 1 /2 oz eq grains 1 oz eq meat alternate Mac and Cheese Overnight Oatmeal Speedy Salsa Chicken Fast Prep with Slow Cooking Slow cookers are a relatively inexpensive investment with high yield, and can be a great way to prep food served as part of the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Using a slow cooker will: ™ Free up the stove and the oven for other dishes. ™ Tenderize meats, especially cheaper, tougher cuts. ™ Give flavor more time to develop, adding depth to the dish. ™ Require only a few check-ups as it’s cooking. Tips to Get Started ™ Ensure your slow cooker is only halfway to two-thirds full to ensure that foods cook thoroughly. ™ Always defrost meat and poultry before adding them to the slow cooker. ™ Keep perishable foods refrigerated until it is time to add them to the slow cooker. ™ Cut large pieces of meat into smaller pieces before adding it to the slow cooker. Get the Best Results ™ Sear your meat or poultry before adding it to the slow cooker to add more flavor. ™ Add dried herbs and spices when preparing the slow cooker, but wait until the last hour of cooking if you’re using fresh herbs and spices. ™ Wait to add dairy products until the final 30 minutes of cooking or before serving. ™ Grease the slow cooker or use a liner to avoid long cleanup. Try These Easy Recipes! Learn to Layer ™ Add dairy and fresh herbs at the end of the cooking process. ™ Delicate ingredients that cook quickly like bell peppers, canned vegetables and onions go on top. ™ Sauces, dried herbs and spices gather flavor in the middle layer. ™ The bottom layer is foods that take the longest to cook, like meat, poultry and root veggies. cacfp.org CACFP is an indicator of quality care. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

cacfp.org 89 Nafisah Olusekun, MS Program Analyst USDA Food and Nutrition Service Nafisah began her career in CACFP back in 2015 as a Program Nutritionist at a Head Start organization in Boston. She later moved on to work as a Program Administrator for Child Nutrition Programs with the Maryland State Department of Education. Now working at USDA FNS, Nafisah uses her CACFP experience to serve as a resource when providing technical assistance and guidance to program operators. She holds a Master of Science in Applied Nutrition from Northeastern University. Brenda Owobu-Reosti, EdD Director/Owner Little Rubies Daycare Brenda was born in Nigeria and has three published children’s books. Each story depicts learning experiences of her preschool class. In addition to operating an in-home daycare, she mentors doctoral students, coaches aspiring daycare providers, and teaches professional development classes to other early childhood educators. She has a doctoral degree in organizational leadership, a master’s in teaching and learning, as well as a BA in English Education. Susan Pac, MS, RDN Director Nutrition Science Communication Gerber Products Company Susan has over 20 years of experience in food regulations, food and nutrition policy, and nutrition communications. She has been a collaborator on the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Survey of young children’s dietary intake. Susan holds an MS in Nutrition Science from Tufts University. Kaylyn Padovani, MBA, RD, LDN Program Analyst USDA Food and Nutrition Service Kaylyn works with USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for Child Nutrition Programs at the National Office. She develops nutrition education and promotion resources for use in the Child Nutrition Programs. As part of this job, she has presented at different webinars about school breakfast and CACFP meal patterns. NCA Board of Directors Alix Pasillas, CMP, CCNP Executive Director Food for Kids Alix joined Food For Kids over 24 years ago as a field monitor and has served as executive director for the last ten years. She has provided guidance that has resulted in the growth of the program throughout Nevada. Alix continues to reinforce the sponsorship’s success with passion and determination for bringing healthy, nutritious meals to children and adults in programs that are a part of CACFP. Theresa Patterson, MS Human Services Program Coordinator Alabama State Department of Education Theresa oversees professional development for new sponsors, is the administrator of the section website, disseminates administrative reviews, and is the CACFP Coordinator for Farm to Preschool. Before joining this department, Theresa taught Pre-K and kindergarten. She received her MS from Samford University. NCA Board of Directors Robin Paul, CMP, CCNP CEO Mid-Michigan Child Care Centers Robin oversees the sponsoring of the CACFP for family day care homes, unaffiliated and affiliated centers, at-risk, Head Start and emergency shelters, serving over 26,000 children. She currently serves on NCA’s Board of Directors. Leah Penna, CMP, CCNP President and Founder FP Assistance Leah started FP Assistance 27 years ago, boasting over 750 childcare and at-risk afterschool sites in the CACFP. Leah is dedicated to the CACFP and to FP Assistance’s customers and employees. Leah’s superpower is being steadfast and positive; sometimes she goes by the name ‘Sunshine’. Cheyann Pham Child Nutrition Program Specialist St. Mary’s Food Bank Cheyann operates the CACFP and SFSP for Arizona. She has also taken the lead on the innovative Freeze and Thaw program, operating in the rural and tribal communities of nine counties. Cheyann seeks to expand the knowledge of the Freeze and Thaw program to benefit more communities in hard-to-reach places. Lenora Phillips, MS, RD Trainer MH Miles Company, CPA, PC Lenora previously held positions as Director of the Division of Technical Assistance, Family Day Care Homes Specialist, Program Monitor, and WIC Nutritionist. She holds an MS in Nutrition with a minor in Food Science from Mississippi State University. She served her country for many years in the US Army Reserve, including tours of duty during Operation Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Ruthie Pillay Staff Services Manager I California Department of Social Services Ruthie has a Bachelors in Child Development, a Multiple-Subjects Teaching Credential, and a Master’s in Education from National Univerity. She has worked for the State of California since 2014 and joined the CACFP Branch in February 2022.

Sloane Pittman Electronic Solutions Training Specialist Child Nutrition Program Sloane has been involved with the CACFP since she can remember, at the side of her mother who directs the Child Nutrition Program in Charlotte, NC. After finishing her degree in psychology from Appalachian State University with a concentration in childhood and adolescence, she went to work for Child Nutrition Program full-time. Over the years, Sloane has been involved in all aspects of program compliance. Salome Pemberton, MPH, RDN, CDN, CCNP Senior Program Dietitian National Enrichment Group Salome works with Early Childhood Programs throughout New York City. She enjoys creating dynamic CACFPcreditable menus that showcase what it looks like to eat nutritious and delicious foods as part of a healthy lifestyle. She also supports the successful implementation of meal service from start to finish, providing programs with practical strategies in serving childfriendly meals. Salome holds an MPH in Nutrition from the City University of New York and a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Paula T. Perez, PhD Professor and Consultant North Carolina Central University Paula is an educator, consultant, trainer, academic advisor and nutritionist who has developed and taught courses in higher education in nutritional sciences and early childhood education since 2005. Her journey began with her passion for healthy eating and baking at the young age of 14. Her passion has taken her from serving rural communities in North Carolina, training and teaching as a nutrition education specialist, nutrition manager, and consultant to higher education instructor. Paula is a graduate of Liberty University. Paige Pokorney, MPH Program Manager, Center for Best Practices Share our Strength Paige develops resources, provides technical assistance, and supports state campaigns and partners in efforts to improve and increase utilization of Summer and Afterschool Meals programs. Prior to joining Share Our Strength, Paige was a Program & Policy Analyst at D.C. Hunger Solutions, where she worked to improve access to child nutrition programs in the District of Columbia. Paige received her MPH from George Washington with a concentration in Public Health Nutrition. Ready-To-Serve Fruit Solutions. non-GMO No added sugars No artificial flavors or colors Excellent source of vitamin C Credits as ½ cup fruit www.dolefoodservice.com For more information contact: Jayne Markham Dole Packaged Foods | Regional Sales Manager – West [email protected] 38076 1/23 ®, TM & © 2023 Dole Packaged Foods, LLC. DOLE FRUIT BOWLS® Varieties Available: • Mango • Papaya Mango • Pineapple • Mandarin Oranges • Peaches • Pears • Tropical Fruit • Cherry Mixed Fruit • Mixed Fruit DOLE® SMOOTHIE BOWLS™ Varieties Available: • Strawberry Banana • Mango Pineapple • Pineapple Mango Banana

cacfp.org 91 Molle Polzin, RDN Education and Training Specialist Institute of Child Nutrition Molle has over 20 years of experience in community nutrition and public health. She develops nutrition resources and training for child nutrition programs. Molle is passionate about helping early childhood professionals serve healthy meals to the children in their care. Molle holds a BS in Nutrition from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Donna Pomerson Senior Director of Operational Compliance Learning Care Group Donna leads the company’s Regulatory and CACFP Department, where she oversees 430 CACFP center-based programs across 30 states. She has worked in ECE for the past 39 years and has held a Senior Leadership role for the past 25 years. Donna is passionate in ensuring that all children have healthier options in schools. She has served as an active board member on the National CACFP Forum executive board since 2015 and is currently the Vice President. Featured Speaker Rear Admiral (Ret.) Frank Ponds, MS Principal and Owner FPONDS, LLC Independent Consultant Admiral Ponds served 33 years in the U.S. Navy in senior executive, operational and managerial positions within DoD and the Interagency. He serves as a member of Mission: Readiness, the national security organization of nearly 800 retired admirals and generals who strengthen national security by ensuring kids stay in school, stay fit and stay out of trouble. He holds various degrees from the National Defense University, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and The George Washington University. Brandon Price Manager Myers and Stauffer Brandon trains staff, manages scheduling and logistics, performs administrative reviews, and assists in the quality assurance process. CACFP and SFSP reviews also include detailed reviews of financial statements, bank reconciliations, labor expenditures, comparisons of bank statements to reported costs, and reviewing purchased service documentation. He has worked closely with sponsor contacts both on-site and via desk reviews and has worked with various state clients. Brandon holds a degree in accounting from Reinhardt University. Danni Pruitt Learning & Development Strategist MH Miles Company, CPA, PC Danni has over 20 years of management and leadership development experience. She has an extensive background in all disciplines of the learning and development eco space in multiple industry verticals. Danni is a sought-after trainer and facilitator who is known for leading with passion and executing with excellence. She is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University. Temesha Ragan, MEd Family Childcare Consultant/Educator Perfect Start Learning Consulting Temesha is an advocate for early education and a consultant and mentor for new early educators through her consultant business Perfect Start Consulting. She has been a part of two fellowships, one dealing with diversity and inclusion with NAEYC and another geared toward leadership with NAFCC. She holds many volunteer leadership positions with state and national organizations and an MEd from Northcentral University. Tracy Ragan, MBA, CCNP Health and Nutrition Manager Coastal Plain Area E.O.A. Tracy oversees the health, wellness, and nutritional needs of the students and families of Head Start. She began her career with Coastal Plain Area EOA, Inc. as a Family Health Advocate in 2015. Tracy has a BS in Human Resource Management and a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resource Management. Fausat Rahman-Davies Lead Child Nutrition Agent Rialto Unified School District Fausat has over 25 years of experience in school food service. Her passion to serve has created a purpose for Rialto that bridges the cafeteria, classroom and community. Fausat’s program has increased access to quality meals, provided a community pantry, and utilized student gardens as a source of fresh-grown organic produce. She has a BS in Business from Cal State San Bernardino. Featured Speaker Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD Nutrition Education Specialist National CACFP Sponsors Association Isabel develops nutrition education materials and provides informational webinars on nutrition to support stronger program operations. She has a strong background and passion in working with low-income communities of various cultures, while working on graduate research projects and working in the nonprofit, food banking environment for eight years. Isabel has an MS in Nutritional Sciences from Rutgers University. Andrea Rangel Quality Support Specialist YMCA Childcare Resource Service Andrea provides health and wellness support to childcare centers in the county of San Diego. Her supports include professional development for staff, workshops for families, goal setting with childcare providers, physical activity and self-care in the early childcare setting. Andrea believes in aiding childcare providers with the proper tools and resources in order for the children in their care to adapt healthy habits early in their development. She is a graduate of San Diego State University.

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cacfp.org 93 NCA Board of Directors Gabriela Rangel, MS, CMP, CCNP Director Child and Family Resources Gabriela has worked for Child & Family Resources for 12 years, serving in her current role for seven years. She has an MS from Walden University, a BS from the University of Arizona, and a Social Innovation Nonprofit Leadership Certificate from Eller Executive Education. She is currently on the NCA Board of Directors. Maria Rangel, MS Assistant Agent Rialto Unified School District Maria has worked for Rialto Unified for 34 years. As the Assistant Agent, she is responsible for Child Nutrition’s financial operations. Maria has a BS in Business from the University of Phoenix and an MS from the University of Redlands. Sharon Ray CEO Nutriservice Sharon is the CEO of Nutriservice, a sponsor for homes, adult centers, child care centers and at-risk afterschool sites for over 35 years. She serves on the Texas Sponsors Association Board, has served on Texas Department of Agriculture community boards, served as Treasurer for the National CACFP Sponsors Association, and is currently on the local Meals on Wheels board of directors. Shannon Raymond, MPH Special Nutrition Programs Training Coordinator MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Shannon has held her position for five years and has developed dozens of operational and administrative training and technical assistance resources for program operators of the CACFP and SFSP. Her position requires clear and effective communication of Federal and State policy guidance and making program requirements approachable and achievable to all program operators. Shannon earned her MPH from Johns Hopkins University. Sophia Riemer, MPH, RDN Program Manager National Farm to School Network Sophia joined the National Farm to School Network team in 2021 and works to develop and expand equitable farm to ECE programming through network building, resource development, and information sharing. She received her BS in Physiology & Metabolism from U.C. Berkeley and her MPH from the University of Washington. Trina Robertson, MS, RDN Evaluation and Impact Program Manager Dairy Council of California Trina manages and leads the organization’s evaluations, working with partners and thirdparty organizations to assess and evaluate resources, using data to measure impacts and gauge effectiveness. In the last year, she co-led a National Institutes of Health grant project through the University of California Irvine to conduct a needs assessment on the nutritional needs in the first 1000 days of life. She holds an MS in Nutrition from California State Polytechnic University – Pomona. Jami Rokala, MS, RDN, LD, CLC, CMP, CCNP Owner Headwaters Nutrition Counseling Jami has worked as a child nutrition professional for the state of ND as a Child Nutrition Specialist as well as the Child Nutrition Manager for Head Starts/Early Head Starts and Migrant and Seasonal Head Starts throughout the state of MN and ND. In her current work she contracts with Head Start agencies as the RDN and has a focus on 0-18 year olds struggling with anxious, avoidant, or selective eating and nutrition concerns. Featured Speaker Jessie Rosales Branch Chief California Department of Social Services Jessie has worked for the California Department of Social Services since 2007, supporting many aspects of social services programs including child welfare training, social work practice oversight, and Native American collaboration. Jessie began overseeing the CACFP in March of 2022. Rachel Rothman, MS, RD Pediatric Dietitian and Feeding Expert Nutrition in Bloom With a background in food science and nutrition education, Rachel has combined her love of food with a passion for helping others. Rachel specializes in working with children with feeding difficulties and disorders by using evidencebased approaches to help them develop healthy and positive relationships with food. She holds an MS from Teachers College at Columbia University. Melissa Rothstein FNS Associate Administrator, Child Nutrition Programs USDA Food and Nutrition Service Melissa has extensive experience in all aspects of the Child Nutrition Programs at the federal level, including policy, oversight and monitoring, analysis, and program research. She was instrumental in leading the development and implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Across her morethan-30-year career at FNS, she has also held positions in Financial Management, Food Distribution, Management and Civil Rights, and worked briefly in the private sector performing research on the Child Nutrition Programs.

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cacfp.org 95 Liliana Ruiz Fischer, MPH Health Program Manager National Recreation and Park Association Liliana has seven years of experience in food access and child nutrition programming. Her previous work experience ranges from community engagement and food access with South Seattle food banks and backpack programs, to leading multi-level interventions with the SNAP-Ed program Arizona Health Zone through the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Liliana received her MPH from the University of Arizona. Robert Rusan, SNS Chef Mushroom Council Chef Robert was raised in a catering family business and started cooking at age 5 by cutting shapes out of fruit and bread. He has worked in many restaurants to obtain more culinary skills and knowledge. He has a passion to connect young people with their food and a commitment to use the freshest ingredients possible. Luke Ruter Director of Program Compliance UMCFood Graduating with a degree in finance, Luke is responsible for visiting all of our sites to help them maintain program compliance. NCA Board of Directors Annetta Rutland, CMP, CCNP Strategic Director, Quality Programs 4C for Children Annetta has been with her agency for more than 30 years. She works to develop, implement and maintain policies, procedures and standards for professional development programs in identified content area. In addition, she supports the agency’s Team Leaders of Quality Programs to help them make consistent and progressive steps toward organizational and programmatic consistency and sustainability. She currently serves on NCA’s Board of Directors. Stephanie Salazar, RD Nutrition Education Consultant California Department of Social Services Stephanie has worked with the child nutrition programs for 11 years. As an NEC, she provides training and technical assistance on the Child and Adult Care Food Program meal patterns, including implementing family-style meal service, and is a subject matter expert on infant nutrition and the infant meal pattern. Featured Speaker Jess Saracino, MA Director, Program Monitoring and Operational Support USDA Food and Nutrition Service Over the last 13 years, Jess has developed regulations and guidance materials and provided technical assistance to state agencies on various requirements in Child Nutrition Programs. Prior to working for FNS, she worked in the Budget Office of the Texas State Legislature. Jess earned an MA from American University in Washington, DC in Political Science and received a BA in Political Science from Gettysburg College. Laura Sheffield, MS, RDN, LD Health and Nutrition Director Community Action Council-Lexington, KY Laura has worked with the Head Start program and CACFP for over 7 years. She is passionate about teaching children early healthy living habits to last a lifetime. Laura graduated with an MS in Hospitality and Dietetic Administration from the University of Kentucky. Steven Shuman, MA Director of Outreach and Distance Learning National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety Steve brings nearly 50 years of experience in early childhood education and public health; running programs, training educators, creating materials, developing policy, and assisting child-and-family focused agencies reach levels of excellence. He has provided training and technical assistance to ECE providers on safety, infection control, oral health, nutrition and physical activity, health services management, and systems building. Steve has worked for equity and inclusion of all children and families. He holds an MA from Emerson College. Chloe Smith, MS Marketing Communications Specialist National CACFP Sponsors Association Chloe maintains NCA’s website, creates and sources content for publication online and in weekly eNews, manages and designs the association’s graphic elements, produces segmented communications for members and marketing efforts, and develops showcase materials, training modules and webinar materials. She holds a Master of Science from Eastern Michigan University. Kailee Smith, MPH Health & Safety Manager Early Learning Ventures Kailee has maintained a ServSafe certification since 2010 and an Early Childhood Outdoor Play Inspection certification since 2018. She has worked in public health for more than 8 years. She started her career with Michigan State University Extension and has since been in roles focusing on maternal and child health and early childhood health and safety. Kailee received her BS from Central Michigan University and her MPH from Western Michigan University.

96 National CACFP Sponsors Association Krista Smith Farm to ECE Coordinator Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Krista supports Iowa’s kids through collaborative, cross-sector partnerships centering racial equity and food justice, providing training and technical assistance to teachers and childcare staff, promoting activities and events, and serving as a co-chair on the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition. She holds a BS in Elementary Education from Missouri Southern State University. Kristine Smith, MS Senior Director of Nutrition Services Neighborhood House Association Kristine leads a talented team that produces 6,000 meals daily for children and adults – all compliant with CACFP and/or SFSP. She has also led four very successful relocations of her entire facility while a new commercial kitchen facility was being built. She was the inspiration behind the design of the entire 11,000 square foot facility, which includes a commercial kitchen, training room, offices, and administrative space, and the Culinary Education and Training Center. She received her MS from the University of Alabama. Patricia Smith CACFP Program Analyst Office of Homeless Services in Philadelphia As part of the Food Access Unit, Patricia monitors emergency family shelters and provides technical assistance, training, and support for program operation. She holds a BA from Arcadia University. Featured Speaker Sarah Smith-Holmes Deputy Associate Administrator USDA Food and Nutrition Service Before Sarah’s current role, she was the Director of the Program Monitoring and Operational Support Division, Child Nutrition Programs (CNP), USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Prior to joining the CNP team, Sarah was in the FNS Mountain Plains Regional Office in Denver, Colorado where she worked with a variety of the FNS Programs. Sarah has worked with all 15 of the USDA-FNS Programs during her 33-year tenure.

cacfp.org 97 Nicole Spain, MS, RDN, LDN Registered Dietitian Learning Care Group Nicole has assisted with “GrowFit,” a healthy lifestyle initiative. She helped implement Veggies: Early and Often Campaign (2021) and received the 2017 Partner of the Year award from PHA, as they expanded their nutrition, fitness and garden programs. Nicole holds a Master of Science from Northern Illinois University. NCA Board of Directors Blake Stanford, CMP Preisdent Southwest Human Development Services Blake is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of a private, nonprofit agency and sponsor of the CACFP since 1985. He has served as President of the Texas CACFP Sponsors’ Association, was a founder of the Southwest Region CACFP Sponsors’ Association, and has served as the President and Treasurer of the NCA Board of Directors in addition to being the current chair. Blake holds a BS in Social Science and a BA in Spanish from Southwestern University. Laurie Strouse Early Learning Program Specialist, Penn State Better Kid Care The Pennsylvania State University Laurie is responsible for creating professional development courses and materials that support the early care and education workforce. Her area of interest centers around equity and diversity, which currently informs her work on topics such as antiracism, positive work environments and COVID-19. Before joining Better Kid Care, Laurie gained first-hand experience implementing anti-bias education practices as a Supervising Teacher in a mixedage preschool classroom on Penn State’s University Park campus. She is a graduate of Rowan University. Alexia Thex, MEd Director of Policy and Partnerships National CACFP Sponsors Association Alexia is charged with expanding NCA’s advocacy on policy matters and advancing the mission and interests of association members and stakeholders while forming mutually long-term, beneficial partnerships with corporations and organizations fitting the mission of NCA. Through her career in development, Alexia has also raised funds for Downtown Houston YMCA, the Holocaust Museum Houston and her children’s schools. She has an MEd in Exercise Physiology from the University of Texas. Lauren Thomas, RDN Food Service Director San Miguel Joint Union School District Lauren coordinates a district wide Farm 2 School program focusing on procurement of hyper local produce and grains. She works with the CA Wheat Commission under the current CDFA grant cycle to bring “Wheat2School” to students K-8 including: planting and harvesting wheat on campus, and nutrition education and recipe development with students to connect them to their plate. Lauren is an ultimate “school food nerd” and believes that each child deserves delicious, nutritious foods at school. Rhonda Thomas, MA Director of Child Nutrition Wyoming County Schools Rhonda’s relationship with Culinary Arts began while teaching math and health skills through food preparation and solidified when she assisted in feeding students at her school and its feeder schools during COVID. In 2021, Rhonda began an exciting journey as Child Nutrition Director for Wyoming County Schools, West Virginia. Rhonda’s education inspired her to develop nutrition awareness through the Culinary Arts Fair. She holds an MA in Special Needs and Leadership from Marshall University. Josephine Thomason, MS, RDN, LDN, FNLP National Advisor, Whole Child Health Alliance for a Healthier Generation Josephine spent more than 20 years in food and nutrition management, providing training and technical assistance to schools, participating in child nutrition programs. As a skilled technical assistance provider, she has contributed to various USDA Food and Nutrition Services studies with a focus on at-risk populations. Josephine is passionate about supporting child nutrition programs, to ensure every child that attends school or an afterschool program, has access to nutritious meals they need to grow and thrive. She received her MS from Florida State University. Sheila Tompkins-Hess Program Officer Department of Child and Family Services Sheila has been a supporter of Head Start for much of her life. She attended Head Start as a child and then worked as a teacher, a director and a supervisor for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Sheila loves working with children and helping staff to increase their skills with the children they support. Sheila has been a trainer at NAEYC, state conferences and ECE trainings in Las Vegas. She attended UNLV. Georgia S. Thompson, MHS Senior Program and Policy Analyst Nemours Children’s Health Georgia has worked in Early Care and Education (ECE) for nearly 20 years, with experience in PK-12 education, professional development, quality improvement, project management, and higher education. Georgia holds a BS in Family and Child Sciences from Florida State University and a Master’s in Human Services from Nova Southeastern University. Featured Speaker Clay Treska, MBA Cofounder Family Proud Inc. Clay is a decorated 13-year combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps and DoD counterintelligence agent. In 2009, he received a diagnosis of terminal cancer. Against all odds, he not only beat his cancer, but competed in the Ironman World Championships eight weeks after his discharge. Carrying his success forward, Clay is on the Executive Strategy team at UC San Diego and cofounder and Chief Strategy Office for Family Proud Inc.

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cacfp.org 99 Amanda Tucker, LSS, CHES Strategic Nutrition Implementation Consultant LINQ-TITAN Amanda has a lifelong passion for child nutrition with over 15 years of industry experience as a subject matter expert and trainer specializing in CACFP, at-risk afterschool and SFSP. Being Lean Six Sigma Certified, she takes a holistic approach to program and financial management looking at how the whole organization operates and functions to strive for the best success possible. Amanda holds a BS in Nutrition and Hospitality Management from Texas Tech University. Brittany Uribe Virtual Event Specialist National CACFP Sponsors Association Brittany plans and coordinates all webinars and virtual events for NCA, including those during the National Child Nutrition Conference. She began working for a CACFP sponsor in South Florida in 2013 and grew passionate about expanding CACFP training opportunities and educational resources. Brittany graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Family and Child Science. Aarie J. Wade, MSW Director of Education Baxter Community Center Aarie has been working in Early Childhood Education for over fifteen years and is using her passion for the education of young children and families to communicate the importance of incorporating nutrition, growing and eating fresh food into both their education and everyday life. Aarie received her MSW from Western Michigan University. Mary Rose Vanas Food Service Director Shelby Public Schools Mary and her team enjoy preparing high quality, nutritious meals from scratch. In addition to running the Summer Meals and Afterschool Meals programs for Shelby students and sponsoring local community centers and church groups, she expanded their meal programs to community organizations across the county and neighboring counties. Mary believes the opportunity to nourish her students is a blessing. Kendra Vandree, MS Farm to School Regional Specialist USDA Food and Nutrition Service Kendra believes everyone should have access to nutritious food they’re excited to eat. She brings perspective from previous state and regional experience supporting Farm to School efforts in all Child Nutrition Programs. She enjoys engaging with partners, tackling big challenges, and hearing the impact stories of this work. Kendra holds an MS from Colorado State University and is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Ethiopia). Kati Wagner President Wildwood CACFP Kati, operating in Colorado and Wyoming, oversees the sponsorship of family child care home providers, unaffiliated childcare centers and adult care centers, Head Start, afterschool and summer food programs. Kati’s business background allows her to see unique opportunities for providers. Her expertise in handling budgets, dealing with legislation, and management has allowed her to be successful in the CACFP. Kati has previously served on the NCA Board of Directors. Jodi Walker Founder/CEO Kids At Their Best Jodi has never been afraid to take on controversial issues and has frequently used unorthodox approaches to bridge the cultural, economic and generational challenges of her Eastern Plains community. She’s nationally recognized by Share Our Strength and No Kid Hungry for her innovative models based in youth powered programming. Her understanding of the value of diversity and inclusion has helped her to create sustainable food systems within a county that speaks 26 unique languages. Jodi earned her degree from the University of Southern Colorado. Karra Walker, MPA Food and Community Coordinator Kids At Their Best Raised in the middle of rural America in a community that speaks 26 unique languages, Karra was surrounded by global diversity in a community that did not embrace it. Karra majored in Political Economics while working for an at-risk youth program. She continued her education with a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Colorado - Denver and worked at the State Capitol in addition to local government work. Her vast knowledge of the interplay of economics and diversity gives her a unique expertise in meal programs. Melissa Wilder, MPH, RD, LD Partnership Specialist National CACFP Sponsors Association Melissa is charged with the main task of forming mutually long-term and beneficial partnerships with corporations and organizations that fit the mission of NCA. She began her work with the CACFP back in 2003 with the Harris County Department of Education’s Head Start program. Melissa is a native Texan and graduated from Texas Tech University with her BS in Nutrition and Dietetics. She has her MPH with an emphasis in Health Education/Promotion from the University of Texas.

100 National CACFP Sponsors Association CACFP│SFSP│NSLP Serving USDA, State agencies, and Child Nutrition Program Sponsors throughout the United States OUR SERVICES MANAGEMENT STUDIES OUTREACH SERVICES CONSULTING SERVICES EMERGENCY FUNDING COMPLIANCE PROFESSIONALS COMPLIANCE MONITORING TRAINING AUDITS & AGREED-UPON PROCEDURES REVIEWS SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS & COMPLAINT REVIEWS Small Enough to Care, Large Enough to Deliver 404-633-4555 | [email protected] | WWW.MHMILES.COM