Keynote Speakers
Valora Washington Ph.D
President and CEO, The Cayl Institute
Valora Washington, Ph.D., is President and CEO of The CAYL Institute and an internationally recognized leader in early childhood education. She is known for conceptualizing and leading transformative initiatives across policy, higher education, philanthropy, and government that advance outcomes for children and educators. Previously, as CEO of the Council for Professional Recognition, she professionalized the field through leadership of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™, expanding access, innovation, and participation nationwide and internationally. A CEELO-designated Legacy Leader, Dr. Washington has co-founded Voices for Michigan’s Children and the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative and has authored more than 50 publications shaping the future of early childhood education.
Breakout Sessions
Valora Washington Ph.D
President & CEO of The Cayl Institute
Valora Washington, Ph.D., is President and CEO of The CAYL Institute and an internationally recognized leader in early childhood education. She is known for conceptualizing and leading transformative initiatives across policy, higher education, philanthropy, and government that advance outcomes for children and educators. Previously, as CEO of the Council for Professional Recognition, she professionalized the field through leadership of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™, expanding access, innovation, and participation nationwide and internationally. A CEELO-designated Legacy Leader, Dr. Washington has co-founded Voices for Michigan’s Children and the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative and has authored more than 50 publications shaping the future of early childhood education.
Julia Jackson
NECC Strategic Communications Team
Bio Coming Soon!
Erica Phillips
CEO, The National Association for Family Child Care
Erica Phillips brings a diverse set of business and education experiences as the Executive Director of the National Association for Family Child Care. The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting high-quality child care by strengthening the profession of home-based early learning programs. Prior to joining NAFCC, Erica served as President for All Our Kin, a leading social enterprise in early education, where she was responsible for strong program implementation across multiple sites. Before All Our Kin, Erica founded Second Home Early Child Care Centers & led the Human Capital team at Achievement First Public Schools. Erica was also a fellow with Education Pioneers, Aspen Institute (Pahara & Ascend) and the National Black Child Development Institute. Erica began her career working as a strategy consultant at Monitor Group. Erica holds an M.B.A. and an M.Ed. from Stanford University, and a B.S. in industrial engineering from Northwestern University.
Brissa Borjas Esparza
Center for Rural Affairs
Brissa Borjas-Esparza is a Senior Business Development and Loan Specialist with the Center for Rural Affairs, where she supports entrepreneurs and child care providers across Nebraska in building strong, sustainable businesses. Originally from Bucerías, Nayarit, Mexico, she understands the challenges providers face in underserved communities and works to expand access to opportunity. She partners with home- and center-based programs on business planning, licensing, financial projections, sustainability strategies, and access to capital. Fluent in English and Spanish, Brissa equips providers with practical tools and confidence so they can strengthen their programs and better serve children and families.
Emma Ruskamp
NECC Strategic Communications Team
Emma Ruskamp is a communications specialist at the Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative (NECC), where she aligns messaging, storytelling, and digital engagement to strengthen Nebraska’s early childhood landscape. She develops strategic communications and social media campaigns that build a consistent, mission-driven presence and connect with diverse audiences. As an alum of the Women’s Public Leadership Network (WPLN) Fellowship for Nonprofit Management program, Emma has collaborated with dozens of national organizations to create campaign materials that empower women to pursue public office. She has canvassed for Get Out the Vote campaigns and brings a strong passion for civic engagement. Emma holds a B.S. in Journalism (Advertising & Public Relations) from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Erin Owen
Clarity Channels Communications
Erin Fogarty Owen is an award-winning integrated marketing communications expert and president of Clarity Channels Communications. She provides strategic communications and crisis counsel informed by leadership roles in higher education, national news, and government, with specialty experience managing more than 40 high-level crisis events. Some of her most impactful work happens behind the scenes when crises have been averted. At the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she served as founding Executive Director of University Communications. Earlier, she was on Tim Russert’s producing team at NBC News’ Meet the Press, contributing to major national coverage and on the team that earned two Walter Cronkite Awards for Excellence in Journalism. She began her career in the U.S. Senate and shares her obsession with clarity through The EO Report strategic communications newsletter.
Samantha Phillips
Vertical Insurance Group dba Company
Sam Phillips is a nationally recognized insurance leader and advocate tackling the childcare insurance crisis. As Principal and Founding Partner of Vertical Insurance Group dba Comploy, she develops tailored insurance solutions for early education businesses and teaches owners how to position themselves as strong risks to insurers. Widely regarded as the only insurance professional providing specialized education directly to early educators, Sam is a sought-after speaker, consultant, and author of The Childcare Insurance Playbook: A Guide to Protecting Your Early Education Business. She has been featured on FOX Business Rundown and in leading industry publications. With over a decade of experience, Sam partners with state and national associations and early education brands to improve insurance access, implement risk-mitigation strategies, and create sustainable protections for providers.
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Kelly Jefferson Minty
Clarity Channels Communications
Kelly Jefferson Minty is the chief operating officer at Clarity Channels Communications, where she advises organizations on crisis communications, reputation management, and strategic messaging. Drawing on experience across agency, nonprofit, and higher education settings, she helps organizations navigate every detail in their communications strategy.
Previously, she served as director of communications for the Nebraska Business Development Center, leading statewide outreach through proactive storytelling. She also served in University Communications at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, managing complex marketing initiatives and large-scale events. She began her career at Swanson Russell Advertising, supporting healthcare and Fortune 500 agriculture clients.
Aaron Hill, MBA
Peak Tax & Accounting
Aaron Hill, MBA is an Accounting Professor with deep expertise in accounting and tax preparation, grounded in both academic instruction and professional practice. He teaches financial accounting and taxation and connects theory to real-world application while he mentors students and leads course development initiatives. Before academia, he served as Manager of Tax & Accounting at a local CPA firm, where he prepared and reviewed individual and corporate tax returns, oversaw financial reporting and compliance, and advised clients on tax planning and internal controls. He holds an MBA in Financial Accounting and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Bellevue University and remains active in professional and community leadership.
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Jessica Campos
Center for Rural Affairs
Bio Coming Soon!