The Team
The BUILD Initiative is a team of early childhood professionals who are committed to building and sustaining high-quality, comprehensive, early childhood systems that are equitable for marginalized children and families, many of whom have faced discrimination based on race, ethnicity, language, or immigration status.
We have decades of experience with state and local early childhood systems, education reform, health, human services, political campaigns, communications, and messaging. Each team member brings a deep understanding of how to engage disparate constituencies and forge common ground to advance a comprehensive policy agenda.
Susan Hibbard
Executive Director
Michelle Adkins
Assistant Director, NCIT Capacity-Building Hub
Gretchen Ames
NCIT HUB Community Manager
Jenn Bender
Director of Operations
Jonathan Chapman
Learning Community Specialist
Mariana Florit
Communications Director
Jim Gutierrez
Finance & Contracts Manager
Danielle Fuentes Johnson
Project Manager, Program Team
Chloe Jordan
Learning Community Manager, NCIT Capacity-Building Hub
Debi Mathias
Director Early Care and Education Quality Improvement
Laura May
Communications Manager
Cheryl W. McAfee
Senior Knowledge Manager, NCIT Capacity-Building Hub
Carey McCann
Co-Director of State Services
Ingrid Molinares
Learning Community Specialist
Karen W. Ponder
Distinguished Fellow
Aisha Ray, Ph.D
Distinguished Fellow
Deborah Stahl
Consultant, Special Projects
Sherri Killins Stewart, Ed.D
Director of Systems Alignment and Integration, Co-Director of State Services
Michelle Stover Wright
Research and Evaluation Manager
Cynthia L. Tate, Ph.D
State Services Liaison, NCIT Hub Lead
Ruth Trombka
Editor and Writer
Armand Viscarri
Communications Manager
Tiereny
Director, NCIT Capacity-Building Hub
