Speakers
Andrea Maldondo
Andrea Maldonado, as our Director of Quality Assurance and Accreditation. Andrea brings 13 years of valuable experience in family childcare and early childhood education to our organization.
Throughout her career, Andrea has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to professional development and the recognition of family and childcare educators and played a key role in raising the high standards for family and childcare providers. In her last role, Andrea was instrumental in bringing the NYC Department of Education’s 3-K to family childcare networks and FCC programs.
Andrea brings a wealth of experience in program development, workforce development, and leadership coaching. As the Director of Quality Assessment and Recognition, Andrea is well equipped to advocate for family childcare educators and ensure they receive appropriate recognition for their important role in the childcare system.
Dr. Louis Finney
Dr. Louis A. Finney: Advocate for Early Childhood Education and Nonprofit Leadership Dr. Louis A. Finney, a passionate advocate for early childhood education and an accomplished nonprofit leader, boasts a distinguished career spanning over 25 years. As the President and CEO of Smart Start for Forsyth County, he has garnered accolades, including the 2022 Non-Profit CEO of the Year in the Triad Area of North Carolina, a 2023 Leadership Winston-Salem Graduate, 2024 NIKE Go Executive Training Recipient and the recipient of the 2023 Maria Otto National Award of Excellence for Family Childcare Services advocacy. Throughout his career, Dr. Finney has been instrumental in advancing Early Care and Education.
Notably, he established three Early Head Start Delegate and Grantee Family Childcare Educator Programs in Tampa Bay, Florida, leading the largest Early Head Start Family Childcare Educator network in the state with $16 million in federal funding. His commitment to securing over $250 million in funding for early childhood initiatives demonstrates his dedication to the cause.
Dr. Finney’s expertise extends to advisory and leadership roles at the national and state levels. His notable positions include Immediate Past President of the National Association for Family Childcare, Treasurer of the National Head Start Association, and service on the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Power to the Profession Taskforce. He is actively involved in organizations such as the National Family Childcare Advisory Board, NC Partnership for Children Board Development Committee, NC Family Childcare Advisory Board, and the Aspen Institute’s Early Years Climate Action Commission.
Mike Bachman, M.A. Early Childhood Education
Mike Bachman, M.A. Early Childhood Education, has worked at all levels of early education and care. Starting as a Teacher of preschool aged children, Mike moved from the classroom to operating a program serving 200families of children birth through school-age. Since then, Mike has provided technical assistance and led technical assistance teams that provide national accreditation coaching and training support to family childcare and center-based programs across the nation. Mike is now the Senior Director of Partnership Development for Shine Early Learning where he supports public systems and community-based partners to coaching and training solutions for the early learning workforce.
Dr. Katrina Chance
Dr. Katrina Chance has dedicated over 30 years to the childcare industry, gaining vast experience through roles such as Assistant Director for a Child Care Resource and Referral Agency, Deputy Director for Head Start, Georgia Pre-K teacher, and Family Child Care Professional Business Owner. She is a certified John Maxwell Team Trainer with Parent Certification and a 2014 graduate of the Child Care Aware® of America Leadership Development Program. Additionally, Dr. Chance served as a National Black Child Development Institute Policy Fellow from 2021 to 2023.
Since 2019, Dr. Chance has been the Executive Director of the Richmond County Partnership for Children, a part of the Smart Start network, where she oversees family support and education programs. Her academic background includes an associate's degree from Central Texas College, a bachelor's in human development from Washington State University, a master's in organizational management from Ashford University’s Forbes School of Business, and a doctorate in business administration with a concentration in organizational leadership from Walden University.
Dr. Chance is actively involved in community service, serving on the Board of Directors for Back Pack Pals, Family Child Care Center Enrichment Foundation, Richmond County Chamber of Commerce, Rockingham Rotary Club, and United Way of Richmond County. Her national and state-level contributions include leadership roles with Child Care Aware of America and the National Black Child Development Institute, as well as service in the United States Army from 1991 to 1998.
Jahi B Davis, MBA
Jahi B. Davis previously managed a national community development financial institution (private nonprofit bank) in Boston, which brought together large-scale community development projects within 226 communities across the United States. He also was the architect for the national expansion of a pilot IDA program (sponsored by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) for low-income young adults, and conducted extensive national trainings and technical assistance programs for small businesses looking for access to capital. As a former banker, his passion for serving the nonprofit community is at the heart of everything we do at Better Futures.
He's honored to have served as Market President with Operation HOPE, V.P. of Wheeler Creek Community Development Corp and Executive Director of Forest Heights Community Development Corp in the National Capital region. As a former Youth Policy Advisor to then Mayor Ed Rendell, Jahi subsequently advised two Mayors on topics such as a regional framework for economic development and youth engagement. His dedication to children has not gone unnoticed. Jahi was asked to serve as an inaugural member of Philadelphia's Promise Delegation, where he advocated for increased funding to expand local after-school programs for young children in the City and was awarded "Volunteer of the Year" by President Bill Clinton. However, perhaps his most cherished accolade is being awarded the Small Business of the Year Award by the esteemed Future Business Leaders of America. This recognition is a true reflection of his roots as a locally family-owned and operated business and highlights his dedication to serving the community with passion and integrity. He most recently served as Treasurer and Executive Board member for YouthBuild USA, an international nonprofit organization that sought guidance through a period of transformation, ensuring that they continued to be a trusted partner for donors, volunteers, and communities around the world.
He holds a Master of Business Administration in global management, a Certified Personal Financial Counselor designation and a Bachelor of Arts from Temple University. With over 25 years of financial, business and leadership experience, Jahi is most proud of the demonstrated the impact his work has had on the Early Childhood Education community and the development of a leadership pipeline. Established in 2016 and proudly headquartered in the vibrant city of Washington, D.C., Jahi has inspired providers to act local but think global. Mr. Davis is the Co-Founder and Managing Member of Better Futures LLC.
Jerletha McDonald
Jerletha McDonald is a social entrepreneur, family child care business consultant, and national speaker. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Family Studies with a minor in Early Childhood Intervention from Stephen F. Austin State University. For 15 years, Jerletha owned and operated Nurturing Gifts Infant and Toddler Center, a family child care center. She is the founder of the Arlington DFW Family Child Care Network and has over 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Education.
Jerletha served as the Senior Manager of Membership and Volunteer Affairs for the National Association for Family Child Care for 3 years. She now works as a family child care consultant and subject matter expert specializing in Family Child Care. Jerletha has a special interest in the economic development of women of color in early care and education, with a primary focus on Family Child Care. Jerletha works with family childcare entrepreneurs to help them transition into regulated operations, build sustainable business models, and develop financial plans. She has conducted trainings on business mindset, marketing, leadership development, family child care startups, and more. Jerletha has also presented keynotes and workshops at local, state, and national events.
In April 2016, Jerletha was recognized by the Grand Prairie NAACP as one of the Most Influential Women in Business. In 2018, she was appointed to Governor Greg Abbott's Early Learning Council, representing family child care providers in Texas. In 2020, she received the North Texas Early Childhood Leadership Award from Child Care Associates.
Jacqueta Rascoe
Jacqueta Rascoe is an experienced leader and Director of Boards and Commissions for the North Carolina Governor’s Office, where she drives strategic initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across over 300 state boards and commissions. In addition to her public service, she is a licensed massage and bodywork therapist with a passion for holistic wellness, serving as an active board member of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association. Dedicated to fostering well-being in mind, body, and spirit, Jacqueta balances her professional endeavors with her most cherished roles as a wife and mother to her two young children, Jordyn and Jaxon.
Dr. Devonya Govan-Hunt
Whole, Not Worn: Restoring Ourselves to Restore the WorldÂ
In a time when educators are being called to do more with less, this keynote invites us to do the sacred opposite, to slow down, to breathe, and to reclaim our wholeness. With powerful reflections and practical wisdom, this session will explore what it means to renew the mind, body, and soul in a profession that too often forgets the humanity of those who lead it. Through radical honesty and joyful affirmation, participants will be reminded that rest is not a luxury; it is a leadership strategy.
Come ready to reflect, reconnect, and rise.
Connie Brown , MSW. LCSW
Connie Brown received a bachelor’s degree in 1992 in Social Work from Bennett College and a Master of Science in Education (M.Ed.) in 2004, from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, both in Greensboro, NC. Most recently, Connie received a Master of Science in Social Work (MSW) from Simmons University, Boston, MA. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Ms. Brown has experience treating individuals with depression, anxiety, trauma, and anger management. She is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and EMDR, and has over 20 years of experience working in both the mental health and social work fields, with many years of training related to trauma and crisis experiences.
Connie enjoys working with adolescents (ages 13-17) and individual adults (age 18 and over). Her primary therapeutic method is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which looks at how your beliefs, feelings, and self-talk influence your behaviors. In addition to CBT, Connie uses Solution-Focused Therapy, empowering individuals to focus on current and future solutions while identifying goals and resources for a strengths-based approach to enhancing their quality of life.
As a Christian/biblical counselor, Connie is committed to the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, seeking to look at human problems from the perspective of God’s Word. She holds to the belief that God is the One who changes people and sees herself only as an instrument in the hands of the One who can create change superior to anything a counselor or counselee could ask or imagine.
