
Our Vision
All children in Larimer County are valued, healthy and thriving.

Our Mission
We bring the community together to share knowledge and resources, build expertise and work collaboratively to ensure that all young children in Larimer County have the care, support and opportunities necessary to grow, learn and succeed.

Our Values
Collaboration
Recognition
Accountability
Excellence
Joy
Our Work
Early Childhood Council of Larimer County (ECCLC) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that rallies support, resources, and awareness to ensure every young child in our community has quality early childhood experiences so they thrive from day one.
We work tirelessly and strategically together with everyone important in a young child’s life, from parents to teachers, and from physicians to psychologists, to prioritize nurturing early childhood relationships and environments.
We provide comprehensive supports for caregivers, including expert coaching and consultation; recruit and train early childhood professionals; spearhead community collaboration; advocate for solutions-based policies and funding; and design and pilot innovative programs.
Whether in Estes Park or Wellington, Red Feather Lakes or Berthoud, every young child benefits from committed caregivers and engaged professionals in their lives. When this happens, children grow up healthier, happier, and ready for success in school and in life.
We only get one childhood. When every young child is cared for in an environment that invigorates their learning and supports their wellbeing, they are set up for a lifetime of health and happiness, which strengthens our entire community.

The early childhood sector is in crisis: families can’t afford to pay and educators can’t afford to stay, making childcare a classic market failure. Early Childhood Council of Larimer County is the largest and most comprehensive organization in our region working to combat the childcare crisis on multiple fronts.
2025-2030 Strategic Framework

ECCLC Staff

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Erin Amidon, MA
She/Her
Early Childhood Coach

Letha Gillisse, MA, IMH-E
She/Her
Early Childhood
Mental Health Consultant

Logan Mansanarez, MPH
She/Her
Universal Preschool
Manager

Lauren Powers
She/Her
Chief Financial and
Operating Officer

Jamie Stewart
She/Her
Early Childhood Coach

Heather Blanco, MA
She/Her
Chief Program Officer

Christina Gomez, LMFT, IMH-E
She/Her
Early Childhood
Mental Health Consultant

Franny MeLampy, MA
She/Her
Early Childhood
Mental Health Consultant

Karly Kampe Quiroz
She/Her
Early Childhood
Workforce Manager

Christina Taylor, MPH
She/Her
Chief Executive Officer

Tessa Currie, MPH
She/Her
Communications Manager
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Melia Goto
She/Her
Universal Preschool
Associate

Liz Means, MNM
She/Her
Chief Strategy Officer
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Shannon Silvas
She/Her
Office and Finance Manager

Keiko Friar
They/Them
Community Impact Manager

Maribel Leon
_
Early Childhood
Program Associate

Taylor Osmundson
She/Her
Early Childhood Coach

Heather Soderberg, IMH-E
_
Early Childhood Coaching Manager


Board of Directors

Steve Kuehneman,
President
He/Him
Executive Director,
Care Housing

Nicole Aguilar
She/Her
Supervisory Environmental
Heath Specialist, LCDHE

April Gerakos-Rooker
She/Her
Director, Investment Operations,
Timucuan Asset Mgmt, Inc.

Anne Lance
She/Her
Executive Director,
Teaching Tree ELC

Averil Strand,
Vice President
She/Her
Former Director of Community Health Services,
Larimer Cty Dept of Health & Env.

Becca Benedict
She/Her
Director of Early Childhood, Poudre School District

Melanie Gilbertson
She/Her
ECE Faculty
FRCC

Thad Paul
He/Him
Division Manager,
LCDHS

Kristin Kurbjun,
Treasurer
She/Her
Project Manager,
Hewlett Packard

Abby Callan
She/Her
Program Manager, SummitStone Health Partners

Allison Hughes
She/Her
Assist. Dir Alumni Engagement
CSU Alumni Association

Valeria Silva-Woodruff
She/Her
TBRI Lead
CASA of Larimer County

Lisa Auer,
Secretary
She/Her
Community Engagement Specialist, CSU Extension
Larimer County Office

Lamb Caro
He/Him
Director of Early Childhood,
Thompson School District

Susie Hochstetler
She/Her
EVICS Treasurer
