thread Staff
Stephanie Berglund
Chief Executive Officer
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of thread leads the organization by providing vision, strategic direction, and oversight of programs and budgets to ensure sustainability and impactful early childhood education services. This role includes advocating for child care policies, collaborating with partners, and supporting the Board in fulfilling thread's mission to make high-quality, accessible child care a reality across Alaska.
Melinda Myers
Chief Operating Officer
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) oversees all statewide services and projects at thread, ensuring high-quality program delivery and positive customer service across all service lines. This role involves managing grants and supporting strategic direction to expand and enhance thread’s services for families, educators, and communities.
Reme Oliver-Lampon
Chief Financial Officer
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at thread leads all financial operations, including budgeting and financial reporting to ensure fiscal responsibility and support strategic goals. This role involves managing grants, overseeing payroll, supervising the Finance and Human Resources departments, and advising the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee on financial planning and investment opportunities.
Kert LaBelle
Chief Administrative Officer
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) oversees administrative functions at thread, managing statewide office operations, IT, and staff development to support organizational efficiency and mission alignment. This role is integral to ensuring safe, functional facilities and fostering continuous improvement across operational processes.
Candice Vialpando
Marketing and Communications Director
The Marketing and Communications Director leads thread's brand strategy and outreach efforts, focusing on building reputation, engaging clients, and maximizing mission impact. This role oversees marketing, events, and media relations while collaborating cross-departmentally to ensure consistent messaging, effective community engagement, and responsive public relations.
Caitlin Gonzalez
Child Care Assistance Eligibility Specialist
The Eligibility Specialist manages Child Care Assistance (CCA) Program intake and case management for families in Northern and Southeast regions, determining eligibility, maintaining records, and providing referrals.
Caroll Rodriguez
Bilingual Professional Development Manager
The Professional Development Manager (PD Manager) oversees training, technical assistance, and grant management to improve early childhood education. This role involves supervising staff, strategic planning, data analysis, and building relationships with stakeholders to support educator growth. Contacto para información de desarrollo profesional en Español.
Chanel Carrasquillo
Bilingual Professional Development Associate
The Professional Development Associate (PDA) supports thread’s statewide Professional Development team by managing training logistics, data entry, and communications with early educators and program participants. This role ensures smooth operations for training events, handles customer inquiries and assists in data collection and reporting for professional development initiatives. Contacto para información de desarrollo profesional en Español.
Chelsie Venechuk
Professional Development Specialist
The Professional Development Specialist (PDS) delivers training, coaching, and career guidance to early educators and child care programs across Alaska to elevate early childhood education quality. This role involves onsite and remote support, CDA credential guidance, continuous quality improvement, and supporting child care program goals.
Crystal Aken
Child Care Assistance Eligibility Specialist
The Eligibility Specialist manages Child Care Assistance (CCA) Program intake and case management for families in Northern and Southeast regions, determining eligibility, maintaining records, and providing referrals.
Cynthia West
Family Services Manager
The Family Services Manager oversees thread’s Family Services department and Child Care Assistance Program. This role involves supervising staff, developing and implementing strategies, ensuring program effectiveness, and collaborating with internal teams to align goals and improve services for families across the state.
Daniel Cuellar
Statewide Systems Coordinator - Alaska SEED
The Statewide Systems Coordinator supports Alaska SEED systems and processes, including data entry, client assistance, and ensuring compliance with relevant standards. This role involves coordinating system updates and providing data for reports.
Elizabeth Klemm
Fund Development Manager
The Fund Development Manager leads thread’s fundraising efforts, fostering donor relationships and executing campaigns to support early education. This role develops strategies, maintains the donor database, and collaborates with leadership to advance thread’s mission.
Erica Roy
Office Manager
The Office Manager oversees administrative operations, ensuring efficiency, organization, and safety compliance. This includes managing supplies, equipment, vendor relations, IT support, and coordinating meetings. The Office Manager is also part of the Safety Committee to maintain a secure work environment.
Evelyn Chu
Professional Development Specialist
The Professional Development Specialist (PDS) delivers training, coaching, and career guidance to early educators and child care programs across Alaska to elevate early childhood education quality. This role involves onsite and remote support, CDA credential guidance, continuous quality improvement, and supporting child care program goals.
Farra Korshin
Executive Assistant
The Executive Assistant provides administrative support to the CEO, Board of Directors, and Management Team, managing the CEO’s calendar, meetings, and communications. This role coordinates Board meetings, supports special projects, handles travel, and maintains filing systems and Board documents to ensure smooth operations for senior leadership.
Fisher Stevens
Professional Development Specialist
The Professional Development Specialist (PDS) delivers training, coaching, and career guidance to early educators and child care programs across Alaska to elevate early childhood education quality. This role involves onsite and remote support, CDA credential guidance, continuous quality improvement, and supporting child care program goals.
Hayley Anderson
Creative Services Specialist
The Creative Services Specialist designs, produces, and manages visual content and branding materials for thread and its statewide programs, ensuring cohesive brand representation. This role collaborates on creative projects, manages design processes, and oversees digital asset organization to support impactful and consistent communication.
Illiana Soto
Finance Associate (AP/AR)
The Finance Associate supports the CFO by managing accounts payable/receivable, maintaining financial records, and assisting with audits and budgeting. This role also includes tracking staff travel and contract payments and providing general administrative support to the Finance Department.
Janene Lovelace
Professional Development Manager
The Professional Development Manager oversees training, technical assistance, and grant management to improve early childhood education. This role involves supervising staff, strategic planning, data analysis, and building stakeholder relationships to support educator growth.
Jen Clark
Professional Development Director
The Professional Development Director leads statewide Professional Development programs, ensuring continuous improvement in early care and education. This role involves overseeing teams, managing grants, developing policies, and aligning services with organizational goals and community needs.
Juliana Romer
Statewide Systems Coordinator - Alaska SEED/Learn & Grow
The Statewide Systems Coordinator supports Alaska SEED and Learn & Grow systems and processes. This role involves coordinating program logistics, maintaining records, assisting with communication between stakeholders, and contributing to program evaluations.
Kelsey Paveglio
Human Resource Generalist
The Human Resource Generalist manages all HR functions, including recruitment, employee evaluations, employee relations, and compliance with employment laws. This role also oversees onboarding, offboarding, and benefits administration, and supports the management team on HR policies and compensation.
Klara Gengler
Child Care Assistance Provider Specialist
The Provider Specialist supports early care and education providers who participate in the Child Care Assistance (CCA) subsidy program and supports case management. This role ensures compliance with regulations, contributes to outreach and administrative duties.
Krysta Artibey
Marketing Coordinator
The Marketing Coordinator supports thread’s outreach by managing social media, coordinating events, and producing brand materials to enhance visibility and community engagement. This role includes overseeing event logistics, maintaining promotional inventory, and ensuring consistent brand presence across all platforms.
Lindsey Crooker
Administrative Associate
The Administrative Associate provides customer service and administrative support, including managing communications, processing mail, and assisting with office organization, supplies, and scheduling. This role also supports staff meetings, supports special projects, and helps ensure smooth daily operations.
Mara Alcaraz-Rodriguez
Bilingual Professional Development Specialist
The Professional Development Specialist (PDS) delivers training, coaching, and career guidance to early educators and child care programs across Alaska to elevate early childhood education quality. This role involves onsite and remote support, CDA credential guidance, and continuous quality improvement. Contacto para información de desarrollo profesional en Español.
Megan Martin
Salesforce Administrator
The Salesforce Administrator supports the maintenance and optimization of thread's Salesforce platform, including system configuration, user support, and enhancements. This role ensures data accuracy, assists with reports and dashboards, provides user training, and collaborates on system improvements.
Meghan Johnson
Early Childhood Systems Director
The Early Childhood Systems Director leads efforts to enhance early childhood education in Alaska, overseeing SEED and Learn & Grow. This role involves developing strategies, fostering partnerships, and aligning efforts to improve service quality and accessibility while supporting workforce development across the state.
Mildred Parker
Alaska SEED Manager
The Alaska SEED Manager oversees the Alaska SEED program, managing the registry, professional development, and grant activities while ensuring compliance and tracking trends. This role involves collaborating with stakeholders, national organizations to support early childhood professionals, and supporting child care program goals.
Mischellean Smith
Quality Services Manager
The Quality Services Manager leads statewide efforts to improve the quality of early childhood education, overseeing Learn & Grow services, assessments, and specialized programs. This role involves developing policies, collaborating with stakeholders, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals. The Quality Services Manager is thread's main contact for Learn & Grow.
Monica Wilkinson
Statewide Systems Coordinator - Alaska SEED
The Statewide Systems Coordinator supports Alaska SEED systems and processes, including data entry, client assistance, and ensuring compliance with relevant standards. This role involves coordinating system updates and providing data for reports.
Nancy Roman
Statewide Systems Coordinator - Alaska SEED
The Statewide Systems Coordinator supports Alaska SEED systems and processes, including data entry, client assistance, and ensuring compliance with relevant standards. This role involves coordinating system updates and providing data for reports.
Nick Moe
Public Policy Manager
The Public Policy Manager assists thread in coordinating and implementing strategies to achieve public policy goals for accessible, affordable, high-quality child care in Alaska. This role focuses on state and federal policy, partnering with leadership to develop strategic plans, track legislation, engage with public officials, and manage advocacy materials and campaigns.
Pamela Walker
Professional Development Specialist
The Professional Development Specialist (PDS) delivers training, coaching, and career guidance to early educators and child care programs across Alaska to elevate early childhood education quality. This role involves onsite and remote support, CDA credential guidance, continuous quality improvement, and supporting child care program goals.
Paulisa Scarlett
Grants and Contracts Coordinator
The Grants and Contracts Coordinator manages the full grant and contract process, including proposal support, tracking, compliance, and RFP facilitation. They ensure accuracy in reports, maintain documentation, assist with audits, and develop related procedures.
Renee Munson
Finance Associate (Payroll)
The Finance Associate manages payroll, accounts payable, and financial record-keeping tasks. They assist with audits, maintain financial schedules, and support various financial tracking systems. Additionally, they handle month-end reconciliations and provide backup for other department functions as needed.
Saralyn Theriault
Child Care Assistance Local Administrator
The Child Care Assistance Local Administrator oversees services in Northern and Southeast regions, supervises the CCA team, ensures eligibility compliance, and drives quality improvement. This role includes managing eligibility determinations, maintaining records, and representing CCA through outreach and community engagement.
Tamora Harding-Childs
Early Childhood Specialist
The Early Childhood Specialist provides child care referrals, parent support, and community resources. They manage program data, organize parent education programs, and represent thread at outreach events and conferences.
Toni-Marie Hollister-Lagai
Professional Development Specialist
The Professional Development Specialist (PDS) delivers training, coaching, and career guidance to early educators and child care programs across Alaska to elevate early childhood education quality. This role involves onsite and remote support, CDA credential guidance, continuous quality improvement, and supporting child care program goals.
Tracey Adams
Community Services Manager
The Community Services Manager works to expand access to quality child care by building relationships with communities, employers, and tribal partners. They support projects, provide training, and collaborate with stakeholders to enhance early childhood education programs statewide.
Valyn Edwards
Professional Development Specialist
The Professional Development Specialist (PDS) delivers training, coaching, and career guidance to early educators and child care programs across Alaska to elevate early childhood education quality. This role involves onsite and remote support, CDA credential guidance, continuous quality improvement, and supporting child care program goals.
Vanessa Plourde-Smith
Professional Development Specialist
The Professional Development Specialist (PDS) delivers training, coaching, and career guidance to early educators and child care programs across Alaska to elevate early childhood education quality. This role involves onsite and remote support, CDA credential guidance, continuous quality improvement, and supporting child care program goals.
Wendy Howard
Bilingual Early Childhood Specialist
The Bilingual Early Childhood Specialist provides child care referrals, parent support, and community resources in Spanish and English. They manage program data, organize parent education programs, and represent thread at outreach events and conferences.