Our ZERO TO THREE leadership team takes a unique multidisciplinary approach to child development.
They bring together the perspectives of many fields, and their expertise is rooted in all domains of development—social, emotional, intellectual, language, and physical. The ZERO TO THREE management team and Board of Directors work together to promote children’s overall health and well-being in the context of family and culture.
Executive Leadership Team

Matthew Melmed
Executive Director

Ernestine Benedict
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer

Jennifer Boss
Chief of Staff

Melissa Boteach
Chief Policy Officer

Tracy Crudup
Chief Human Resources Officer

Janice Im
Chief Program Officer

Pia Valdivia
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer

Candace Winkler
Chief Development and Strategy Officer
Senior Staff Leadership

Aliz Agoston
Senior Director, Procurement and Business Administration

Treshawn Anderson
Director of Professional Development, NCECDTL

Raena Akin-Deko
Director of Impact, HealthySteps

Darneshia Allen
Manager, Training and Technical Assistance Integration, Safe Babies

Lynette Aytch
Director of the Leadership Development Institute

Melissa Baron
Director of Quality, HealthySteps

Kimberly Bradley
Program Manager, Technical Assistance

Rahil D. Briggs
National Director, HealthySteps

Michelle Brown
Senior Director of Training, National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning (NCECDTL)

Jessica Bushar
Director of Research and Evaluation, HealthySteps

Mary Caputo
Technical Assistance Director

Samantha Cadet
Legislative Director

Robert Clark
Director, Resource and Training Development, Safe Babies

Julie Cohen
Associate Director, Policy Center

Patricia A. Cole
Senior Policy Advisor

Jamie Colvard
Director of State Policy

Wallace Daniels
Assistant Director, Human Resources

Madeline Daniels Benderev
Director, Digital Strategy

Gina Davis
Associate Director, Media & PR

Holly Devendorf
Sr. Finance and Accounting Director

Lauren Donovan
Director, Strategic Initiatives

Beth Elbertson
Director, Training & Technical Assistance Integration

Laila Fritz
Product Director of Technology, HealthySteps

Maria Gehl
Director, Practice and Field Operations, Safe Babies

Jenifer Goldman Fraser
Director, Research and Evaluation, Safe Babies

Jonathan Gonzales
Military Family Projects Director

Noelle Hause
Senior PD Manager, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Professional Innovations

Imtiaz Haiyoom
Senior Technology Officer

Janie Huddleston
National Director, Safe Babies and Early Childhood Systems

Araceli Jacobs
Lead Impact Officer

Hannah Johnson
Director, Early Childhood Developmental Health Systems (ECDHS): Evidence to Impact Center

Kirsten Koerner
Director of Development

Brandy Jones Lawrence
Technical Assistance Director, National Early Care and Education Workforce Center

Sarah LeMoine
Senior Director, Professional Innovations

Johanna Lister
Director of Policy, HealthySteps

Katrina Macasaet
Senior PD Manager, Professional Innovations

David Mandell
Senior Policy Advisor

Eme Martin
Lead Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Andrew Matemu
Director of Information Technology

Sam Melvin
Policy Research Director

Susan McCullough
Individual Philanthropy Director

Siobhan Mueller
Director of Communications and Marketing

Kathleen Mulrooney
Director, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Strategy-Program

Christina Nigrelli
Senior Director of Programs

Rebecca Parlakian
Senior Director of Programs

Stephanie Pilato
Senior Director, Budget and Financial Planning

Amy Pirretti
National Director, National Center on Early Childhood, Development, Teaching, and Learning

Amanda Perez
Senior Advocacy Manager

Julia Richards
Senior Director, Professional Innovations

Alice Ricks
Director of Strategic Operations, HealthySteps

Heather Schmidt
Strategic Operations Director, Safe Babies

Mike Sherman
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Clinical Consultation Manager, Safe Babies

Torey Silloway
Director, Policy and Financing, Safe Babies

Elizabeth Sims
National Client Partner

Petra Smith
Subcontract Director, THRIVE

Luisa Soaterna-Castañeda
Director, Program Management and Technology, National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning (NCECDTL)

Christy Stanton
Senior Technical Assistance Specialist, Policy Center

Dawn Stehle
Director, Early Childhood Systems, Policy, and Planning

Amanda Szekely
Director of Strategic Operations

Jennifer Tracey
Senior Director, Growth and Sustainability, HealthySteps

Yelena Tsilker
Senior Government Relations and Advocacy Director, Policy Advocacy

Nicole Tullis
Director of Development, HealthySteps

Lindsay Usry
Director, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Strategy-Policy

Lisa M. Wilson, M.Ed.
Directer, Outreach and Engagement, National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning (NCECDTL)
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Do what you love and love what you do. We offer competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package, and incredible coworkers.