The ECC Board of Directors

Sharon Kallemeyn - President Marcia Barnes - Vice President Jim Van Loan - Secretary/Treasurer Merton Tice Jean Hohm Judy Duhamel

The ECC Team

Autumn Gregory - Executive Director Autumn Gregory is the Director of Early Childhood Connections. Her responsibilities include grant administration, fiscal overview and staff management. She joined Early Childhood Connections in June 2000. Prior to joining ECC, Autumn worked as a Corporate Materials Management Officer and a SD Long Term Care Administrator for a health care management corporation. Autumn has served on the board of directors for the South Dakota Non Profit Association, TREC (Technology for the Rural Enhancement of Communities) and the Northern Hills Early Education Advisory Board. Autumn graduated from Black Hills State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Deb Hilt - Office Manager Debbie Hilt serves as the Office Manager for Early Childhood Connections. She is responsible for child care referral parent inquires and provides carseats for parents through the state carseat program. Debbie manages the Reach Out and Read program, delivering books to participating physician offices for children between the ages of six months and five years. Debbie also handles the ordering of supplies, brochures and general front office duties for Early Childhood Connections. Chances are, when you call Early Childhood Connections and hear a friendly voice on the receiver - it’s Debbie! Joe Doyle - Information/Technology Director As the Information/Technology Director, Joe maintains the Early Childhood Connections databases, company electronic devices, company vehicles, social media platforms and website. Joe designs the brochures, flyers and course catalogs for both Early Childhood Connections and Starting Strong Rapid City. Joe also assists with live broadcast trainings and other video productions. Joe has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication and a Psychology Minor from South Dakota State University. Sunni Toczek - Family Support Specialist Sunni Toczek is the Family Support Specialist for Early Childhood Connections. Sunni supports families by connecting them to resources within the community. Sunni works directly with Starting Strong and closely with Starting Strong preschools to help families support their children’s learning. Sunni was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Oglala Lakota College. Janessa Bixel - Early Childhood Specialist Janessa Bixel is the Early Childhood Specialist for Early Childhood Connections, working with preschool and school-age providers. Janessa serves as a CDA Professional Development Coordinator for The Council of Professional Recognition and is a Certified Pre-K CLASS Observer. She is also the coordinator of the “Mini Masters – A Children’s Art Exhibit” with the Dahl Arts Center and is the lead instructor for fitCare in the Black Hills region. Janessa has a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Alaska, Southeast and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She has worked in the field of early childhood education for over 20 years. She has a passion for teaching young children and likes to fuel the same passion in others by sharing her knowledge and experience with teachers and care providers.  Carole Foster - Social Emotional Specialist Carole specializes in infant/toddler mental health wellness, which focuses on the social and emotional well-being for young children and their caregivers and the various contexts within which care giving takes place. Jamie Brown - Infant/Toddler Specialist Jamie works with infant and toddler caregivers in the area. She also coordinates the Bright Start Responsive Parenting series and provides professional development and enrichment training to infant/toddler caregivers and providers in our region. Andrea Neff - Education Support Specialist Andrea Neff is the Education Support Specialist for Early Childhood Connections. Her time is largely devoted to the Starting Strong Rapid City program, where she works closely with preschool directors and staff.

The ECC Board of Directors

Sharon Kallemeyn - President Marcia Barnes - Vice President Jim Van Loan - Secretary/Treasurer Merton Tice Jean Hohm Judy Duhamel

The ECC Team

Autumn Gregory - Executive Director Autumn Gregory is the Director of Early Childhood Connections. Her responsibilities include grant administration, fiscal overview and staff management. She joined Early Childhood Connections in June 2000. Prior to joining ECC, Autumn worked as a Corporate Materials Management Officer and a SD Long Term Care Administrator for a health care management corporation. Autumn has served on the board of directors for the South Dakota Non Profit Association, TREC (Technology for the Rural Enhancement of Communities) and the Northern Hills Early Education Advisory Board. Autumn graduated from Black Hills State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Deb Hilt - Office Manager Debbie Hilt serves as the Office Manager for Early Childhood Connections. She is responsible for child care referral parent inquires and provides carseats for parents through the state carseat program. Debbie manages the Reach Out and Read program, delivering books to participating physician offices for children between the ages of six months and five years. Debbie also handles the ordering of supplies, brochures and general front office duties for Early Childhood Connections. Chances are, when you call Early Childhood Connections and hear a friendly voice on the receiver - it’s Debbie! Joe Doyle - Information/Technology Director As the Information/Technology Director, Joe maintains the Early Childhood Connections databases, company electronic devices, company vehicles, social media platforms and website. Joe designs the brochures, flyers and course catalogs for both Early Childhood Connections and Starting Strong Rapid City. Joe also assists with live broadcast trainings and other video productions. Joe has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication and a Psychology Minor from South Dakota State University. Sunni Toczek - Family Support Specialist Sunni Toczek is the Family Support Specialist for Early Childhood Connections. Sunni supports families by connecting them to resources within the community. Sunni works directly with Starting Strong and closely with Starting Strong preschools to help families support their children’s learning. Sunni was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Oglala Lakota College. Janessa Bixel - Early Childhood Specialist Janessa Bixel is the Early Childhood Specialist for Early Childhood Connections, working with preschool and school-age providers. Janessa serves as a CDA Professional Development Coordinator for The Council of Professional Recognition and is a Certified Pre-K CLASS Observer. She is also the coordinator of the “Mini Masters – A Children’s Art Exhibit” with the Dahl Arts Center and is the lead instructor for fitCare in the Black Hills region. Janessa has a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Alaska, Southeast and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She has worked in the field of early childhood education for over 20 years. She has a passion for teaching young children and likes to fuel the same passion in others by sharing her knowledge and experience with teachers and care providers.  Carole Foster - Social Emotional Specialist Carole specializes in infant/toddler mental health wellness, which focuses on the social and emotional well-being for young children and their caregivers and the various contexts within which care giving takes place. Jamie Brown - Infant/Toddler Specialist Jamie works with infant and toddler caregivers in the area. She also coordinates the Bright Start Responsive Parenting series and provides professional development and enrichment training to infant/toddler caregivers and providers in our region. Andrea Neff - Education Support Specialist Andrea Neff is the Education Support Specialist for Early Childhood Connections. Her time is largely devoted to the Starting Strong Rapid City program, where she works closely with preschool directors and staff.