Kristen Day (formerly RB Peterson) is the founder of a play and nature based preschool and forest school in central Minnesota, host of The Play Based Learning Podcast and author of I’m Not Getting Them Ready For Kindergarten which will be released in 2025. Kristen holds a B.A. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education although she ‘retired’ from teaching two years ago to travel the world and inspire early childhood audiences to give children the most developmentally appropriate environment possible.

Kristen shows up on stage authentically and is real with her audience. Her presentation style can best be described as a conversation with a best friend. Funny and dramatic, she captivates adult learners with stories that can be applied to the life of any early childhood professional. She leaves ECE professionals motivated to stand up for childhood and give children an education they truly deserve.

Dr. Jasmine Moses is the owner of Equity in Bloom, an initiative dedicated to empowering caregivers and educators to raise and teach the next generation through Anti-Bias and Anti-Racist practices. As an Anti-Bias Early Childhood Educator, she provides resources, professional development, and support to help implement these essential practices in early childhood settings. With a background as an early childhood teacher and community worker, Dr. Moses is passionate about fostering justice and equity from a young age. Her work is focused on creating inclusive and respectful environments for all children and their families, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Erica Saccoccio is an entrepreneur and advocate in the childcare industry, owning multiple centers where she fosters individualized, nurturing learning environments. With over a decade of experience, Erica ensures that early childhood education is both impactful and enjoyable for children, helping them thrive.

As a co-author of Women Excelling Everywhere, Erica shares her experiences navigating challenges in the childcare field, promoting women’s empowerment, and offering strategies to avoid burnout. Her insights resonate with others in the industry, inspiring resilience and passion for meaningful work.

Erica also hosts The Childcare Connection podcast, where she discusses the joys and challenges of raising young children with experts and parents. A popular speaker at industry events, Erica is known for her enthusiasm and her commitment to stronger childcare policies, encouraging others to unlock each child’s potential.

Carla Ward is a passionate and dedicated early childhood education expert with over 19 years of experience in the profession. As the founder of Early Learning Foundations and host of The Everything ECE Podcast, she is committed to transforming the way educators approach early learning. Carla has worked in a wide range of roles, from classroom educator to leadership positions, and has become a sought-after speaker, workshop facilitator, and mentor for early childhood professionals.

A certified Wonder-Based educator, Carla incorporates the power of curiosity and joy into her teaching and professional development offerings. Her unique perspective blends hands-on learning with intentional interactions, helping educators create environments that foster children’s natural love for learning. She is also known for her work on developing strong educator-family relationships and empowering early childhood professionals to take pride in their role.

Carla’s key accomplishments include launching the ECE Podcast Academy, where she supports aspiring podcasters in the early childhood education profession, and hosting The ECE Experience, an innovative professional development conference designed to celebrate and elevate early childhood educators. Additionally, she founded The ECE Latte Lounge, a vibrant community for educators to connect, learn, and grow through resources like live coffee chats and a book club. With a passion for leadership, pedagogy, observation, and documentation, Carla helps educators and supervisors rediscover their passion for the profession, encouraging them to find new ways to make a meaningful impact.

Driven by a deep belief in the potential of early learners and those who teach them, Carla Ward continuously seeks to elevate the profession and inspire others to find meaning and joy in their work.

Alyssa Blask Campbell, CEO of Seed & Sew, has a master’s degree in early childhood education and is a leading expert in emotional development. She is a global speaker on building emotional intelligence and podcast host of Voices of Your Village, supporting people in over 100 countries. Alyssa was featured as an emotional development expert in publications such as The Washington Post, Kids VT, Burlington Free Press, and Family Education. After co-creating the Collaborative Emotion Processing (CEP) method with Lauren Stauble and researched it across the U.S. Her book, Tiny Humans, Big Emotions, is publishing with HarperCollins in fall of 2023.

Alyssa is deeply passionate about building emotional intelligence in children, stating, “It’s never too early or too late to start.” Alyssa’s show up as you are approach welcomes people into her village to get support at all ages and stages, shame free.

Her company, Seed & Sew serves people across the globe through speaking, consulting, online courses, early childhood professional development program, and podcasting, with tools to build emotional intelligence.

Ana is a proud mother of three, a public speaker, a consultant, and the founder of Early Years Thriving. Ana has 17+ years of experience in the childcare field. She has direct experience working with children and families using inclusive and trauma-informed approaches. Ana has 10+ years of experience working in adult education and she currently supports ECE practicum students at the college level. Ana has 8+ years of experience as a workshop facilitator and has facilitated hundreds of professional development workshops for thousands of educators, teachers, and parents. Ana has a Diploma in ECE, a Bachelor’s Degree in Child & Youth Care, and is currently completing a Master’s of Professional Education in ECE.

Semona is a dedicated and neurodiversity-affirming speech-language pathologist based in Toronto, Ontario. She holds a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from McMaster University.

With diverse clinical experience, Semona has worked in a variety of settings, including rehabilitation centres, hospitals, private practice clinics, children’s treatment centres, and local schools. She has supported children and adults with a wide range of speech and language needs, such as speech sound disorders, orofacial myofunctional disorder, stuttering, autism, and expressive and receptive language delays.

Semona is the founder of Let's Tok Speech Therapy, a mobile private practice focused on providing safe, welcoming, and neurodiversity-affirming support for children needing support at home, daycare, or private school. Online speech therapy services are also available to families across Ontario. Her approach centers around fostering connection over correction, honouring each and every child’s unique differences, strengths, values, and sensory preferences. She follows the 3 F's in her therapy sessions: Functional, Fun, and Family-Centered Support. By focusing on functional goals through a family-centered approach, she ensures children acquire practical speech and language skills, while incorporating fun activities to keep them motivated and engaged. Her passion for helping children thrive through tailored, compassionate care is at the heart of her practice.

Melissa is the owner of Empower Communication Services.  She completed her undergraduate program in Health Science at the University of Western Ontario and her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto.  Melissa has been working as a Speech-Language Pathologist since 2011 and has experience with both children and adults in the public and private sectors.

Melissa started a private practice eight years ago because of her passion and desire to educate and empower families to support their child(ren) be successful communicator(s) and readers! Melissa understands the importance of early literacy intervention based on the science of reading and has pursued multiple continuing education opportunities in this area.

She has developed various literacy initiatives including preschool readiness programs to support foundational literacy skills, summer literacy programs, parent information sessions, educator workshops and more. She is a guest lecturer at the University of Toronto and has been awarded the Women in Business award in 2021.

Melissa is a mother to two young children and recognizes the value of early intervention and the need to provide families with activities that can be incorporated into their every day routines.

Melody McGuire is a nationally recognized expert in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Childcare, with over a decade of experience guiding programs toward achieving and maintaining national accreditation. As the CEO and founder of Early Childhood Educators Circle Time™, Melody has successfully assisted over 30 programs in meeting high standards through NAEYC, NECPA and other accreditation bodies, transforming childcare centers into exceptional environments for young learners.

Melody's expertise extends beyond accreditation, blending her passion for early childhood development with hands-on coaching, mentoring, and program design. She is known for her ability to tailor national standards to the unique needs of each program, ensuring not only compliance but also fostering quality education that impacts children's lives and strengthens communities.