BROOMFIELD EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL
2024
The Executive Board of Directors is charged to guide the operation, financials, and future direction of the Council. It is comprised of various community members all across the county who have a stake in the work of early childhood and outcomes of the Council. All are Board members are voted in by the current Board members.
Interested in becoming a Board Member? Click here to learn more about the time commitment, responsibilities and other work of a board member!
ANITA RICH
PRESIDENT
Anita is a Broomfield resident and a grandmother of two. She is an ongoing active participant in child health policy at a State level. Anita joined our Board in 2020.
Term as President: 2023 - 2025
COLLEEN WESTBROOK
VICE PRESIDENT
Colleen has experience in education as a retired educator from Boulder Valley School District. She is a Broomfield resident and is a strong advocate for social/emotional education.
Term as Interim VP: 2023 - July 2024. Board term 2023-2025.
DEBBIE KUNZ
TREASURER
Debbie has extensive knowledge in early childhood education and leadership. Coming to Broomfield from Missouri, she has brought this knowledge and experience to Bal Swan Children's Center as the Executive Director.
Treasurer term: 2nd term, 2023 - 2025
JENNIE EWALT
SECRETARY
Jennie is a Broomfield resident and mom to two wonderful children. She has been a pediatric speech therapist for 16 years and owns/operates her own private practice in Broomfield. She has a passion for helping families access resources and services to help their young children learn and grow to their full potential.
Secretary term: 2023-2025
MELISSA MOSSONI
MEMBER AT LARGE
Melissa brings twenty years of executive sales and marketing experience within the Biotech industries. Her passion now lies in non-profit and community engagement while promoting education and awareness in multiple facets of personal safety and well-being. She is a small business owner, wife and Mother to a first grader and is blessed to live in Broomfield.
Board term: 2024-2026
ANTHONY JOHNSON
MEMBER AT LARGE
Anthony is devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Has worked in SVVSD and BVSD in Special Education and as a campus supervisor. Currently working at Mental Health Partners (MHP) doing JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Community Engagement work.
Board term: 2024-2026
MARY PEDERSEN
MEMBER AT LARGE
Mary has been a Registered Nurse/Public Health Nurse for 18 years and for the last 10 years, has been at Broomfield Public Health. Mary is the lead for the home nurse visitation program called Family Beginnings. She focuses on Maternal Child Health and guiding and supporting families in parenting their newborn through toddlerhood.
Board term: 2024-2026
SHERI NEELEY
MEMBER AT LARGE
Sheri is the proud mother of five active sons and is a Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor with the City and County of Broomfield with a background in Community Health Education. She is passionate about building community, making connections, and sharing information to help others.
Board term: 2024-2026
KATHRYN STRONG
MEMBER AT LARGE
Kathryn Strong recently retired after 26 years with the City of Lakewood’s Head Start program where she was a classroom and early childhood education coordinator. She has experience with all levels of program operations including Colorado State child care licensing, health department standards and Colorado Shines. Kathryn loves data and the stories it can tell. She has lived in Broomfield for 20 years and her grown children went through Adams 12 schools.
Board term: 2024-2026
STAFF & CONTRACTORS
BECC STAFF
JESSICA JONES
DIRECTOR
Jessica has worked in Broomfield since 2006 and the official Director of BECC since 2014. She has worked in Broomfield community based programs from juvenile justice to senior recreation and nutrition. However, early childhood is where she feels the greatest impact to our community. She thrives in collaborative partnerships and finding creative ways to accomplish difficult tasks. She has a bachelors in Communication from CU Boulder and an MBA from University of Northern Colorado.
Jessica used to live in France and speaks French. She has two athletic, amazing teenage children, a beautiful dog and a loving, patient husband.
BROOKE BROGLE
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR
Brooke is a certified Pyramid Plus Trainer and was a preschool teacher for 10 years at Bal Swan Children’s Center, a Pyramid Plus demonstration site. She is co-author of the Backpack Series, a nationally available resource to partner families with teachers in promoting positive social emotional skills and reducing challenging behavior.
Brooke is passionate about empowering young children and helping adults support children in becoming the best versions of themselves.
MERCY MANRESA
FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Mercy has been working with the BECC since 2013. Her focus is on supporting parents be the best they can for their children. She manages all programs supporting family engagement and skill building. She is the primary instructor for Incredible Years and Confident Parenting - parenting skill building programs.
Mercy is a Broomfield resident since 2003. She and her husband are busy raising their three boys. She enjoys hiking and being outdoors with her family and is grateful for all the opportunity and encouragement she has had supporting local parents!
SHELLEY JICHA
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT COACH & RESOURCE COORDINATOR
Shelley has been in early childhood for over 28 years. She has multiple credentials and certificates including a ECE Coaching Certificate through C.U. at the Masters level. Shelley has been coaching in Broomfield for the last two years.
Shelley has been married for over 32 years with four grown children and two sons-in-law.
Shelley loves traveling to see friends and family and loves being near any kind of streams, lakes or the ocean.
