6 DEARREADER www.ChildCareExchange.com EXCHANGEJULY/AUGUST2014
DearReader,FromthefirstinklingoftheideathatbecameExchangemagazine,ahostofmentorshasinfluencedthedevelopmentofourwork,andforeachofyouweareextremelygrateful.Inthisissuededicatedtotheartofmentorship,wewouldliketothankespeciallytheseeightpeoplewhosegenerosityofexpertiseandspirithelpedusfindourwaytobringtheideatolife.
Gwen Morgan,ourfirstandlongest-termadvisor,spenthourafterhourtutoringmeonthepoliticsandpracticesoftheearlychildhoodfield.ThenwhenIfoundfewresourcesonthemanagementsideofchildcare,
sheintroducedmetoahostoforganizationalconsultantsfromtheworldofbusiness.And,allalongtheway,shehasbeenasteadfastcheerleader.
Dana Friedman,thenattheDayCareandChildDevelopmentCouncilofAmerica,helpedmefindtwostellardirectorsinall50statesthatbecametheExchangePanelof100.FordecadeswereliedonthisPaneltofeedusideasonsupervisingstaff,workingwithparents,andkeepingachildcareorganizationmovingforward.
Bob Lurie,whomImetinanadministrator’scoursethatGwenandIorganizedatWheelockCollege,helpedusgrowthereputationofthefledglingmagazinebyco-sponsoringaseriesofInfant/Toddlerconferencesandwasavaluableadvisoronbusinesschallengeswefacedintheearlyyears.
David Gleason,whomImetwhilepassingoutourfirstbrochure,“WhatHas14Hands,”atanNAEYCconference,hasbeenatrustedadvisorfordecades,alwaystakingthelong-rangeperspective.HealsowasoneofthefoundersoftheWorldForumFoundation.
Bob Benson,whomwemetwhenhewasCEOofChildren’sWorld,haseversincebeenourrolemodelforhisunparalleledintegrity,discipline,andforesight.
Carl Staley, atthetimedirectorofUnitedDayCareServicesinNorthCarolina,tutoredusontheeconomicsofchildcare,includingbothtraditionalandout-of-theboxwaysofviewingprogramfinances.
Jim Greenmantrustedthenewkidsontheblockwithhispreciousbook,Caring Spaces, Learning Places,andbecameagreatfriend,alwayswillingtosharesomedeeplysarcasticadvicetokeepusintouchwiththerealworld.
Nancy TravisandJoe Perreault,whotogetherledtheSouthernStates’officeofSavetheChildren,impactingthequalityofcenterandfamilychildcarethroughouttheSouth,selflesslyhelpedusgainvisibilityandconnections,whilesharinggreatfellowship.
Wearedeeplyindebtedtotheseearlymentorsandallthementorswhohavefollowed.
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