Child Care Action Council Staff Directory
Administrative
Gary Burris | Executive Director
As Assistant Director for Quality at the Department of Early Learning, Gary led licensing policy and continued quality efforts begun in the DSHS Division of Child Care and Early Learning. He worked to professionalize the early learning workforce by easing access to college courses, providing scholarships, and delivering wage enhancements tied to higher education. He worked to improve the quality of licensed homes and centers and school age programs through national accreditation efforts and facility grants and loans. At the Oregon Children and Families, Gary’s unit provided state level support such as best practices, staff training and program consultation for community home visiting, positive youth development, child care, family centers, court advocates and relief nurseries. He played a leadership role in carrying out the Oregon’s Children’s Plan – a comprehensive interagency effort to coordinate services for children and families. Most recently with EOI in Seattle, Gary researched and advocated on early learning, asset building, and retirement policy. He has a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and a BA from Evergreen.
Brian Cole | Director of Finance and Operations
I lived in several parts of the country, including Nevada and Oregon, before settling in the Puget Sound region in the mid-90s. My partner of nearly 25 years served on CCAC’s Board in 2008-2014, and we have remained supporters of CCAC ever since. Professionally, I have spent most of my career working in the agriculture industry in Finance and Administration. I look forward to working in the non-profit sector and continuing the great work and services CCAC provides.
Allison Woody | Office Administrator / Bookkeeping Assistant
“I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride to make it easier. Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.”
Nancy Hobson | Provider Services Coordinator
I have worked at Child Care Action Council Resource & Referral for over 16 years. Before that I had worked in child care centers in the Olympia area for over 25 years. I started out as an aide and worked up to being a director. In my present position I work with parents and providers through Margie’s Crisis Nursery and the Homeless Child Care Program. I keep our NACCRRA provider data base up to date. I enjoy helping people and if I don’t know the answer I am willing to try and find the answer for you. I enjoy working with providers and helping them get excited about training and now Early Achievers and QRIS. It will help us all do a better job for children.
Danielle Russell | Family Access Program Manager
I’m excited to join CCAC as the Family Access Program Manager. Over the last 16 years I’ve been fortunate to lead work that helps families overcome challenges and build resilience. Creating strong communities and supporting families is truly my passion. Outside of work I volunteer time as a Girl Scout leader in my daughter’s troop where I get the opportunity to help girls gain skill and realize their leadership potential. However, nothing gives me more joy than spending time with my family both biological and chosen! My perfect day is spent with family by the water, kayaking, enjoying good food, playing an intense game of Skipbo and hearing the laughter of the ones I love.
Danielle King | Grants & Safe Kids Thurston County Manager
I am the Grants Manager with over a decade of experience writing successful grants to support programs benefiting children in our communities. My background in early childhood education includes operating a nonprofit preschool for several years, and I have more than 10 years of experience leading the Safe Kids Thurston County program.
Hazel Brown | Policy, Advocacy, and Research Manager
I am the Policy, Advocacy, and Research Manager at Child Care Action Council, where I advance local, state, and federal policy to strengthen early childhood education and child care systems. My work centers on legislative advocacy, community engagement, and research, ensuring that policies reflect the on-the-ground realities facing families and providers. Previously, I spent five years working to address the gun violence epidemic in Washington State, where I led a statewide advocacy team and drove the implementation of enacted policies in partnership with agencies, advocates, and community leaders. I have also conducted policy research in collaboration with the Center for American Politics and Public Policy, the Center on Reinventing Public Education, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.
JeAnna Wells | Development and Fundraising Coordinator
I have been involved in non-profit and childcare for over 10 years with experience in the classroom and raising funds for the classrooms. I have enjoyed my many different roles and am most excited to combine all of my experience at Child Care Action Council as Development and Fundraising Coordinator. I strongly believe that children are our best chance at a better world in the future. In my free time I can be found exploring Olympia with my family and dogs, road tripping to Oregon to visit family or enjoying a new restaurant.
Katie Johnson | Communications and Impact Coordinator
As the Communications and Impact Coordinator for the Child Care Action Council, I lead our branding, storytelling, and digital strategies to ensure our mission resonates across our community. My work is focused on amplifying the voices of families and providers, while also supporting our development and fundraising efforts to keep our vital programs running. I bring a wealth of experience in nonprofit marketing and communications, having previously served the community through my work in affordable housing at Habitat for Humanity and economic development at the Chamber of Commerce.
For me, this work is personal. As a working mother, I know exactly how essential—and how challenging—it is to find safe, affordable, and high-quality child care. I am a firm believer that equitable access to early learning is the foundation for a thriving community, and I am honored to use my professional background to help every child get the start they deserve.
CCAC Programs
Early Achievers
Natalie Chavez | Early Learning Access and Quality Manager
In my role as Early Learning Access and Quality Manager, I have the privilege of leading our team of skilled Early Achievers Coaches and Holding Hope Mental Health Consultants who work diligently to ensure child care providers have the support they need to quality deliver care and education to children. In addition, I am honored to work alongside individuals and organizations in our community who seek to start, expand, or sustain programs to increase access to quality early learning in our region.
I have been at CCAC for over 9 years and previously served in the roles of Early Achiever Coach, Early Learning Trainer, and ECEAP Contract Specialist. Before joining the CCAC team, I worked as a Head Start Center Director
I choose to work in early learning, because I believe all children deserve access to opportunities to develop and learn. I also believe children are served best by adults who are supported well. It brings me joy to care for the people who dedicate their lives to children.
Meet the Early Achievers Team
Meet our Holding Hope Consultants
ECEAP
Sabrina Williams | ECEAP Administrator
I am the ECEAP Administrator at Child Care Action Council, where I bring over 20 years of diverse experience in early childhood education. My career has included roles as a teaching assistant, teacher, coach, and coach supervisor, along with serving as an organizational trainer for various programs. I am passionate about fostering a positive environment where every child, parent, and staff member feels valued and respected for their hard work. In my free time, I enjoy spending time in nature to recharge and find inspiration.
Professional Development
Heidi DeVries | Professional Development Administrator
Hi my name is Heidi DeVries and I have just recently joined the Child Care Action Council and cannot say enough about how excited I am to be taking the next step in my professional career by working and learning from such an amazing staff dedicated to children and teachers. Previously I have worked as a preschool and toddler teacher, nanny, and I also lived at an orphanage in the Philippines for three years working with children of all ages. I have always had a passion for working with children and am especially passionate about students with behavior challenges. My role here at the Child Care Action Council will be to work as an infant/toddler mental health and early learning consultant. I will also be teaching classes at CCAC. I look forward to mentoring teachers to better support their students and provide high quality, meaningful learning environments and opportunities.
I currently hold a BA in ECE and Administration and a MA in Education with specializations in ECE and Special Education. I look forward to meeting and working with all of you!
Meet the Enhanced STARS Trainers
State Required Training
Susan Burnham | Early Learning Training Coordinator
I believe adults and children learn best through hands-on experiences. I strive to create a learning environment that is safe and stimulating, providing learners with many opportunities to practice new ideas and challenging each us to see multiple perspectives. I have worked as both a teacher and a manager in a range of education programs, including public schools, private preschools, museums, and community programs. In these setting I’ve created early learning environments that are child centered, play based, and developmentally appropriate. The curriculum I’ve developed focuses on creating a classroom learning community, building language and social skills, and integrating the arts and STEM learning throughout. As an early learning coach and trainer, I provide hands-on learning experiences, best practices and research, support, and appropriate challenges to help providers reach their goals.
Meet the State Required Trainers
Family Services Programs
Tovi McClellan | Family Services Program Manager – Dolly Parton Imagination Library / Parents As Teachers / Kaleidoscope Play & Learn / Raising A Reader
I have over forty years of varied work experiences, including bookseller, restaurant manager, retail manager and paraeducator. I served three years with AmeriCorps, first with the Washington Reading Corps and then with the South Sound Reading Foundation. I also worked with Sound to Harbor Early Learning as a Center Director for seven years. I have lived and worked in Grays Harbor, Mason County, and Thurston County. I consider the beautiful Puget Sound region my home! As a lifelong learner, I am a collector of quotes. Two of my favorites: “We are all walking each other home.” – Ram Dass “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside a team of dedicated professionals as we support and grow with children and families in our community!