Susan Cogdill, ACPC Executive Director
Susan Cogdill serves as the ACPC Executive Director. She holds an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Master in Arts from ASU. She is currently enrolled in the Duke Nonprofit Management Program. Her work experience includes nonprofits at the local, state and national level. Susan has been given the privilege to work with families and children for over 30 years. One of her greatest rewards is being a part of the early years and watching a child grow from infancy to a happy, healthy and successful adult. She believes that providing parents and children with the right opportunities and necessary tools creates success in our community both now and in the future.
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Ashley Benfield, Provider Support Coordinator
Ashley Benfield, Provider Support Coordinator, serves as the primary CCR&R liaison with the child care community by providing technical assistance and consultation to over one hundred child care providers in Alexander County. In addition she also serves as program contact for the More At Four Program providing classroom monitoring and coordination of the application and selection process. She serves as coordinator for the Raising a Reader literacy initiative implemented in More at Four classrooms across Alexander County. Ashley joined the Partnership in March 2005. She is a graduate of Western Carolina University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Family Studies.
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Leah Bumgarner, Fiscal Manager
Leah Bumgarner, Fiscal Manager, is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. She joined the Partnership in September 2005. Leah developed an interest in early childhood while working in a child care center during college. Smart Start allows Leah to combine her financial background with early childhood experience to ensure maximum potential of funding for the greatest impact in program services for children birth to five in Alexander County. Serving as the direct fiscal contact for all programs and activities is Leah’s primary job responsibility along with providing financial reports to the North Carolina Partnership for Children.
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Charity Reese, Child Care Health Consultant
Charity Reese, RN serves as the Child Care Health Consultant providing a vital link between the children in child care and preschools, parents, providers, and community resources by addressing health and safety environmental needs as well as specific health needs of young children. She is a graduate of Catawba Valley Community College with an Associate Degree in Nursing with over 10 years of experience in health care including Charity's most recent position as a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Gaston Memorial Hospital.
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"Rudy" - Southeastern Guide Dog Puppy
Rudy is a Southeastern Guide Dog puppy who is a part of the Alexander County Partnership for Children staff. Susan Cogdill, Executive Director, is a volunteer puppy raiser for Southeastern Guide Dogs, Palmetto, Florida. Foster care for Rudy began at 9 weeks of age when Rudy became a member of Susan’s family. As part of his care, Rudy comes to work each day with Susan to prepare him for work as a Guide Dog. You may see Rudy at the Partnership office, training sessions and meetings in his blue "Puppy in Training" coat. Susan job is to expose Rudy to a variety of public environments and situations while preparing the puppy for the sensation of a harness. Rudy will remain in Susan’s care until he reaches approximately 14 to 20 months of age. To learn more about Southeastern Guide Dogs visit their website www.guidedogs.org.