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.
Email Susan Cogdill
|
Susan Cogdill,
ACPC Executive Director
|
Tiffany Shumate, CCR&R Coordinator
Tiffany Shumate recently joined the staff of the Alexander County Partnership for Children as the Child Care Resource and Referral Coordinator. She brings a wide array of experience to the partnership formerly serving as a teacher in the Catawba County Schools and an art therapist with an adolescent and children’s treatment program. Tiffany’s background in child care includes working at the Wilkes Community College Child Development Center, working as a classroom assistant at the Children’s Center of Wilkes, formerly Jack-n-Jill Day Care and assistant after-school director at Jenkins Elementary in Hickory City Schools. Her most recent position was serving as a case manager for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Tiffany is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College and resides in the Bethlehem Community.
Email Tiffany Shumate
|
Tiffany Shumate,
CCR&R Coordinator
|
Rhonda Branton, Provider Support Coordinator
Rhonda Branton serves as the Provider Support Coordinator. She has worked in the field of early childhood education for over nine years including owning and operating her Family Child Care Home, “All About Kids”, and working at The Sandbox Child Care Center in Hickory. Most recently she served as a More At Four classroom teacher at LuLus Child Enrichment Center in Taylorsville.
Rhonda holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from Catawba Valley Community College. She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science in Birth to Kindergarten education. In addition she holds a level eight Early Childhood Certification from the NC Institute for Child Development Professionals.
Rhonda serves as the Raising a Reader Coordinator Program being implemented in three and four year old classrooms in Alexander County. This literacy program engages parents and children in a book cuddling activity through book rotation. Rhonda provides technical assistance to licensed child care facilities in Alexander County including Family Child Care Homes and Child Centers.
Rhonda looks forward to working to assist child care facilities in our county while seeking to improve early childhood educational opportunities for our children.
Email Rhonda Branton
|
Rhonda Branton,
Provider Support Coordinator
|
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.
Email Leah Bumgarner
|
Leah Bumgarner,
Fiscal Manager
|
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.
Email Charity Reese
|
Charity Reese,
Child Care Health Consultant
|
Larissa Church, Clerical Assistant
Larissa Church serves as a clerical assistant at ACPC. She provides a valuable service to staff as she assists in the day to day operations of the partnership office. Larissa is the first person partnership visitors meet as they enter the building. She works with parents, child care providers and other visitors to the partnership office to make their visit enjoyable and productive. Larissa is an asset to the partnership with her vast experience and knowledge of computer programs.
Email Larissa Church
|
Larissa Church,
Clerical Assistant
|
"Rudy" - Certified Therapy Dog
Rudy is a certified Therapy Dog who is a part of the Alexander County Partnership for Children staff. Rudy began his employment at ACPC as a Southeastern Guide Dog. Susan Cogdill, Executive Director, is a volunteer puppy raiser for Southeastern Guide Dogs, Palmetto, Florida and began foster care for Rudy when he was 9 weeks of age. Rudy came to work each day with Susan to prepare him for work as a Guide Dog. When Rudy was nine months old he was unable to fulfill the duties of a Southeastern Guide Dog and was released from the program for medical reasons.
Rudy was adopted by Susan and Rudy successfully completed Therapy Dog certification. As a Therapy Dog Rudy can be invited into nursing homes, hospitals, schools and other agencies to visit and provide his unique form of therapy. If you have ever had the privilege of a visit from Rudy you are sure to understand for his mere presence brings a smile to everyone’s face!
|
|
