NARBERTH, PA – Montgomery Early Learning Centers (MELC) is pleased to announce its Point Breeze Head Start Center has recently achieved a high quality STAR 3 rating in Pennsylvania’s Keystone STARS program. The center, developed in partnership with Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), provides early education and care to 88 children ages three to five years old at its South Philadelphia location.
The Keystone STARS quality assurance system rates quality based on staff education, learning environment, leadership and management, and family and community partnerships. As a STAR 3 center, MELC Point Breeze ensures kindergarten readiness for every child and opportunities for learning, development, and growth during the most important years of a child’s life.
NARBERTH, PA – Montgomery Early Learning Centers (MELC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Tom Sulpizio, CPA as Chief Financial Officer. As Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Sulpizio will lead all finance and accounting operations and provide oversight for the organization, including budgeting, analysis, adherence to grantor requirements and the organization’s policies and control, as well as the completion of the annual audited financial statements and tax reporting.
With a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Saint Joseph’s University, Mr. Sulpizio has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant with accounting and nonprofit audit and consulting experience for nearly 30 years. Prior to joining MELC, Mr. Sulpizio had been with public accounting firms in the Philadelphia area at the Partner and Principal levels, where his primary client base was nonprofit organizations. In those roles, he managed a portfolio of client attest engagements working with management and Boards. He regularly recommended improvement opportunities for operations and controls and advised on governance best practices and other industry specific challenges. He is excited to be bringing that knowledge and experience to MELC.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am happy to welcome Tom to MELC,” commented Jeffrey Leber, Board Treasurer. “He has tremendous experience and passion and brings the exact financial stewardship MELC needs for today and as we look toward the future.”
Mr. Sulpizio also has a passion for volunteerism. For over 10 years, he was a Trustee for a local nonprofit organization, Northern Children’s Services, where he served as the organization’s Treasurer and finance committee Chair. As a father of four, Mr. Sulpizio personally understands the impact that high quality early education can have on children and families, especially with a childcare provider such as MELC.
NARBERTH, PA – Montgomery Early Learning Centers (MELC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Judy Witmer as Chief Program Officer. As Chief Program Officer, Ms. Witmer will lead and manage all early childhood, school age programs, and related services within the organization, including maintaining high quality accreditations, ongoing curriculum development, staff training, and managing partner relationships.
Prior to joining MELC, Ms. Witmer had a 20+ year tenure with Hildebrandt Learning Centers, serving as the Director of Curriculum and Programming, Regional Director, and Chief Operating Officer. In these roles, Ms. Witmer oversaw all daily operational procedures, regional management teams, curriculum development, and professional development to provide the highest quality care to families and children in the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited early care and learning programs.
“MELC is thrilled to welcome Judy as the Chief Program Officer,” said Ed Trainor, MELC Board President. “Judy’s experience and expertise in the early childhood education field will strengthen MELC’s ability to provide the highest quality care and support its future growth within the Greater Philadelphia region.”
Ms. Witmer is a lifelong advocate for early childhood education, with over 30 years of experience in the field as a teacher and director in profit, non-profit, and corporate programs. She is a recipient of local and state leadership awards, including the Pennsylvania Child Care Association Award for Excellence and the Success by 6 Early Childhood Leadership Award presented by the United Way of Lancaster County. Ms. Witmer is also involved in various local and state boards and organizations related to young children, including serving as a Pennsylvania Keystone STARS Stakeholders chair and secretary for Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children, and contributed to the writing of the original Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards for Kindergarten. She holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Millersville University.
Narberth, PA – On Friday, June 17, at 10:30 am, officials from the Greater Philadelphia, Main Line and African American Chambers of Commerce joined other business and military leaders to release a new report detailing how high quality pre-k is important to developing STEM skills—those essential capabilities in science, technology, engineering, and math demanded in the 21st Century workforce. The report also cites projections for STEM-workforce growth as well as the challenges business and the military face in securing necessary skilled workforce. Participants will call on state policymakers to expand access to high quality pre-k as part of the 2016-17 state budget.
The report release was covered by CBS Philly, Philadelphia Business Journal, and Main Line Media News.
Regional Chamber Officials, Business & Military Leaders Press Conference
MELC Narberth Center 201 Sabine Ave Narberth, PA 19072 Friday, June 17, 2016 10:30 am
Officials from the Greater Philadelphia, Main Line and African American Chambers of Commerce will join other business and military leaders to release a new report detailing how high quality pre-k is important to developing STEM skills-those essential capabilities in science, technology, engineering, and math demanded in the 21st Century workforce.
WHO’S ATTENDING?
Steven Bradley, Chairman African American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ & DE
Bernard Dagenais, President & CEO Main Line Chamber of Commerce
Liz Ferry, Vice-President Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
Ann O’Brien, CEO Montgomery Early Learning Centers
James Waddington, Director – Strategic Marketing Solutions Lockheed Martin PA Early Learning Investment
Wesley Craig, Major General (Ret.) Former PA Adjutant General United States Army / Pennsylvania National Guard
Thomas Wilson, Rear Admiral (Ret.) United States Navy
Mary Jo Daley, State Representative PA 148th Legislative District
Nick Miccarelli, State Representative PA 162nd Legislative District
“This is a really bid deal.” MELC Board President Ed Trainor said. “They could have picked any Southeastern PA Early Childhood Education program to host this conference but they choose our Narberth Center because of MELC’s ability to provide high quality programs and our commitment to make sure all young children have access to programs like ours.”