Our Team

Contracts and Special Projects Manager
nwegner@earlyfutures.org

Noelle joined the C4K team in June 2020. She manages a multitude of special projects and oversees contracts, tracking, and communications, both internal and external. Her work focuses on providing tools that help the C4K team operate more efficiently and with confidence.

Community Systems and Engagement Manager
swerth@earlyfutures.org

Shonna joined the C4K team in November 2019. She provides support to communities in the south central/central area and leads the technical assistance work statewide. She prioritizes being available to the communities she works with to form trusting relationships, valuable connections, and "right fit" resources.

Community Systems and Engagement Advisor
mpolinoski@earlyfutures.org

Melissa joined the C4K team in May of 2022 and provides technical assistance to communities in the northern and central regions of the state. She works to create sustainable child care infrastructures that act as foundational supports for children “cradle-to-career.”

Community Systems and Engagement Advisor
lkemp@earlyfutures.org

Laura joined the C4K team in January 2025 and supports communities in western Nebraska with technical assistance, education, and resources to strengthen child care capacity and quality. She loves fostering connections and helping communities build systems and achieve goals that support thriving families.

Community Systems and Engagement Advisor
cberlin@earlyfutures.org

Chandra joined the C4K team in June 2025 and supports communities in southeastern Nebraska. Previously active in her own community’s C4K efforts, she brings a strong understanding of rural child care systems and a passion for strengthening local early childhood initiatives.

Logistics Administrator
cganzel@earlyfutures.org

Catie joined the C4K team in June 2022 and handles high-level organization and coordination, keeping the team informed and prepared for their everyday work with communities as well as special projects. She is the team’s primary event and travel planner, and coordinates the Thriving Children, Families, and Communities conference.

Community Systems and Engagement Advisor
jaustin@earlyfutures.org

Jill joined the C4K team in June 2026 and serves communities throughout central and western Nebraska. With firsthand experience supporting and developing child care in her own community, she is passionate about helping rural communities build strong, sustainable early childhood systems.

Contracts and Special Projects Advisor
lclark@earlyfutures.org

Lauren joined the C4K team in July 2026 and supports grant compliance, special projects, and internal process development. With a passion for the details and a focus on relationship-building, she supports partners and team members in finding systems that maximize the impact of our work in early childhood.

Board Chair

Shannon Cotsoradis is the Director of Policy and Strategy at the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, where she manages investments designed to improve outcomes for young children through policy and systems change. Before transitioning to philanthropy, Shannon spent nearly two decades as a prominent state-based advocate, most notably as President and CEO of Kansas Action for Children. In 2016, she became the inaugural CEO of the Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas, a Master of Child Development from Sarah Lawrence College, and a Bachelor of Psychology from Sweet Briar College.

Treasurer

Dan Hoffman is the CEO of Invest Nebraska, where he has collaborated with state partners to build the venture ecosystem in Nebraska. Since 2008, he has led Invest Nebraska, the state’s Venture Development Organization that invests seed capital in the state’s most innovative startups, advises entrepreneurs, and collaborates with public/private partners to build entrepreneurial infrastructure. Before Joining Invest Nebraska, Dan served as a Senior Policy Advisor to Governors Dave Heineman and Mike Johans. He holds an MA in Economics and a BS in Finance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), where he has served as a Lecturer in the College of Business – Department of Economics since 1999.

Secretary

Andrea Oswald is the General Director-Strategic Sourcing at Union Pacific Railroad, where she began her career in 2003. She held positions throughout the Finance Department including Corporate Audit, Capital Planning, and Accounting before moving to the Supply Chain Department in 2019. She is a graduate of UP’s Leadership Development Program and is an active member of LEAD, UP’s women’s initiative. Outside of Union Pacific, Oswald serves on the Dean’s Young Alumni Board of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business. She previously served on the Omaha Children’s Museum Board of Directors. She graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a BS in Finance.

Kay Doyle founded Oui Coaching & Consulting in 2022 to bring together decades of Fortune 100 experience with her belief that meaningful change begins with people. As principal coach and consultant, she draws on more than 30 years across accounting, finance, investor relations, marketing, and corporate communications. She partners with C-suite executives, nonprofit leaders, and mission-driven organizations to strengthen alignment, lead strategic change, and design processes where individuals and teams can thrive. Kay holds an MS in Learning and Organizational change from Northwestern University, where she also completed an Organizational and Leadership Coaching Certificate, and a BA in Business Administration–Finance from Seattle University.

Kim Engel previously served as health director for the Panhandle Public Health District beginning in 2003 through 2024. The district covers 12 rural counties with approximately 87,000 residents over 15,000 square miles. Engel holds an MA in Business Administration and a BS from Chadron State College. Prior to becoming health director, she was the chief operations officer at Chadron Community Hospital, where she managed the rural health clinic and supervised services for special needs children. Engel is now enjoying retirement. She is married and has three sons and daughters-in-law and eight grandchildren.