Team Role: Leadership

Rose Shufelt, MA, IMH-E®, became interim CEO of Child Care Council in 2026, promoted from her role as senior community officer.

She previously served as director of Health and Social Emotional Wellness, which encompasses a whole child approach to wellness including health care, special needs training, technical assistance, referrals, and equipment grants, Pyramid Model work, grief support and regional mental health consultation. She also oversaw the Regional Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultants in a nine-county region, ensuring that this preventative work is embedded within child care programs of all modalities. As the regional Pyramid Hub Coordinator, Master Cadre Pyramid trainer and leadership coach, Shufelt helped programs implement the Pyramid Model.

Shufelt has worked in the early child care field for more than 30 years, including in elementary school teaching, as a toddler and preschool teacher, child care center program director, and infant toddler specialist. Her credentials include NYS Early Learning Trainer; TTAP Coach Credential Program for Infant Toddler Care Trainer; and NYS-AIMH Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health® as an Infant Family Associate.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education, and her master’s degree is in adult learning.

Brian Waldmiller has more than 26 years of finance and operations management experience with nonprofit agencies. As CFO, he is instrumental in increasing the financial stability of the agency, overseeing all finance and the allocation of funds supporting the operations of the Council, including budgeting, financial reporting, data administration and human resources functions. He also supervises and directs the work of the HR manager, data specialist and billing specialist. 

Before joining the Council, Waldmiller served as the finance/business manager for a large suburban parish and as the budget manager for Rochester Urban League. Earlier in his career, he worked as a financial analyst for First Federal Savings and Loan.

Waldmiller earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Rochester Institute of Technology. He resides in Fairport N.Y., with his wife and four children. In his spare time, he also serves as a music director for a local parish community.

Hector Santiago serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Child Care Council, Inc., where he provides strategic leadership and oversight of the organization’s operations, facilities, technology, communications, and administrative functions. In his role, he works closely with executive leadership to ensure operational excellence, strengthen organizational infrastructure, and advance the agency’s mission of improving the quality and accessibility of child care services for children, families, and providers throughout the region.

With more than 15 years of experience in early childhood education, nonprofit leadership, program administration, and child care systems, Hector has dedicated his career to supporting child care professionals, strengthening family child care businesses, and advancing high-quality learning opportunities for children and families. His professional background includes extensive experience in program management, operational leadership, staff development, compliance, and strategic planning. Prior to serving as COO, he led the Administration Department, overseeing day-to-day agency operations and managing Child Care Council’s Livingston and Wayne County offices. He also provided training and technical assistance to in-home child care providers and served as a regulator for family child care programs.

Hector’s commitment to the child care profession extends beyond his work at Child Care Council. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting high-quality child care and strengthening the family child care profession. In recognition of his leadership and contributions to the field, he received NAFCC’s Accreditation Facilitation Project Award in 2017.

A strong advocate for professional development and lifelong learning, Hector holds a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Teaching in Spanish from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of Puerto Rico at Ponce. He has also completed graduate-level coursework in International Human Resources and a Human Resources Administration program through the University of Palermo. Further strengthening his expertise in nonprofit leadership and organizational sustainability, Hector earned a Financial Success for Nonprofits certification from Cornell University.

As a member of the executive leadership team, Hector combines his expertise in operations, program management, financial stewardship, and organizational development to build effective systems, strengthen partnerships, and support innovative solutions that benefit children, families, educators, and communities. He is passionate about creating sustainable, high-performing organizations that deliver meaningful impact and advance the quality of care and education for future generations.

Kristin Perrone has more than 30 years of experience in the early education field, including public schools, Early Head Start, Head Start, Universal Pre-K and child care centers. She has taught all ages of children and adults and served as an administrator. She started as a trainer at the Council and spent many years promoting and encouraging growth within the agency.

She currently oversees the nine-county Region 2 Infant Toddler Resource Network and a team of Education and Infant Toddler Specialists. She has been trained in, and experienced with, the following early childhood programs and assessments: Pyramid Model-Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool, Teaching Pyramid Infant Toddler Observation Scale, Classroom Assessment Scoring System for Infant Toddler and Preschool, Environmental Rating Scales for Family child care, Infant Toddler, and Preschool, High Scope, Creative Curriculum, and Zero to Three. She collaborates with other agencies and advisory groups related to serving young children and families.

Certifications include NYS Teacher Certification PK-12, NYSAIHM Infant Mental Health Endorsed, Child Development Associate Trainer & Professional Development Specialist, Program for Infant Toddler Care PITC Certified Trainer, NYS Training and Technical Assistance Credential. Perrone earned her bachelor’s degree in fine arts and psychology and her master’s degree in education from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Linda Lane joined the Council, Inc in 2007 as a legally exempt enrollment specialist and advanced to director of Legally Exempt Services in 2014. She continues to support efforts to increase the quality of care in all child care modalities, but especially in the legally exempt modality. In addition to her responsibilities as a director, Lane has coordinated agency special events, such as the annual Start Bright Gala, donation drives and holiday and staff appreciation celebrations. 

Lane earned her bachelor’s degree in general studies with an emphasis on finance from the University of Dayton. Her focus switched to child care when she was home with her own children, and she previously worked as a preschool teacher and as a paraprofessional in the Pittsford Central School District.

Passionate and committed to supporting the child care community, Dana Bialaszewski has been engaged in the child care and human service field for more than 24 years. She joined the Council in 2013 as a registrar and became director of Registration Services in 2015. In addition to her responsibilities as director, Bialaszewski oversees the Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development Program. 

Bialaszewski earned her bachelor’s degree in health and human services with a concentration in early childhood from the University at Buffalo. A wife and busy mom to three children, she enjoys spending time outdoors.

Jennifer Shook (she/her/hers) is an educator with over 30 years of dedicated experience in early childhood education. Her career spans various roles within childcare centers and public schools, where she has cultivated a deep understanding of child development and early learning methodologies. Jennifer holds multiple certifications, including the New York State Teacher Certification for grades N-6 and 7-9 English, and a master’s degree in Literacy for K-12. She is also a certified Child Development Associate Trainer and Professional Development Specialist, as well as possessing the New York State Training and Technical Assistance Credential. These qualifications reflect her commitment to fostering educational excellence and supporting the professional growth of fellow educators.

Currently, Jennifer oversees the Professional Development Department, where she leads a team of education specialists and course enrollment specialists. Her leadership focuses on enhancing training programs and ensuring that educators have access to the resources and support necessary for effective teaching. Jennifer is proficient in several key early childhood programs and assessments, including the Pyramid Model and the Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool, as well as the Environmental Rating Scales for Family Child Care, Infant Toddler, and Preschool settings. She is also a Health and Safety Trainer.

Throughout her career, Jennifer has been passionate about creating inclusive, nurturing educational environments that promote holistic child development. Her expertise and dedication have made her a respected figure in the field of early education, inspiring countless educators and positively impacting the lives of children and families.

As director of Inspections, Augie Espenmiller supervises a team of inspectors tasked with regulating registered child care programs across Monroe, Livingston and Wayne and counties. Espenmiller and his team work with a range of 375-425 registered programs throughout the course of a year, promoting the health and safety of children and ensuring compliance with New York state child care regulations. Prior to becoming director, he performed onsite inspections as a Family Daycare and School-age child care inspector. 

Espenmiller earned his bachelor’s degree from the College at Brockport with a concentration in recreation management. He has always had a passion for human service and early childhood development. During college, he interned with the Recreational Services department, assisting with student program operations and mentoring young children as a summer camp volunteer. His service to youth continued by working at the YMCA of Greater Rochester as a before and after school care coordinator. 

Outside of work, Espenmiller spends time with friends and family, explores the Erie Canal and Genesee River Pathways, and he also enjoys basketball, golf, fishing and trying new recipes.

Laurie Haley has worked with child care programs for more than 30 years. She started her career at the Council in the Education department then moved to Nutrition Services, which includes Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Eat Well Play Hard in Child Care Settings (EWPH), Farm to Preschool (F2P), and Creating Healthy Schools and Communities. “I hope all child care programs that participate in our various nutrition programs have been inspired to provide the most nutritious meals and snacks as possible to the children in their care, while also integrating nutrition education into their weekly programming and activities.”