Team Role: Leadership

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.”   

With a passion for creating inclusive and supportive learning environments, Bethany Williams has devoted most of her professional career to bridging gaps and championing equitable access for children with disabilities.

Williams strongly believes in the potential of every child when given the appropriate resources and support. Through her extensive experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders as a teacher and coordinator, she has developed innovative strategies that cater to the unique needs of children with autism and other developmental disabilities to ensure they are successfully included and thrive in child care settings.

Williams earned a master’s degree in special education at St. John Fisher University, an advanced graduate certificate in autism from Penn State University and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from The University at Buffalo.

Suzette Smith joined Child Care Council as its first human resources director in 2023. During the past three decades, she has served and grown her expertise in multiple industries, including finance, manufacturing, nonprofit and medical. She brings a diverse perspective on employee needs and what makes them successful. She strives for a culture-driven environment, empowering each employee to be their best selves.

Smith’s personal and professional passion is to improve mental-health outcomes for children. She attended Roberts Wesleyan College and received her certification in strategic human resource management from Cornell University.