March 4, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Becki Streit, Board Chair
Organization: Collaboration for Early Childhood
Email: CollabChair@collab4kids.org
MARY REYNOLDS APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COLLABORATION FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD
The Collaboration for Early Childhood’s Board of Directors has appointed Mary Reynolds as the organization’s next Executive Director. With a background in social work, Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health, and leadership in the non-profit and human services sectors, Ms. Reynolds brings a powerful set of skills that will strengthen and advance the mission and vision of the Collaboration for Early Childhood.
OAK PARK, IL March 4, 2023 – The Collaboration for Early Childhood has named Mary Reynolds as the organization’s next Executive Director. A resident of Forest Park, Illinois, Ms. Reynolds has centered her career in service, working to strengthen young children’s development during those crucial, and what she calls, “tender,” early years for children and families. In addition to her leadership and administration experience, she is a licensed clinical social worker, as well as a credentialed Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health specialist. Ms. Reynolds will assume her responsibilities as Executive Director of the Collaboration for Early Childhood on April 17, 2023.
Photo Credit: Joey Tesch, Little Bitty Productions
“Not only does Ms. Reynolds bring deep experience to this role, she also brings a warm and positive leadership style. We are thrilled and feel very lucky to welcome her to the Collaboration for Early Childhood. Ms. Reynolds will be joining a fully-staffed team that is stronger than ever thanks in large part to the steady hand of Interim Executive Director, Laura Crawford,” says Becki Streit, Board Chair of the Collaboration for Early Childhood. Laura has served as the Interim Executive Director since September, 2022. “We look forward to having Ms. Reynolds plug into the strategic planning work that we as an organization have been doing,” adds Becki Streit.
Currently, Mary Reynolds serves as the Vice President of Children’s Services at Casa Central Social Services in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. She oversees a division of roughly 60 staff across Casa Central’s program areas of home visiting, counseling services, center-based early childhood education and out-of-school time. Ms. Reynolds also serves as Casa Central’s Head Start Director and oversees 4 Early/Head Start content area leaders, managing a program budget of approximately $5 million.
“The more I learn about the Collaboration for Early Childhood, including meeting the dedicated members of the Board and staff team, the more impressed I am! It’s abundantly clear what a powerhouse this organization is, and I know we are going to continue to do amazing things together,” says Mary Reynolds. Ms. Reynolds has spent the past 15 years of her career at Casa Central, always in service of young children and families. Before her current position as Vice President of Children’s Services, she served as a therapist for young children and their families who had experienced violence and trauma, and as the program director of Casa Central’s violence prevention and intervention programming.
“The Collaboration for Early Childhood’s Board of Directors Search Committee engaged Kittleman & Associates to conduct the Executive Director search. I know I speak for the full Board when I say that we are extremely pleased with the results,” says Bob Tucker, Vice-Chair of the Collaboration’s Board of Directors and Chair of the Search Committee.
Kittleman & Associates is a national executive search firm that specializes in the recruitment of CEOs for tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, public charities and philanthropic organizations.
About the Collaboration for Early Childhood
The Collaboration for Early Childhood is a community-driven organization that cultivates the development of the whole child, birth to age five, by engaging families, local organizations, early childhood educators, caregivers, and health providers to create equitable, nurturing, and interconnected systems of support. To learn more, visit: www.collab4kids.org.