Schedule of Events
Your Mission Begins Here
Over two and a half days at the Summit, you’ll move from insight to action - exploring the forces shaping Child Care, building the systems to address them, and strengthening the partnerships that move your work forward.
You’ll hear from bold leaders, engage in hands-on idea labs, and connect with a community that refuses to accept limits. Because the future of Child Care won’t be inherited - it will be built by you.
The countdown is on. The path is set. Your community is ready. Now it’s time to launch.
Monday, September 14th
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM | WLS Pre-Session: Tech Clarity for Mission Control Mastery
Casandra Fjelstad, TOOTRiS; Korrie Wilson, TOOTRiS - This special hands-on session is designed for current clients to help you maximize the use of your WLS system, gain insights on new tools and the latest product updates to help you streamline operations. We'll share ways you can take proactive control of your workflows with features designed to simplify and accelerate your impact.
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM | Exclusive Sneak Peek: “North Star Rising” Documentary
Jen Bradwell, Co-Director - Be among the first to experience North Star Rising, a powerful new documentary by filmmaker Jen Bradwell. This exclusive preview highlights New Mexico’s bold initiative to provide free Child Care for children under five - redefining what’s possible at a systems level. Following her acclaimed film Make a Circle, Jen's next chapter is both a tribute to educators and a call to action. Prepare to be inspired by a story that challenges the status quo and illuminates a new path forward. View Jen's personal video invitation to the sneak peak preview.
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM | Ready to Launch Welcome Reception
Cosmic Lift-Off Under the Stars
Every great mission begins with connecting. Tonight we'll gather as one under the stars before the cosmic countdown begins to ignite your Summit experience. You'll love...
- Jet boat thrill rides on San Diego Bay
- Special guest appearance by Top Gun "Tom Cruise"
- Delicious food and cosmic drinks
- Music, dancing, games, photo ops, activities, and so much more!
This is where energy builds, ideas spark, and the mission begins. Tomorrow, we launch.
Tuesday, September 15th
7:00 AM - 7:45 AM | Rise & Shine Sunrise Breakfast
Start your day with warm coffee and a delicious breakfast on the poolside lawn overlooking San Diego Bay and the beautiful downtown skyline. Spark connections with your peers from across the country as the countdown begins.
7:45 AM - 7:50 AM | Countdown to Launch: All Systems Go
The stage is set and we are ready to launch.
7:50 AM - 8:00 AM | Opening Remarks: From Gravity to Greatness - Propel Your Mission Beyond Limits
Alessandra Lezama, TOOTRiS Founder & CEO - Setting the trajectory for what’s ahead, this powerful opening frames the Summit journey - building your rocketship, igniting your mission, and navigating obstacles to land somewhere new. Step into your role as a future builder and prepare to transform challenges into opportunity.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Opening Keynote: Making the Impossible Possible - How We Landed On Mars
Tom Rivellini, Aerospace Engineer, Archer - Join Tom Rivellini, former NASA/JPL engineer behind the Curiosity Rover landing on Mars, for a behind-the-scenes look at how teams achieve the “impossible.” Drawing from one of the most complex engineering feats in history, Tom will share practical strategies for overcoming obstacles, solving high-stakes problems, and building high-performing teams from the ground up. Learn how these lessons can be applied to design resilient, innovative Child Care systems - and turn bold ideas into real-world impact.
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Mission Control Briefing: Defining the Obstacles - The Gravity We Must Escape
Elliot Regenstein, Author of Readiness: Preparing State Early Childhood Systems for a Brighter Future - You can’t break through barriers until you understand them. This session delivers a clear-eyed view of today’s Child Care landscape - challenges, gaps, and opportunities. Gain the insights needed to identify the “gravity” holding systems back - and prepare to rise above it.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Tech Session: Build Your Rocketship - Igniting Systems to Carry Us Forward
Jerome Fodor, TOOTRiS CTO - Explore how technology is transforming Child Care systems today - and what’s coming next. This session highlights progress, innovation, and the roadmap ahead, showing how integrated systems can scale impact, improve access, and support providers and families. This is the rocket engine, the infrastructure, to power your mission forward.
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Leveraging AI in Child Care Systems: Converting Alien Challenges into Assets
Brian Westpoint, Sankara Connects; Eric Cutler, TOOTRiS - What once felt overwhelming can become your greatest advantage. This session breaks down how AI tools can cut administrative time, engage families, sharpen marketing, and help you tell your program's story better - so you spend less time on paperwork and more time helping your communities. Walk away with tools you can use immediately.
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Stories That Launch Change: Using Visionary Narratives to Shape Culture and Policy
Jen Bradwell, Documentary Filmmaker - Stories shape perception, and perception shapes policy. In this special session, award-winning documentarian Jen Bradwell shares how to craft powerful, authentic narratives that elevate your work, influence decision-makers, and inspire action. This session equips you to turn everyday experiences into compelling stories that drive real change.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Fueling Station: Poolside Lunch
Enjoy a delicious outdoor lunch while continuing the conversations, discovering new and unexpected synergies, and making new connections.
Jeff McAdam, TOOTRiS - Celebrate the people and organizations who refused to accept limits. This inspiring showcase of innovators highlights fresh, bold grassroots solutions from Child Care leaders and CCR&Rs that are transforming Child Care systems. Their stories prove that when vision meets action, the impossible becomes reality. You'll see 10-minute pitches from the top six entrants of the "WINGS AWARDS". Summit attendees will then vote for the winners with over $10,000 in funding & support on the line.
2:40 PM - 3:20 PM | The Vision Exchange: CEOs on Tech, Innovation, & Strengthening Child Care
Michelle Kang, NAEYC CEO; Susan Gale Perry, Child Care Aware of America CEO; Alessandra Lezama, TOOTRiS CEO - Technology is reshaping how nonprofits lead, serve their communities, and advance their missions. In this candid CEO conversation, three national leaders will explore how organizations can embrace innovation while keeping early childhood educators, Child Care programs, and families at the center. Hear how technology is influencing nonprofit leadership, organizational strategy, and the provider experience - and how smarter, more connected systems can strengthen the organizations and professionals supporting children every day.
3:20 PM - 4:30 PM | Launch Sequence: Activating Cost-Share Models That Actually Work - Activation Lab
Robin Phillips, CCAMO CEO; Brian Schmidt, Kids Win Missouri; Katelyn Mayer, CCAMO - Tri-Share. Duo-Share. Quad-Share. Cost-share models are rewriting the rules of Child Care funding - but most never reach orbit. Missouri's Child Care Works team cracked the code. In this activation lab, they'll walk you through their proven launch sequence: from community engagement to employer activation, funding diversification to full operationalization. Then you'll take it off the page. Table-level work groups - guided by the Missouri team - give you the space to pressure-test your own readiness, surface your barriers, and build your first real step forward. Walk away with a field-tested playbook, the clarity to use it, and a room full of people ready to fly alongside you.
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Mission Control: How Government Policy Can Propel Your Program Forward
Mario Cardona, Education Counsel (Moderator); Elliot Regenstein, Author of Readiness; Barbara Tedrow, New Mexico Gold Star Academy, Matthew Henry, TOOTRiS - Policy is not a barrier - it’s a catalyst. In this session, gain a clear view of the evolving policy landscape, including federal funding updates, state-level initiatives, and emerging legislation like the Child Care Workforce Act and 45F Tax Credits. Explore a dynamic “policy map of the universe,” where programs and funding streams come into focus - revealing new pathways for impact. Through real-world case studies and expert insights, learn how to translate policy into opportunity, align with funding priorities, and navigate complexity with confidence.
6:15 PM - 10:00 PM: Tuesday Night Celebration
Out-Of-This-World Galactic Beach Bash
Sponsored by the Council for Professional Recognition
Step onto another planet where waves meet the galaxy. This immersive beach party blends live music by Beach Boys longtime member Christian Love, as well as fire dancers, cosmic cuisine, and unforgettable energy. Celebrate your progress, connect with your crew, and enjoy a night where imagination has no limits.
Wednesday, September 16th
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM | Rise & Shine: Breakfast on Planet Surf
Start the morning at the edge of the water, with amazing food, hot coffee, and share stories with peers from across the galaxy.
7:50 AM - 8:00 AM | The Final Countdown
Get prepared for final launch as we finalize the flight plan, aim higher, but still have fun!
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM | Keynote: The Future You Are Building - Redefining What is Possible
Marica Cox Mitchell, Bainum Family Foundation - Step back and see the bigger picture. This powerful keynote reframes Child Care as the foundation of our economy, workforce, and society. You are not managing programs - you are shaping the future. Gain a renewed sense of what is possible and the clarity you need to lead with impact.
8:45 AM - 9:45 AM | Tech Session: Breaking the Gravity Barrier - Leveraging Intelligent Systems
Jerome Fodor, TOOTRiS CTO - Now that we see the future, here's how we actually get there. Breakthrough missions require breakthrough technology. Discover how advanced technology, automation, and data can eliminate barriers and unlock scale. Learn how to build smarter, faster, more connected systems that turn possibility into destiny.
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM | Building Your Flight Plan: Turning Ideas Into Action - Activation Lab
Alessandra Lezama, TOOTRiS CEO; Mindy Bennett, Consultant; Todd Barnhouse, TOOTRiS - This interactive lab helps you define challenges, identify opportunities, and build a 12-month flight plan for success. Develop your funding model deployment strategy (Fuel Lab), technology implementation plan (Navigation Lab), and employer/community partnerships strategy (Mission Partnerships Lab). This hands-on session will give you the action steps needed to ensure your mission breaks through to the stars.
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Soaring Forward: Leading with Courage Over Uncertainty
Jim "Guido" DiMatteo, The "Real" Maverick - Leadership doesn’t require certainty - it requires courage. In this powerful session, Jim “Guido” DiMatteo - the most experienced TOPGUN Adversary pilot in U.S. Navy and Marines history - shares how to make critical decisions under pressure when the path isn’t clear. After combat missions in Desert Storm, Jim joined the elite TOPGUN program, training pilots to face high-risk scenarios where every decision matters. For Child Care leaders navigating constant change, the lessons are clear: stay focused, act decisively, and lead with confidence - especially when the stakes are high and the answers aren't obvious.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Fuel to Flight: Poolside Lunch
One last chance to enjoy the space we all share. Come hungry and leave full of new resolve and inspiration.
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM | Mission Possible: How Vermont Launched a New Era of Child Care
Sarah Kenney, Let's Grow Kids; Erin Roche, First Children's Finance; Dimitri Garder, Global-Z International - What does it take to transform an entire Child Care system? Vermont's journey offers a powerful blueprint. In this session, you'll hear the story behind Let's Grow Kids - the vision, leadership, and persistence that turned bold policy ideas into statewide reform. Gain an inside look at the strategy, financing, and implementation of Act 76, including the unexpected challenges, pivotal decisions, and lessons learned along the way. Discover how Vermont translated policy victories into sustainable business models that strengthen Child Care providers and expand access for families.
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM | The Stars of Innovation: 2026 Wings Award Winners
Jeff McAdam, TOOTRiS - The time has come to celebrate the brightest innovators of the past year - as voted on by WINGS attendees. These are just a few of the visionaries who are redefining what’s possible, igniting new ideas for all us, and inspiring us to take the leap and do the same.
2:15 PM - 2:30 PM | You Are the Mission: How Future Builders Turn Obstacles Into New Frontiers
Alessandra Lezama, TOOTRiS Founder & CEO - A joyful, heartwarming finale as we celebrate our time together. This is your moment. You are the builders, the innovators, the leaders shaping what comes next. Every challenge you’ve faced has prepared you for this. Backed by community and driven by purpose, you have the power to transform systems and create lasting impact. The mission doesn’t end here - it begins with YOU.
