Schedule of Events
Your Mission Begins Here
Over the two and a half days of the Summit, you’ll move from insight to action - exploring the gravitational forces shaping Child Care, building the systems to overcome them, and activating the partnerships that will carry your work higher than ever before.
You’ll hear from bold leaders, engage in hands-on 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 crew is ready. Now, it’s time to launch.
Monday, September 14th
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Pre-Session: From Tech Overload to Mission Control Mastery
Gain greater clarity and efficiency. This hands-on session is designed for current WLS/TOOTRiS clients to help you maximize the use of your system, gain insights on new tools, and streamline operations. We'll share how you can take proactive control of your workflows with tools designed to simplify and accelerate your impact.
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Exclusive Surprise Sneak Peek: “North Star Rising” Documentary
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.
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 - 8:00 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.
7:50 AM - 8:00 AM | Countdown to Launch: All Systems Go
The stage is set and we are ready to launch.
8:00 AM - 8:10 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.
8:10 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
What once felt overwhelming can become your greatest advantage. Discover how artificial intelligence (AI) tools can streamline operations, elevate marketing, and transform storytelling. Learn how to create content, engage families, and reduce administrative burden - turning complexity into clarity and effort into impact. Walk away with practical 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 - 1:10 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 leaders who refused to accept limits. This inspiring showcase of innovators highlights fresh, bold grassroots solutions from 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 prizes on the line.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Powering the Mission: Building Sustainable Funding Engines - Activation Lab
Alessandra Lezama, TOOTRiS CEO - No mission succeeds without fuel. This hands-on "Master Class" activation lab will train you how to build sustainable funding models by engaging employers, chambers, and community partners. Learn how to position your organization, communicate value, and activate partnerships that drive long-term growth. This is your opportunity to step up and discover how to turn funding challenges into strategic opportunities.
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Blueprints for Flight: The Power of Three - Activation Lab
Kelly Davydov, Daydelys - Collaborative Child Care funding models - like Tri-Share - are unlocking new possibilities across the country. Learn why every CCR&R should be participating in the distribution of these subsidy funds, and how to do that. We'll share how to engage partners, manage distribution, and expand access - highlighting real-world examples that show how alignment across sectors creates scalable, sustainable solutions.
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM | Mission Control: How Government Policy Can Propel Your Program Forward
Mario Cardona, Education Counsel (Moderator); Elliot Regenstein, Author of Readiness; 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
Step onto another planet where waves meet the galaxy. This immersive beach party blends live music, 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" DiMattea, 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 | Exploring New Worlds: Building a Workforce Economy That Works For All
We are entering a new era. This session explores how Child Care fuels workforce participation, economic growth, and opportunity. Discover how collaboration across sectors can build a stronger, more inclusive economy - and your role in shaping what comes next.
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.
