Learn about our mission, vision, services, team, and discover how you can become a member.

BOARD PRESIDENT

Lisa works with and on behalf of the Marion & Polk counties to ensure that children are ready for kindergarten and academic success, with a focus on coordinated and aligned systems and family stability. She convenes and catalyzes action around strategies focused on serving children and families that have limited opportunities.

Lisa has over 20 years of experience at the state level, focusing on early childhood, child welfare and organizational development policy initiatives. She was involved in work at the policy and structure level to create the early learning hubs that are now around the state. Working locally in the community where she lives, works and plays provides her great energy and satisfaction.

PRESIDENT ELECT

Liz Zinter currently works with the Early Learning Division/Department of Early Learning and Care as the Infant Toddler Specialist. Liz holds an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and Family Studies and a Masters in Social Work.

She has 16 years of experience working in early childhood education, including extensive work with Head Start, Early Head Start and home visiting programs. In her spare time, she enjoys bird watching, drinking coffee and spending time with her husband and two young children.

SECRETARY

Jacque Serrano is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADC I). She works for Greater Oregon Behavioral Health Inc. (GOBHI) as the Mental Health Programs Administrator, serving 12 counties across eastern Oregon. Jacque works with multiple teams at GOBHI, supporting the Applied Behavior Analysis program for children with Autism, Triple P team providing parenting education, and the Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative educating service providers and older adults.

Most of her career has been providing therapeutic services to high-risk children, adolescents and their families. Jacque is passionate about supporting the LGBTQ2S+ community with access to competent behavioral health services. Jacque is a huge fan of the wilderness and enjoys backpacking to remote alpine lakes to rest and rejuvenate.

TREASURER

Tania is a Spanish speaking Maternal Child Public Health Nurse with Linn County who is passionate about bridging equity gaps and improving systems through early intervention. Relatively new to the field of healthcare, Tania’s previous degree was in education.

She has enjoyed working with diverse populations in her community as a bilingual Early Childhood Educator, a Birth Doula and a Childbirth Educator, all of which have afforded her opportunities to extend compassionate, affirming support to under-represented members of her local community. When Tania is not working, she enjoys creative writing, spending time outdoors with her husband and three children, and traveling to visit family in her homeland of Spain.

MEMBER AT LARGE

Katie Sass is a born and raised Portlander who attended University of Portland for a Bachelor's in Psychology and then Portland State University for her Masters in Social Work. Katie is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked with young children and their families for almost 20 years with the last handful of years working as an IECMH Consultation Program Manager in a Portland area community mental health agency.

One of her passions is supporting early care providers to obtain recognition for their skills, lived experience and education through obtaining Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsements®. Katie's other passion is spending time with her two children, spouse, dog and various small pets that she gets convinced are necessary to her children's ongoing happiness.

MEMBER AT LARGE

Mona graduated with her Masters in Social Work in February of 2023. She has experience working in consultation with parenting groups throughout the state and extensive work with children and families. She has 20+ years of ECE experience in a variety of service levels. Mona lives on the Oregon Coast and when she is not championing Early Childhood topics she enjoys spending time with her husband and her cat, Otter.

MEMBER AT LARGE

Susan has served in leadership positions that empowered consumers, practitioners, and policy makers to collectively impact community health. Her most recent work focused on building connections between stakeholders seeking to improve conditions vital to health and wellbeing.

Susan has served as the Director of Community Benefit Initiatives for AllCare Health; Early Childhood System Facilitator for Jackson and Josephine Counties; Owner of an Early Care and Education Center; and a teacher at the early childhood, elementary and community college levels. She served as the Board Chair of ORIMHA and is the current Immediate Past President.

Susan lives in Grants Pass, OR with her husband and two children where they spend time floating the river, playing board games, and any other activity that brings them together with family and friends.

​​To join or volunteer with the organization, please contact us; we welcome your involvement.