Denise Dorsz has been the Executive Director of the agency for almost 30 years. In that role she has watched the changes in state, federal and foundation priorities and facilitated the agency making changes in programming while remaining committed to the mission. Denise is proud and honored to work with a dedicated staff, Board of Directors and committed donors. Denise enjoys gardening, reading, cooking and baking and being a “political junkie.”

Katrina Stewart began working in the Early Childhood Field in 1998 as a Family Home Provider and later expanding the program to a licensed Group Home Provider. As a wife and mother of four children, it was an opportunity to provide for her family while operating an in-home business. She earned a Family CDA Credential while attending Schoolcraft College for an Associate Degree in 2002. Her child care program earned Accreditation recognition from the National Association for Family Child Care in 2001. Katrina later closed her in-home business and worked as a School Age Child Care Director for the YMCA, a Program Director for a newly licensed child care program in Beverly Hills, MI. while achieving her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and a MI-AIM endorsement. She has served as the Deputy Director of Leaps and Bounds since August, 2021.

Lillian Ross began working at Leaps & Bounds Family Services in 2015 as the Program Assistant Navigator. In early 2016, she became the ELC Coordinator/Navigator. Serving 12 years at Karmanos Cancer Center with 7 of those years as a manager in the Preservice Registration Department. When the opportunity presented itself in 2017, Lillian’s work experience, skills, talents and commitment made her very suitable for the ELC Director position where she now serves.

Becky Adler is the Data and reports Coordinator for the Quality Improvement Coach Team and has been part of the Wayne Oakland Macomb Resource Center for the past 8 years. She also is a Quality Improvement Coach. She has spent over 22 years in early childhood, including as a teacher and program director. She enjoys spending time with her children and going on adventures to places like the zoo.

Carol Tresik is the Wayne Oakland Macomb Resource Center Director; this is one of nine resource centers in the state. These Great Start to Quality Resource centers were created to improve the quality of care and the professional development of all staff working in the over 2,400 licensed childcare centers in the region. Improving quality impacts greatly on the education of young children. Carol supervises the work of all of the Quality Improvement Coaches as well as works closely with area school districts, regional partners and the state of Michigan.

Carol previously taught kindergarten, worked in administration in a variety of large regional and national childcare centers and has taught at area community colleges. Carol enjoys travel, spending time with her friends and walking.

Diane Pritchett is an Early On Parent Educator with the agency. She started her journey in the field of Early childhood education as a Teacher’s Assistant. She then became a lead Teacher in a cooperative nursery serving children 2 ½ - 5. After 10 years, she became a Families First worker in prevention with families at risk, followed by a Family Reunification worker assisting families with returning home after being in foster care. She also worked in Early Head Start Program. She has worked at the agency since 2018

Felicia Wodarski is a Quality Improvement Coach for the agency’s Wayne Oakland Macomb Resource Center. She has worked in the Early Childhood Education field for 13 years, in a variety of different positions, where she has gained an immense amount of experience and resources. She is passionate about engaging in collaborative partnerships and creating community awareness about early childhood initiatives and education in general. She views herself as a life-long learner and her goal as an Early Childhood Educator and advocate is to inspire others and create opportunities for change and growth.

Iyana Carrothers recently joined the agency as a Trainer. She started her career journey in the Early Childhood Field in 2009 as a Child Care Assistant Teacher. As a single mother she was able to work and provide for her daughter and spend time with her daily. Later she become a GSRP Assistant Teacher, Head Start Teacher, Early Head Start Teacher, and then a Child Care Center Director. Iyana also works with Early On as an Early on Evaluator and Technician. She studied Early Childhood Education at Oakland Community College and is currently enrolled at Rochester College. Iyana also serves as the Children’s Director at her local church.

Jazmine Johnson is a Navigator who has worked at Leaps and Bounds for 6 years. She enjoy long walks.

Jennifer Wacker has been a Quality Improvement Coach for Wayne Oakland & Macomb Resource Center since 2022. She has been working in the childcare field for over 25 years. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and crafting.

Jennie Maynard is a Quality Improvement Coach and Infant/Toddler Specialist for the Wayne Oakland Macomb Resource Center She has 33 years of experience in early childhood, with the last 10 years as a Quality Improvement staff. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, and my dog.

Jessica Henderson is a Quality Improvement Coach for the Wayne Oakland Macomb Resource Center and has been been married for 10 years with 5 children: four girls and one boy. She has been in the Early Learning field for 18 years, doing every job under the early learning umbrella…Floater, Assistance teacher, Lead teacher, GSRP teacher and a Director. Early learning is her passion! She has made lifelong friends in this field and her children were raised in the programs that she has worked at. Her hobbies are going to the movies with family and trying new restaurants with friends.

Jordyn Fields does Data Entry for a number of the agency’s programs. She began working with Leaps and Bounds as a part-time high school student. She learned the ropes fast and worked her way up to full-time program assistant. She is familiar with many agency programs. Jordyn has nearly completed her Associate Degree.

Kelly Pyle is a Quality Improvement Coach with providers in the Wayne Oakland Macomb area and has worked in the Early childhood field for over 30 years, having worked in the classroom for over 20 years. She loves working with adult learners and considers herself a life-long learner. Her passion for this work led her to obtain my Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She enjoys reading, spending time with my family and friends and long walks with my dog, Sadie.

Kristyn Letwin is a Quality Improvement Coach for the Wayne Oakland Macomb Resource Center. Early Childhood Education has always been a passion and her current position allows her to share both her personal and professional experiences with the childcare programs in her area to support them with improving the quality of the care they provide to the families and children that they serve.
Kristyn has enjoyed over 30+ years in the early childhood field including program director at both corporate and private run programs. Kristyn enjoys the outdoors and many activities within as well as spending time with family and friends.

Kylah Washington is the CDA Manager and a trainer with the agency. She started her career as an Early Childhood Development Instructor in a preschool setting. Kylah is also a CPR Instructor, licensed Minister, Parent Educator, Advocate and Founder of Joy of Life Foundation where helping children with special needs is a priority. Kylah uses her knowledge and talents to inspire, educate, and motivate other teachers and caregivers to create a positive learning experience and overall nurturing, growth and development of all children. She teaches over 100 training topics and express that Joy is a learned behavior and a lifestyle. Kylah has earned a Bachelor degree in Business Management and Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.

Mervat Tadros began her ventures in life with a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Legal Studies in her home country of Egypt. She became a business attorney at law. Then she married and migrated to the United States where she became a mother of three children.
Mervat started a new career as teacher aid with Macomb County Head Start Program in 2001. In 2007, she achieved her Bachelor of Early Childhood Education from Rochester College. Later she volunteered with MISD in the parent coalition program. Beginning in 2010, Mervat became a Parents as Teacher- certified Lead Parent Educator Specialist for Leaps and Bounds. She served bilingual families in both Wayne and Macomb counties. She also serves as a board member for the Autism Society of Greater Detroit.

Monique Green works closely with the Executive Director and is a Program Assistant. She is a Wife and mother and is new to the agency staff. She comes from a background in child care as well as some time in the finance world. She is happy to combine her passion for child care with her clerical skill set.

Sheila Johnson is a Quality Improvement Coach and Infant Toddler Specialist for Great Start to Quality’s Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Resource Center. She has enjoyed the early childhood profession for many years and have made it her life’s work. She started as an assistant in a preschool room and has worked in many roles since then. She has completed a master's degree in the art of teaching with an emphasis on infants and toddlers which has proven resourceful in her current role which she greatly enjoys. She is a new grandmother with two grandchildren under 2 years’ old which has also given her fresh eyes on the early childhood world.

Stephanie Paree is a Quality Improvement Coach working for the Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Resource Center. I have been in Early Childhood field for over 25 years. I have worked in the states of Michigan, New York, and West Virginia in the early childhood field. I enjoy kayaking, camping, biking, and hanging out with friends and family.