Our Team
Jennifer Park, Founder & President
Connect with Jennifer if you want to make lives better for children and families or for a gently used puzzle.
Jennifer founded Early Childhood Solutions in 2006. It wasn’t until 2021 that she decided to dedicate more time and attention to it, allowing her to focus even more on her passion for community, equity, and the early childhood system. Her journey to discovering her professional calling has been shaped by diverse roles, including teaching toddlers, operating programs, and managing large state and national quality improvement portfolios. These varied experiences equip her with the insight and innovative ideas necessary to support others in their key roles, holding up and strengthening our early childhood system.
She is a helper, builder, and problem solver.
When Jennifer isn’t working, she’s engaged in various mission aligned volunteer activities, doing 1000 piece puzzles, and sinking her hands in her urban garden or just soaking in the beauty of nature. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband, Marcus, and her daughter’s perfect cat, Pluto. And she travels to Chicago to spend time with her son and Miami to spend time with her daughter every chance she gets.
Marissa Mota, Senior Director of Policy and Data
Connect with Marissa if you need help understanding the ins and outs of early childhood policy and implications to programs.
Marissa is a federal policy expert, systems thinker, and data strategist dedicated to ensuring early childhood programs are grounded in strong policy, equity, and evidence-based decision-making. She has worked across federal, state, and local levels, supporting initiatives that enhance early childhood workforce development, funding strategies, and program accountability.
With deep experience in federal Head Start and Child Care policy, she specializes in translating complex regulations into actionable strategies, helping organizations navigate and leverage policy to strengthen services for children, families, and educators. Marissa is passionate about bridging the gap between data and policy, ensuring that early childhood systems work smarter, not harder to serve communities effectively.
She is a coast to coast collaborator and change maker.
When she’s not analyzing policy or designing strategic solutions, you can find Marissa exploring new cities, engaging in community activism, or making data storytelling accessible for the next generation of leaders. She lives by the belief that good policy is people-centered policy—and the strongest systems start with intentional investment in those who care for young children.
Rosa Tesfai, Senior Director of Project Strategy
Connect with Rosa to transform your ideas into impactful outcomes or to nerd out on advances in AI.
Rosa is a seasoned Technical Project Manager with a career spanning over 15 years, marked by a passion for delivering complex technology initiatives that drive organizational success. From managing full project lifecycles to optimizing cross-functional communication using tools like Azure DevOps, Rosa has consistently streamlined processes to achieve measurable results. Her journey has included leading global IT infrastructure projects, implementing innovative platforms such as Salesforce, and crafting scalable workflows across sectors including nonprofit, publishing, and international development.
Rosa brings a unique blend of technical expertise, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to fostering collaboration. As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), she excels in bridging the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to high standards.
She is a modernizer, innovator, and connector.
When Rosa isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her beautiful daughter and adorable dog. A proud and supportive parent, she loves watching her child’s extracurricular activities. As a lifelong learner, Rosa is passionate about exploring new tools, particularly in AI, and reading compelling memoirs that expand her understanding of the world.
Rachelle Gamboa, Project Coordinator
Connect with Rachelle if you don’t know where to start or are looking for help figuring things out.
Rachelle studies psychology and sociology at Temple University. Her research journey began as an undergraduate research assistant in Temple University’s Adaptive Memory Lab, researching memory-guided decision-making. Rachelle then volunteered as a research intern at the Children’s Equity Project and assisting in early childhood education policy research finding passion in applied research. Rachelle is an undergraduate research intern at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) where she is conducting her honors thesis research on evidence-based mental health interventions in urban schools, deepening her commitment to neurodivergent children with improved, accessible mental health services.
She is a first and like firsts, figures everything out.
As a Filipino American and first-generation college student, Rachelle is passionate about addressing educational inequities, particularly for marginalized communities. She plans to pursue graduate school to gain the technical and experiential skills necessary to contribute to research and policy through an administrative lens.
Leah McAskill , Data Analyst
Connect with Leah if you love breaking down complex data or need a new travel destination to explore.
Leah recently graduated from Florida State University with her Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry. Through her classes at FSU, Leah gained strong analytical and problem-solving skills, along with experience in data interpretation, statistical reasoning, and scientific communication. Outside of the classroom, Leah participated in a Directed Individual Study (DIS), where she developed and piloted an assignment for undergraduate biology students on SARS-CoV-2, including conducting computational modeling of viral variants using ChimeraX software. She also worked as a certified medical assistant in General Surgery and Dermatology. Leah has also demonstrated leadership and a commitment to inclusive communities that advocate for DEI through roles as Vice President of Inclusion for Pi Beta Phi (leading educational programming), Morale Captain for Dance Marathon (fundraising for children with cancer), and Activities Coordinator/Peer Buddy for Best Buddies (creating inclusive spaces for individuals with disabilities).
She is an investigator, bridge-builder, and aspiring changemaker.
Driven by a desire to help others, Leah plans to pursue graduate studies in Biochemistry to contribute to medical discoveries, ultimately aiming to make a meaningful positive change in the world. In her free time, Leah loves to travel, puzzle, take in scenic views, and practice photography.
Alexis Brown, Business Manager
Connect with Alexis if you're ready to transform fiscal management into powerful program impact, or are looking for a new city to travel to.
Alexis is a seasoned fiscal management leader with a strong track record in budget strategy, regulatory compliance, and cross-sector collaboration. She brings expertise in aligning financial stewardship with mission-driven outcomes, ensuring that programs are both impactful and accountable.
Alexis has successfully managed complex funding portfolios and driven initiatives that improve program performance, optimize funding utilization, and foster integrated partnerships across teams and agencies.
She is an innovator, collaborator, and outcome driver.
Outside of work, Alexis loves exploring new cities, traveling on her own, going to concerts, and hanging out in local cafés with a hot latte and something sweet. Growing up in Connecticut, she has a soft spot for fall colors, cozy winter days, and never misses a chance to enjoy a warm lobster roll.