Leadership

Melanie Dodson has had the privilege of serving as Executive Director of the Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County (4Cs) since 2008. Guided by her values of empowerment, equity and inclusion, Ms. Dodson has dedicated over 28 years to child care, early learning, education and non-profit administration. Ms. Dodson holds a BA in Liberal Studies from Sonoma State University and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She currently serves as an advisor to the Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County, a member of the City of Santa Rosa Violence Prevention Partnership’s Policy Team and is Chair of the SRJC Child Development Advisory Board and First 5 Sonoma County Leadership Advisory Roundtable. Access to early learning and child care and the foundations of early childhood development have always been a personal passion and being the mother of two young children continues to inspire her commitment to the field and our community’s investment in our children.

Her favorite childhood book was the Boxcar Children.

Knowing her work is making the community a better place for families and children is important to Maya. That’s why she joined 4Cs in 2001. As Finance Director, Maya is part of the executive leadership team and oversees the organization’s budgetary planning, accounting and auditing. She has more than 20 years of non-profit finance experience, and holds a B.A. from University of California, Davis and a Masters of Public Administration from Sonoma State University. She lives in Sebastopol with her husband and two teenage daughters, and loves spending time outdoors in beautiful Sonoma County.

One of her favorite children’s books is Ferdinand – the story of a bull who loved nothing more than to sit under his favorite tree and smell the flowers.

Public Policy Director Lara Magnusdottir strongly believes in the mission of 4Cs and thinks access to affordable, quality early education is a social justice issue and essential infrastructure for a healthy, thriving community. She joined the organization in 2006. Lara has a B.A. in Spanish and an M.A. in International Public Administration. She has lived in six countries; most of her family lives in Iceland where she grew up. She is married with two sons and loves to travel.

Lara’s favorite children’s book is the Enid Blyton Famous Five series.

Sarah was born and raised in Coos Bay, Oregon. She has worked in Human Resources in the education, hospitality, manufacturing and architecture sectors and has been with nonprofit organizations for over 7 years.

She has held a Professional in Human Resources Certification from HRCI since 2013 and obtained SHRM-Certified Professional earlier in 2021.

She has been active as a volunteer with Girls on the Run, Girl Scouts of America, American Cancer Society and Piner-Olivet Charter School. When her two daughters were small, she ran a child care from her home full-time for military families, while completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Technical Management, concentrating in HR Management.

Sarah believes in the importance of early childhood education that helps to encourage passions, nurture and challenge young minds to set the stage for a successful experience throughout schooling.

Sarah enjoys going to Giants games with her husband and two daughters, walking every evening with her two dogs, visiting the beach, and riding motorcycles throughout beautiful wine country.

Her favorite children’s book: Is Your Mama a Llama? By Deborah Guarino because her oldest daughter insisted she read it to her every night for two years.

For more than 30 years, Suzette Beloberk has been working to improve children’s lives across Sonoma County. She joined 4Cs in 1986 as a Program Assistant with the Child Care Food Program, and later became the program’s Fiscal Coordinator. She has been the Child Health & Nutrition Director since 2015. Suzette attended Santa Rosa Junior College and studied accounting. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and going to concerts.

Her favorite children’s book is Tales of the 4th Grade Nothing.

Passionate about making an impact in her community, Julie Swanstrom joined 4Cs in 2001. As the Client Services Director, she works with families to connect them with the subsidized child care services that provide an opportunity for children to attend safe educational programs, while parents work toward self-sufficiency. Julie has a B.A. in Communication and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. She loves learning, whether through travel, reading or exploring new places in Sonoma County.

One of Julie’s favorite children’s toys was a stuffed animal puppet dog named Max who would accompany her on many family trips.

In her more than 40 years working in early childhood education, Amy has been a preschool teacher, director, and owner; QIRS coach with CLASS and ECERS certifications; and Triple P parenting provider. Her rich experience brought her to 4Cs in 2015 as the Director of Center Programs. She has a B.A. in Human Development and Psychology from the University of the Pacific and a Master’s in Education with an Early Childhood emphasis and cognate in Counselling at Sonoma State University. She also holds an Infant/Child Mental Health Certificate. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and is a former board member of the Sonoma County Association for the Education of Young Children (SCAEYC). Amy has two daughters, and is an avid walker and dog lover.

Her favorite children’s book was Thee Hannah by Marguerite de Angeli, about a young Quaker girl who rebels against the constraints of her family until she understands the values of love and service to others.