Senior Leadership Team:

Judy Nee – Chief Executive Officer

Dawn Hosni – Chief Business Development Officer

For nearly 20 years, Dawn has worked tirelessly in the pursuit of delivering creativity-based, expanded learning opportunities to students in after school and summer programs. Dawn was once a VP at the National Inventors Hall of Fame’s “Camp Invention” program, and the love she developed for engaging, creative children’s programs is a perfect fit at AlphaBEST.

Brian Heaton – Chief Operating Officer

Brian has lent his talents to education since his first career as a kindergarten teacher nearly 18 years ago, working to deliver a quality, immersive education for growing young minds. Add to that his talent with design and photography, as well as a deep understanding of technology, and it didn’t take Brian long to make his way to Kaplan Early Learning, then eventually AlphaBEST.

Mark Kaplan – In-House Counsel

Mark takes his position with AlphaBEST very seriously, and we’re glad he does. His previous experience in risk management translates perfectly into his day-to-day responsibilities, where he works to ensure the students and staff in our care receive the highest standards of safety and wellbeing. Mark also helps facilitate our partnerships with schools and school districts, helping AlphaBEST stand out as a reliable partner. When Mark’s not on the job, you can find him spending time with his wife and daughter.

Karen Caines – Chief People Officer

We feel very fortunate to have someone like Karen on the AlphaBEST team. Prior to helping us build and maintain a positive, engaging culture within our own walls, Karen used her talents for more than 20 years at Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC. When Karen isn’t busy implementing HR systems like talent acquisition, team performance, retention and more, she can be found serving and singing for her church.

Melissa Moreano – Chief Financial Officer

Melissa is a long-time alumnus of AlphaBEST, having been with us since our company was founded. And as someone who knows everything about the way our company works, inside and out, we’re thrilled to have her tracking our financial movements and handling our fiscal planning. She loves the full breadth of AlphaBEST’s services, from the programs located furthest away from our headquarters to those in her own backyard, and she works diligently to ensure they have all the support they need.

Torrie Dunlap – Chief Innovation Officer

Torrie’s entire career has been focused on creating innovative education programs. She’s won awards for her work, including a Program Excellence Award from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Social Innovation fellowships from Stanford and Harvard. She’s an experienced executive, keynote speaker, and leadership coach. Torrie strives to lead with the creativity of Greta Gerwig, the business acumen of Taylor Swift, and the heart of Ted Lasso.

Regional Leadership Team:

Jennifer Fortune – Vice President of Programs

Jennifer possesses a lifelong commitment to education, and is thankful for the exceptional leaders who’ve helped her grow into the person she is today. She works hard in her daily life to ensure students and staff get the support and encouragement they need to do great things. Jennifer comes to AlphaBEST with a wide variety of field experience, and when she’s off the clock, you can find her enjoying time with her family and dog.

Jessica Shillingburg – Regional Director (North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia)

Every dependable, Jessica has 16 years of experience in childcare, and she’s held a wide variety of positions at AlphaBEST. These days, as our Regional Director, Jessica spends most of her time partnering with schools and families to ensure children’s minds are engaged, their horizons are expanded, and that parents get the sense of security they need. When the school year is over, there’s nothing Jessica likes more than spending her days at the beach.

David McClure – Director of Regional Operations (Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Mississippi, Oregon)

David comes to AlphaBEST with more than 15 years’ worth of experience in the after school sector. Prior to joining our team, David was both program director and senior program director at the YMCA, then he quickly rose through the management ranks at AlphaBEST. When David isn’t busy ensuring children have high-quality, experiential learning environments, he can be found spending quality time with his family.

Laura Taylor – Regional Director (Oklahoma, Maryland, Kentucky)

Laura has a strong, multifaceted history in operational administration, including leadership practice in education, human resources, talent acquisition, curriculum development and more. She works diligently to meet and exceed contractual obligations, and she’s instrumental in initiating new education programs across AlphaBEST’s nationwide reach. In her free time, Laura can often be found enjoying the great outdoors.

Khyati Shah-Pillai – Regional Director (Alabama, New Jersey)

Khyati brings an impressive 30+ years of child and youth development experience to the AlphaBEST team. She got her start working a Montessori school in Virginia. She found herself drawn toward the idea of using her skills and experience to help other childcare educators, making AlphaBEST an ideal fit for her. When she’s not creating a positive impact in the lives of children, Khyati can often be found spending time with friends and family.

Mary Rousseau – Regional Director (Massachusetts, Rhode Island)

Mary brings over 20 years of experience in the out-of-school time field, with a strong passion for supporting children and families through high-quality programming and memorable camp experiences. She has led a variety of initiatives focused on creating engaging, safe, and enriching environments where youth can thrive. Mary is dedicated to helping kids grow beyond the classroom through programs that inspire learning and connection. Outside of work, she enjoys coaching youth soccer, hitting the ski slopes in winter, spending time with her family, and soaking up the sun on beach days.

Alifonso Zamora – Regional Director (Texas)

Alifonso is a dedicated after-school professional and Texas native with over 19 years of experience in the school-aged before and after-school market. His journey in the field began with hands-on program support, where he developed a deep appreciation for the impact of quality programming on children and families. Over the years, he advanced into leadership roles, gaining expertise in both program operations and talent acquisition. is experience on the front lines and in leadership has given him a well-rounded perspective on what it takes to build and sustain high-quality programs that truly make a difference.