The Faces That Drive Us Forward

Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative is more than a concept, it’s a community, and we couldn’t make any of it work without the passionate professionals bringing our vision and mission to life. Our team not only meets our rigorous standards of experience and care but exceeds them every day by putting compassion into action.

Staff Members

Years of Early Childhood Experience

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Meet the NECC team!

Chief Executive Officer

Sarah Ann Kotchian

CEO at NECC

Sarah Ann Kotchian serves as Chief Executive Officer managing growth and ensuring sustainable operational excellence. Sarah Ann brings to this role deep experience in nonprofit strategy, corporate development, and early childhood care and education. Sarah Ann has worked extensively for nonprofits for more than twenty years to drive program, practice, and policy improvements for women, children, and families. She has served in multiple appointments on local and state commissions, task forces, and boards of directors. She has been recognized as a State Children’s Champion by the Nebraska Head Start Association and was named 2018 Public Citizen of the Year by the Nebraska Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. She is a graduate of Creighton University and the University of Nebraska College of Law.

Sarah Ann Kotchian

Chief Executive Officer

Finance Department

Department Overview

The Finance Department plays a crucial role in managing the organization’s financial health. This department ensures the effective stewardship of resources, compliance with regulatory requirements, and accurate financial reporting to support the mission of the organization. The finance department also oversees all the organization’s technology resources.

Department Lead

Dwight Lang

Vice President of Finance & Administration/CFO

Dwight Lang oversees financial and administrative services for NECC as well as for our member centers, and as Vice President of Finance & Administration/CFO, brings more than 35 years of experience in financial oversight for nonprofit organizations. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa. The majority of his work in the field has been with nonprofits in federal funding and grant funding. When he’s not crunching numbers, Dwight enjoys golfing and riding his Harley Davidson.

Teams

Accounting

Information Technology (IT)

Dwight Lang

VP of Finance & Admin/CFO

Operations Department

Department Overview

The Operations Department oversees encompassing key functions in communications and marketing, human resources (HR), funding development, and office management. This department ensures that the internal operations run smoothly, supports staff and stakeholder needs, and manages vital resources to drive the organization’s success.

Department Lead

Lameakia Collier

Chief Operating Officer

Lameakia Collier brings more than 20 years of experience in her role as Chief Operating Officer where she ensures sustainable operational excellence, provides internal leadership, and maximizes organizational impact as a strategic advisor and functional expert.

Prior to joining NECC, Lameakia spent 18 years with Lincoln Public Schools, most notably serving as the Lead Services Coordinator in the Department of Early Childhood. She’s previously worked in Human Resources for the State of Nebraska, as a child care assistant director, and most recently, as the Workforce Development Program Administrator for Lincoln Littles, where she led initiatives for designing and delivering workforce programs with a well-being focus to attract, recruit, and retain early childhood professionals.

Lameakia has been the recipient of the Doane University Senior Alumni Award and the Lincoln Public Schools Youth Development Team Service Award. She is currently completing her Master of Arts in Leadership degree through Doane University. Lameakia is inspired by the creativity, curiosity, and joy of learning in young children as well as the partnership between families and early childhood educators who together play a meaningful role in shaping the future generation.

Teams

Strategic Communications

Human Resources (HR)

Lameakia Collier

Chief Operating Officer

Programs Department

Department Overview

The Programs Department designs, implements, and evaluates programs that strengthen business, leadership, and professional development of child care providers and parents. This Department oversees our largest grant as part of our Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership, as well as the Child Care Network which serves 1600+ child care providers across Nebraska.

Department Lead

Jennifer Adhima

Chief Program Officer

As Chief Program Officer, Jennifer leads the strategy and development of learning and programming activities, evaluates their effectiveness, and builds partnerships with community-based organizations to strengthen early childhood outcomes across Nebraska. Jennifer obtained her master’s in social work from the University of Kansas and spent 16 years with the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Project Eagle, a multi-program project that focuses on the education, health, and well-being of pregnant women and young children. Jennifer brings years of experience working with Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Kansas. Prior to joining NECC, she served as the Executive Director of the Kansas Head Start Association where she led efforts to increase public awareness and understanding of the critical role of Kansas Head Start Programs.

Jennifer is inspired by the families, caregivers, child care providers, and educators who work tirelessly to nurture children in their earliest years of life so that they may have a bright future. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new places with her family, watching her daughter play tennis, and laughing with friends as often as possible.