The Business of Doing Good: An Essential Ingredient for Company SuccessBen & Jerry’s most popular flavor is a blend of chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate fudge brownie that is called Half Baked, which is my favorite by the way. But there’s nothing half-baked about Ben & Jerry’s values. “We believe that ice cream can change the world,” the company points out on its website. Now that is saying something!
Businesses should be caring and financially sound, according to Jerry Greenfield who founded the company with Ben Cohen in 1978, a few years after the award of the first CDA®, a credential designed to change lives through quality early childhood education credentialing. And changing lives was also a priority for Ben and Jerry. They didn’t want their company to become “just another cog in the economic machine,” as Greenfield recalled in a recent speech to business students in Indiana. “In its most narrow view, business is seen as trying to maximize profits, but there’s also a spiritual aspect to business,” Greenfield pointed out. “As you help others, you are helped in return.”
Strong social goals lead to long-term success, as I’d like to point out as we mark the 40th anniversary of the Council and the 50th anniversary of the CDA. Making society better has been among the key goals of the CDA since its launch in 1975. The CDA emerged from the need for competent teachers to serve the millions of children from low-income homes who were enrolled in Head Start, an effort that would serve the public good by helping the children live productive lives. And the Council has built on this legacy since 1985 by awarding the CDA to educators worldwide.
The Council believes that all children deserve quality early learning, so it has always been committed to boosting the ranks of educators who are well prepared to foster the social, emotional, physical and cognitive growth of children from birth to age five, the most formative time in life. This lasting mission has led us to pivot in response to changes in best practices for early childhood education, improvements in technology and the growing diversity of people who want to pursue a career in our field.
The many educators who have chosen to earn a CDA—now over a million and still growing—has helped the Council stay in business since 1985, but the bottom line is not at the top of the Council’s mind. Our goal is to support teachers who can help children reach their promise, so they can one day contribute to the communities where they live. And this social mission gives us an edge. There’s now growing recognition that doing good is good for business, too.
Corporate social responsibility, as we call this business approach, is crucial in today’s world, according to many business leaders and thinkers. “Businesses must reconnect company success with social progress,” said Harvard professor and management guru Michael Porter. “Shared value is not social responsibility, philanthropy or even sustainability, but a new way to achieve economic success. It is not on the margin of what companies do but at the center.” It’s also their “responsibility,” insisted Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, as he reflected on “the need for corporations to address fundamental ethical issues such as dignity and equality.”
These are values that businesses should embrace, according to Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, a company that has been going strong since 1976. “People should have values. By extension, a company should. And one of the things you do is give back. So, how do you give back? We give back through our work in the environment and in running the company on renewable energy. We also give back in job creation,” Cook explained. And he urged all companies to do their part to contribute to the common good. “Businesses have a profound opportunity to help build a more sustainable future, one born of our common concern for the planet we share.”
The future of millions of children demands that we “take urgent action now to care for the planet,” agreed Niels B. Christiansen, CEO of LEGO, the toy maker founded in 1932. So, the company has committed to a more sustainable future by using recyclable packaging for all its products and in 2016, it invested $1.4 billion to end the use of plastic in its colorful bricks by 2032. These steps are in keeping with “our mission to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow,” said Kirk Kristiansen, the company’s owner. “The investment is a testament to our continued ambition to leave a positive impact on the planet, which future generations will inherit. It’s certainly in line with the mission of the LEGO Group and with the motto of my grandfather and founder of the LEGO group, Ole Kirk Christiansen: Only the best is good enough.”
The company has also pursued this goal through the creative play experiences that it provides for children, an activity that plays a key role in children’s development and growth, as the Council knows. So, we are committed to providing children with competent, caring teachers who can encourage children to be more creative as they learn and play together. And our CDA holders don’t just make an impact in the early childhood settings where they work. They also serve the common good.
Going into the early childhood field allows you to contribute to our economy and communities, families and children. You allow parents to work knowing that their children are safe and still building the bedrock for future success. When parents have access to quality child care, they are more likely to enter the workforce and stay employed. Higher labor force participation, in turn, benefits businesses and helps to boost the economy now. The future also looks brighter when children have the skilled educators they need.
Young learners who attend quality early childhood programs tend to have more productive, stable lives than children who lack access to programs like this. So, early childhood teachers help build the workforce of both today and tomorrow, as numerous studies show. And it starts in the classroom when children light up as they learn something new. For an educator, there’s nothing like knowing your work contributes to a better future for us all.
This goal is an integral part of the Council’s business model, and it gives us something in common with Ben and Jerry as they use both financial returns and social progress to gauge their company’s success. Ben and Jerry are convinced that “ice cream can change the world.” And we believe that quality early learning can change the world, too, a vision that is the root of the CDA.
We share our ideals by speaking nationwide about how the CDA opens career pathways for early childhood teachers. We partner with a wide range of public and private groups to campaign for system changes to improve the early learning field. And we’ve been on a mission for 40 years to give our early childhood teachers the support they need to fill their crucial role. We envision a society where all children learn and thrive in environments led by competent, valued early childhood educators, as it says in our vision statement. When it comes to early learning, only the best is good enough for our youngest children.
The Council is updating the renewal process to make it more efficient, accessible, and user-friendly. These changes streamline requirements, automate renewals, and introduce a fair audit system to ensure compliance while minimizing administrative burdens. Updates...
Family child care homes are more than convenient places for working families to find child care; they are essential nurturing learning environments where children grow, develop, and build the foundation for lifelong success. With nearly...
Beginning August 1, 2025, the Council is implementing a new exam-first approach for the CDA credentialing process. This change enhances standardization and streamlines the process, allowing candidates to demonstrate their expertise in a structured manner....
The month of June is rich with purpose and powerful reminders for those of us who support young children and their families. We celebrate National Safety Month, Family Health and Fitness Day, World Environment Day,...
Do you want to widen your career options in the early learning field and work with more than one age group of children? Many educators do, and the Council is giving you a new way...
The Council for Professional Recognition is proud to present the Child Development Professional™ (CDP) concept paper—presenting a bold vision for a nationally recognized credential to elevate early childhood education (ECE) by expanding professional pathways beyond...
The month of May is a time of heartfelt gratitude and thoughtful reflection. Not only is it the month we honor mothers, but we also celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5–9), Teacher Appreciation Day (May...
At the Council for Professional Recognition, we celebrate April as the Month of the Military Child—a time to recognize the resilience, adaptability, and global perspective that military-connected children carry with them throughout their lives. These...
A Shared Responsibility in Protecting Children Children’s well-being has always been the focus of attention in the early childhood field. However, the abuse and neglect of children remains a threat in our country. At the...
Vice President of Strategic Alliances
Elisa Shepherd is the Vice President of Strategic Alliances at the Council, where she leads initiatives to advance the Council’s mission and strategic plan through designing, managing, and executing a comprehensive stakeholder relationship strategy.
With over 25 years of experience in early childhood education (ECE), Elisa has dedicated her career to developing impactful programs, professional development opportunities, and public policies that support working families, young children, and ECE staff. Before joining the Council, Elisa held numerous roles within the childcare industry. Most recently, she served as Associate Vice President at The Learning Experience and as Senior Manager at KinderCare Education, where she influenced government affairs and public policies across 40 states.
Elisa’s commitment to leadership is reflected in her external roles on the Early Care and Education Consortium Board of Directors, the Florida Chamber Foundation Board of Trustees, and as the DEI Caucus Leader for KinderCare Education. She has been recognized as an Emerging Leader in Early Childhood by Childcare Exchange’s Leadership Initiative.
Elisa earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a focus on child development from Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA.
Chief Operations Officer (COO)
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
Vice President of People and Culture
Janie Payne is the Vice President of People and Culture for the Council for Professional Recognition. Janie is responsible for envisioning, developing, and executing initiatives that strategically manage talent and culture to align people strategies with the overarching business vision of the Council. Janie is responsible for driving organizational excellence through strategic talent practices, orchestrating workforce planning, talent acquisition, performance management as well as a myriad of other Human Resources Programs. She is accountable for driving effectiveness by shaping organizational structure for optimal efficiency. Janie oversees strategies that foster a healthy culture to include embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of the organization.
In Janie’s prior role, she was the Vice President of Administration at Equal Justice Works, where she was responsible for leading human resources, financial operations, facilities management, and information technology. She was also accountable for developing and implementing Equal Justice Works Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy focused on attracting diverse, mission-oriented talent and creating an inclusive and equitable workplace environment. With more than fifteen years of private, federal, and not-for-profit experience, Janie is known for her intuitive skill in administration management, human resources management, designing and leading complex system change, diversity and inclusion, and social justice reform efforts.
Before joining Equal Justice Works, Janie was the Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer for Global Communities, where she was responsible for the design, implementation, and management of integrated HR and diversity strategies. Her work impacted employees in over twenty-two countries. She was responsible for the effective management of different cultural, legal, regulatory, and economic systems for both domestic and international employees. Prior to Global Communities, Janie enjoyed a ten-year career with the federal government. As a member of the Senior Executive Service, she held key strategic human resources positions with multiple cabinet-level agencies and served as an advisor and senior coach to leaders across the federal sector. In these roles, she received recognition from management, industry publications, peers, and staff for driving the creation and execution of programs that created an engaged and productive workforce.
Janie began her career with Verizon Communications (formerly Bell Atlantic), where she held numerous roles of increasing responsibility, where she directed a diversity program that resulted in significant improvement in diversity profile measures. Janie was also a faculty member for the company’s Black Managers Workshop, a training program designed to provide managers of color with the skills needed to overcome barriers to their success that were encountered because of race. She initiated a company-wide effort to establish team-based systems and structures to impact corporate bottom line results which was recognized by the Department of Labor. Janie was one of the first African American women to be featured on the cover of Human Resources Executive magazine.
Janie received her M.A. in Organization Development from American University. She holds numerous professional development certificates in Human Capital Management and Change Management, including a Diversity and Inclusion in Human Resources certificate from Cornell University. She completed the year-long Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program sponsored by The Schaefer Center for Public Policy and The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. She is a trained mediator and Certified Professional Coach. She is a graduate of Leadership America, former board chair of the NTL Institute and currently co-steward of the organization’s social justice community of practice, and a member of The Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, Janie is the Board Chairperson for the Special Education Citizens Advisory Council for Prince Georges County where she is active in developing partnerships that facilitate discussion between parents, families, educators, community leaders, and the PG County school administration to enhance services for students with disabilities which is her passion. She and her husband Randolph reside in Fort Washington Maryland.
Read our monthly e-newsletter and keep up to date on all Council programs and services, as well as the latest news in the world of early care and education. Subscribe today to stay connected with us. You’ll receive timely information on events, webinars, special promotions, and more.
