C-RECC NW

The Center for Retention & Expansion of Child Care NW

THE CENTER FOR RETENTION & EXPANSION OF CHILD CARE NW (C-RECC NW) was created in 2020 through a partnership between Opportunity Council (OC) and the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. Supportive local funding partners include various foundations: Mt. Baker Foundation, Chuckanut Health Foundation, United Way, Whatcom Community Foundation; WA State Dept. of Commerce; Whatcom County; City of Bellingham; Northsound Accountable Communities of Health; corporate donors; and federal dollars, especially connected to the Covid-19 pandemic.

C-RECC NW focuses on stabilizing, retaining, and expanding the capacity and the number of child care businesses across the five counties in our region: Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish.

C-RECC NW has four full-time staff: Kenda Sipma, Child Care Recruitment and Expansion Manager; Megan Price, Child Care Marketing & Recruitment Coordinator; Sandra Lopez Rodriguez, Bilingual Marketing & Recruitment Coordinator; and Emily Martens, Bilingual Marketing & Recruitment Coordinator. The team supports current and potential child care providers with multiple aspects of the business, and helps find solutions tailored to their needs. They work alongside Opportunity Council’s Quality Child Care Division Early Learning Coaches who also work directly with licensed child care providers.

For more information or to get in contact with C-RECC NW, email childcarebiz@oppco.org

Our C-RECC NW Team

Kenda Sipma

Child Care Recruitment & Expansion Manager, C-RECC NW

KENDA SIPMA joined the Opportunity Council in August 2020. She has over a decade of experience in the family child care industry as an owner/operator. ​Kenda has been a life-long resident of Whatcom County, where she also raises her family with her husband. She holds a BAS in Early Childhood Education. ​

Megan Price

Child Care Marketing & Recruiting Coordinator, C-RECC NW

MEGAN PRICE joined the Opportunity Council in March of 2023. Prior to that she enjoyed a long career in preschool and childcare teaching/administration- working in a variety of preschool and childcare programs for 23 years. The combination of over two decades in the field and her study of Early Childhood Education at Bellevue College has shaped her into an advocate for all things child, family, and teacher related. Megan grew up in Skagit County, and after a decade of living in the Seattle Metro area is THRILLED to back in the north-end and a part of the Bellingham community!

Emily Martens

Bilingual Child Care Marketing & Recruitment Coordinator, C-RECC NW

Emily Martens joined the Opportunity Council in October 2023. She brings communications and early learning experience in both for-profit and nonprofit spheres across Washington State. Emily fell in love with Whatcom County and the surrounding area while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations and Spanish at Western Washington University. She looks forward to supporting local child care providers, spreading the word about opportunities and resources, and encouraging potential members of the child care workforce to explore the field.

Sandra Lopez Rodriguez

Bilingual Child Care Marketing & Recruitment Coordinator, C-RECC NW

Sandra Lopez Rodriguez joined the Opportunity Council in June 2023. Prior she worked in case management and adult education in a non-profit and community college setting.

Sandra is a life-long resident of Skagit County and is excited to continue work in her community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from Western Washington University.