Child Care Aware of Minnesota is proud to announce the appointment of Candace Yates as our new Executive Director.

A people-centered leader passionate about cultivating growth and casting vision, Candace brings over 20 years of experience in early care and education leadership to the role. She began her career as an early care and education teacher, and her journey is deeply rooted in the lived experiences of educators and families, as her children thrived in high-quality early learning programs alongside her.

Candace shared, “This work is deeply personal to me, as both an educator and a parent who has experienced the power of high-quality early care and education. I am honored to step into the role of Executive Director at Child Care Aware of Minnesota and look forward to leading our dedicated team in strengthening the early care and education field, so every child, family, and educator has the support they need to thrive.”

“Candace clearly demonstrates the kind of experience, conviction, authenticity, and passion that Child Care Aware of Minnesota needs,” said Marcia Schlattman, chair of the Child Care Aware of Minnesota Board of Directors. “Her leadership is grounded in deep values and experience, and we’re looking forward to Candace’s leadership through these challenging times.”

Candace will begin at Child Care Aware of Minnesota on November 3. Please join us in welcoming Candace, as we look forward to this exciting new chapter under her leadership.