Ashley Mendoza is a born and raised Chicago girl who has been nannying for over seven years. She’s always been passionate about working with children, which pushed her to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Educational Studies from National Louis University, all while nannying full time.

Before she started the Chicago Nanny Social Club, Ashley noticed a lack of community in nannying in Chicago. She tried joining book clubs, craft clubs, and all kinds of social groups and kept seeing the same thing, there were clubs for everything… except nannies. Even going to parks, classes, and the usual nanny hangout spots didn’t make it easier to meet people. So, in February 2025, she decided to change that. She started the Chicago Nanny Social Club as a way to bring nannies from all over the city together.

She’s so excited for everyone to come together for International Nanny Training Day 2026 and experience a little piece of the city she loves.

Lissah Garcia is Career ROTA Nanny and Elite Newborn Care Specialist with twenty years of professional experience. She currently works in the California Bay Area and resides in her hometown of Chicago, Illinois. She is passionate about supporting new parents and providing expert care for infants and toddlers in dynamic households! Lissah is a member of the Adventure Nannies Community Advisory Committee and creator of The Neurodivergent Nurturer, a blog where she discusses her personal experience navigating the caregiving industry as an individual with an autism diagnosis. She is thrilled to be teaming up with Chicago Nanny Social Club to help make 2026 iNNTD an incredible event!

Born and raised in Chicago, Megan Connolly has spent the last 15 years pouring her passion into childcare, including 11 years as a professional nanny and house manager. Known as a true “Jill of all trades,” Megan brings versatility, calm problem-solving, and wholehearted dedication to every family she supports. She is currently working toward her Newborn Care Specialist certification and is a proud INA member. As a co-organizer for International Nanny Training Day Chicago, Megan is committed to building connection, empowerment, and continued education within the nanny community she deeply loves.

While Peach Sommerfeld is now based in Atlanta Georgia, they spent most of their childhood raised in a suburb west of Chicago. 

Peach has always been passionate in working with children from the moment they could hold a baby doll. After spending over a decade being deeply involved providing childcare in their local communities, several volunteer programs and formal school establishments, they have found their greatest fulfillment in working as a career nanny for over four years. Their heart is fullest when working in the specialty of neurodivergent children with disabilities and/or infants. 

Peach is devoted to uplifting and investing in spaces where individuals can come as a collective to thrive, grow, and support one another in ways only found in community.

Shenandoah Davis is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Adventure Nannies, one of the largest and most celebrated agencies in the US known for its innovative approach to childcare placement and commitment to inclusive hiring practices. She is a dynamic entrepreneur and leader who has made a significant impact on the nanny industry over the past ten years.

A sought-after speaker and advisor, Shenandoah serves as an advisor to the International Nanny Association and is a founding board member of Nanny Relief Fund, and has previously held board seats with Entrepreneur’s Organization and the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies. She is also a best-selling author through her contributions to the Lead Like A Woman anthologies. Shenandoah lives outside of Asheville, North Carolina with her partner and small menagerie of pets. However, you can usually find her on the road, traveling to different cities and countries where her infectious energy, collaborative approach, and unwavering commitment to excellence are a force for positive change in the nanny industry and beyond.

Brittny is an early-childhood educator, musical cabaret performer and the Program Director at Bubbles Academy Arts Integrated Education! She's been singing, soothing, splashing, snuggling and teaching littles for over 15 years and cherishes so deeply the opportunity to center the power of play and arts-integrated education in her daily teaching life. If Brittny had a teacher action figure, it would feature a paint-stained jumpsuit & messy bun and would come with a ukulele and water table as accessories! Her personal motto is.. "Put Something Silly in the World" and she gets the chance to do just that for littles and grownups alike!

Meredith Harrison, M.S. CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist specializing in early language development. After earning her master’s degree from New York University in 2013 and spending a decade practicing in both public schools and multidisciplinary clinics, she founded Little Giggles to focus on caregiver education through baby and toddler groups and workshops. As a mom of two, Meredith brings a relatable, empathetic approach to her work, emphasizing that connection and play are the ultimate foundations for communication. Through her workshops, small-group classes, and individual therapy, she equips parents and caregivers with the tools and confidence to become active, joyful leaders in their child’s language-learning journey.

Monique is a childcare professional, author, and book influencer focused on mindfulness, inclusion, and real-life caregiving. She serves on the DEI committee at Adventure Nannies, where she helps shape more equitable practices in the nanny industry. Her work has been featured on Today Show, and she regularly uses children’s books as tools to support emotional awareness, mindfulness, and respect for diversity in care settings.