Child Health Connection
Child Health Connection has a long history in Colorado Early Childhood Education (ECE) spanning well over 30 years. It started when Charlene Komp, one of the pioneer Child Care Health Consultants (CCHC) in Colorado, grew her solo nurse consulting practice to one that employed many CCHCs serving nearly several hundred child care programs.
Today, Child Health Connection strives to continue Charlene’s legacy by providing child care health consulting services to over 450 child care facilities and schools in Colorado. Our team of 16 professional nurses are proficient in the industry’s standards, best practices, and regulatory guidance as well as effective trainers of essential health-related topics such as medication administration and other special health procedures. With over 150 years of combined CCHC experience, our nurses strive to impart valuable resources and information to child care staff and the families they serve.
Meet Our Team of Nurses
Amanda Ziegler-Nordman
BSN, RN, CCHC
Amanda has been with Child Health Connection as a Child Care Health Consultant since 2020 but has worked as a registered nurse since 2010. Before she focused her nursing practice in Pediatrics in 2015, she worked in the corrections sector as a nurse. In addition to her work with Child Health Connection, she also works in the emergency department at Children’s Hospital several shifts a month. Amanda lives in the north Denver area where she and her husband are raising two little boys. Both boys have had complex medical histories which motivates Amanda to be a resource and advocate for those she serves in Early Childhood Education. She and her family enjoy camping and the Colorado outdoors.
Amy Addison
BSN, RN, CCHC
With over 15 years of nursing experience, Amy made the decision to work as a Child Care Health Consultant with Child Health Connection in 2020. Amy’s pediatric experience includes pediatric oncology where she learned how to care for children in very acute and critical health conditions. During this time, she learned the value of caring not only for the child but also the family unit, invaluable knowledge she has brought when supporting the Early Childhood Education community. Amy and her husband live in the Denver area and enjoy spending time with their children watching them grow up in Colorado and all it has to offer.
Amy Culler
RN, CCHC
Amy joined Child Health Connection as a Child Care Health Consultant in 2020 but has worked as a registered nurse since 2004. Amy previously worked as a Postpartum nurse at Northern Colorado Medical Center. Amy also has previous experience working at the Fort Collins Youth clinic as a Pediatric Nurse. Her experience also includes working in a pediatric asthma and allergy clinic. Amy lives in Northern Colorado where she and her husband are raising their three children. Her family enjoys spending time in Steamboat Springs skiing and enjoying all it has to offer. Amy has been working with children since 1995 and continues to advocate for improving the health and safety of children in early childhood and school-age education.
Carmen Hobson
MSN, BSN, RN, CPN, CCHC
Carmen is a registered nurse with 12 years of experience in pediatric nursing and has been with Child Health Connection since 2021. Carmen was an Air Force nurse with a wide breadth of experience.She has worked in inpatient pediatrics, outpatient pediatrics, postpartum, and family practice. She was also a nurse educator and lactation consultant. Carmen enjoys teaching and developing educational programs. After Carmen separated from the military, she became a military spouse and a mother of four children.They have lived in South Korea, Germany, Ohio, Wyoming, and Alaska. After her husband’s retirement, her family settled in Colorado Springs. She is also currently an affiliate nursing instructor at Colorado Christian University where she enjoys teaching undergraduate nursing students.
Christine Ernst
MSN, BSN, RN, CCHC
Christine has been a Child Care Health Consultant since 2017 and joined Child Health Connection in 2020 as a consultant and the Health Services Director. She has been a registered nurse since 2004 with previous maternal, newborn and pediatric nursing experience. In addition to her nursing experience, Christine worked with the Early Childhood Council of Boulder County from 2013-2017 providing program coordination and project management through early childhood quality initiative work. These experiences help to support the Child Health Connection team and child care programs she continues to serve. Christine is a Colorado native where she and her husband raised their six children in a blended family. She has two grandchildren who inspire her to continue to work towards improving the health and safety of children.
Deb Weatherill
BSN, RN, CCHC
Deb has been with Child Health Connection since 2020. Deb brings 16 years of nursing experience in pediatric, maternal-child, community health, preparedness and disaster response. Deb grew up in Colorado Springs and continues to live in the area raising her three school-aged children. She joins our team as a Child Care Health Consultant and will be able to use her nursing experience to support child care programs in the Colorado Springs and surrounding area.
Jane Penoyer
BSN, RN, CCHC
Jane has been an RN for over 35 years and with Child Health Connection since 2001. Jane brings much pediatric experience with her long history working as a CCHC for Early Childhood Education and because of this, is a trusted resource for the industry. Jane enjoys living in northern Colorado with her husband and three grown children and especially enjoys her time with her grandchildren.
Joni Heiden
MSN, BSN, RN, CCHC
In 2015, Joni started working with Child Health Connection just prior to retiring from her 22-year tenure working as a school nurse for the Windsor district. Prior to that, Joni worked several years as a school nurse in Washington state. She has been a registered nurse since 1980 working with a variety of age groups and settings (hospital, home care, ENT office, schools) throughout the years. For the majority of her nursing career, she was a school nurse, providing health assessment, health screening, and health education for preschool to high school students. She is grateful for her rewarding career with many exciting and challenging experiences gained along the way. Joni is a wife, mother, and grandmother with two adult married children and three grandchildren.
Kathleen Lamb
BSN, RN, CCHC
Kathleen joined Child Health Connection as a Child Care Health Consultant in 2021 but has worked as a registered nurse since 2003. Her experience includes over three years on a Medical Unit and seven years working on Pediatrics, NICU, and Mom/Baby Units. Additionally, she has been a preceptor to nursing students and new employees where she has honed her teaching skills. Kathleen enjoys spending time with her husband and three young boys. She also volunteers at summer VBS (Vacation Bible School) teaching and doing crafts with children and volunteers at her children's charter school as well. Kathleen is excited to use her experience to serve and be a resource of help and information to our Early Childhood Education community.
Mary Mann
BSN, RN, CCHC
Mary Mann has been a nurse for over 30 years and has been with Child Health Connection since 2019. She has extensive pediatric experience including pediatric intensive care, school nursing, and pediatric home health. Mary’s love for nursing was passed down to her two daughters who followed in their mother’s footsteps becoming nurses as well. Mary and her husband live in Boulder and enjoy spending time there with their three children.
MaryBeth Davenport
MSN, BSN, RN, CCHC
MaryBeth joined Child Health Connection as a Child Care Health Consultant in 2019 but has worked as a registered nurse since 2004. MaryBeth has worked most of her career as a pediatric nurse in the hospital setting in a variety of different areas. She has held many positions in nursing such as a bedside nurse, travel nurse, unit educator, program manager, and clinical nursing educator. MaryBeth has loved the variety of jobs and the many children and families she has worked with throughout the years. She is a Colorado native and loves living in our urban Denver community. MaryBeth spends her time with her two children and husband and their large extended families enjoying the outdoors and staying active by running, hiking, skiing, and biking. She also loves escaping to the mountains and traveling.
Melissa Sult
BS, ASN, RN, CCHC
Melissa started her CCHC career in Arizona in 2016. After moving to Colorado, Melissa joined Child Health Connection’s team and has been with us since 2019. Melissa’s experience includes Pediatrics, Public Health, School Nursing and Child Care Health Consultation. Melissa lives in South Denver with her husband and child. She is passionate about health and safety. Melissa loves working in the community setting where she can focus on prevention of disease and injuries as well as managing common chronic medical conditions such as asthma and allergies.
Michelle Reddick
BSN, RN, CCHC
Michelle joined Child Health Connection as a Child Care Health Consultant in 2016 but has worked as a registered nurse since 2010. In addition to her CCHC experience, Michelle previously worked for a local school district as a school nurse. She has twenty years’ experience in the Medical and Human Services field working with children and families in various professional roles. Michelle is a strong advocate for children and understands the resources and supports they need to reach their full potential. In addition, she recognizes the impact of those who surround them, raise them, and care for them and provides knowledge of appropriate child development and ways to handle any situation surrounding their health and well-being. Michelle, her husband, three kids and her pup enjoy the outdoor lifestyle that only Colorado has to offer.
Molly Orlando
MA, ADN, RN
Molly has been a CCHC since 2008 and has been with Child Health Connection since 2019 when she had the fortunate opportunity to purchase the company from one of the pioneers in Colorado CCHC history, Charlene Komp. Her pediatric experience includes many years working as a CCHC and in family practice. Molly enjoys family time as well as being a small part of the local music community in Colorado.
Nellie Slusser
RN, CCHC
Nellie has been with Child Health Connection since 2002 after working in Early Childhood Education as a CCHC and going so far as receiving her director certificate in 2001. Nellie completed the “Infant Care in the Childcare Setting” course and has extensive experience in advocating for the ECE community. Nellie brings a huge wealth of knowledge that her centers and her colleagues rely on. She is an amazing advocate for everyone in ECE. Child Health Connection is fortunate to have Nellie on the team!
Meet the Administration Team
From left to right: Christina Bujaci – Director of Business Operations
Molly Orlando – ExecutiveDirector/Owner
John Bujaci – Customer Relations Manager/IT Support
Christine Ernst – Director of Health Services
Amy Addison – Director of Training Programs.