Meet the Team
Dedicated & Certified
Sheri Morud
Director
Sheri has a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood and Reading Endorsement. She has spent over 30 years in childcare. Sheri joined us in She 2004 as the Director of CECC. She has been a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children (IAEYC) for over 20 yrs, serving as President of the local chapter. Sheri received her National Administrative Credential in 2004 and works to maintain it every 2 years. She has been a trainer for a variety of topics including the National Administrator’s Credential (NAC), Beyond Business Basics, and Every Child Reads. She helped the center obtain a 4-star rating on the Iowa Quality Rating System (QRS) in 2008. Sheri enjoys interacting with the children each day as well as the parent communication. She oversees 36 employees on a day to day basis as well as 150 children. Sheri and her husband have 3 teenage children.
Renee Rude
Director
Renee has been Co-Director at Community Early Childhood Center since 2004 and has childcare experience dating back to 1990. She is a certified early childhood teacher with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education including reading and early childhood endorsements from Buena Vista University. Throughout the years of working in Early Childhood Renee has been a member of the NAEYC and has served on the Iowa Association for the Education of Young Child Fort Dodge Chapter as President, Vice-President and Secretary. Renee helped CECC achieve a 4-Star Rating on the Iowa Quality Rating System and has continued to achieve this rating since 2008. She loves working with the children and families in our area and is dedicated to making sure that CECC provides the best quality childcare available. Renee and her husband, Rick, live here in Fort Dodge and have a happily blended family of 4 teenage children.
Jennifer Hess
Board of Directors (President)
Jennifer has been an active Board member since 2008. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin, and is currently attending Iowa State University in the Professional MBA program where she will obtain a Masters in Business Administration in 2019. She and her husband of 13 years have 2 daughters, ages 10 and 12, who both attended CECC. Jennifer has led a long, dedicated career in veterinary pharmaceutical research where she now serves in a Regulatory Affairs role. Her passion to offer a nurturing, caring environment where our next generation of leaders can develop and grow keeps her motivated to volunteer as a member of the Board for Community Early Childhood Center.
Kris Fleener
Board of Directors (Vice President)
Kris has been serving on the CECC board since 2015. She is currently serving as Vice President, and specializes in facility maintenance and improvements, and assisting in any capacity the center needs.
Kristin Beckwith
Board of Directors (Member)
Kristin is a new member of the board joining in December 2017. She has a Bachelors degree in Biology from Coe College. She spent 5 years working in the human pharmaceutical industry and has recently made a switch to veterinary pharmaceuticals. She and her husband have been married 4 years and have a toddler that attends CECC. Kristi had spent much of her life volunteering at elementary schools and other programs dedicated for children. Through her position on the CECC board, she hopes to foster her passion for creating conductive learning environments for children.
Mandi Crouse-Kelly
Board of Directors (Member)