BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PRESIDENT & CO-CHAIR

Melissa Smith is an education program lead, innovation facilitator, and former Air Force officer with more than 20 years of experience leading teams in complex, high-stakes environments. She currently leads education and innovation programming for ARCWERX, the Air National Guard's innovation organization, and has facilitated innovation and leadership programs for international clients, including NATO and Singapore-based partners. Melissa began her Air Force career flying F-15E Strike Eagles before serving in strategic and leadership roles at U.S. Central Command and as Air Force ROTC Commander at the University of Michigan. She holds degrees from the U.S. Air Force Academy, University of Florida, and National Intelligence University. Melissa lives in Ann Arbor with her husband, Nick, and their two children, EV, a Daycroft alum, and Ethan, a current Daycroft student. She is proud to serve as President of the Daycroft Board of Trustees.

VICE-PRESIDENT & CO-CHAIR

Jason serves as a Principal at Kearney, a worldwide management consulting firm boasting offices in over 40 countries. His specialty lies in operations improvement for industrial and technology-oriented companies. Jason holds an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and a B.S.E in Electrical Engineering from the same institution.

Jason and his wife live in Ann Arbor with their son who is currently in fourth grade at Daycroft.

SECRETARY

Allison is currently a member of the teaching faculty in the Biological Chemistry Department at the University of Michigan Medical School, where she serves as co-chair of the department's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. She was previously a faculty member in the Chemistry Department at Boston University. She received her BA in Chemistry from Williams College and her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Allison and her family have been part of the Daycroft community since 2017.

TREASURER

Greg is the Senior Vice President of Finance at Underdog, a US-based sports gaming company.  He has previously held Finance leadership roles at Coinbase, Pinterest and Google.  Greg earned his MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and BBA from the University of Michigan. He lives in Ann Arbor with his wife Leena and their sons Noah and Cameron, who are current Daycroft students, and Casey, who soon will be.

TRUSTEE

Brooke is a communications advisor with a background spanning agency, media, and nonprofit environments. She has led public relations, internal communications, and executive positioning initiatives that build visibility and trust, drawing on expertise in strategy, messaging, and reputation management. Brooke also serves on the Board of Trustees for Barton Hills Village, focusing on transparency, communication, and resident engagement. A proud Daycroft parent of two, she and her husband, Mike, value the Montessori approach and the strong sense of community it fosters.

TRUSTEE

Phil worked for 11 years at Dell Computers in their Global Supply Chain department overseeing financials for North America. Prior to that, he worked for 10 years as a Project Manager and Consultant in construction for various projects from highways to hospitals. Phil received a BS from Illinois State University in Industrial Technology and brings to the table a total of 20 years of operational experience. He currently resides in Dexter with his wife Liz and three children Ila, Geneveive and Joey. His daughter Ila is an alum at Daycroft and has been part of the growing community since 2021.

TRUSTEE

Tj Linz serves as President Wholesale Brands for La-Z-Boy Incorporated. Prior to joining La-Z-Boy, he worked at Deloitte Consulting as a senior manager in the Deloitte Digital practice. Tj earned his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Also at Northwestern, he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering. Tj lives in Ann Arbor with his wife and two children, both alums of Daycroft School.

TRUSTEE

Chidimma is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist in private practice, a researcher, the principal at Chidimma Ozor Consulting, and the Wellness and Inclusion Advocate at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Chidimma currently serves as the Board President of Nurturely and is on the Board of United Black Mothers of America (UBMA). Chidimma holds a BA in organizational studies and an MA in liberal studies from the University of Michigan. After leaving a social science research hub at the University of Michigan, she earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Michigan School of Social Work and a PhD in Global Inclusion and Social Development from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. During her “off” time when she is not thinking about how to better serve humanity, she enjoys using the Peloton platform for all things wellness, reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with loved ones. Chidimma lives in Ann Arbor, MI with her husband, Dan, and young child who is a joyful student who is thriving at Daycroft School.

TRUSTEE

Audrey Perrott is Head of School at Beacon Academy in Evanston, Illinois. Prior to joining this Montessori high school, Audrey worked at Near North Montessori School in Chicago for 30 years, as a teacher, Lower School Director and Head of School. Audrey has a breath of experience in Independent and Montessori Schools, serving as President on the Board of Trustees of the Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools, Trustee of the Association of Illinois Montessori Schools Board, Chair of the Accreditation Review Committee at Independent Schools of the Central States (ISACS), and currently as President of the Board of Trustees of ISACS and co-chair of the strategic planning committee. Audrey lives with her husband, Ed Hollinger, and dog, Leonard in Evanston, IL. She enjoys traveling back to their home in Chelsea, MI once a month. Audrey's first introduction to Daycroft was in 2016 when she served as Accreditation Chair during the school's last ISACS accreditation cycle.

TRUSTEE

Jeff is a Managing Director of Portfolio Operations of KPS Mid-Cap Investments, focused on making controlling equity investments in manufacturing and industrial companies across a diverse array of industries. Prior to joining KPS in 2020, Mr. Rooks was a Director in the Enterprise Improvement Practice at Alix Partners, where he led a number of turnaround and profit improvement projects.  Mr. Rooks holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri, an MBA from the University of Illinois, and an MSE in Industrial & Systems Engineering from the University of Michigan. Jeff lives in Ann Arbor, MI with his wife, Lee, and five children, one of which is a second grader at Daycroft.

TRUSTEE

Kimberly Sackett is a Daycroft alum and is incredibly grateful to the school for instilling a strong foundation that has led to her success. She graduated from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of business with a Bachelor of Business Administration and currently works as a Senior Solutions Marketing Manager at a large software company. In her free time, Kimberly enjoys teaching dance to students of all ages.

TRUSTEE

Dawn Shea is a nature-inspired creative and educator. She has a decade of experience teaching in Montessori classrooms, as well as several years of experience teaching Reggio Emilia, cooperative preschool, and in public elementary schools. She earned an MA in Educational Psychology from the University of Colorado Denver, a Montessori Primary Teaching Credential from the Northern Virginia Montessori Institute, and a BA in Family and Child Development from Southern Virginia University. She lives on the edge of a forest with her husband, two children (both of whom love attending Daycroft), and a flock of furry and leafy family members. Her newest hobby is learning to play the accordion.

TRUSTEE

Alexander is an attorney and owner of Hermanowski Law, PLLC. His practice includes estate planning, Criminal Defense, Business Planning, and Plaintiff’s Personal Injury. He serves as the current President of the Washtenaw County Bar Association (WCBA). He’s been involved with the WCBA since 2015 in many roles, including Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Member at Large, and more. Prior to working for himself in private practice, Alexander practiced law as a Staff Attorney at the University of Michigan Student Legal Services for 11 years. There he helped currently enrolled students with a variety of issues like criminal defense, housing, estate planning, consumer protections, and miscellaneous legal matters. He is passionate about helping people. Alexander earned his JD from The Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and a Bachelor of Science in Business from Drexel University. Alexander lives in Ann Arbor, MI with his wife and three children, all three of which are current students at Daycroft.

TRUSTEE

Julia Maddox is the Global Lead for AI Consulting Transformation at Korn Ferry, responsible for helping the firm’s consulting business accelerate AI adoption, workforce readiness, innovation, and AI-enabled ways of working. She has helped many diverse clients navigate their most complex talent and strategy challenges, including Microsoft, Pixar, and Airbus. Previously, she was the Director of Organizational Innovation at the University of Rochester in New York, where she led a team of innovation consultants and taught classes related to entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity and design.

Julia is passionate about preparing adolescents for the future of work, starting with her son Sam, who is part of Daycroft’s inaugural Middle School cohort!

TRUSTEE

Luke Pinkerton is an engineer, entrepreneur, and business leader with more than two decades of experience building companies and technologies in the construction materials industry. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer of FORTA, LLC, where he leads operations and technology strategy across multiple manufacturing sites. Luke previously founded and led Ann Arbor–based Helix Steel for more than 20 years, growing the company from a startup into a global enterprise serving customers in more than 40 countries. He brings extensive experience in organizational leadership, strategic planning, innovation, financial oversight, and mergers and acquisitions.

A licensed Professional Engineer, Luke is a named inventor on numerous patents and a recognized leader in the development of national engineering standards. He holds an MBA from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in civil and structural engineering from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from Hope College. Luke lives in Ann Arbor with his family and is excited to bring his experience as a builder and entrepreneur to the Daycroft Board, helping the school continue to grow and thrive.