Quality Care for Children (QCC) today announced its 2024 – 2025 Board of Trustees’ executive committee changes and the addition of five new members. Serving as chair on the nonprofit’s executive committee beginning Oct. 1, 2024, is long-time supporter and board member Ben Pivar, former senior vice president and chief information officer at Carter’s, Inc. Pivar replaces Andrew Smith, associate attorney at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, who served two years as chair and will remain on the board as outgoing chair.

“We are fortunate to have had Andrew’s strategic leadership these past two years and are grateful that he will continue to support the board as outgoing chair,” said Quality Care for Children’s President and Chief Executive Officer Ellyn Cochran. “Ben is one of our greatest champions and we look forward to working with him and our new and existing board members as we work to make high-quality child care more accessible and affordable for Georgia’s families.”

Joining Quality Care for Children’s board this year are:

Nazia Ali is vice president of Enterprise Platforms at Cox Automotive, Inc. For more than 20 years, she has led technology transformations across different business functions, working for companies such as The Gillette Company, Cisco Systems, and Cox Automotive. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and a master’s degree from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina.

Michelle Guthrie is the senior vice president of Planning and Merchandise Operations at Carter’s, Inc. During the past twelve years, Guthrie's experience spanned financial budgeting, e-commerce, marketing, and technology while strengthening the market leader in children's apparel. Prior to joining Carter's she grew her career with various retailers around the globe. Guthrie is a graduate of Boston College Carroll School of Management.

Lacey Hartford is the founder and managing director of PostFinitude, a startup investment and advisory company focused on FinTech and machine learning / AI-based global risk and compliance solutions. An Atlanta native, Hartford earned her bachelor's degree from Florida Atlantic University and continued her education with Massachusetts Institute of Technology and London School of Economics and Political Science.

Pratyush Lal, a partner and senior managing director at FTI Consulting, started his professional career developing physical education equipment and products for children with special needs. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Lal held senior positions with consulting and software companies, responsible for strategy, product management and professional service functions in areas of digital transformation, process improvement, analytics and data management. Lal supports organizations focused on childhood development in the U.S., Brazil and India. He graduated from Georgia Tech, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Jennifer Williams, vice president of Talent Management and DEI Talent Strategy at Mastercard, has more than 20 years of talent development experience; working for firms such as Mastercard, Meta, and Warner Media. She has served on the board of the Association for Talent Development and is a member of the Metro Atlanta Chamber DEI Roundtable. Williams earned her bachelor’s degree from Hampton University and her master’s degree from Georgia State University.