Board of Directors

Katrina Klaphake, board chair, has been the Development Director at the Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor in Michigan for four years. Her proficiency in grant-writing, annual fund campaigns, events and educational programming was motivated by a 12 year career in science museum education at the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and COSI Toledo.

Throughout her undergraduate preparation at Macalester College and in her career, Katrina has been inspired by various approaches to educating children, both through informal settings like science museums and formal settings like charter schools and Waldorf schools. She has volunteered her time on the Board of an inner-city, charter school and done outreach into the Ann Arbor community around ideals that support a healthy childhood.

Katrina and her husband, Jack, live in Ann Arbor, Michigan with their two children, Max and Ruby. She continues to bring her enthusiasm for inspiring the joy of learning in all children to her work on the Board of the Alliance for Childhood.

Eryn Lake is an alumna of the Washington Waldorf School and Warren Wilson College, where she studied education and social change and worked with children in the favelas of Sao Paulo, Brazil at the Monte Azul Communitarian Association, a Brazilian sister organization to the Alliance for Childhood. Her undergraduate work sparked her fascination with children's play, early childhood education, and underserved children.

After graduating she dove into teaching, and taught kindergarten at the Potomac Crescent Waldorf School for several years before staying home to care for her children and work as Communications Coordinator for the Alliance for Childhood. Her hobbies include cooking, baking, painting, and time spent outside exploring with her son and daughter.

Mario Mazzone is a leader in supply chain, sales strategy, and marketing, with several years of experience in the non-alcoholic beverages sector. He is also a passionate entrepreneur, having founded his first company at the age 21 and serving as a frequent participant in entrepreneurship events and organizations.

Additionally, Mario is an alumnus of the University of Richmond School of Law, where he was active in many areas. Some of Mario’s accomplishments in law school include: managing the court proceedings of several immigrants who had fled their countries fearing persecution from Central-American gangs; organizing a fundraiser benefiting the University’s annual fund; and serving on the managing board of the Journal of International Law and Business.

Mario’s background in business also includes a Bachelor’s of Business Science from Universidad Monteávila in Caracas, Venezuela and a Master's in Marketing from EADA Business School in Barcelona, Spain.

Cynthia Woerner is a native of Wisconsin who ended up in DC via Norfolk, VA where she spent 3 years serving on a combat ship as a member of the U.S. Navy. She attended law school in DC before beginning her legal career as a federal employee at the National Labor Relations Board. Now, 6 years later, Cynthia is looking for new ways to grow her career, to gain new experiences that better fit her skills, and to make a difference with an organization whose mission she strongly believes in!

Cynthia likes to take long walks with her dog, to read books and play “train tunnel” with her 2-year-old son, to read historical fiction and non-fiction biographies, and to eat delicious food and drink good wine.