The INA Board of Directors are representatives of the INA Membership, which consist of nannies, newborn care specialists, caregivers, educators, agency owners, business staff, parents and industry service providers. Each year the Nominating Committee strives to bring the membership nominees who will serve the organization to its fullest and meet or exceed the qualifications required to be eligible to serve on the Board of Directors. Once the nominees are accepted, a ballot is presented to the INA membership to cast their votes.
Voting begins today, April 4, 2022, and ends on April 30, 2022, at 11:59 PM US Eastern Standard Time.
Members can click on this link to vote. You will need your login credentials to complete the ballot. Let the office know if you need help with that.Log into your Member Portal at nanny.org
- Each nominee for Board of Directors is listed individually
- Vote “yes” if you would like that individual to be given a 2-year term on the INA Board of Directors
- Vote “no” if you do not want that individual to be given a 2-year term on the INA Board of Directors.
- There is a space to leave comments. Be sure to submit your form when done.
Cate Matijevich – New Nominee
Current membership category
Childcare Professional
Why do you want to be on the INA Board of Directors?
I want to help lead our membership and be part of positive growth for the organization.
Most important contribution to make to the INA Board of Directors?
With being so involved in the organization over the years, I look forward to incorporating historical practices and procedures and offering suggestions for innovative ways for future success.
Biography
Cate Matijevich from Chicago, Illinois has worked in the domestic private service industry for over 15 years. Being a nanny and managing principal’s homes is her passion and brings joy beyond what she ever thought was possible. Cate is an avid learner always seeking the best solutions for children and their families. She enjoys staying current with childrearing trends and ongoing professional development trainings. Continuing education is a priority for Cate and she currently attends Florida International University, pursuing her degree in Hospitality Management with a focus in HR and Leadership.
Cate actively participates in events that support the nanny and greater domestic private service industry, including traveling internationally for conferences and events. Her desire to strengthen and grow industry relationships globally, is a proud goal. Cate also directs an Estate Management group that meets monthly to network and continue education.
Recreationally, Cate loves to golf and spend time outdoors with her partner, John, and their three pups. Cate is proudly involved in her local community and volunteers with the village on ad hoc committees and serves as Secretary on her HOA board of directors.
While Cate is always on-the-go, her peers will also say that she makes time for all things important to her, and fulfills her commitments with the utmost pride and diligence.
Helen McCarthy – Returning Nominee
Current membership category
Childcare Professional
Why do you want to be on the INA Board of Directors?
I have good leadership skills and find it easy to talk to complete strangers. I bring an International perspective to the board as I have traveled within the nanny communities across the world. I also can help with social media too.
Most important contribution to make to the INA Board of Directors?
Being able to listen to others brings an overseas perspective on the Industry and I am not easily led.
Biography
Helen McCarthy is a Professional Qualified British Nanny (N.N.E.B) with over 30 years’ experience as a Nanny, NCS and Childcare Consultant. This has led her to working in Europe, Asia, USA, UAE, and the UK.
Helen has devoted her career to the care of children at all stages of life, with all levels of needs. Over the course of the past 20 years, Helen has developed an exclusive focus on caring for newborns. She has amassed a deep understanding of the needs and development of newborns. This has included premature babies, twins, triplets, and babies with allergies.
The International Nanny Association (INA) named Helen as their 2016 Nanny of the Year. This led to a trip to Australia where she spoke at Nannypalooza OZ. Helen was also featured in the Financial Times Documentary on the new Upstairs Downstairs and many other publications.
In 2018, Helen was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Nanny Association where she currently holds the position of Co-Vice President.
Helen is the CEO of UK Nanny Ltd and the founder of The Great British Nanny Conference. This is currently the only CPD Nanny Conference in the world.
Ruka Curate – Returning Nominee
Current membership category
Placement Agency
Why do you want to be on the INA Board of Directors?
I think to be an effective member of the board, you should commit to working at least 3 years. Maybe I feel this way because I entered during Covid and there was so much uncertainty. I feel like we are starting to make great moves to be a better organization.
Most important contribution to make to the INA Board of Directors?
I believed that I had an opportunity to be a different voice. It’s very important that there are different views on the board. I love that I also felt heard by many of the directors.
Biography
Ruka is the woman behind Tiny Treasures Nanny Agency and she knows just how important having a connection is when pairing a nanny with a family. Finding the perfect fit not only gives parents peace of mind but provides a stable and enriched environment for children in the childminder’s care. It is also very important that the childcare providers that she matches feel like they are valued and working with a great family. Ruka is a strong advocate of legal pay for nannies, educating her clients to understand protective classes and hire without discrimination. A nanny herself for over 14 years, now that Ruka is ‘Mom’ to a beautiful little girl, she has an even deeper understanding of how important it is to create these almost perfect matches. With insight on both sides, she has been successfully connecting families with nannies, mannies and babysitters for a very long time. When she is not playing matchmaker to parents and nannies in NYC, Ruka is always looking for more time to study neuroscience at NYU’s Center for Neuroscience and Hunter College Psychology Department. Her current area of study is adolescent and anxiety-related behaviors due to stress in females.
Sue Downey – Returning Nominee
Current membership category
Childcare Professional
Why do you want to be on the INA Board of Directors?
I am a doer. I get projects completed and mostly on time. I am a decent writer and a good communicator. I understand the nanny side of the industry and have a good sense of what that community responds to. I enjoy creating systems and working collaboratively.
Most important contribution to make to the INA Board of Directors?
I am hopeful to establish the governance committee and leave it in a good position with systems in place to make the board work more fulfilling for all. I want to continue to contribute a voice of inclusion and welcome to all in our industry.
Biography
Sue Downey has been an INA member for many years. She is a full time nanny for 3 hooligans in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Sue also is the force behind the Nannypalooza conference, the organizer/coordinator of interNational Nanny Training Day and the co-founder of Our Nanny Diary. She has been a live-in nanny, live-out nanny, nanny for children from newborn to teen and worked with families large and small. As an advocate for nannies she has long worked for increased opportunities for professional development and support for all. “I believe that our community is stronger when we lift each other up. The work nannies do is critical, and as we know, influential for the future. When we as a community support, include and care for each other, we strengthen the quality of care nannies provide. Everyone wins!”
Takita Tunstall – New Nominee
Current membership category
Childcare Professional
Why do you want to be on the INA Board of Directors?
Because I would like to spread the ideas I have out to the masses as quickly as possible and I believe the INA can help make that happen since we serve so many Nannies.
Most important contribution to make to the INA Board of Directors?
Diversity and insight on the Autistic community
Biography
Takita has been a Nanny since 2018 and Babysitter since she was 15 years old in Baltimore, MD. Not forgetting to mention being the eldest of 6 and a mom of two, she has also worked as a school teacher and at a children’s hospital; both of which allowed her the opportunity to network with the Autism community. Currently, in addition to balancing being a Mom and a Nanny, Takita also owns and operates her own Nanny Agency. Clearly she is no stranger to hard work; not even back when she worked in retail for nearly 10 years! From Retail to Business Owner! Takita has quite the adventurous tale to share with the world about her journey and we are definitely looking forward to hearing it once she finds the right platform to share it on.
The elected officers will be installed during the Board of Directors Installation around August 1, 2022. This virtual meeting will be open to all INA Members. Please reach out to the INA with any questions or concerns – memberservices@nanny.org.