Leadership | Busy Bees North America

Darla Kestle joined Busy Bees in September 2025 to lead our work in North America, bringing with her extensive leadership experience across multiple industries. Previously, she served for six years as Chief Operating Officer of Impact Fitness, a Planet Fitness franchisee, where she led operations across both the U.S. and Canada. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Operations at Holiday Retirement, a senior living company with more than 230 communities across the U.S. and Canada. Her career includes 13 years with KinderCare Learning Centers, where she advanced through progressive leadership roles, including Region Vice President and Senior Director of Operations. Motivated by her passion for education and childcare, Darla is driving our mission and business as we expand across the continent.

In this role, Kamal will lead U.S. operations, partnering closely with center and field leaders to strengthen performance, consistency, and the overall experience for children, families, and team members. She brings deep experience leading large, multi-site operations across the U.S. and internationally, with a strong focus on quality, compliance, and sustainable growth.

Known for her collaborative, people-centered leadership style, Kamal is passionate about spending time in centers, listening to teams, and working alongside leaders to support strong outcomes at every level of the organization.

With more than 25 years of experience in Finance, Tanveer has built a successful career across various sectors. His leadership was pivotal in the development of senior housing at Revera and with the automotive manufacturing company Magna. His professional journey also highlights managerial stints at Second Cup Coffee, a proprietary petrochemical producer, and auditing roles with PwC. Tanveer is a CPA, CA and a proud alumnus of the University of Waterloo with a Masters in Accounting.

Now serving as the CFO at Busy Bees North America, he leads a dedicated team offering robust financial and administrative aid to our centers. Together, they're deeply committed to upholding Busy Bees' esteemed operational standards and ambitious growth trajectories.

Away from the hustle, Tanveer cherishes moments with his three kids and enjoys traveling and reading.

Wael was thrilled by the effect of Montessori education on his kids when they were young. He is an advocate of the effect of high-quality early learning on children in shaping their personalities and learning abilities. He holds an Executive MBA and carries a wide variety of professional development certifications.

His expertise is rich with international flavors, having worked for more than 20 years on franchising systems, operations, development, and strategy of various brands. Driven by a passion for excellence, he enjoys upholding BusyBees' operating standards and growth plans.

Nancy Walsh brings a rich educational background and a wealth of experience to her role as Government Relations Liaison, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from the prestigious University of Connecticut. Since joining our team in 2001, Nancy has proven to be an indispensable asset. In this role, In this role, she will serve as the organization’s primary liaison with federal, state, and local government agencies and policymakers affecting licensed private child care operations across the United States, monitoring legislative and regulatory developments and advising leadership on policy risks and opportunities.

Samaya Khattak is the Chief Education Officer and North America Safeguarding Lead at Busy Bees, overseeing Education, Quality, Safeguarding, Safety & Compliance, Professional Development, and Specialized Services across a multinational early learning network. With more than 20 years of senior leadership experience, she brings a holistic, data‑driven approach that bridges pedagogy, operational excellence, and strategic leadership to elevate outcomes across large, multi‑site organizations. Samaya is the architect of BeeCurious, Busy Bees’ proprietary curriculum now adopted globally. A doctoral candidate at the University of Calgary, she brings a research‑informed, child‑centered lens to leadership, innovation, and organizational improvement.

Nina has over 20 years of experience across multiple industries in international and North American Human Resources. Nina’s experience includes being a CHRO at CareRx Corporation, Vice President of Human Resources at Sienna Senior Living, and an HR leader at ADP, North America. Nina is well prepared to lead us through rapid growth and support our mandate of being the best early years education and care company and the employer of choice in our field.

Amber has been a dedicated professional in Early Childhood Education since 2002, starting as a toddler teacher and joining BrightPath in 2012. She has thrived in various roles, from Education Specialist to Senior Area Director. Holding a Master of Education and a Montessori certificate, Amber is committed to enhancing educational quality and building strong relationships within the community. Outside of work, she is a proud mom of three BrightPath alumni, an avid Buffalo Bills and Sabres fan, and enjoys cooking, reading, and supporting her children’s sports activities.

Joe has over 30 years of operational management experience in the hospitality industry across Canada, working in seniors housing, university and childcare environments.

As Director of Operations, Joe oversees our operations in Western Canada. He and his team are responsible for delivering our programs, quality assurance, and supporting centre staff and directors to provide the best experience for children and their families.

Jenna has been in the field of Early Childhood Education since 2003 and started her career as an infant teacher. She has been an administrator in the field since 2004. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Stony Brook University and is a proud member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Jenna truly enjoys supporting our Directors in ensuring that we are providing a high-quality experience for the children, families, and teachers in our schools.

Mike has over 30 years of leadership and team development experience in a variety of industries, including over 7 years in Early Childhood Education. He is a husband and father of 3 terrific children, with a passion for seeing children be happy, and healthy and develop a lifetime love of learning and discovery. As a Director of Operations with Busy Bees, Mike is excited by the wonderful opportunity to guide the team toward its true north star, which is doing everything possible to deliver to the children we are blessed to serve. Mike is an avid sports fan and, when not working, loves to spend time with his family.

Kelli brings over 18 years of experience to Early Childhood Education, with 15 years in leadership roles. Passionate about providing high-quality education from infancy, she's an active advocate for the sector in Arizona, sitting on multiple boards. Kelli holds a Master’s in Education, specializing in Instructional Leadership. She aspires for early childhood educators to be valued as much as K-12 teachers. Outside work, Kelli enjoys cheering on her son Colin at basketball games and spending quality time with her daughter Kyleigh.

Marzi Masroori joined Busy Bees North America in 2019 to lead the full customer journey, overseeing brand, marketing, enrollment growth, and family experience. She brings a strategic approach that blends creativity with data-driven decision-making, with a strong focus on early adoption of technology to drive efficiency and scale impact. Prior to joining Busy Bees North America, Marzi held leadership roles across multiple industries, where she led high-impact branding, marketing, and digital transformation initiatives. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and an Executive MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. Through her global perspective and strategic leadership, Marzi is helping advance Busy Bees’ mission and strengthen connections with families across North America.

Teri Davies has more than 20 years of leadership experience in multi-unit early childhood education operations, business development, and strategic growth which includes overseeing large-scale expansions, leading successful acquisitions, and driving operational excellence. In her role as vice president of center integration she will lead the integration of new development and acquisitions across BBNA, ensuring these schools successfully align with our systems, culture, and operational standards

Teri is passionate about people and doing all she can to help them achieve their goals and dreams and wherever that may take them. This includes the children in our centers, ensuring they are given the best care and education to set them on their path in life.

In her personal time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Kurt, and daughter, Ella. As a family, they enjoy traveling, attending live theater and sporting events, spending time with friends, and their dog, Olive.

Kelli Stricker joined Busy Bees North America in December 2025, bringing extensive experience leading large scale transformation, project management, customer experience and change initiatives across several industries. Her background includes senior leadership roles at PalCare, Vervent, Best Buy Health, Atria/Holiday Senior Living and KinderCare, where she built a strong record of improving processes, elevating customer experience, and guiding organizations through periods of growth and transition. She has a proven track record of aligning operations and national support office functions, and is known for her ability to bring people together around shared goals, build trust, and help create clarity in complex situations.

Jen brings more than 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, with a strong background in multi site operations, quality, regulatory compliance, and people leadership. Most recently, she served as Senior Director, Quality, Health and Safety at KinderCare Education, supporting over 1,600 locations nationwide and leading initiatives that strengthened compliance, improved quality outcomes, and supported growth through new openings and acquisitions. She previously held regional operational leadership roles at Learning Care Group, overseeing multi-state portfolios.

Alan brings extensive leadership experience in procurement, supply chain, and operational infrastructure across large multi site organizations. He previously served as Vice President of Procurement at Columbia Distributing and held senior leadership roles with Unified Grocers, Bravo Solution, and KinderCare. At KinderCare, one of the largest early childhood education organizations, he led global procurement and central operations supporting more than 2,500 centers.

In his role at BBNA, Alan will lead our Shared Services organization, bringing together Sourcing, Procurement, Facilities, IT, and Fleet to support our schools and national support office teams as our organization continues to grow.

Alan and his wife Wendy have three children, Jessica, Megan, and Nick. They also enjoy traveling as a family whenever they can. Their dog Bentley keeps everyone active at home

Hardeep Rai is Senior Area Director at Busy Bees North America, leading the BrightPath brand across centres in Alberta. With over 20 years in early childhood education—including 15 years with BrightPath—she has progressed from Early Childhood Educator to senior leadership, bringing strong expertise in classroom practice, centre management, and regional operations.

Hardeep holds degrees in Science, Information Technology, and Education, with additional studies at the University of Calgary. She is passionate about developing confident leaders and creating safe, nurturing environments for children and families, guided by a people-focused approach and a commitment to quality and continuous improvement. Outside of work, she enjoys family time, visiting historical sites, and personal and spiritual growth.

Diana Cahley brings over 26 years of experience in early childhood education, including 19 years with Busy Bees North America. She has held a wide range of roles, from educator to senior leadership, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the field.

Diana is passionate about fostering continuous learning and growth for both children and educators. She is known for her people-focused leadership style and commitment to creating meaningful experiences for families.

Outside of work, Diana enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, son, and dog. She is guided by the belief that how you make people feel leaves a lasting impact.

Joni Weiglin is the Director of Operations at BrightPath Early Learning and Child Care, overseeing a multi-brand portfolio across Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia. She brings more than 30 years of experience in early childhood education and is responsible for ensuring consistent quality, strong leadership, and safe, high-performing school environments across her region. Joni has held progressive leadership roles, including Center Director and Area Director, and is known for building strong teams and driving operational excellence. In her current role, she focuses on maintaining high standards, supporting educator development, and delivering a consistent, high-quality experience for children and families.

Nicole Dettinger is Director of Operations at Busy Bees North America and oversee the Malvern School brand. Bringing more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education, she has held roles spanning every level of center and regional leadership—from classroom teacher to Regional Director—before stepping into her current role in May 2025. Nicole holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a focus on Child and Family Studies and is deeply committed to creating safe, high-quality learning environments. She is especially proud to lead a brand with a 27-year legacy while helping drive Busy Bees North America’s purpose of giving every child the best possible start in life. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys time with her family, hiking with her dog Sally, and summer beach trips with longtime friends.

Our Leadership Team

Senior Leadership Team

Darla Kestle

Tanveer Malik

Kamal Singh

Nina Freier

Samaya Khattak

Nancy Walsh

Marzi Masroori

Kelli Stricker

Alan Tait

Teri Davies

Senior Management Team (Canada)

Joe Williams

Hardeep Rai

Diane Cahley

Senior Management Team (U.S.)

Jenna Minton

Amber Lumsden

Joni Weiglin

Jen Kaddi

Nicole Dettinger

Helpful Links

Get in Touch

Our Leadership Team

Senior Leadership Team

Darla Kestle

Tanveer Malik

Kamal Singh

Nina Freier

Samaya Khattak

Nancy Walsh

Marzi Masroori

Kelli Stricker

Alan Tait

Teri Davies

Senior Management Team (Canada)

Joe Williams

Hardeep Rai

Diane Cahley

Senior Management Team (U.S.)

Jenna Minton

Amber Lumsden

Joni Weiglin

Jen Kaddi

Nicole Dettinger

Helpful Links

Get in Touch

Darla Kestle

Kamal Singh

Tanveer Malik

Wael Chehade

Nancy Walsh

Samaya Khattak

Nina Freier

Amber Lumsden

Joe Williams

Jenna Minton

Michael Willis

Kelli McCalley

Marzi Masroori

Teri Davies

Kelli Stricker

Jen Kaddi

Alan Tait

Hardeep Rai

Diana Cahley

Joni Weiglin

Nicole Dettinger