Meet the experts

Jesse (Jess) Bernal is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Early Childhood Education Consultant specializing in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Jesse holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and has over 18 years of experience working with children who have been exposed to trauma, children who have severe behavioral challenges, and children with disabilities.

Ria Simon is a Registered Early Childhood Educator and has been working in the education space since 2011. She has worked with children of all ages and abilities and is passionate about the development of children. In 2018, she made a career shift to HiMama the Childcare App. She has a strong desire for helping educators and giving back to the education community.

Neil Tift is the Outreach Project Coordinator for the Native American Fatherhood and Families Association (NAFFA). From 2010 to 2016, he was the Father Involvement Director for Child Crisis Arizona in Mesa, Arizona. From 1990 to 1998 Neil was the founding Director of the Fathers' Resource Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Neil is a men's therapist, college instructor, game creator, staff trainer, parent educator, and overweight jogger. Neil earned an MA in Counseling Psychology from the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the father of three, the grandfather of twelve, and a foster father of many for the past 23 years.