our board...
At Montessori Origins we are determined. We believe every child deserves a bright beginning and we’ve come together to make this a reality for as many children as we can reach.
board of directors
ADAM ROTELLO
FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
An Illinois native with a big heart (and nerdy brain), Adam has spent most of his career as a fixed income and commodities trader in Europe, Asia and the U.S. His background in Finance and Macro Economic Forecasting means he sleeps with one eye open assessing market trends and world events. A devoted father of three Montessori Children, Adam spends his spare time making his wife’s (big) dreams come true and building spreadsheets.
NINA ROTELLO
FOUNDER, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
The brainchild of Montessori Origins, Nina has a gift for finding unique solutions. Born in Bosnia, she is a full-time mother of three Montessori children and brings her hugely diverse background to our team. Alongside culinary diplomas and the ever-useful BA in French Literature, Nina holds an International Diploma from Sciences Po. She has worked at two of the largest law firms in the USA, volunteered for the UN, and translated cases for asylum seekers. She even makes her own Nutella. She is an unstoppable force (trust us, we’ve tried) but she always ends up making the world a better place.
LAUREN DICKSON
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Montessori mother, accountant, and Junior Olympics athlete, Lauren, is our all-American all-star. With a BA in Business and a 6 minute mile, she brings experience as a financial analyst for KPMG and Apple. Lauren brings a passion for charity work, particularly in childhood enrichment. She leads with reality checks and cheerleading, and always holds our toes to the bottom line. (And her advice is always gluten free).
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ELENA BENASSI PUPILLO
BOARD DIRECTOR
Passionate Montessori ambassador, Elena, is a force to be reckoned with. Born and raised in Italy, she's a globetrotter who calls France and the US home. Before her Montessori journey, Elena was already a champion for children's education. From her teenage years, she's been involved in non-profit organizations dedicated to child development. She's got a diverse academic background, having studied humanities and economics in Europe, and then transitioning to architecture and design for renowned fashion brands in the US. Her career has been as dynamic as her personality, but her passion for Montessori education has become the cornerstone of her life.