Alyssa Waxenberg
About Alyssa Waxenberg
Alyssa Waxenberg (age 54) has served as an independent director of KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. since 2021; her current Class III term runs through the 2027 annual meeting. She is Senior Director of Patient Digital Products & Experience at Quest Diagnostics (since 2021) and holds a B.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. Her core credentials span digital commerce/product, consumer experience, and strategic growth across healthcare, tech, and hospitality sectors .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Pet Partners | Chief Digital Officer | 2018–2020 | Led digital, retail, education, and services in pet wellness |
| IBM (Watson Marketing) | Director | 2017–2018 | Product/marketing leadership within AI-enabled marketing suite |
| Starwood Hotels & Resorts | VP, Mobile & Consumer Experience; senior digital roles | 2004–2016 | Scaled consumer/mobile experience in global hospitality |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quest Diagnostics | Senior Director, Patient Digital Products & Experience | 2021–present | Leads consumer-facing digital products |
Board Governance
- Board classification and tenure: Class III director, term expiring at the 2027 annual meeting .
- Independence: The Board determined Ms. Waxenberg is independent under NYSE rules .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Audit Chair is Michael Nuzzo. Audit Committee met two times in FY2024 subsequent to IPO. The Board designated her “financially literate” under SEC/NYSE standards .
- Attendance and engagement: After the IPO, the Board met four times in FY2024; all directors attended at least 75% of board and applicable committee meetings. Directors are expected to attend annual meetings .
- Board leadership: Chair of the Board is John T. (“Tom”) Wyatt; Lead Independent Director is Jean Desravines, who presides over executive sessions of independent directors .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Period/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual retainer (cash) | $100,000 | Stipend per offer letter (paid quarterly) |
| Cash in lieu of equity (annual director grant) | $110,000 | Paid in cash for FY2024 in lieu of equity |
| Committee chair fees | $0 | No chair role; Audit Chair stipend applies to Nuzzo ($25,000) |
| Meeting/other fees | $0 disclosed | No meeting fees disclosed |
| All other compensation (expense reimbursements) | $1,319 | FY2024 |
| Total director compensation (cash) | $210,000 | FY2024 total fees earned |
Notes:
- Non-employee directors serving as of Dec 28, 2024 held no equity awards in the Company. KinderCare expects to adopt a non-employee director compensation program with equity grants in connection with the 2025 Annual Meeting .
Performance Compensation
| Performance-based component | Metric(s) | Target/Structure | FY2024 Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director equity grant | Equity retainer (RSUs/DSUs expected) | To be adopted with 2025 program | Not granted in FY2024; cash paid in lieu |
| Performance-linked director pay | N/A | N/A | None disclosed |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None disclosed beyond KLC |
| Committee roles at other public companies | None disclosed |
| Interlocks (comp committee or management ties) | No compensation committee interlocks disclosed involving Ms. Waxenberg; comp committee comprises Deputy (Chair), Nuzzo, Schwartz, all independent |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Education: B.B.A. (University of Massachusetts); M.B.A. (University of Michigan) .
- Technical expertise: Digital e-commerce/product leadership, consumer experience, multi-site operations; “financially literate” for Audit Committee service .
- Industry experience: Healthcare diagnostics (Quest), technology (IBM Watson Marketing), hospitality (Starwood) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Outstanding | Components/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alyssa Waxenberg | 5,793 | <1% | Includes 3,594 shares issuable within 60 days of Apr 11, 2025 upon RSU vesting |
Additional ownership context:
- As of Dec 28, 2024, non-employee directors held no equity awards; however, the April 11, 2025 beneficial ownership table includes director RSUs vesting within 60 days, including for Ms. Waxenberg, reflecting post-IPO award conversions/timing .
- Pledging/hedging: No pledging or hedging disclosures specific to Ms. Waxenberg; Company maintains insider trading policy (see 10-K exhibits) .
Governance Assessment
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Strengths:
- Independent director with Audit Committee service and financial literacy, supporting oversight of financial reporting, controls, and related-party reviews .
- Diverse digital/consumer product expertise from healthcare and hospitality sectors, additive to KinderCare’s service-centric model .
- Attendance threshold met; board has established annual evaluations and clear leadership/independence structures (Lead Independent Director) .
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Alignment and incentives:
- FY2024 director pay was cash-heavy ($210,000) with $110,000 cash in lieu of equity; equity-based alignment is expected to improve with the adoption of a 2025 equity grant program for non-employee directors .
- Personal ownership is modest (<1%); RSUs vesting in 2025 strengthen alignment but overall stake remains small versus outstanding shares .
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Conflicts and red flags:
- No related-party transactions disclosed involving Ms. Waxenberg; Audit Committee has explicit oversight and approval of related-person transactions .
- Partners Group retains nomination rights and committee representation while it owns significant voting power, which can influence board composition; Ms. Waxenberg is not a PG designee and is classified independent .
- No disclosures of low attendance, tax gross-ups, pledging, or legal proceedings relating to Ms. Waxenberg .
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Implications for investors:
- Audit Committee placement and independence status are positives for governance and risk oversight; forthcoming equity grants should enhance ownership alignment. Monitor the director compensation program design post-2025 Annual Meeting and any updates to director stock ownership guidelines, as the comp committee is charged with recommending such guidelines for non-employee directors .