Celena Sarillo, M.S.W., M.Ed. is the president of Start Early, a national nonprofit advancing quality early learning and care for families with children from before birth through their earliest years. A devoted early childhood advocate with strong public and private sector relationships, Celena leads the organization’s efforts to advance a comprehensive strategy that supports our vision for a comprehensive prenatal-to-age-5 system of early learning and care.

Celena joined Start Early in November 2024 as executive director of Start Early Illinois, before being appointed president in June 2026.

Prior to joining Start Early, Celena served as CEO of American Red Cross of Illinois, the second largest region of the organization. She also served as executive director of Erie Neighborhood House, which she first joined as a Head Start social worker.

Celena has extensive and significant community development experience at both the city and the state level, including being selected to sit on former Chicago Mayor Emanuel’s Early Childhood Task Force and Education Transition Team and former Governor Quinn’s Illinois Human Services Commission.

She was also recognized by the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Social Work as their 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient and was named as one of Chicago’s “Most Powerful Latinos,” on the 2019 inaugural list compiled by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Currently, Celena serves as a board member for National Louis University, Wintrust Wealth Management, Robert R. McCormick Foundation and the Chicago Network, a network of Chicago’s women leaders.

Celena holds a master’s degree in early childhood administration from National Louis University, as well as a master’s and bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She lives in Chicago with her husband and is a proud and delighted mother and grandmother.