Leadership
Sarah Nelson
Executive Director
sarah.nelson@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 109
As Executive Director, Sarah is responsible for the overall management of CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank, operating under the strategic direction established by the Board of Directors. For the past 20 years, Sarah has worked in child welfare, criminal justice, crisis services, and youth services. Throughout her career, she has led many successful community-wide strategic initiatives, implemented innovative programs to address barriers for those experiencing crisis, as well as developed programs to address the root causes of poverty to help individuals and families not just survive, but thrive.
Sarah McNee, SPHR
Director of Human Resources
sarah.mcnee@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 853
Sarah is the Director of Human Resources. Sarah has 20-plus years experience in HR Management in a variety of industries and fields, including non-profit organizations and most recently as a consultant. She’s passionate about community advocacy and involvement, and empowering and motivating employees through education and engagement. She has a BA from Marquette University, where she studied HR Management, English, and Social Philosophy.
Fun Fact: My love of life-long learning has been encouraged since a young age, when I took classes ranging from scherenschnitte to birling.
Nicole Kilmer
Director of Marketing & Communications
nicole.kilmer@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 151
Nicole handles all of the media relations for CommUnity. She also is responsible for overseeing the execution of the organization’s strategic marketing, public relations and communications plan. Nicole is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications.
Fun fact: Nicole was a television news anchor for over 15 years and was also an actress in commercials, TV and movies growing up.
Media Inquiries
If you are a news media professional and need information or would like to request an interview, please fill out and submit your request using the form below. Please include as much information as possible. All requests will be considered in the order received.
Please click here to access the Media Inquiry Form.
Click here for Communications Staff
Julia Winter
Director of Development
julia.winter@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 105
Julia joined CommUnity’s staff in 2017. As the Director of Development, Julia is currently responsible for fundraising strategy and implementation. She believes deeply in the roots of philanthropy and is inspired by CommUnity’s supporters. Julia is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation and certificates in Fundraising and Philanthropy Communications and Event Planning.
Fun Fact: Julia aspires to be a recreational pilot.
Angie Meiers
Business Office Director
angie.meiers@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 107
Angie is responsible for everything related to the operations of CommUnity. Bookkeeping and financial reports, purchasing, building maintenance, staff benefits and payroll (our favorite!) are just a few of her many areas of expertise. Angie joined CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank in September 2010. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from St. Ambrose University and is a native of Durant, Iowa.
Fun fact: Angie and her daughter, Abby, share the same birthday.
Cindy Hewett, LMSW
Director of Services
cindy.hewett@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 170
As Director of Services, Cindy oversees CommUnity’s Crisis Intervention, Food Bank, and Mobile Crisis Outreach programs. Cindy previously worked as CommUnity’s Director of Human Resources and as a Mobile Crisis Outreach Counselor. Cindy received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Social Work at the University of Iowa.
Fun fact: Cindy grew up in Southern California and still has a tendency to use the words, “dude,” “totally,” and “gnarly” on a fairly regular basis.
Crisis Intervention
Ryan Dickson
Crisis Intervention Program Manager
ryan.dickson@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 818
Ryan started with CommUnity as a volunteer in 2018. He has a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Music Education. As a manager, Ryan mostly handles data related projects, as well as some IT. He also helps train new volunteers, and presented research on the effect of Developmental Helping Model skills on client mood at the 2019 American Association of Suicidology Conference in Denver.
Fun Fact: Ryan plays trombone proficiently, but has never been in a ska band.
Click here for CI Staff
Mobile Crisis Outreach
Jacob Story
Mobile Crisis Program Manager
jacob.story@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 134
Jake completed a Masters of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago in 2010 and is a trained Hospital Chaplain but has spent the last six years as a stay-at-home dad. He joined the Mobile Crisis team as an on-call counselor in October 2017 and continued with CommUnity full-time as an MCO Follow-up Counselor in May 2019. In 2021, Jake became a Crisis Response Manager. Jake enjoys studying grief, death, and dying.
Fun Fact: Jake loves binging trashy reality dating shows. Have a question about The Bachelor? He’s got your answers.
Click here for MCO Staff
Food Bank
Krystal Kabela
Food Bank Program Manager
krystal.kabela@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 111
Krystal oversees and manages the Food Bank department. This includes the Food Bank, Mobile Pantry, and Basic Needs Program. She is native to Iowa City and has a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Iowa. She has worked with non-profit organizations for most of her career.
Fun Fact: Krystal enjoys traveling and spending time with her family, including her two pups.
Click here for Food Bank Staff
Basic Needs
Katherine Posten
Basic Needs Coordinator
katherine.posten@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 117
Katherine joined CommUnity in 2020 and coordinates the distribution of services provided through the Basic Needs Program. Katherine graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelors of Fine Arts and hopes to return to college and earn a masters in art therapy.
Fun fact: Katherine is a certified yoga teacher and birth doula.
Click here for Basic Needs Staff
Mobile Pantry
Liz Detrich
Mobile Pantry & Delivery Coordinator
liz.detrich@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 851
GuideLink Center
Aiden Rohwer-Nutter
GuideLink Program Manager
aiden.rohwer-nutter@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 120
Aiden is the GuideLink Program Manager, and oversees the on-call counselors on the MCO team. She started her career as a school counselor and in-home counselor for children and youth. Before joining CommUnity, Aiden worked as a counselor at an adult behavioral health hospital, and is a nationally registered EMT. She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her Masters and Certificate of Advanced Studies in Counseling from Harvard.
Fun Fact: Aiden is the proud parent of three black cats, considers herself the organization’s “cat lady”, and one of her life goals is to own a hospice farm for aging animals.
