Sarah Nelson
Chief Executive Officer
sarah.nelson@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 109
As Chief Executive Officer, Sarah is responsible for the overall management of CommUnity Crisis Services, 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.
Adrianne Korbakes
Chief Operating Officer
adrianne.korbakes@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 878
Chief Operating Officer, Adrianne Korbakes, is responsible for the leadership and oversight of all programming at CommUnity. She strives to provide comprehensive, low barrier, nonjudgmental support to any person who is experiencing a difficult time in their life. Adrianne has over a decade of professional experience within various nonprofits, with roles ranging from direct service to leadership. Her passion is in innovative program development to help address complex societal challenges, reduce stigma, and expand access to quality care.
Away from work, Adrianne has forgone her previous hobbies of hiking, craft beer sampling, and yoga, and is now consumed with activities of those who care for young children. You can find her doing copious loads of laundry, singing Baby Shark, and sneaking naps whenever possible.
Sara Barth
Director of Supportive Services
sara.barth@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 877
Sara received her BA in Geography and Social Change from the University of Iowa in 2003. She has worked and volunteered for several non-profits in the Iowa City area. Sara has worked at CommUnity Crisis Center and The Housing Fellowship. Sara served as an AmeriCorps member at the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County. Sara has volunteered at numerous nonprofits including Summer of the Arts, Four Oaks, Home Ties Daycare, Salvation Army, and she has led the charge for several local fundraisers. Sara has planned and organized a wide range of successful events as a professional and volunteer. During her free time, Sara enjoys photography, traveling, live music and above all spending time with her family.
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.
Leah GehlsenMorlan
Director of Crisis Response Services
leah.gehlsenmorlan@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 902
As CommUnity’s Director of Crisis Response Services, Leah oversees the Mobile Crisis Response and GuideLink Center programs. Leah received her MSW from the University of Iowa and has nearly 20 years of administrative experience in healthcare and higher education. A lifelong volunteer, Leah has donated time to local nonprofits including the Free Medical Clinic, Prelude, Mercy Hospital Iowa City, and her favorite, CommUnity. Leah’s passion is in identifying programmatic areas for improvement and utilizing creative problem-solving approaches for enhancement. Leah is also working toward her clinical social work licensure and enjoys providing individual counseling and therapy.
In her free time, Leah loves reading, cycling, all things popular culture, live music, and spending lots of time with her family.
Angie Meiers
Finance 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 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
Clinical Director
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.
Ryan Dickson
Crisis Helpline Director
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. 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.
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Finance
Carol Miller
Finance Manager
carol.miller@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 119
Communications
Emma Meyer
Communications Manager
emma.meyer@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 106
Emma started with CommUnity in 2021. She designs outreach materials for CommUnity, handles the social media pages, attends outreach events, and manages media contacts. Emma graduated from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa with degrees in Creative Writing and Economics and Business.
Fun Fact: Emma has one brown eye and one green eye.
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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.
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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.
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Financial Support
Katherine Posten
Financial Support Coordinator
katherine.posten@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726 ext. 117
Katherine joined CommUnity in 2020 and coordinates the distribution of services provided through the Financial Support 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.
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GuideLink Center
Sam Krehbiel
GuideLink Program Coordinator
sam.krehbiel@builtbycommunity.org
(319) 351-2726
Sam is the GuideLink Program Coordinator, and oversees the Triage Counselors at the GuideLink Center. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from the University of Iowa in 2014, Sam began working as a Supported Living Supervisor and later Behavior Technician Supervisor at Systems Unlimited in Iowa City, where he remained until beginning his career at CommUnity in August of 2022.
Fun Fact: Sam is fluent in Portuguese and travels to Brazil at least once a year to visit his in-laws. Sam is also a less-than-professional musician and soccer player.