CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank Staff
Becci Reedus
Executive Director
Email Becci
(319)351-2726 ext. 109
As Executive Director, Becci is responsible for the overall management of CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank, operating under the strategic direction established by the Board of Directors. She has over 40 years of experience in nonprofit management and is a strong advocate for the development of partnerships and collaborations among nonprofit organizations
Becci is originally from LaPorte City, Iowa and holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Northern Iowa.
Fun fact: Becci’s first day at CommUnity was June 23, 2008, which coincided with the peak of the Iowa City area floods that summer.
Sara Sedlacek
Director of External Relations
Email Sara
(319)351-2726 ext. 108
Sara oversees all communications and development activities at CommUnity. Sara began her career as the editor of a small, weekly newspaper before moving into political communications. This eventually led her to switch to political fundraising. She left politics in 2013 for nonprofit development and is passionate about creating strong relationships with supporters. Sara is a native of Johnson County and has a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Iowa.
Fun Fact: Sara brought her daughter, Ruby, to her first ComiCon when she was just 15-months-old and has recently converted her husband, Rob, into a fan of Star Trek.
Liz Orton
Communications & Development Manager
Email Liz
(319)351-2726 ext. 113
Liz Orton is the Communications & Development Manager for CommUnity, responsible for the overall management of the Communications and Development Department, including Community Outreach Services. She has a BA in Psychology from Roosevelt University and professional experience as a corporate recruiter.
Fun Fact: Liz used to work at American Girl Place Chicago. Recently she led a week-long American Girl summer camp to teach third-grade girls about American history.
Julia Erickson
Development Coordinator
Email Julia
(319)351-2726 ext. 105
Julia serves as CommUnity’s Development Coordinator, managing donor interactions and special events. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation: Inclusive Recreation from The University of Iowa in 2016. In addition to her B.A, Julia pursued certificates in Fundraising and Philanthropy Communication, and Event Planning.
Fun fact: Julia loves to travel and is nearly halfway to her goal of traveling to all 50 states by the age of 30!
Russ Duccini
Facilities Coordinator
Email Russ
(319)351-2726 ext. 131
Russ Duccini is responsible for building and equipment maintenance for CommUnity. He coordinates contracted work, supply ordering, and assists with various community and student volunteer groups.
Fun fact: Russ has a culinary background and has competed in numerous cook-off competitions. He has won a few local C.A.S.I. (Chili Appreciation Society International) events as well!
Angie Meiers
Business Manager
Email Angie
(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.
Sarah Witry
Director of Food Bank Services
Email Sarah
(319)351-2726 ext. 118
Sarah supervises staff, volunteers, operations and purchasing for the Food Bank & Basic Needs programs. She had been a CommUnity volunteer for almost six years prior to starting her position in October 2008.
Sarah completed her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Iowa in May 2009 and is a native of Ames, Iowa.
Fun fact: Despite growing up in Cyclone country, Sarah is a faithful Hawkeye fan.
Danielle Winter
Basic Needs Program Coordinator
Email Danielle
(319)351-2726 ext. 117
Danielle oversees the Basic Needs Program, supporting and supervising her wonderful weekly volunteers, and managing Basic Needs funds.
Danielle joined CommUnity in 2017. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Iowa State University. She has previous experience providing Emergency Assistance at a shelter in Ames.
Fun fact: Danielle’s favorite food is pho and she spent 2016 teaching in China.
Jennifer De La Cruz
Mobile Pantry Program Coordinator
Email Jennifer
(319)351-2726 ext. 129
Jennifer oversees CommUnity’s Mobile Pantry Program. The mobile pantry currently provides monthly food assistance at eight different sites within Johnson County.
Fun fact: Jennifer is a proud co-owner of four fish.
Allison Bettine
Food Bank Program Volunteer Supervisor
allison.bettine@builtbycommunity.org
Allison is responsible for supporting the daily operations of the Food Bank program and its volunteers. Her job primarily entails assisting Sydney in supervising, training, and on-boarding Food Bank volunteers. Allison is from Chicago, where she gained experience in hospitality and student affairs. She is currently studying Art History at the University of Iowa.
Fun fact: Allison loves to play board games with her husband and their two cats.
Beau Pinkham
Director of Crisis Services
Email Beau
(319)351-2726 ext. 102
Beau has been with CommUnity since 2002, first serving as a volunteer in the Crisis Services program before taking on duties as its coordinator. Now as Crisis Services Director, Beau oversees the growth and sustainability of CommUnity’s suicide prevention mission locally, regionally, and nationally.
Beau is an Iowa City original and holds three degrees from the University of Iowa in Business Marketing, Business Management, and German.
Fun fact: Beau is fluent in German, and can cuss in over six languages.
Sara Knox
Training Coordinator
Email Sara
(319)351-2726 ext. 136
Sara started with CommUnity as a volunteer in 2007. She coordinated the Crisis Intervention Program as it became one of the first crisis centers to offer crisis chat services nationally. Sara is a Master Trainer for Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, having conducted more than 30 trainings. Sara has an MSW from the University of Iowa.
Fun fact: Sara once found an abandoned baby possum, raised it, and re-released it back into the wild.
Colleen McRoberts
Crisis Services Program Coordinator
Email Colleen
(319)351-2726 ext. 133
Colleen delights in figuring out how all the moving parts of the Crisis Chat and Phone Lines harmonize together. She coordinates the dance steps between volunteer training, staff support, shift management, workroom environment, offsite supervision, and long-term program growth to ensure people in crisis receive the best standard of care and reliability when they reach out to CommUnity.
Colleen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Colorado State University. Aside from her work as a professional musician, she has coordinated volunteer programs, created and taught social justice curriculum, and serves as an advocate for those suffering violence through domestic violence and sexual assault.
Fun fact: Colleen knows how to make great tamales from scratch.
Rochelle Honey-Arcement
Mobile Crisis Outreach Coordinator
Email Rochelle
(319)351-2726 ext. 132
Rochelle is the full-time Mobile Crisis Outreach Coordinator at CommUnity. She holds master’s degrees in Social Work and Health & Disability Rights. She wrote her thesis on access to and quality of youth disability services in Johnson County. She is passionate about advocating for the rights of persons experiencing mental illness.
Fun fact: Rochelle is an accomplished violist and plays in multiple groups in the community.
Jacob Story
Mobile Crisis Outreach/Follow-Up Counselor
Email Jacob
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. Jake enjoys studying grief, death, and dying.
Fun Fact: Jake has an Oud. Jake does not know how to play the Oud but would love to find an Oud teacher. If you know someone who teaches Oud, let Jake know.
Parth Patel
Mobile Crisis Outreach/Follow-Up Counselor
Email Parth
(319)351-2726 ext. 139
Parth started out at CommUnity as a volunteer on the Crisis Lines in winter 2016. He then worked as an overnight crisis counselor to gain more experience in crisis intervention. Parth joined the mobile crisis team in October 2017.
Parth completed his Psychology, BA and Minor in Human Relations at the University of Iowa in May 2016. In his free time, Parth enjoys reading, playing tennis, and binge-watching shows.
Fun Fact: Parth has visited 4 of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World.’ His goal is to visit the remaining 3 in the next 5 years.
CommUnity Board of Directors
The role of our Board of Directors is to provide guidance and strategic oversight to management. Directors may serve two consecutive three-year terms and appointments follow our fiscal year, July to June.
Jeremy James, Chair
James Investment Group, Inc., North Liberty, IA
Amy Hospodarsky, Vice Chair
MidWestOne Bank, Iowa City, IA
Brent Bonner, Treasurer
Hills Bank, North Liberty, IA
Christine Catney
University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, IA
Curtis Chung
University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City, IA
Eddie Etsey
University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City, IA
June Juenger
NXT Bank, Iowa City, IA
Dnae Kinzie
Community Volunteer, North Liberty, IA
David Leshtz
Office of Congressman Dave Loebsack, Iowa City, IA
Laura McLeran
Office of the President’s Staff at The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Chris McDonnell
MidWestOne Bank, Iowa City, IA
Julia Mears
Mears Law Office, Iowa City, IA
Phil Peterson
Community Volunteer, Iowa City, IA
Jeff Sears
Meld Marketing, Iowa City, IA
Karen M. Shemanski
Human Resources at University of Iowa, Solon, IA
Kathryn Wallace
Community Volunteer, Iowa City, IA
Carlette Washington-Hoagland
University of Iowa Libraries, North Liberty, IA
Committee-At-Large Members
Deb Droll, Finance
Al Leff, Finance
Jan Leff, Development
Mike Huber, Development
Whitney Russell, Development,
Brent Carstensen, Development
Stephen Hennesy, Program Oversight
Harry Olthoff, Program Oversight
