Our Leadership
The YSS leadership team represents a diverse array of specialties and expertise, with an overarching commitment to our mission of creating hope and opportunity by putting kids first.
Andrew Allen
President & CEO
Belinda Meis
Chief Operating Officer
Mark VanderLinden
Chief Financial Officer
Kara Warme
Chief Development Officer
Lisa Behrends
Director, Iowa Homeless Youth Centers
Andrea Dickerson
Director of Behavioral Health
Jennifer Schmit
Director, Community Youth & Family Development
Terri Johanson
Associate VP of Child Welfare
David Hicks
Director, YSS of Marshall County
Sara Lindquist
Director, YSS of North Iowa
Dan King
Director of Information Technology
Anna Andrews
Director of People Development
Our Boards
Nahla Atroon
Youth Representative
Iowa State University
Jim Black
James R. Black & Associates
Iowa State University (Retired)
Jeff Brinkley
Police Chief, Mason City Police Department, YSS of North Iowa Advisory Board Member
James Bucher, Chair
Todd & Sargent
Tim Day, Past Chair
Iowa State University
Christy Krause
Community Rep.
Hilary Seo
Dean Library Services
Iowa State University
Laura Jolly, Vice Chair
Human Sciences Dean
Iowa State University
Erin Baldwin
Iowa State University
Randi Peters
VenuWorks
Mike Phillips
TS Bank
Monica Porter
ISU Foundation (Retired)
Co-Chair Personnel Practices
Joseph Barrett, Treasurer
IHYC Advisory Board
John Deere Financial
Dr. Toyia Younger
Senior Vice President of Student Affairs,
Iowa State University
Lindsey Long
Iowa State Athletics Development
Stacey McDonald
Hubbell Homes
William Underwood
Ascension Ag
David Lee
Youth Representative
Ames High School
Sam Byriel
Edward Jones
Boone County Advisory Board
Meri Edel
School Counselor, Marshalltown High School
