YSS Welcomes Kara Warme as Chief Development Officer and Sara Lindquist as Community-Based Director

YSS is pleased to welcome two new leaders to the team. Kara Warme is YSS’s Chief Development Officer and will be based at YSS Headquarters in Ames. Sara Lindquist is the new director of YSS’s community-based center in Mason City.

As Chief Development Officer, Kara serves on YSS’s senior leadership team, oversees the community engagement team, and supports the community-based centers across the state.

Prior to coming to YSS, Kara held leadership roles at Comlinkdata, ShareTracker, and AT&T. She brings twenty years of private sector business experience across development, staff and client management, strategy, and marketing. Kara is also involved in the community as founder of an American Heritage Girls troop, board member for the Ames Soccer Club, member of Ames Isaak Walton League, and more.

Kara first learned of YSS when she volunteered for the organization’s Holiday Giving Campaign and then signed up to become a YSS mentor. Impressed by YSS’s mission, Kara was excited when the opportunity arose to join YSS full-time and make an impact as a leader.

“I am honored and thrilled to join the executive team at YSS,” Kara said. “I can’t imagine a better mission than to create hope and opportunity for kids, and YSS shares my passion for developing future leaders. I’m grateful for this opportunity to serve the next generation of Iowans.”

Kara graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and engineering management and a minor in Latin American studies. She also received her MBA from the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business.

As director of YSS Francis Lauer, one of YSS’s five community-based centers, Sara will oversee the staff in Mason City; drive community engagement and fundraising; and raise awareness for YSS’s programs in the community—which include emergency shelter, counseling, crisis stabilization, and aftercare for foster care alumni.

Sara has 28 years of experience in sales, leadership, and mental health advocacy, including serving as executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Sioux Falls. She is also a licensed real estate agent and previously worked for EXIT Realty in Mason City. She is a former foundation board member for One Vision.

In her free time, Sara enjoys painting, outdoor activities, traveling, and exercising, as well as giving back to her community and spending time with her family. Sara is excited to join the YSS team and create hope and opportunity for the kids who need it most.

“Rural Iowa is in great need of quality mental health and addiction services. I am looking forward to working with our fantastic team of experts to grow our services that everyone can use,” Sara said. “My goal is to offer excellent customer service—and our team is excited to serve this community.”