Meet Our Team
For media inquiries, please contact Shannon Hanson at 319-398-5372 ext. 813 or shannon.hanson@uweci.org
If you want to work in an exciting and fulfilling environment, check out our careers page to see our open positions.
Operations
Email: tim.stiles@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 826
Hire Date: March 2013
Education: Iowa State University, BS in Pol. Sci/Econ.
Contact me if: You want to learn more about United Way and our work in the community.
Birthplace: Sioux City, IA
Hobbies: Golf and tennis
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Tutoring and working with students in need.
Email: amy.anderson@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 823
Hire Date: August 2016
Education: University of Northern Iowa, MA in Speech-Language Pathology
Hobbies: Spending time with family, car shows, Rough Riders hockey games, and quilting.
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Email: abbie.covenah@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 827
Hire Date: July 2007
Education: Wesleyan College, BA in Mathematics
Hobbies: Reading, outdoor activities, and volunteering in our community. I volunteer with the Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library, Kids First Law Center, and Junior League of Cedar Rapids.
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Junior League works with teens aging out of the foster care system. Interacting with the teens, making connections with them, and seeing how they thrive is my favorite volunteer activity.
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Email: jason.fisher@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 829
Hire Date: November 2014
Education: University of Iowa, BA in Management Information Systems
Contact me if: You have any questions about the finance department.
Birthplace: Webster City, IA
Hobbies: Running, biking, golfing, and spending time with family
Connect with me on LinkedIn.
Email: melinda.karminski@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 817
Hire Date: July 2016
Education: Mt. Mercy University, BBA in Marketing
Hobbies: Spending time with family, outdoor activities, and reading.
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Helping out at my daughter’s school.
Email: andi.moore@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 814
Hire Date: March 2016
Contact me if: You need any campaign materials!
Birthplace: Anamosa, IA
Hobbies: Crafting, shopping, baking, and traveling, even though I hate flying!
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Relay for Life, and anything I can help out with at my niece’s school.
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Email: sandy.nickol@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372
Hire Date: February 2014
Education: Kirkwood Community College, AAS in Medical Secretary/Medical Assisting
Birthplace: Dubuque, IA
Hobbies: Ballroom dancing, classic cars, and grandchildren
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Helping at the grandkids’ elementary schools
Email: janelle.white@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 840
Hire Date: October 2016
Hobbies: Cooking and shopping
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Helping at my children’s school.
Marketing and Communication
Email: shannon.hanson@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 813
Hire Date: June 2014
Education: BBA in Marketing, BS in Leisure Studies, Minor in Music
Contact me if: You have questions about all things marketing!
Birthplace: Iowa City, IA
Hobbies: Decorating, travel, cooking (not baking), crafting, football (Go Hawks!), baseball, and shopping
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Metro North Rotary
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Email: lauren.dubay@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 836
Hire Date: July 2015
Education: Coe College, BA in Art and Public Relations
Contact me if: You have any questions regarding United Way marketing materials.
Birthplace: Aurora, CO
Hobbies: Traveling, running, spending time with family, freelance designing, and cheering on my favorite sports teams.
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Email: emily.grace@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 834
Hire Date: December 2016
Education: Mount Mercy University,
BBA in Marketing; Kirkwood Community College,
diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts
Birthplace: Marion, IA
Hobbies: Baking, crafting, reading, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends.
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Email: brittany.hoover@uweci.org
Hire Date: April 2015
Education: University of Iowa, BA in English, Minors in Creative Writing and Gender Studies
Birthplace: Silvis, IL
Hobbies: Reading, playing video games, listening to podcasts, going to movies, swimming in Lake Michigan, riding roller coasters, and spending time with my husband, Steve, and rescue dog, Luna.
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Resource Development
Email: amy.geiger@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 818
Hire Date: April 2017
Education: University of Northern Colorado
Contact me if: You would like to help make change happen by financially supporting United Way’s mission.
Hobbies: Kayaking, hiking, bicycling, gardening, knitting, and cheering on the Hawkeyes, Cubs, and Green Bay Packers.
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Supporting our children’s activities. Currently, that means volunteering for Kennedy High School show choir.
Email: destiny.hastings@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 811
Hire Date: September 2016
Education: Coe College, BA in Business Administration; Kaplan University, MBA
Contact me if: You’d like to organize a United Way campaign at your organization! It’s easy, it’s fun, and it matters!
Birthplace: Cedar Rapids, IA
Hobbies: Whatever sounds fun at the moment! You never know what I’ll be up to next.
Favorite volunteer opportunity: I have to pick just one? Not possible. Volunteering is fun and worthwhile because you learn the importance of helping others. I’ve always believed that those who can, should.
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Email: carole.dzingle@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 819
Hire Date: August 2012
Education: North Linn High School
Contact me if: You have questions about any aspects of running a campaign at your place of work.
Birthplace: Cedar Rapids, IA
Hobbies: Love to travel and fish.
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Habitat for Humanity women’s build and summer lunches
Email: brenda.erger@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372
Hire Date: June 2017
Email: arthur.kim@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 821
Hire Date: August 2016
Email: jay.larson@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 816
Hire Date: November 2011
Education: Associates degree in CNC Manufacturing Technology
Contact me if: You have any questions regarding the campaign or labor in general
Birthplace: Cedar Rapids, IA
Hobbies: Golf
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Coaching
Community Building
Email: leslie.wright@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 815
Hire Date: March 2007
Education: BA in Psychology, MA in Human Development
Contact me if: You have questions about who United Way funds or how we do that; you would like to learn more about the condition of our community and how you can make a difference; our community goals and what we are doing to improve education, financial stability, and health
Birthplace: Cambridge, MA
Hobbies: Gardening, reading, and helping out with my kids’ activities like show choir, marching band, and swim team.
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Reading to kids on America Reads Day
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Email: ana.clymer@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 833
Hire Date: October 2014
Education: University of Iowa, BSW
Contact me if: You have questions about our health goal initiatives in the areas of prevention, reducing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), community living for our older generation, and women’s health and well-being.
Birthplace: El Salvador
Hobbies: Spending time with family
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Helping at church with the various children’s activities and outreach
Email: laura.columbus@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 846
Hire Date: August 2012
Contact me if: You have questions about RED Ahead or Reading into Success.
Email: cliff.ehlinger@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 812
Hire Date: August 2016
Education: Northern Illinois University, Ed.D.
Contact me if: You have questions about 2-1-1 or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Hobbies: Traveling, reading, and watching Chicago sports.
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Volunteering at church by assisting with the audio control board during worship services.
Email: meredith.hershner@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 824
Hire Date: July 2015
Education: University of Illinois at Chicago, Masters of Social Work
Birthplace: Cedar Rapids, IA
Hobbies: Raising money for charity through running. I ran a marathon in Chicago this past October to support Girls in the Game, which is where I did my internship for my graduate program. I also enjoy being creative, active, and attending community events like farmers markets.
Email: karen.lewis@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 828
Hire Date: August 2016
Email: kathleen.paterson@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 820
Hire Date: March 2017
Education: Memorial University of Newfoundland, Bachelor of Science (Math) and Bachelor of Nursing; University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Masters of Public Health
Contact me if: You want to learn more about spark*5, a new and evolving early childhood cross-sector and cross-organization placed-based initiative.
Birthplace: Newfoundland, Canada
Hobbies: I love to walk, read, and spend time outdoors (especially camping and gardening). And I relish the time I get to spend with my family and friends.
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Combined Efforts, a visual and performing arts company celebrating artists and changing perceptions through purposeful collaboration between artists with and without disabilities.
Email: john.spanczak@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 832
Hire Date: February 2016
Education: University of Iowa, Bachelors of Social Work; St. Ambrose University, Masters of Social Work
Contact me if: You are interested in serving as an AmeriCorps member, or have questions about the great work the Youth Achievement AmeriCorps Program does in our community.
Birthplace: Palos Heights, IL
Hobbies: I love spending time with my wife outdoors hiking, fishing, canoeing, and camping. I also enjoy playing board games, cards, volleyball, and softball.
Email: ashley.zitzner@uweci.org 
Phone: 319-398-5381 ext. 825
Hire Date: June 2015
Education: University of Iowa, BA in International Studies, MS in Urban and Regional Planning
Contact me if: You have any questions about United Way’s community building work, financial stability, or our neighborhood work.
Birthplace: Madison, WI
Hobbies: I spend a lot of my time learning. I enjoy watching documentaries and reading articles, especially ones related to housing and community development. I also enjoy cheering on the Hawkeyes and Green Bay Packers!
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Summer Meals
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Volunteer Engagement
Email: sue.driscoll@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 822
Hire Date: August 2008
Education: Kirkwood Community College, Associate Degree in Retail Management
Contact me if: You have any questions about engaging your company or organization in volunteer opportunities, if you are a nonprofit that needs volunteers, or would like to recognize volunteers in Jones, Benton Cedar, Iowa, or Linn Counties.
Birthplace: Dyersville, IA
Hobbies: Spending time with family, biking, and yoga
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Commissioner for the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service. I enjoy working with other commissioners across the state to increase volunteering.
Email: amy.keltner@uweci.org
Phone: 319-560-0811
Hire Date: October 2015
Education: University of Northern Iowa, BA in Social Work
Contact me if: You are looking for opportunities in Jones County to be a volunteer, or you are a nonprofit looking for assistance from great volunteers.
Birthplace: Anamosa, IA
Hobbies: Spending as much time with my children as possible. I love watching their little minds develop and grow. It’s an amazing experience!
Favorite volunteer opportunity: I love being able to give back to my community by involving myself in raising food donations for the food banks and participating in Christmas gift donation programs for children.
Connect with me on Linkedin
Email: kayla.paulson@uweci.org
Phone: 319-398-5372 ext. 837
Hire Date: December 2012
Education: Iowa State University, BA in Mass Communication with emphasis on Visual Presentation
Contact me if: You would like to know how to put your time and talents to work for a local nonprofit, or you are a nonprofit looking for great volunteers.
Birthplace: Cedar Rapids, IA
Hobbies: Crafting, cooking, baking, and trying to be a great mom
Favorite volunteer opportunity: Any that I can do with my kiddos. It’s great to help them see how they can make an impact at the ages of seven and four.
Connect with me on LinkedIn
