Lisa McCarty is the current President of All Aboard for Kids. Originally from Farnhamville, Iowa, Lisa holds a BS in English with a focus on Rhetoric and Professional Communication from Iowa State University. She and her husband, Mike McCarty, have lived in the Ames area for 30+ years, raising their family of 5 children, including three boys diagnosed with autism. This personal journey inspired Lisa’s passion for advocating for improved services and support for individuals with autism and their families in the central Iowa area, and prompted Lisa and Mike to found All Aboard for Kids in 2016.

Lisa grew up in northwest Iowa and graduated from a class of just 19 students. She loved growing up in a small community! Lisa and her husband have lived in the Ames area for the past 20+ years where they have raised three children. She met Lisa McCarty when her son, Luke, and Lisa Schuelka’s daughter, Olivia, were just babies. They have been friends ever since. Now, these two babies are entering adulthood! She began serving with All Aboard for Kids in an official capacity in January 2020. Lisa expresses that it has been a joy to work alongside the McCarty’s and the rest of the AAFK team to bring this program to life.

Emily graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2021 with a degree in Leisure, Youth, and Human Services. After graduating, she worked as an AmeriCorps member at UNI for a year and has since gained experience in the nonprofit field. Emily has a daughter, whom she has stayed home with since her birth in January, but she is eager to re-enter the workforce. She is excited to start working for All Aboard for Kids because she deeply values the work and service they provide to the community. The mission at All Aboard for Kids resonates with her personally, as she has a brother and a brother-in-law who are both on the autism spectrum. Supporting the community in this way is something Emily is truly passionate about.