Board of Directors
Lisa McCarty — Co-Founder and President
Lisa M. is the Co-Founder and President of All Aboard for Kids. She is from Ames, IA and has her BS in English from Iowa State University.
Mike McCarty — Co-Founder
Mike founded All Aboard for Kids with his wife, Lisa M. They have five children together, three of whom have autism diagnoses. Together, Mike and Lisa M. created AAFK in hopes to build a place where children like their three boys could go in the summer and have great experiences.
Lisa Schuelka — Executive Director
I grew up in northwest Iowa and graduated from a class of just 19 students. I loved growing up in a small community! My husband and I have lived in the Ames area for the past 20+ years where we have raised three children. I met Lisa when her son Luke, and my daughter, Olivia, were just babies. We have been friends ever since. Now, these two babies are entering adulthood! I began serving with All Aboard for Kids in an official capacity in January of 2020. It has been a joy to work along side the McCarty’s and the rest of the AAFK team to bring this program to life.
Missy Sanow — Secretary
Missy is from Gilbert, IA and has her BS in Early Childhood Education from Iowa State University. Currently, she holds a position as the Executive Director at Martha’s House of Hope. Here is what Missy has to say about how she got involved with AAFK: “I got involved with All Aboard for Kids because I feel very passionate about the philosophy, program and mission of All Aboard For Kids. My daughter is on the Spectrum for Autism and has participated in the program for several years and has gained SO much from her experiences! She has overcome some fears and found some friends which for her is a big feat. I am so appreciative for what this program has done for her and want to give back in the best way possible.”
Connie Hargrave — Member
Connie is a Member of the All Aboard for Kids board. She is from Ames, IA and is currently a Professor of Learning Technologies at Iowa State University. Here is what Connie has to say about how she got involved with AAFK: “I became involved in All Aboard for Kids because it is the type of grassroots educational programming that meets the needs of our young people while making a critical difference in the lives of students and families.”
Rozanne Warder — Member
Rozanne is a Member of the All Aboard for Kids board. Her hometown is Oskaloosa, IA, and she currently holds a position as the CEO and Owner of Take Action Consulting. Here is what she has to say about how she got involved with AAFK: “As an advocate for children with differing abilities, AAFK was an additional way for me to increase community access to activities for all kids. Also, I love hard work that is fun!”
Jennifer LaRosa — Member
Jennifer is a member of the All Aboard for Kids board. She is from Dallas Center, IA and currently works on staff as an Internship Coordinator and Assistant Teaching Professor at Iowa State University. She has a BS in Child & Family Services and her MBA from Iowa State University, and is currently working on her Ph.D. in Higher Education at Iowa State University. Here is what Jen has to say about how she got involved with AAFK: “It was a fortuitous meeting when Lisa M. reached out to meet regarding HDFS internships at a time when I was looking to get back into community engagement after having been in early childhood for almost 25 years. All Aboard for Kids was new to me, but while talking with Lisa, I quickly understood this was a group of people who, like me, had a passion for supporting children in spaces where they’ve not always had opportunities, such as summer camp. I have always been motivated to support and advocate for all children. By the end of the meeting, I was volunteering myself for the board! I am thrilled to be a part of this growing organization.”
Judi Eyles — Member
Judi is a member of the All Aboard for Kids board. Professionally, Judi Eyles is the director of the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University. In this role, she delivers entrepreneurship education and experiences to students and faculty across disciplines at the university. The center’s programs and services, including CyBIZ Lab, CYstarters, and Startup Factory, offer business support to students, faculty, and the community. Judi has been with the center since its inception in 1996 and worked for the Small Business Development Center prior to the establishment of the Pappajohn Center. Judi is an Iowa State Ivy College of Business graduate. Personally, Judi is the proud mom of three children, Jeremy, Benjamin, and Amy, and her spouse is Gary. Judi’s volunteer board experiences include Special Olympics Iowa, The Arc of Story County, and several professional organizations.
Kelly Polich — Member
I am both honored and excited to be asked to serve on the “All Aboard for Kids” board. My passion for individuals and families with special needs began as a young child as I watched the treatment my brother suffered from the school district and doctors in their attempt to conform him to become attentive to instruction and classroom routines. He was diagnosed with hyperactivity, as it was called at the time. He also has a learning disability. After high school graduation, I received an associate of science degree in developmental disabilities from Des Moines Area Community College and was hired as a teacher’s associate at the Woodward-State Hospital School, now known as the Woodward Resource Center. Years later, with two young children at home and another on the way, I enrolled at Iowa State University and earned a Bachelor of Elementary Education that included several special education endorsements. I worked for the Des Moines Public Schools and the Woodward-Granger Community School district teaching special education for students in kindergarten thru the fifth grades and also taught kindergarten. I received my Master of Education in Special Education at Iowa State. After 15 years in the classroom, I began working for Heartland Area Education Agency as an Early Childhood Special Education Consultant and Home Intervention Teacher. I retired in May of 2021. My husband and I live just south of the town of Madrid where we raised our six children. We enjoy time with our 10 grandchildren including attending their various sporting events, dances, and school performances. We love camping and spending time outdoors.
Beth Wessel-Kroeschell — Member
I am a native of Ames. I graduated from UNI in 1981 and taught high school English for 4 years. Then got an MPA from ISU in 1987. I worked for several nonprofits, Association of Boards of Certification, Iowa Farmers Union, ACCESS and did desktop publishing out of my home. I was elected to the Iowa Legislature in 2004. I currently serve as the ranking member of the Health and Human Service Committee, a member of Judiciary Committee, Public Safety Committee, Justice Systems Sub Appropriations Committee and the Appropriations Committee.
