Board of Directors

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 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.

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 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 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 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 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.”