STAFF
Executive Leadership
Dr. Wendy Mihm-Herold
President & CEO
Our fearless, passionate leader has nearly 35 years of exemplary expertise working across public and private nonprofit sectors in industries that make up the cornerstones of iJAG.
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Anne Dirkx
Chief Operating Officer
Our all-team leader works cross-functionally across the organization to deliver superior guidance that supports how we work together, serve our students, and uphold meaningful relationships with stakeholders.
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Allyson Vukovich
Vice President of Programs & Employer Engagement
School programming and employer engagement are two of our key cornerstones, so we entrust Allyson’s leadership and innovative thinking will continue to bring immediate and long-term success to our stakeholders.
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Ondrea Mysak
Executive Business Partner
As the “glue” of our organization, Ondrea provides reliable support on a wide range of internal and external initiatives through superior organization, management and communication.
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Leadership
Tiffany Fitzpatrick
Financial Business Partner
Tiffany takes the lead in upholding the organization’s financial integrity, continuously refining and strengthening fiscal control systems to ensure the precise and impactful delivery of resources to drive the iJAG mission forward.
EMAIL TIFFANY
Lela Scott
Program Director
Lela is responsible for the continual improvement of program operations through coaching program team members, utilizing in-depth knowledge of the iJAG model, and building relationships with partners.
EMAIL LELA
Garrett Gobble
Civic & Community Engagement Coordinator
Garrett coordinates iJAG's efforts to connect students with elected officials and supports middle school programs to develop meaningful employer partnerships.
EMAIL GARRETT
Jill Padgett
Director of Program Strategy & Performance
Jill works to establish robust partnerships that benefit both employers and students, while also spearheading our data collection efforts to ensure accurate and comprehensive information for driving our initiatives forward.
EMAIL JILL
Ashley Ross
Regional Program Manager
Ashley led a variety of programs in North Central Iowa as a Program Supervisor for three years. Her organization, hands-on approach with Education Specialists, and willingness to go above and beyond have empowered her impact.
EMAIL ASHLEY
Natalie Lynch
Career Pathways Coordinator
Natalie works to build meaningful connections between employers and students statewide, spearheading the development of successful apprenticeship and internship programs while actively engaging with community partners.
EMAIL NATALIE
Marcus Lunning
Director of Growth & Partnerships
Marcus leads iJAG's strategic program development across the state working with school district administration to align program growth and impact for students and communities.
EMAIL MARCUS
Cory Jenkins
Regional Program Manager
Cory started his career eight years ago as an Education Specialist. His passion, ability to connect students with sustainable plans & engagement with local groups quickly led him to a Program Supervisor role with Des Moines Public Schools.
EMAIL CORY
Cami Cochran
Grants & Special Projects Coordinator
Cami is responsible for maintaining systems and processes related to grant deadlines and activities. She also supports the execution and planning of iJAG special events and projects.
EMAIL CAMI
Angela De La Riva
Development Officer
Angela works to build strong connections with grantmakers across the state to secure vital funding for iJAG and our mission. She works daily to fuel the HOW behind our WHY.
EMAIL ANGELA
Jillian Deines
Accounting Specialist
Jillian handles all day-to-day functions of iJAG’s Accounting & Finance department including payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and other general accounting functions.
EMAIL JILLIAN
National Training Faculty
Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) relies on a select group of highly experienced and knowledgeable career development experts to guide the success of JAG curriculum, programming, and development across 39 state affiliates. We are proud that four National Training Faculty members are right here from Iowa.
Jen Delfs
Learning & Development Business Partner
In addition to serving our iJAG staff's development needs, Jen facilitates program curriculum for JAG members across 39 state affiliates to guide skill competency while leveraging best practices from Iowa's classrooms.
EMAIL JEN
Candice Fedeler
Learning & Development Business Partner
Candice delivers diverse trainings and implements learning strategies to all of iJAG staff as well as facilitating JAG curriculum nationally to elevate program success across 39 state affiliates.
EMAIL CANDICE
Ryan Lootens
Education Specialist
In addition to serving our iJAG students as a Specialist in the Quad Cities, Ryan specializes in educating Specialists and developing JAG programming for middle schools across the county.
EMAIL RYAN
Daryle Wright
Program Supervisor
In addition to serving our iJAG students as a Program Manager, Daryle helps support content development, facilitates training sessions, and more, both in-person and virtually for small and large groups nationally, statewide, and locally.
EMAIL DARYLE
Program Supervisors
Miranda Durham
Eastern Iowa
Miranda leads iJAG programs in Eastern Iowa. She previously served as the iJAG Education Specialist at Muscatine High School for 4 years.
EMAIL MIRANDA
Dani McMahon
Program Supervisor
Dani joined iJAG as a Career and Technical Education Specialist at Woodbine. Soon, she oversaw programs across the district and now she manages programs across southwest Iowa.
EMAIL DANI
Casey Smith
Eastern Iowa
Casey leads iJAG programs in Eastern Iowa, and what she loves most about her role is the opportunity to serve her hometown and impact future leaders.
EMAIL CASEY
Daryle Wright
Central & North Central
In addition to serving our iJAG students as a Program Manager, Daryle helps support content development, facilitates training sessions, and more, both in-person and virtually for small and large groups nationally, statewide, and locally.
EMAIL DARYLE
Stephanie Flink
East Central
Stephanie leads iJAG programs in East Central Iowa and leads the planning of the Career Development Conference.
EMAIL STEPHANIE
Dani McPherson-Palmer
Southwest Iowa
Dani leads iJAG programs in Southwest Iowa. She previously served as the iJAG Education Specialist at Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs for 6 years.
EMAIL DANI
Colleen Theis
South Central Iowa
Colleen leads iJAG programs in South Central Iowa. Her mission is to ensure specialists and their students are equipped with the tools they need to make lasting positive changes in their lives and communities.
EMAIL COLLEEN
Yolanda Harden
North Central Iowa
Yolanda leads iJAG programs in North Central Iowa. What she enjoys most about her role is the opportunity to serve her community and impact future leaders.
EMAIL YOLANDA
Emily Nelson
Central & West Central
Emily leads iJAG programs in Central and West Central Iowa. She previously served as the iJAG Education Specialist at Boone High School for 3 years.
EMAIL EMILY
Rebecca Vasquez
Iowa City - Cedar Rapids Metro
Rebecca leads the iJAG programs in the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids Metro and is proudly an iJAG alum from Dubuque Hempstead High School.
EMAIL REBECCA
Nichole Hummell
Southeast Iowa
Nichole leads the iJAG programs in Southeast Iowa. What she enjoys most about her role is the opportunity to serve her hometown community and inspire future leaders.
EMAIL NICHOLE
Caitlin Snodgrass
Des Moines Metro
Caitlin leads iJAG programs in the Des Moines Metro. While in her previous role as an iJAG Specialist at Waukee High School, her team won first place at the 2022 National Career Development Conference.
EMAIL CAITLIN
Erin Whipple
Program Supervisor
Erin made a lasting impact over her last 16 years as a Specialist at Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids. She now oversees several classrooms as she takes the lead on program effectiveness across the district.
EMAIL ERIN
Staff Directory
Cami Cochran: Grants & Special Projects Coordinator – Email Cami
Angela De La Riva: Development Officer – Email Angela
Jillian Deines: Accounting Specialist – Email Jillian
Makensie Dimmitt: Administrative Assistant Email Makensie
Jen Delfs: Learning & Development Business Partner, National Training Faculty – Email Jen
Anne Dirkx: Chief Operating Officer – Email Anne
Candice Fedeler: Learning & Development Business Partner, National Training Faculty – Email Candice
Tiffany Fitzpatrick: Financial Business Partner – Email Tiffany
Garrett Gobble: Civic & Community Engagement Coordinator – Email Garrett
Cory Jenkins: Regional Program Manager – Email Cory
Ryan Lootens: Education Specialist, National Training Faculty – Email Ryan
Marcus Lunning: Director of Growth & Partnerships – Email Marcus
Natalie Lynch: Career Pathways Coordinator – Email Natalie
Ondrea Mysak: Executive Business Partner – Email Ondrea
Dr. Wendy Mihm-Herold: President & CEO – Email Wendy
Jill Padgett: Director of Program Strategy & Performance – Email Jill
Ashley Ross: Regional Program Manager – Email Ashley
Lela Scott: Program Director – Email Lela
Allyson Vukovich: Vice President of Programs & Employer Engagement – Email Allyson
Daryle Wright: Program Supervisor, National Training Faculty – Email Daryle
Click here for marketing, communications, and media inquiries.
For a full list of our Program Supervisors, see our Program Map.