MEET THE TEAM
WayPoint Resources
WayPoint Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by churches, businesses, and community organizations in the Greater Dallas County area. We offer vital services such as food, clothing, healthcare, and help with housing and school essentials.
Our work is made possible by the dedication of volunteers and the generosity of donors like you.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to serve people’s immediate needs and create connections for lifelong wellness.
Vision Statement
A community where all are physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy.
Meet the Team
WayPoint Resources team members from left to right: Julie, Chianti, Heather, Melissa, Lauren, Jen, AJ, Suzy, Kelly and Sonja.
Melissa – Executive Director
Melissa has been with WACS from the very beginning in 2005. She makes sure we stay focused on our mission, overseeing the day-to-day operations and working closely with our board of directors. She is a native Iowan who enjoys camping, bike rides, hosting family gatherings and any type of travel.
Heather – Client Advocate & Seasonal Programs Manager
Heather joined the team part-time in 2016 as our Client Advocate – helping clients navigate through available resources within Waypoint Resources and elsewhere. She is a native Midwesterner, having lived in Minnesota, Michigan, and Iowa. She is passionate about sharing God’s love and grace, spending time with family and friend’s, and traveling on adventures.
Julie – Marketing, Garden & Clothing Closet Manager
Julie has volunteered in our donation garden since 2013 and joined the staff part-time in 2020, helping with communications, grants, funding, and other projects. She’s a native of Wisconsin, spent over a decade in California, but has been in Iowa since 2005. Julie enjoys exploring, games/activities with family, and anything outdoors.
AJ – Volunteer Program Manager & Client Case Manager
AJ was a Food Pantry volunteer before joining the staff part-time in 2020. Her main focus is taking good care of our volunteers. She also works one-on-one with clients needing extra support. AJ is a native of Kansas and moved to Iowa in 2014. She enjoys helping others reach their personal and fitness goals, working out, being active outside, and hanging out with her family and dogs.
Jen – Food Pantry, Food Rescue, & Food Donations Manager
Jen started volunteering with us in 2022 and instantly loved being part of something so rewarding. She joined the staff part-time in 2023. Jen is a native of Illinois but has called Iowa home for the last two years. She and her family are big readers and love to travel on new adventures together.
Sonja – Client Intake Specialist
Sonja is an Urbandale native and started volunteering with us in 2021. Helping neighbors with their most basic needs is important to Sonja. As a part-time Client Intake Specialist, she is happy to work one-on-one with our clients. Outside of work, Sonja enjoys reading, traveling and just being with her family.
Suzy – Client Intake Specialist
Suzy started as a volunteer in 2019 and loved shopping with clients. As a part-time Client Intake Specialist, she now helps clients by guiding them through all of our services. Suzy grew up in Minnesota but has considered Iowa home ever since attending college here. She loves to cook, craft (glitter is her favorite color), hike and hang out with family.
Lauren – Health Clinic Program Support & Client Intake Specialist
Lauren first joined WayPoint as a volunteer in both our Food Pantry and Health Clinic. Her compassion, reliability, and care for clients quickly made her an essential part of the team—so when the opportunity arose, we were thrilled to bring her on part-time to manage the clinic and support client intake with the same heart that first brought her here as a volunteer. Lauren grew up in Minnesota and moved to Iowa in 2018 to be closer to family. In her free time she enjoys attending their kids’ activities, thrifting and sewing/crafting.
Chianti – Anytime Food Room Intake Specialist
Chianti’s journey with Waypoint began as a volunteer, serving across multiple programs. Her passion for connecting with clients in the Anytime Food Room quickly stood out, leading to her transition into a part-time staff role where she continues to make a daily impact.
Kelly – Client Advocate
Kelly has volunteered in nearly every part of our organization—always stepping in wherever help was needed. With a background in connecting people to vital resources, she has a gift for helping others navigate tough times with compassion and care. She was a natural fit to join our team as a part-time Client Advocate, providing one-on-one support to neighbors facing difficult situations. Kelly hails from Pennsylvania and moved to Iowa in 2016. Some of her favorite things are British detective shows, the beach, thrift shopping, volunteering, and chatting over coffee with friends.Â
Meet the Board of Directors
WayPoint Resources Board of Directors
President – Travis Johnson (Principal Financial Group)
Vice President – Rick Arnold (Custom One CFO Controllers)
Treasurer – David Wall (Tarbell & Co., P.L.C.)
Secretary – Josh Tillman (Westwind Church Lead Pastor)
Board Member – Ronda Porter (Retired)
Board Member – Dan Adams (Leachman Lumber)
Board Member – Michelle Ingle (Wellabe, Inc)
Board Member – John Aker (Retired)
Board Member – Kathy Dean (Retired)
Board Member – Tammy Niemann (Rock Life Consulting)
