THE LEADERSHIP
. click on any image for an informational bio .
ROBERT (JJ) KIMBLE
Executive Director
RACQUEL McCLELLAN
Development Director
NELLIE KIMBLE
Operations and Food Service Manager
Affrica Kimble
School Counselor
MOLLY HUHN
Grant Writer
Octavius Evans
Music and Arts Coordinator
CORI LIEB
Business Manager/
Marketing and Technology Administrator
GABBY
Jean-Gilles
Academic Center Coordinator
TIM GAFFNEY
Facility Manager, Youth Career Development Coordinator
Kyle Graw
Basketball Program Coordinator
Nakiah Kimble
Girl’s Sports Program Coordinator
OUR DREAM CENTER TEAM
ROBERT (JJ) KIMBLE
CEO/Executive Director
Robert Kimble has been a resident of Dubuque Iowa since 1989. Robert graduated from Emmaus Bible College with a Degree in Biblical Studies and a Masters of Arts Degree in Urban Ministry from Grand Canyon University. Robert held the position of Youth and Family Program Director at the Dubuque Community Y from 2002 through 2013. Robert is the CEO and Founder of the Dubuque Dream Center, which was established in 2013. He is married to Nellie Kimble, and they have five daughters.
RACQUEL McCLELLAN
Development Director
Born and raised in Rockford, IL, Racquel McClellan came to the city in 2007 as a student at the University of Dubuque. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology in 2012, she began her career working in social services. Racquel began her involvement with the Dream Center in 2016 as a Board Member, then resigned from social work in 2017 joining the Dream Center staff as an Administrative Assistant. Racquel was promoted to Executive Assistant/Donor Relations Coordinator in June 2018.
NELLIE KIMBLE
Operations and Food Service Manager
Nellie Kimble was born and raised in Dubuque. She has been a restaurant and convenience store manager, as well as start-up manager for many chains. She is a certified intervener through Utah State University for deaf blind and has worked for the Dubuque Community Schools for 7 years with special needs. She has also worked for Camp Albrecht Acres for several years.
RICARDO CUNNINGHAM
Finance Director
The Department Head of the Business and Accounting Department at the University of Dubuque, Ricardo also brings more than ten years of practical business experience. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Anderson University, an M.B.A from Indiana Wesleyan University, and a B.A. from Anderson University. Research areas include organizational culture and human resources
MOLLY HUHN
Grant Writer, Marketing Coordinator
Originally from Des Moines, Molly moved to Dubuque to attend Loras College. Molly graduated from Loras in 2017 with a BA Degree in Public Relations. She started as an intern at the Dream Center in 2016 and has since become the Grant Writing and Marketing Coordinator.
CORI LIEB
Technology and Marketing Administrator
Cori was born and raised in Dubuque and graduated from Northeast Iowa Community College in 2011 earning a degree in Criminal Justice. Cori worked for the Dubuque Community School District for 12 years, finishing at Senior High School as the Principal Secretary. She started volunteering at the Dream Center in 2013 and now serves as our Business Manager/Marketing & Technology Administrator.
TIM GAFFNEY
Facility Manager, Youth Career Development Coordinator
Tim was born and raised in Long Beach, CA. He started in the field of car and motorcycle restoration while still in high school. He worked at Classic Motor Car Co. from 1980-1994 when he moved with his wife Laura and three daughters; Michelle, Elizabeth, and Lauren, to Galena, IL. After working at Mike Finnin Motors and while working in his own body shop, he took a job in building maintenance at Tri-State Christian School in Galena where he worked from 2005-2012. From there he went on to be Maintenance Supervisor at Hillcrest Apartments in Dubuque, IA where he worked until joining the Dream Center team in January of 2019. He performs maintenance of the facility and vehicles for the Center and teaches marketable skills and work ethics to Middle and High School-age youths. Tim enjoys sharing his skills and experience with young people in hopes that it will lead them to achieving successful careers.
GABBY Jean-Gilles
Academic Center Coordinator
In her sixth year as a special education teacher at Fulton Elementary, Gabby has been volunteering at the Dubuque Dream Center after school for the past 4 years. After working with our first-ever summer programming in 2016, she’s excited to be serving as the Dream Center’s Academic Center Coordinator. “I have enjoyed spending my days working with the kids in the Academic Center, watching them play, and spending time on fun field trips with them.”
Kyle Graw
Basketball Program Coordinator
Kyle Graw comes to the Dream Center after 8 years of coaching at the collegiate level. Kyle led the 2021-22 Emmaus Bible College Men’s Basketball team to the program’s first-ever NCCAA Regional Championship and National Tournament appearance. The team rode a 5 game win streak to the national tournament, and finished the year ranked inside the Top 10 (NCCAA), for the first time in 20 years. Previously, Kyle served as the head coach for Emmaus’s women’s basketball program from 2013-19, leading that program to a regional championship and NCCAA National Tournament appearance in 2018. Additionally, his women’s teams posted 3 conference regular season and tournament championships within the MCCC, along with a ACCA National Championship Runner up trophy.
Kyle is married to Tina Graw and they have 4 kids. Elijah (14), Laila (9), Isabella (4), and Sophia Mary (Newborn). Kyle also serves as one of the elders at Radius Church and is in the rotation for preaching and teaching on Sunday mornings.
IMPACTING YOUTH . STRENGTHENING FAMILIES . BUILDING COMMUNITY