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
CORI LIEB
Business Manager/
Marketing and Technology Administrator
GABBY
Jean-Gilles
Academic Center Coordinator
TIM GAFFNEY
Facility Manager, Youth Career Development 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.
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
Business Manager/Marketing and Technology 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."
Nakiah Kimble
Girl's Sports Program Coordinator
Born and raised in Dubuque, Nakiah Kimble graduated from Emmaus Bible College in May 2019, earning her Bachelors in Biblical Studies and Associates in K-12 Education.
She began playing basketball in first grade and continued to play at a collegiate level. She has been involved at the Dream Center since 2015 and looks forward to seeing the growth of this
organization and watching the continuous impact the Dream Center will have in
our community.
Affrica Kimble
School Counselor
IBorn and raised in Dubuque, Affrica attended elementary school, middle school, college, and graduate school - entirely in Dubuque. She graduated from Emmaus Bible College in May 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Counseling Psychology and Biblical Studies. She graduated from Loras College in May 2022 with a Master of Arts in School Counseling with Internship placements at Fulton Elementary School and Senior High School. She graduated with a 4.0 cumulative GPA from Loras College.
Affrica has been volunteering at the
Dream Center since the building opened 9 years ago and she is excited to see
the Organization's continued growth first-hand. She is passionate about making
a difference in the lives of the children and their families at the Dream
Center. She especially loves working with children and can't wait to build a
comprehensive school counseling program from scratch to continue serving the
children at the Dubuque Dream Center.
IMPACTING YOUTH . STRENGTHENING FAMILIES . BUILDING COMMUNITY