Serving as the hub for the Weaver Mountains for over 50 years!
Our Team
Sue Dickerson
Executive Director
Sue brings a diverse professional background to her role as Executive Director of YRCC, with experience in Human Resources, IT, Data Analysis, and Business Operations across industries including government contracting, consulting, hospitality, and technology. Throughout her career, she has developed a passion for solving problems, building meaningful relationships, and helping organizations thrive. Today, as our executive director, she oversees YRCC’s daily operations, funding, and organizational leadership while working closely with nonprofit organizations and community partners to strengthen resources and create opportunities for those YRCC serves.
Known for her bright, fun, and optimistic energy, Sue helps make YRCC a welcoming place for staff, volunteers, and community members alike. She says, "Having the opportunity to work alongside an outstanding team of employees and volunteers while supporting such an incredible community is a dream come true." Outside of work, she enjoys landscaping, transforming, and beautifying her yard, and appreciates that it keeps her active and moving. She is grateful for the opportunity to combine her professional experience with her passion for people while serving a community she is proud to call home.
Diane Brown
Thrift Store Manager
With over 40 years in food service, hospitality, and customer service, including 30+ years of service management and co-owning several vintage shops, Diane is the perfect person to be our thrift store manager. A woman of many talents, she handles volunteer schedules, oversees donations, stages the thrift store and decorates for each season, helps keep the entire YRCC clean and organized, assists with special events, and creates beautiful food displays. On top of all that, she manages the register and is always ready to greet visitors with a friendly smile and a helping hand.
Diane makes all of this look effortless because she genuinely loves her community and is grateful for every opportunity to serve those in need. Her kindness, dedication, and servant's heart are evident in everything she does. Outside of YRCC, Diane enjoys gardening and spending time nurturing her beautiful outdoor spaces. She is also very active in her church, where she volunteers with children's ministry and participates in a variety of community service events. Whether she is helping a neighbor, supporting local families, or creating a welcoming environment at YRCC, Diane's commitment to serving others makes a lasting impact on everyone she meets.
Vanessa McMillan
MOW Marketing Coordinator & Admin
With experience in customer service, cooking, and teaching, as well as education and experience in writing, editing, and marketing, Vanessa brings a range of skills to the YRCC team. You will usually find her behind a computer creating social media content, designing marketing materials, updating the website, or handling administrative and coordinating work for Meals on Wheels. However, she is always happy to step away from her desk to help wherever needed. You may catch her assisting in the thrift store, taking photos and videos, or jumping in to support staff, volunteers, and community members wherever and whenever she is needed. You might even see her delivering Meals on Wheels from time to time.
Vanessa enjoys being able to work in different areas and appreciates every opportunity to learn something new. Working at the YRCC has given her a strong sense of purpose, community, and gratitude to be part of something bigger than herself. She especially loves getting to know the regular customers and volunteers who make the center so special. When she's not at work or doing work for her own business, Vanessa enjoys curling up with a good book, playing video games, spending time with family, and showering her beloved pets (and just about every animal she meets) with attention and affection.
Angie Mason
Kitchen Manager
Angie has spent more than 35 years in the restaurant industry, including over 25 years serving the community right here in Yarnell. Her experience and attention to detail make her an excellent kitchen manager, a role she's held for the past 13 years. Her journey at YRCC began with an employment ad and a role washing dishes, sweeping floors, and helping out in food preparation. After suggesting a menu item one day, she soon found herself doing all the cooking and discovered a job she truly loves. Today, she oversees menu planning, nutrition content of all food served, food ordering, meal preparation, and our kitchen team, all while helping to keep the kitchen running smoothly and prioritizing "keeping the ball rolling."
As a longtime Yarnell resident, Angie has gotten to know many members of the community by name and takes pride in treating every customer with warmth, respect, and professionalism. Whether dining in, receiving Meals on Wheels, or simply passing through town, everyone can count on a delicious meal made with care, often from scratch and always with a touch of creativity—something Angie loves about the job. When she's not feeding the community, Angie enjoys spending time with her husband and their menagerie of critters: three dogs, two cats, seven chickens, and three pond fish. She also loves adventuring with friends, watching the sunrise and sunset, and enjoying the outdoors.
Steven Gutierrez-Hurt
Assistant Kitchen Manager
Before discovering his passion for the culinary arts, Steven spent 14 years serving in the United States Marine Corps, providing him with the building blocks for a strong sense of discipline, dedication, and commitment to service that all continue to shape both his work and his life today. As a devoted husband and proud father of six, with hopes of adding at least one more to the team, family and connection are truly at the heart of everything he does. As YRCC's assistant kitchen manager, Steven combines those values with a genuine love of cooking and care for others. He finds great fulfillment in being able to help nourish the community that he is now so proud to call home. Though he holds multiple degrees, the one he cherishes most is from the renowned Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, allowing him to bring a special angle to everything that comes out of the YRCC kitchen.
Steven's journey with YRCC began through his culinary arts externship. While other opportunities presented themselves, he chose to stay because of the deep inner joy and sense of purpose he found here. For him, YRCC is far more than a workplace. It has become a second home and a place where he can make a meaningful difference every day. When he's not in the kitchen, you'll likely find Steven spending time with his family, tinkering in the garage, or building a racecar alongside his wife. No matter what he's doing, Steven believes in approaching life with passion, discipline, and pouring his heart into everything he creates, whether it's a meal, a project, or service to his community.
Kysha Dunkin
Kitchen Assistant
Kysha is a busy bee at the YRCC. Working hard behind the scenes in the kitchen, she may not always be in the spotlight, but her contributions help keep important programs running smoothly every day. With several years of experience in the restaurant industry, she brings valuable knowledge, efficiency, and dedication to her role. While she has the skills to work just about anywhere, Kysha chooses to be part of the YRCC because she finds fulfillment in helping provide nutritious meals to members of our community who need them most.
Kysha's primary focus is maintaining a clean, organized, and sanitary kitchen environment, as well as staying on top of the constant flow of dishes that come through the Mid-Day Café and Meals on Wheels programs. Her hard work behind the scenes helps ensure that meals can be prepared and served efficiently every day. Reliable, hardworking, and always willing to lend a hand, Kysha plays an essential role in supporting both staff and volunteers. When she's not busy at the YRCC, she enjoys spending time outdoors, appreciating nature, and finding opportunities to relax and recharge.
Joyce Malone
Kitchen Assistant
Joyce has a special way of connecting with people, bringing a smile to those around her and using her years of customer service and caregiving experience to make everyone feel welcome and valued. A bit of a chameleon at the YRCC, she is always willing to step in wherever help is needed. Her primary role is assisting in the kitchen, where she helps to keep things running smoothly, but you can also find her at the front desk greeting customers as they come in for breakfast. No matter the task, Joyce approaches it with a positive attitude and a friendly smile.
Coming out of retirement to work at the YRCC has been especially meaningful for Joyce because of how much she enjoys being around people, helping others, and staying active. She values the opportunity to serve her community while building relationships with the customers, volunteers, and staff she sees each day. Her kindness, energy, and willingness to help make her an important part of the YRCC family. On the rare occasion that you won't find Joyce at the YRCC, you'll likely find her expressing her creativity through sketching or creating beautiful acrylic paintings.
Wendy Qualls
Bookkeeper
With over 40 years of accounting experience, Wendy is not only an excellent bookkeeper, but also an expert at keeping financial records organized, accurate, and on track. Her attention to detail, reliability, and extensive knowledge make her an essential part of the YRCC team and help ensure that day-to-day operations run smoothly and efficiently. She is always on top of our monetary comings and goings, and everything in between. Behind the scenes, Wendy works diligently to keep everything in order, providing the strong financial foundation that supports all of our programs and services.
Working at the YRCC is especially meaningful for Wendy because she enjoys building genuine connections with members of the community. Although much of her work takes place behind a desk, she makes it a point to enjoy lunch in the dining room whenever possible, giving her the opportunity to visit with customers and get to know the people the YRCC serves. She values these relationships and enjoys being part of an organization that makes such a positive impact in the community. Outside of work, Wendy enjoys a quieter pace of life, spending her free time cross-stitching, relaxing at home, and happily living in service to her beloved cats.
Maria Guttierrez-Hurt
Volunteer Program Coordinator
Maria, originally from Chicago, is proud to now call Yarnell home. After serving 10 years in the United States Marine Corps, she developed a deep appreciation for resilience, community, and looking out for others—values that continue to guide her work today. As YRCC's volunteer program coordinator, Maria connects compassionate volunteers with neighbors in need, helping to build meaningful relationships through senior companionship, assistance with daily tasks, and other supportive services. As she likes to say, her role is not just about bridging gaps, but "bridging hearts."
Maria believes that connection is the heartbeat of life. She is especially inspired by a quote from Alan Watts: "You are something that the universe is doing, in the same way that a wave is something that the whole ocean is doing." To her, this reflects the power of community and the importance of recognizing our connection to one another. She feels YRCC embodies that spirit by fostering a sense of family, where helping those in need brings both joy and purpose.
In her free time, Maria enjoys spending quality time with her family, practicing meditation, writing, and you might also find her out in the garage building a racecar with her husband. At the heart of it all, she strives to stay grounded and grateful, embracing each step of life's journey with curiosity, compassion, and an appreciation for the people around her.
Austin Cranford
Facilities
Austin is our resident "do-it" guy. You ask, and he will make it happen! With experience in maintenance, warehouse and inventory control, and horticulture education, Austin brings a wide range of practical skills to the YRCC. He helps with groundskeeping, light repairs, organizing exterior storage areas, and tackling the many day-to-day projects that keep the facility looking its best and running smoothly. No matter the task, Austin does his best to make sure it gets done efficiently and with a positive attitude.
You'll probably see him all over the YRCC grounds doing a little bit of everything. Whether he's moving equipment, running errands, repairing something that needs attention, or helping prepare for an event, Austin is always on the move. As a true people person, he enjoys keeping up with the many wonderful community members who visit the YRCC each day and looks forward to meeting new customers and volunteers. When he isn't lifting things, moving things, fixing things, or lending a helping hand, Austin enjoys music, sports, exploring different areas of Yavapai County, and spending quality time with his family.