OUR MISSION
City Impact empowers under-resourced communities through wholistic youth, family, and neighborhood development. We aspire to be the best in the world at seeing, investing in, and encouraging the unique strengths of under-resourced youth and families so that their leadership makes a lasting positive impact within their communities.
Through core values of grit, empowerment and initiative, excellence, community, and radical candor, City Impact cultivates transformation from the inside out.
Meet Our Staff
Brad Bryan
Founder & Development Director
In 1996, when Brad’s friends left on mission to Los Angeles, California and he stayed behind, it was a blessing in disguise. While his friends were gone, he learned about a single mom from Nigeria whose three boys were struggling in school.
Brad began tutoring them and suddenly realized he was fulfilling a mission right here at home. Brad’s experience provided the seed of an idea that he and his wife Carma, along with many amazing people, have grown into an abundance of loving service from the community, to the community.
Elena Cornwell
Photographer
Elena is originally from Hilo, Hawaii. Her favorite thing about City Impact is it provides such a safe and fun place to be for kids. When she’s not working she can be found reading and being outside.
Her favorite food is chips and salsa (or when not vegan: mac and cheese). Her love for chips and salsa is a whole other level.
Jesse Dotterer
Operations Director
Jesse is originally from Mansfield, Ohio. Before working at City Impact, he’s been a stay at home dad, farm risk manager, and agricultural economist. His favorite thing about City Impact is its focus on people and grounding in Jesus.
When he’s not working he can be found camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, woodworking, and taking on home repair. Otherwise he’s traveling with his wife, sons, and friends or watching This Old House.
Lisa Guill
Communications Director
Lisa is originally from Kearney, Nebraska. Prior to joining the team at City Impact she worked for Union Bank & Trust for over nine years, helped run the Lincoln VITA Coalition, and served on the Board of Directors for El Centro de las Américas.
Lisa loves the purpose driven mission of City Impact, investing long-term in our neighborhood and sharing Jesus’ love throughout the community. She is motivated by connecting with others through a common purpose.
Outside City Impact, Lisa currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Asian Community & Cultural Center. She loves to spend time with her family, host gatherings with friends, travel, and feed her people!
Ashley Hopkins
Community Engagement Coordinator
Ashley is from Lincoln and has been part of the City Impact family for over 20 years. She’s a busy mom of four, always on the go. Ashley’s passion for people has led to careers in the beauty industry and life coaching.
She’s excited to be part of the City Impact ripple and pass on the faith, community, and empowerment she has received over the years to a new generation of youth.
When she’s not at City Impact Ashley loves doing hair in the community, spending time with her kids, and promoting health and fitness for her tribe.
Ashley Larson
Impact Reading Director
Ashley is from Lincoln and attended Nebraska Wesleyan. She originally joined the City Impact team in 2008 teaching and leading throughout our programs until 2012, when she took the opportunity to stay at home with her children. Now she has returned as Impact Reading Director and we’re thrilled to have her!
Ashley is inspired by City Impact’s steadfast commitment to the community and wholistic gospel focus. Her dream is for City Impact’s work to open doors for Lincoln youth that will create lasting change in our kids, their families, and our community.
When she’s not at City Impact, Ashley loves running outdoors, reading, enjoying great food, and delighting in her kids and family.
Nicole Leininger
office & Data coordinator
Nicole is originally from McBain, Michigan, and then spent 20 years in New Jersey before arriving in Lincoln. She enjoys cultivating harmony and positivity among teams working toward a common goal.
Her favorite things about City Impact are the relationships and collaboration within the community. She hopes her work at City Impact empowers young leaders to make a difference in their community.
When she’s not working, Nicole enjoys spending time with family, gathering with friends around food and drink, and sharing culinary creations.
Lizzie Mattox
Executive Director
Lizzie is originally from Lincoln, Nebraska. Before working at City Impact, she graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a B.A. in History, Political Science & International Studies.
Her favorite thing about City Impact is the commitment to loving and serving the youth in our community and empowering them to do it for others. She gets all her energy from unifying a team and reaching a common goal.
When she’s not working, she can be found traveling, hosting dinner parties, or playing board games.
Reneé Meyer
city impact kids director
Reneé is from Houston, TX but has happily called Lincoln home since 2005. Before joining the City Impact team, Reneé worked in Women’s and College Ministry for almost 20 years, first at Texas A&M and then at Lincoln Berean Church.
Reneé’s favorite thing about City Impact is our focus on long term relationships: She loves connecting with the community, program families, and especially our City Impact kids. Her greatest hope is that every student who walks through our doors would know they are loved by God and have the opportunity to grow into all God made them to be.
Reneé loves language, different cultures, and traveling the world. When she’s at home, you’ll find her reading, writing, or enjoying time with her husband and three sons.
Dustin Oltman
Strengths for Life Mentoring Director
Dustin moved to Lincoln from Kansas City, MO as a kid. He and his wife and two sons moved to Springfield, MO in 2006. While in Springfield, his wife gave birth to their daughters. They returned to Lincoln in 2010, a family of six and pregnant with their 5th child (3rd son).
Dustin’s favorite thing about City Impact is mentoring, which is what first brought him here as a volunteer SFL mentor. His passion for mentoring has remained constant in his journey at City Impact.
His favorite hobbies are working out, music, and family. His favorite foods are Paleo and Whole30 recipes.
Seth Roepke
Youth ministry director
Seth was born in Norfolk, Nebraska but grew up in Lincoln. His degree from UNL is in Communications Studies and Psychology. Prior to City Impact, Seth worked for seven years with Campus Life at Lincoln High and in various other LPS schools.
Seth loves City Impact’s focus on wholisitic community change starting with the spiritual life of youth. He is passionate about grounded spiritual transformation and the strengths-based approach of our mission. His desire is that every young person who walks through our doors will know their own value and the hope of the Gospel.
In his free time, Seth enjoys spending time with his wife, Hannah, playing with their dogs (Bowe and Fin), and watching The Office on Netflix. Basketball is a way of life for him, from cheering on LeBron James to shooting hoops with friends. The obsession is real!