Meet Sue Dickerson of Yarnell Regional Community Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sue Dickerson.

Hi Sue, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey to becoming Executive Director of the Yarnell Regional Community Center (YRCC) has been shaped by optimism, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. From my early days in HR to where I am now, it’s truly been a path from HR to heart — a journey fueled by purpose and the belief that every challenge is an opportunity to grow.
My family moved to Arizona when I was 7, and I grew up in Phoenix and then Scottsdale. I began my professional journey in Human Resources at the Club Med Reservations Center in Scottsdale. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to serve and help people — a guiding belief that has shaped every chapter of my career.

My journey took me beyond Arizona, first to Oklahoma, where I met my husband and continued working in HR. In 2000, we relocated to Colorado, where I spent two decades blending my HR expertise with IT, eventually transitioning into business operations. Colorado gave us so much — professionally and personally. It was a place where I grew into new roles and discovered new strengths.

In 2021, a job transfer brought us back to Arizona. But after years in the Rockies, the desert heat didn’t quite feel like home. We found our perfect retreat in the higher elevations of Peeples Valley, where we could both work remotely and enjoy the serenity of rural life.

Then came an unexpected twist: I was laid off from my remote operations role. In a small community with limited job opportunities, I took a position at a local pizza place — a move that turned out to be serendipitous. That’s where I met someone who connected me to an opening at YRCC as the Meals on Wheels Coordinator.

I had no idea that the Director was planning his retirement. He saw something in me — potential I hadn’t yet seen in myself. Within a year and a half, I stepped into the role of Executive Director.

Today, I lead YRCC with the same passion that launched my career decades ago. Every role I’ve held — HR, IT, operations — has prepared me for this. I’m serving our rural communities in ways I never imagined, and I truly believe I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey has been full of many great learning opportunities, and a few struggles. Some of the struggles along the way are typical life struggles that most people work through. Raising a family when you working full time requires pretty good juggling skills, but it was absolutely full of adventure & joy as well, with 3 children and a wonderful husband. I would say the biggest struggle was the most recent, when I was laid off from my remote job. We had just moved to Peeples Valley and at the beginning of building our home. This was our dream come true, and when that happened, there were many nights of “oh boy, how are we going to make it?”

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Founded in 1974, the Yarnell Regional Community Center has been serving Yarnell and our neighboring communities — Peeples Valley, Wilhoit, Congress, Skull Valley, and Kirkland — for over 50 years. At the heart of what we do is our Meals on Wheels program, which delivers more than 12,000 meals each year to vulnerable and homebound seniors. But YRCC is about so much more than food — it’s about connection, dignity, and care.

Through our “More Than a Meal” initiative, we offer nutrition education, physical activity programs, and social events that help build community and support overall well-being. Our Mid-Day Café, open Monday through Friday, serves nearly 8,000 meals annually, creating a warm and welcoming space for residents to gather and share, and we recently started serving breakfast from 7:30a – 10a, which has been a huge hit in our small community.

We also partner with local organizations to bring healthcare services and additional food resources to our community. Our thrift store is a local favorite — full of unique finds and 1950s-style prices that make shopping both affordable and fun.

On October 25th, thanks to generous donors, we’ll be opening a community park on the one-acre property next door to the YRCC — a dream we’ve held for several years that’s finally coming true. We invited the community to participate in a park naming event and have received over 80 entries! We will be choosing the park name this week, and unveiling the name at the park grand opening

What sets YRCC apart? It’s our commitment to the community and our volunteers. In the 400 square mile region that we serve, the total population is still under 4000 people, yet we have 115 volunteers! We also never turn away anyone in need of a meal. That’s our promise. With our expanded We’ve recently expanded our services to include breakfast, allowing us to reach even more people in need.

While NACOG funds about a third of our Meals on Wheels program, the rest comes from grants, donations, and fundraisers — a true community effort. If you’ve ever known someone who’s benefited from Meals on Wheels, you understand just how vital this program is.

How do you think about happiness?
Serving others and helping solve problems truly fuels me. When I am able to help lighten their load and bring a smile to their face is very rewarding. Seeing someone relax or de-stress even just a little, and to know I am bringing at least a moment of relief or happiness to their life is something that brings me immense joy and satisfaction.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.yarnellrcc.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yarnellregionalcommunitycenter/