A New Chapter for YES
As Youth Equipped to Succeed (YES) celebrates 24 years of impact, Founder and CEO Dan Bailey, in partnership with the YES Board of Directors, has announced a thoughtful three-year leadership transition plan designed to ensure long-term mission strength and continued growth.
As part of this succession process, Kara DuBois has been named Executive Director. Over the next three years, she will serve alongside Dan while leading daily operations and helping guide YES into its next chapter. This transition reflects careful planning, strong governance, and a shared commitment to the students, schools, and families we serve.
Founded on March 1, 2002, YES was created to equip students to make positive choices, pursue healthy futures, and find hope during adversity. Under Bailey’s leadership, the organization has expanded significantly — including a 2019 merger with Aim for Success — growing to 35 employees and a $3.6 million operating budget. Today, its greatest measure of growth is impact: more than 275,000 K–12 students served during the 2024–2025 school year and programs delivered in over 132 Texas school districts over the past three years through three core program areas — Motivational Experiences, Wellness Education, and Student Mentoring.
“YES exists to help students understand their value, purpose, and that they are not alone,” Bailey said. “This mission has never been about one person — it’s about building a movement of hope and connection. Thoughtful succession planning ensures that the impact continues well beyond my tenure.”
Kara has served YES for more than a decade as Director of Communications and a member of the executive leadership team. Throughout that time, she has helped expand the organization’s reach and strengthen its voice across schools and communities.
“I step into this role with deep gratitude,” Kara said. “For 24 years, Dan has built a legacy of hope that has changed countless lives. My commitment is to build on that foundation — equipping students with resilience, empowering parents, and strengthening families for generations to come.”
Over the past two years, Bailey and the YES Board of Directors have led a deliberate succession planning process designed to position the organization for a strong and stable transition. Board Chair Tom Bumpass highlighted the value of thoughtful, forward-looking leadership planning.
“Dan has built something extraordinary through vision and perseverance,” Bumpass said. “This plan reflects strong governance and best practices, but at its core, it’s about students. It ensures that the mission continues to grow so more young people experience hope, connection, and support. Our Board stands united in support of Kara’s leadership. We are confident she will continue advancing the mission and expanding opportunity for the students, schools, and families YES serves.”
The foundation is strong, the leadership is aligned, and the mission moves forward — shaping lives today and creating a ripple effect that echoes through generations.
About Dan Bailey, Founder and CEO
While building a successful 22-year career in corporate sales, Dan Bailey began volunteering in Dallas-area schools, sharing his story of resilience and hope. As students opened up about their own struggles, he sensed a clear calling to dedicate his life to serving young people. In 2002, he stepped away from corporate America to launch Just Say YES — now Youth Equipped to Succeed (YES) — with a mission to help students discover their value, purpose, and that they are not alone. In 2019, Dan led the merger of Just Say YES and Aim for Success, uniting two legacy nonprofits to expand impact and strengthen long-term sustainability. Dan graduated from Miami University of Ohio and lives in Dallas with his wife, Sue. They are the proud parents of two adult children and grandparents to three.
About Kara DuBois, Executive Director
Kara DuBois is the Executive Director of Youth Equipped to Succeed (YES). Raised in Austin, Texas by parents who were both public-school educators, she developed an early appreciation for the role schools and families play in shaping a child’s future. She has served YES for more than a decade, previously as Director of Communications and a member of the executive leadership team, helping expand the organization’s reach and impact for students. Prior to joining YES, Kara began her career at a global public relations agency in Dallas, supporting communications initiatives across multiple industries. A graduate of Texas Tech University, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with a minor in Business. As a mother, Kara is passionate about equipping both students and parents with the connection and confidence needed to build healthy, successful futures. She and her husband, Kevin, reside in Richardson, Texas, with their young daughter.
