QENO Team: Staff, Coaches, Advisory Council

Natasha Davis, Director
910-962-2878
davisn@uncw.edu

Natasha Davis, MPA, draws on her decades of finance and management experience in addition to her BS in Accounting and Masters in Public Administration to strengthen southeastern North Carolina’s nonprofit sector as UNC Wilmington’s Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations (QENO) Director. Natasha has experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors in the roles of staff member, board member, funder, and consultant.  Natasha started working with QENO in 2010 and was selected as QENO Director in 2013. In 2015, she was recognized as WILMA Magazine's Woman to Watch in the nonprofit category. In 2018, she was inducted into UNCW’s James F. Merritt Million Dollar Club for securing over $1 million in grants. During her tenure as QENO Director, she has slowly transitioned QENO’s program strategy from traditional top-down strategy to a participant-led program design strategy incorporating numerous nonprofit leaders, UNCW faculty, staff, and students that work together to identify and address nonprofit needs. Natasha’s areas of interest include nonprofit management, nonprofit finance, Alzheimer’s healthcare reform, reentry, criminal justice reform, and child advocacy.

Stephanie Straughn, Program Manager
910-962-3844
straughns@uncw.edu

Stephanie Straughn, MSSW began her journey with UNC Wilmington’s Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations (QENO) as a MSSW Field Placement student. She is now QENO’s Program Manager and manages all QENO programming and evaluation. She has been an integral partner in QENO’s transition to participant-led program design and created and performed the program evaluation for QENO’s first Executive Director Academy that was created by and for new nonprofit Executive Directors in southeastern North Carolina. Stephanie has also led multiple collaborations with UNCW’s School of Social Work to increase students’ knowledge of and experience with macro social work and its impact on our nonprofit sector. Stephanie has a Bachelor’s in Social Work with a Minor in Psychology from UNC Wilmington and a Master’s of Science in Social Work, with a concentration in Organizational Leadership and a certificate in Human Services Management, from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She served on the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) NC Chapter’s Board of Directors and the UNCW BSW Committee and acted as an officer of two student social work organizations at UNCW.  Stephanie’s areas of interest include nonprofit management, reentry, substance abuse, criminal justice reform and prison social work.

Davonna Cohen, Interim Office & Event Coordinator
910-962-7039
cohendm@uncw.edu

Davonna Cohen contributes to the QENO team by increasing student involvement, engaging in professional development, assisting in the organizational coaching process, managing correspondence, producing evaluation summaries, and maintaining community relationships. Davonna has a Bachelor’s in Social Work with a Minor in Psychology. She is currently enrolled in the UNC Wilmington Master’s of Social Work Advanced Standing Program while completing a Certificate in Substance Use. In the Fall of 2019, Davonna will continue her work with QENO and begin a hybrid internship with Leading Into New Communities Inc. (LINC Inc.). Her senior year of undergrad she was the President of a student social work organization and a social work honor society. She is a member of the Dean’s Student Leadership Advisory Council, as well as a Student Success Ambassador for the College of Health and Human Services. Davonna’s passions include reentry, substance use, mental health, prison social work, children, and dance.

Emmanuel Mitcham, Marketing and Communications Specialist

Emmanuel Mitcham supports QENO in his role as Marketing and Communications Specialist for UNCW Community Engagement. He assists in developing and managing branding for events as well as creating graphics for marketing materials. Emmanuel has strong background in higher education, diversity, and healthcare marketing. He is very passionate about his work, both personally and professionally. He has a history of providing assistance to non-profit organizations and individuals in the Wilmington community.

Sara Bullins, Program Assistant

Sara Bullins supports QENO as a Program assistant. Her role includes assisting the department program manager in all aspects of program delivery including event planning & setup, program evaluation, and assisting with administrative duties related to QENO’s organizational coaching process. Sara is following in her mother’s footsteps as a UNCW legacy. She is perusing a degree in Social Work and Sociology with a Minor in Leadership Studies. She is a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient and did her project on implementing Diabetes education and awareness in schools. She is also a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and has held chair positions such as housing chair and community service chair. Sara has a passion for social justice and advocates on behalf of individuals living with disabilities. She dedicates her time to educating others on the matter and spreading awareness. She is excited to be a part of the QENO team and looks forward to all the opportunities ahead.

Andy Atkinson

Andy Atkinson’s experience in the private, public and non-profit sectors spans four decades. Atkinson spent twenty-four years as Finance Director and Deputy County Manager for New Hanover County. Since retiring in 2003, Andy has served as a consultant by numerous private and public agencies such as Cape Fear Literacy Council, Phoenix Ministries, Access Three of the Lower Cape Fear and the UNCW with an emphasis on strategic planning, leadership skills, and board development issues.  He served on the board of the Cape Fear Area United Way for 12 years and was recently the Chair of the Carousel Center for Abused Children.

Richard E. Blouse, Jr.

Dick Blouse is president and CEO of Global Perspectives LLC, a company that deals in economic development, strategic thinking and organizational development. He is a former president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber where he developed innovative initiatives that spanned the private and public sectors. Under his leadership, the Chamber created a regional economic partnership that united the Detroit region's 10-county governments with the private sector, doubled the Chamber's customer base to 20,000 firms and put it in solid financial footing with $8 million of daily cash management.  He retired in 2010 and, in 2016-2017, Dick was asked to serve as Interim President/CEO of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. 

Maxine Elliott

Maxine Elliott is a consultant and coach serving nonprofit organizations and their leaders.  Her areas of expertise include: board and executive director leadership development, strategic planning, fundraising including grant proposal writing, starting a nonprofit and other various elements of organizational development.  Her 25+ years of nonprofit involvement include serving as an Executive Director, Board Member, Founding Board Chair and volunteer.  She has a Certificate in Nonprofit Board Consulting from BoardSource and is a graduate of the Duke Nonprofit Management Certificate Program. As a Robert H. B. Baldwin Fellow for Communities In Schools, Inc. she produced the Executive Leadership Development report.  Current local community involvement includes board member of the Brunswick County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, volunteer Guardian ad Litem advocating in court for children in custody of Department of Social Services and Treasurer of WAVES4K.I.D.S., an organization that helps meet needs of children in foster care and other difficult situations.  She resides in Oak Island with her four dogs.  

Beth Hoover-DeBerry

Beth graduated from Salem College with a BA in Psychology and Sociology, and holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. As a lifelong volunteer and avid museum-goer, Beth found an ideal match in the non-profit sector for her professional skills and personal interest at Reynolda House Museum of American Art, where she serves as Manager of Docent-Volunteers. Beth enjoys being able to share her knowledge of volunteer management with others by facilitating workshops at state and regional museum conferences, creating conversations to promote volunteerism in her community, and problem solving with non-profit professionals seeking guidance. She is active in several professional museum groups including the North Carolina Museums Council (NCMC) as a FoCoS Consultant, and the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) as a member of the program committee. She has served on the Executive committee of  the Piedmont Regional Association of Volunteer Administrators (PRAVA), and served as Board Chair for HandsOn Northwest NC.

Mona Johnson-Gibson

Tracy Meadows

Tracy Meadows is a 1992 graduate of the UNCW Cameron School of Business with a BS in Accounting.  Since that time, Tracy has served in various accounting capacities in the Wilmington area in both the private and public sectors and is currently in private practice with a wide variety of clients ranging from non-profit organizations to companies within the restaurant, retail, and construction industries.  Tracy held roles as Treasurer, Vice-President, and President for such organizations as Smart Start of New Hanover County, North Carolina Junior Sorosis, Forest Hills Global Elementary School PTA, and the Hanover Seaside Club.  Tracy currently resides in Wilmington, NC with her husband and son.

David Morrison

David Morrison is Coach and Owner of DF Morrison Consulting, a firm that empowers social-impact ventures (both for-profit and nonprofit) to work smarter. He helps organizations “keep it rollin’” by discovering the best structure for your needs, sharing the value of diversifying your revenue streams, and, ensuring you have the right team at your table.

David holds both a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in nonprofit management and a Certificate in Conflict Management and Resolution from University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW).

He has served as a co-founder, board member and volunteer for local adapted recreation and human services organizations in Wilmington, NC since 2008, during which time, he has helped write and review countless grants of varying sizes and types. This includes grants for the over $1 million development of the BRAX Stadium PPD Miracle Field and Kiwanis Miracle Playground at Olsen Park

David holds his bachelor’s Degree (’13) in English also from UNCW.

Kim Nelson

Bio coming soon... 

Logan Thompson

Logan has been working in the nonprofit field since her arrival to Wilmington in 2010. Attaining a Masters in Public Administration in 2012 from UNCW, Logan has worked with various local nonprofits, in addition to Cancer for College, a national nonprofit organization providing college scholarships to cancer survivors – of which Logan was a recipient for two years in a row. A passionate fundraising executive, Logan has served in various organizations as Executive Director, Development Director, and Communications Director – now serving as Director of Philanthropy at Cape Fear Community College. Logan has been coaching both for-profit and non-profit organizations since 2014, specializing in Organizational Assessment, Board Development, Strategic Planning, Team Building, Leadership, and Program Evaluation. She spends most of her down time trying to keep up with her incredibly energetic son, and is an avid baker and gardener.

Boo Tyson

Boo Tyson is the owner and founder of the nonprofit consulting business, Tyme Management, LLC, specializing in the facilitation of difficult conversations within nonprofit and other workplace settings. In this capacity, she works with boards of directors and executive staff in helping to create processes and develop relationships that can sustain an organization, its board and its executive director over time. Boo has 25 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, serving in roles ranging from program director to organizer to executive director. She also previously served as the vice-president of Education & Connections at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville, TN. She holds an undergraduate degree in social work from NC State University, a Master of Divinity degree from the Divinity School at Wake Forest University, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. The daughter of a public school teacher and a United Methodist minister, Boo grew up in eastern North Carolina being called Martha Buie. Portions of Boo’s family and history were captured in her brother Tim Tyson’s award-winning book, Blood Done Sign My Name.