QENO Team: Staff, Coaches, Advisory Council
Staff
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Natasha Davis, Director 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. |
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Stephanie Straughn, Program Manager 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 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.
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Emmanuel Mitcham, Marketing and Communications Specialist Emmanuel Mitcham supports QENO in his role as |
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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. |
Marianna Pinto, Admin Assistant
"Hi there! My name is Marianna Pinto and I am a sophomore at UNCW. I am currently an Exercise Science major and I hope to pursue a career in physical therapy working with professional basketball or hockey teams. My position at QENO is Administrative Assistant. I am grateful to be able to work alongside with QENO and different nonprofit organizations to have a better understanding of the mechanics to run a nonprofit organization and the purpose behind what they do."
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Destini Bishop, MSW Field Placement Destini Bishop supports QENO as a Graduate level intern. Destini’s primary responsibilities are to assist leadership with the development of the QENO Board Fellows programs and to support the internal Equity and Diversity Initiative. Destini has a Bachelor’s in Social Work. She is currently enrolled in UNC Wilmington Master of Social Work Advanced Standing program. In the Fall of 2020 Destini began a hybrid placement internship with QENO and New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Hospital to maximize her understanding of both micro level and macro level systems. Destini’s passions include financial literacy education, mental health, criminal justice reform and advocacy against racial discrimination. |
QENO Coaches
Coaches are independently contracted by UNCW and not employees of QENO.
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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. |
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Richard E. Blouse, Jr. Dick Blouse is president and CEO of Global Perspectives LLC, a company that deals in economic development, strategic thinking |
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Maxine Elliott Maxine Elliott is a consultant and coach serving nonprofit organizations and their leaders. Her areas of expertise |
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Beth Hoover-DeBerry Beth graduated from Salem College with a BA in Psychology and |
Mona Johnson-Gibson Mona has more than 30 years experience in the private, public and non-profit sector in the areas of human service, marketing, training and administration. She formerly was the CEO of the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte for 12 years before retiring in January 2019 to Brunswick County. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from UNC-Charlotte and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Wake Forest University. She is a past president of Metropolitan Business & Professional Women (BPW) and has served BPW at the district and state levels. She also has served on the Cabarrus Mediation and Teen Court Board helping teens in trouble. In 2011 she was named one of the Mecklenburg Times 50 Most Influential Women.
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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. |
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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 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 |
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Kim Nelson |
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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. |
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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 |
Advisory Council
Dr. Jill Waity, Ph. D.
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Steve McCrossan, MALS, MPA
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Latisha Corpening, MA
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Tracy Meadows
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Amanda Gabbard
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David Morrison, MPA
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Dr. Kent Guion, MD, MA
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Dr. Andrew Ryder, Ph.D.
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Michelle Gunn
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Steve Spain, MPA
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Keith Fraser, MPA
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Resea Willis
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Dr. Andrea Jones, Ph.D.
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Marcia Wright
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