Staff

Sarah holds a Masters of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management and a bachelor's degree in Political Science from UNC Wilmington, as well as a bachelor's in Music Performance from the University of Georgia. She moved to Wilmington in 2009 and has held several positions with local nonprofit organizations including Finance Director at Thalian Hall, Executive Director of Feast Down East (then based at UNCW), Interim Director of the NC Blueberry Festival Association, and Executive Director of the New Hanover Disaster Coalition. Sarah founded the Cape Fear Food Council, which was integral in coordinating food assistance services across the community after Hurricane Florence and early in the Covid-19 pandemic. In recent years, she owned and operated a consulting firm that offered nonprofit management services and also taught Nonprofit Financial Management in the MPA program at UNCW. Her areas of expertise and passion include program design, organizational development, inter-organizational collaboration, equity & diversity, and public policy advocacy. In other facets of her life, Sarah plays viola with the Long Bay Symphony in Myrtle Beach, is creating a small-scale urban farm at her home, and spends lots of time at the beach.     

Davonna Cohen, Program Coordinator
910-962-7039
cohendm@uncw.edu

Davonna Cohen became a member of the QENO team in January of 2018, interning as a QENO Program Assistant. She has since served as a SECU Program Coordinator, Interim Office & Event Coordinator, and Permanent Office & Event Coordinator (Dec 2020). She now serves as QENO's Program Coordinator. In this role, Davonna maintains all office functions including tracking funding expenditures, and carries out all QENO programming logistics. As SECU Program Coordinator, Davonna oversaw the expenses of a $50,000 grant from the State Employees Credit Union (SECU) Foundation for QENO to host 10 SECU Public Fellows throughout the Summer (2020). These interns were placed virtually in 10 organizations located in Brunswick and Onslow counties. In 2022, Davonna will have a role managing UNCW's SECU Public Fellows Internship Program for the 3rd time. Davonna holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree with a minor in psychology as well as a Master of Social Work degree with a certificate in substance use from UNC Wilmington. Her passions include supporting nonprofits, reentry, substance use, mental health, prison social work, children, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and dance.

 Program Support 

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.

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. 

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

After about 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Kim Nelson decided to refocused her efforts in making a meaningful difference in her community. During her pharmaceutical career, her areas of focus included strategic planning, project management, clinical development, risk management, sales, and market optimization.

She is equally as busy in her retirement and is involved in a variety of local organizations including being a coach for non-profits through QENO, Chair of the Board for the Young Scientists Academy, Board member for the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW) Foundation, Advisory Council member for UNCW's Cameron Executive Network, Advisory Council Member for FUSECR, Advisory Council member for SeaTech Academy Health & Fitness, Advisory Council member for the Wilmington Chamber's Leadership Wilmington Alumni, Planning and Investment member for the United Way of the Cape Fear Area, and a strategic advisor for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship's ALL BLUE initiative. She is a mentor through the Cameron Executive Network, FUSECR, and WILMA; a coach through District C; and a host for UNCW international students.

Boo Tyson

Boo Tyson is a principal in 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 over 25 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, serving in roles ranging from program director to organizer to executive director. 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.