A. MICHELLE LONG SPEARS
Founder & CEO
Since 2015, NP Voice (NPV) has evolved into an international social impact consulting firm focused on connecting mission to resources, funding, collaboration and community. As the Founder and CEO, Michelle is nationally recognized for her work in enabling community leaders to apply systems thinking to achieve success with organizational strategy, multisector collaboration and resource development. Recent recognitions and awards include: State-wide appointment to the DeKalb County Board of Ethics, John Cotton Dana Award, and Legislative Fellowship Award from the Georgia Senate and Georgia State University. She is a proud member of Leadership DeKalb Class of 2021; and graduate of Leadership Gwinnett Class of 2010, Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute Class of 2016, and the United Kingdom’s Forum For the Future School of System Change 2019 US cohort.
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Prior to NP Voice, Michelle served in leadership roles for a cross-section of nonprofit, government, and corporate entities. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Houston, completed post-baccalaureate studies in communications and social work, and later achieved a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. In December 2014, Michelle completed a second graduate degree, Master of Public Policy from Georgia State University. During the pandemic, she completed a Certificate in Business Management, Ethics, and Finance from Georgia Piedmont Technical College. Michelle resides in Brookhaven (metro Atlanta), Georgia with her husband, three stepchildren, four-legged and fish family we lovingly call the “Zoo.”
JANINE PERKINS
Consultant
Janine brings over 30 years of writing experience to the team, with a broad background that includes public information, product marketing, and nonprofit communications. Most-recently she was the Director of Grants and Communications for Meals by Grace in Forsyth County. Janine has found her passion in connecting worthy causes with community and foundation resources to help clients realize their development goals. She is the owner of Write Now Resource, assisting local non-profits with grants planning/writing and with the creation of engaging marketing content.
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Janine is a public relations graduate of California State University-Fullerton and holds a grant writing certificate from Kennesaw State University.
AMELIA "MEL" SHENSTONE
Project Manager
Mel is an experienced nonprofit program director, facilitator, strategic thinker, and fundraiser. She combines top-notch organizing skills gained over twelve years in the energy and environment sectors with deep emotional literacy. She directed programs for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy for many years, where she steered internal strategic planning and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and was a founding member of Partnership for Southern Equity’s Just Energy Circle. She was the youngest-ever President of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta; she remains an educator and worship leader while progressing toward ordained ministry. She is the founder of Whole Visions consulting.
Mel is a graduate of Green Corps, the field school for environmental organizing, and Mount Holyoke College.
LOGAN SERRANO
Communications Manager
Logan is an experienced marketer and communicator with a history of working in the civic & social organization industry. Logan currently serves as the Marketing & Communications Manager of Leadership Gwinnett. She is skilled at developing communication strategies that help advance current efforts to catalyze impact. These strategies include web communications, email campaigns, social media, community involvement, brand enhancement, and media outreach.
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Logan is a graduate of Gwinnett Young Professionals Leadership Institute and Glance Gwinnett and serves on the Rotaract Gwinnett Leadership Team. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from Georgia Southern University.
Jess Newfield
Marketing Strategist
With an MBA and background in journalism and design, Jess Newfield’s experience in strategic communications is based on her understanding the intersection of design, media, and marketing. She has led strategic communication projects for more than 25 clients, including Fortune 100 companies, non-profit organizations, progressive political campaigns, and federal government agencies.
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Her career has spanned other avenues and creative endeavors, including teaching in rural Arkansas, designing at an international academic journal, working in print shops, and leading advertising strategy at an agency in New York. She studied journalism, graphic design, and social and economic justice at UNC-Chapel Hill, and returned to her alma mater for her M.B.A. with a marketing concentration. Originally from North Carolina, she moved to Atlanta in 2018 and makes her home in Capitol View with her partner and two cats.
Amanda M Mickelsen
Project Manager
Amanda has a diverse background spanning the fields of marketing, wellness, and the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as Project Manager for NP Voice. After gathering 15 years of experience as an Account Manager and Project Manager in the corporate sector, Amanda applied her knowledge and skills towards her personal passion for health, wellness, and personal development - as a Wellness Consultant facilitating corporate wellness programs - then as a Certified Instructor at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, teaching meditation and the benefits of holistic health and yoga. Amanda currently leads meditation at Southwest Atlanta Yoga studio, in addition to teaching an Intro to Ayurveda series at their Yoga Teacher Training program.
Amanda feels passionate about serving the community and contributing to a more just and humane world. She is Board President at Doc B Cares, Inc., a nonprofit that provides an after-school program for youth in the underserved communities of South Atlanta, where she conducts fundraising events and identifies community enrichment activities for student participants. She also volunteers on the Advisory Board at the King Center, canvasses for political campaigns, and participates in volunteer efforts for various grassroots organizations seeking to lead their communities to flourish.