Board of Directors
Board President: Jennie Kowaleski
Jennie Kowaleski is a local small business owner and Physician Assistant with over two decades of experience in medicine, who is living and working in the Triangle. She also has a Masters degree in Education and Leadership which she uses to teach others in her industry and lead community events. She is a true advocate for those in need and has a passion to help stop human trafficking. She believes we all have a voice that can be used to lift others up when they are unable to do so for themselves. She knows community involvement and inclusion are essential to make an impactful change.
Jolie Mayes
Vice President
Jolie Mayes, a Business Management and Spanish alumnus of NC State University, has over 30 years of experience in IT project and resource management. Her life has been marked by an unwavering dedication to serving others, beginning with her role as a Best Friend mentor in college, continuing with a successful career in corporate IT leadership, and becoming an ordained minister. In 2014, Jolie and her family played a pivotal role in launching Oasis Church in Holly Springs, where they remain dedicated members actively involved in supporting and serving the community. Throughout her journey, Jolie has actively contributed, including board service and other roles, to non-profit organizations such as In Our Shoes, Hearts in Motion, Oasis Church, and now, Shield NC.
Michele Stewart
Board Member
A North Carolina native, Michele has been a licensed Realtor since 2019. She has been in the Commercial Real Estate since 2014, following a fulfilling career in nursing and the medical field. She is an active community servant and passionate advocate for underserved communities. As a mom to three sons and two beloved pets, Michele treasures family time and enjoys immersing herself in nature, gardening, sports, and travel. She believes that meaningful change is rooted in empathy, compassion, and a dedication to causes beyond oneself. Michele is honored to support the mission of Shield NC, working toward a more inclusive and compassionate world.
Kenneth Ragland
Board Member
Officer Kenneth Ragland graduated from Southeastern College with degrees in Biblical Studies and History of Ideas. He went on to earn a M. Div in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Officer Ragland is an active member of his church and proudly serves the citizens of Apex, NC as a Community Police Officer with the Apex Police Department. In this role, he seeks to build positive relationships between the community and the police department.
Haley Gray
Board Member
Bio coming soon!
Erin Bircher
Board Member
Erin Bircher is originally from Northern VA but has been in the Cary area since 2007. She is a Dually Licensed Psychotherapist with 20 years of clinical experience. Erin is the owner and founder of her practice “Foundations 4 Change, PLLC” which is in Cary NC. Erin spends her free time with her two active teenage boys, her husband and their 3 dogs. They enjoy spending time outdoors and traveling to new places. Erin is extremely adventurous and enjoys bringing people in the community together. Erin loves trying new things and showing her boys how important it is to give back.
Katelyn Lamar
Board Member
Katelyn is a mom of three daughters and has been married for 17 years. With over 20 years of retail and e-commerce management experience, she works on the Lowe’s E-Commerce Marketplace team, helping drive growth and innovation. As a mother, she is deeply committed to protecting our youth and am passionate about Shield’s mission to educate, empower, and bring awareness to our community. Outside of work, and the constant shuffle of kids practices and rehearsals, you’ll find her staying active through workouts and hot yoga, crafting, gardening, or enjoying a little retail therapy.
Kirsten Sherman Cervati
Board Member
Kirsten Sherman Cervati is a drug development executive dedicated to developing safe and effective medical treatments as well as strengthening systems that support vulnerable patient populations. Over the past 2 decades, Kirsten has led initiatives that expand clinical research access and foster meaningful partnerships across the international medical research community. Her commitment to protecting and empowering at-risk individuals began in early career roles focused on vocational and independent living skill development when she worked with adults with developmental disabilities.
Kirsten believes a strong community is defined by how well it protects its most vulnerable members. Kirsten enjoys singing, kayaking and spending time with her two sons in Southwest Durham.
Board Advisors
Laurie Ruettimann
Board Advisor
Laurie Ruettimann, a distinguished consultant and author with over two decades in leadership and HR, began as an HR leader before evolving into an influential writer and speaker. Recognized by CNN in 2009 as a top US career adviser, her insights have appeared on platforms like NPR, The New Yorker, and The Wall Street Journal. Globally renowned for her keynote addresses on leadership and technology in the workplace, her best-selling book, “Betting On You,” delves into modern HR dynamics. Laurie also shapes future leaders through LinkedIn Learning and sparks discussions on her podcast, Punk Rock HR. She’s a steadfast advocate for enhanced workplace experiences. Her forthcoming book is Corporate Drinker, based on stories and a podcast of the same name. She lives with her husband and cats in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Anna Ptak
Board Advisor
Anna Ptak is an international speaker and policy consultant. She is also an ethical fashion designer using her creative side as a catalyst for change. As an Overcomer herself, she is much more than just someone with a story. Anna consults nonprofits and government agencies around the globe on to eliminate demand and end human trafficking. When she isn’t fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves, she is spending time with husband, her daughter, and their 2 fur-babies.
Kara Matthews
Survivor Advocate
Reverend Kara Matthews is an ordained elder within the United Methodist Church. She has a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in pastoral care and counseling. She has spent more than 20 years in various forms of ministry including missions and human advocacy. She believes that everyone is uniquely and wondrously made in the image of God and worthy of acceptance and inclusivity. She believes that we are all called to be a voice for those who are marginalized within society and is thrilled to be part of Shield NC,
Founder & Board Advisor: Nicole Bernard
Nicole is the mother of four children, author of A War Against the Cowbird, and former host of the Red X Podcast. She served the anti-trafficking organization, Transforming Hope, for four years and worked in a variety of advocacy, service and behavioral research positions before founding Shield NC.
From Our Founder:
We need but one reason to fight against the evils of human trafficking: we learn that it exists. Shield North Carolina draws a line in the sand. We are bold and strategic in our collaborative efforts to prevent trafficking, affect policy, and support restoration services. Stand on the mountain-top with us and see what we see: a future where all North Carolinians are free.
Interested in Joining the Board?
Leadership Team
Niki Miller
Executive Director
Niki Miller graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a minor in Economics. For almost ten years, she worked in various management positions in the brokerage industry before taking a leap of faith to return to college and earn a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. Through her studies at Liberty, Niki was connected with the Sex Abuse Treatment Unit of the Wake Co. Dept. of Human Services. While working with this Unit, she served as a therapist to juvenile survivors of sexual abuse and was responsible for the rehabilitation of juvenile sex offenders. Niki co-founded and co-leads the NC Demand Reduction Task Force and serves as an Ambassador of Hope for Shared Hope International.
Sarah Michael McNeese
Training Coordinator
Sarah Michael McNeese is a proud North Carolinian who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Appalachian State University and a Master of Social Work from NC State University. Throughout her career she has provided operations support to non-profit peer-lead mental health services, allocated equitable interpersonal violence programming to the American Indian populations of NC, and created Human Trafficking materials for Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault grantee agencies throughout NC. Sarah Michael is passionate about advocating systematically and creating resource pathways for individuals in need and for the providers who serve them. In addition to her work with Shield NC, she serves as the Board Secretary for the NC Coalition Against Human Trafficking and works part time with the NC Post-Conviction Review Commission.
Lynn Scott
Development Specialist
Lynn Scott is a retired event planner with over 25 years of experience in the industry. She ran a very successful wedding planning business with her daughter in the Triangle area from 2010 to 2020. She has a passion for bringing people together and finds joy in cultivating new relationships. Advocacy has been at the forefront of her years as a volunteer for various organizations whether it be animals, the elderly, the incarcerated or children. Her willingness to be a voice for those who have none is what will drive her to do all she can to combat the ongoing need to stop trafficking in the state of North Carolina and beyond. She resides in Sanford with her husband of 31 years and their rescue dog Sophie.
Halley Merkel
NC Demand Reduction Task Force Coordinator
Halley Merkel is a native North Carolinian and adoptee. One of her life goals is to create positive change within the foster care community by creating better resources for the children within the network. Halley graduated from Fayetteville State University with B.S. in Organizational Psychology and she’s currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work. She believes in creating change through building rapport in the community, and she’s committed to being a part of that initiative with Shield and the NC Demand Reduction Task Force. In her free time you can find her canoeing or hiking all around NC with her husband or exploring local museums.
Chelsea Wilcox
Outreach Coordinator
Chelsea Wilcox is a Kentuckian who followed love to North Carolina and now calls Garner home. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications at William Peace University. After graduation, she is considering pursuing a Master’s in Political Science. She wants to work in advocacy and plans to take a hands on approach to fighting injustices in this world. In her free time, she loves to travel with her fiancé and hang out with her dog, Goliath.
#TAKEUPYOURSHIELD
Get Social With Shield NC