Our Staff
Our Staff
Meet the dedicated professionals who bring experience, compassion, and a commitment to serving children, families, and communities through The Power of U!
Nicole Bembry-Elliott, MSW, LCSW
Director of Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement
Nicole Bembry-Elliott, MSW, LCSW, is a seasoned mental health professional with more than 25 years of experience in the behavioral health and human services field. For the past 15 years, she has been a dedicated member of the Uplift/POU team, serving in clinical, programmatic, and leadership roles across service delivery, program development, quality assurance, and organizational operations.
Nicole began her career with Uplift as an MST Therapist before moving into leadership within the JJBH Partnership, serving as JJBH Partnership Director and JJBH Coordinator/JJSAMHP Program Director. She continues to serve as a key liaison between The Power of U and Juvenile Justice, supporting compliance, program coordination, data collection, communication, and partnership development.
Nicole currently serves as Director of Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement, providing leadership in compliance, quality standards, performance improvement, and service enhancement. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she brings together extensive clinical experience, organizational leadership, advocacy, collaboration, and accountability.
Beyond her professional role, Nicole is committed to community leadership and service, helping strengthen connections among individuals, families, communities, providers, and systems of care.
Rhonda Linette James-Davis
Director, John W. Taylor Community Opportunity Center
Rhonda Linette James-Davis serves as Program Director of the John W. Taylor Community Opportunity Center, where she helps bring ideas to life through programs, partnerships, and community outreach.
She brings more than 37 years of combined professional experience in technical design, education, leadership, curriculum design, and program development. She began her career at NASA Langley Research Center, spending seven years in technical and mechanical design, including as a Mechanical Engineering Designer Technician. She later transitioned into education, teaching Technical Drafting and Computer-Aided Design. During more than 30 years in public education, she served in instructional and leadership roles including Assistant Principal, Principal, Director of Career and Technical Education, Director of Secondary Education, Chief Human Resources Officer, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources and Auxiliary Services, and Interim Superintendent.
Rhonda earned her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude, a master’s degree in School Administration, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies.
At the John W. Taylor Community Opportunity Center, she helps develop programs connecting people with education, technology, workforce development, health and wellness resources, and other community opportunities. She enjoys bringing people together and finding practical ways to move ideas forward.
Kelvin Nixon, MS, CRC, LCMHC-A
Coach and Supervisor, High-Fidelity Wraparound
Kelvin Nixon serves as the High-Fidelity Wraparound Coach and Supervisor at Uplift Comprehensive Services, where he provides leadership, coaching, and ongoing support to Wraparound facilitators to ensure fidelity to the High-Fidelity Wraparound model and best practices. With more than a decade of experience working with youth and families across community, faith-based, and behavioral health settings, Kelvin is passionate about helping individuals overcome barriers, develop valuable skill sets, build resilience, and achieve meaningful outcomes.
Kelvin holds a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health concentration and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHC-A). Committed to excellence in the counseling profession, he served as President of the Alpha Chi Omicron Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, the Rehabilitation Counseling Honor Society, while earning his master’s degree at Winston-Salem State University. His professional background includes vocational rehabilitation, counseling support, youth mentoring, family engagement, crisis intervention, case management with a focus on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and leadership development. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with families, schools, community partners, and multidisciplinary teams to develop individualized, strength-based plans that promote success at home, in school, in the workplace, and within the community.
Known for his compassionate and relationship-focused approach, Kelvin is dedicated to empowering families, developing future leaders, and ensuring that every youth and family has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.
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Trevor Blue, MSW, LCSW
Clinical Supervisor, Child First
Trevor Blue is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently serves as Clinical Supervisor for the Child First program at The Power of U. He has been with the agency since 2017, initially serving as a Child First Clinician before transitioning into his supervisory role in 2023. Trevor has experience providing mental health services to children, adolescents, adults, and families.
In his current role, Trevor provides clinical leadership and reflective supervision to multidisciplinary teams serving families with complex trauma, emotional, developmental, relational, and environmental needs. He supports clinicians and care coordinators in strengthening assessment, treatment planning, documentation, family engagement, and fidelity to the Child First model. He is also committed to staff development, reflective practice, and culturally responsive, trauma-informed services.
Trevor’s clinical approach is grounded in person-centered, strengths-based, relational, and trauma-informed principles. He strives to create an affirming and collaborative environment where clients feel heard and supported.
In addition to his clinical and supervisory work, Trevor has experience educating future social workers at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Jackie Kupper
Clinical Director, Uplift Comprehensive Services & The Power of U
Jackie Kupper currently serves as Clinical Director at Uplift Comprehensive Services & The Power of U. She has more than 17 years of experience serving children and families across mental health and substance use settings, with extensive experience in evidence-based models, clinical leadership, and program development.
In her current role, Ms. Kupper provides clinical oversight across multiple evidence-based programs, including Intensive In-Home Services, Child First, and High Fidelity Wraparound. Prior to becoming Clinical Director, she spent more than 12 years as a Multisystemic Therapy (MST) Program Director and Supervisor, overseeing multiple teams and maintaining high fidelity to the MST model. Her leadership earned multiple Sustained Excellence and Outstanding Supervisor awards.
Throughout her career, Ms. Kupper has advanced from direct clinical practice into supervisory and program leadership roles, with a focus on staff development, quality improvement, program fidelity, and positive outcomes for families.
She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor, Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, and Certified Clinical Supervisor. She earned dual master’s degrees and a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and remains committed to strengthening behavioral health services throughout Eastern North Carolina.
Deborah Sheppard
Director, Substance Abuse Prevention
Deborah Sheppard serves as the Substance Abuse Prevention Program Director, where she leads the development and implementation of community-based prevention initiatives focused on youth, families, and communities. She holds a degree in Sociology from Southern New Hampshire University and a degree in Psychology from Liberty University.
Deborah Sheppard serves as the Substance Abuse Prevention Program Director, where she leads the development and implementation of community-based prevention initiatives focused on youth, families, and communities. She holds a degree in Sociology from Southern New Hampshire University and a degree in Psychology from Liberty University.
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Meet the team — coming soon.
We're putting together staff photos and bios. In the meantime, reach us at referrals@upliftnc.org.