Director of Engagement

Nicole is A.J. Fletcher Foundation’s Director of Engagement and responsible for engaging our community, telling our story, and providing support to our wonderful grantees.

Previously, after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a degree in environmental studies, she worked for 18 years at NC Conservation Network. She spent the first half of her career traveling across North Carolina, coordinating diverse individuals and organizations to take on some of our state’s biggest environmental fights. In the second part of her career, she supported the work of NC Conservation Network and their dozens of affiliates and partners through her successful fundraising.

Nicole served on the Raleigh City Council as an At Large member (2018-2022) and Mayor Pro Tem (2021-2022). During that time, she was Raleigh’s representative on the NC League of Municipalities’ Board and served on the boards of DHIC and Downtown Raleigh Alliance.

Nicole co-founded The Beehive Collective, which gave away more than $425,000 over 14 years to Raleigh-based nonprofits before the organization closed its doors in 2022. Their grants funded projects that champion women and immigrants, improve access to transportation and affordable housing, provide vital health care to Raleigh’s underserved youth, and more.

Nicole, Les (her husband, who is a co-owner of Trophy Brewing), and their two kids have two cats, two chickens, two gerbils, and a tank full of fish. She’s currently relearning how to relax through birding, gardening, and cross stitching.