Erica Palmer Smith serves as the Executive Director of NC Child, where she is proud to lead a team of talented and passionate policy experts and advocates working to improve outcomes for North Carolina children.
Erica is a member of the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force, the Governor’s Task Force on Child Care and Early Education, and the Whole Child Advisory Council to the State Board of Education.
Prior to NC Child, Erica served as the Executive Director of Care4Carolina, a statewide coalition of more than 150 organizations, which was instrumental in closing the state’s health insurance coverage gap. She also previously served as Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in Kentucky.
She received her B.S. and M.A. in Political Science from Appalachian State University. A native of rural North Carolina, Erica grew up in Sampson and Alexander Counties. She currently resides in Fuquay-Varina, NC with her husband, Ryan, and daughter, Alice.
Misty Herget is the Chief Operating Officer at NC Child, where she ensures the organization’s programs, people, and systems work seamlessly together to advance its mission for children across North Carolina. She oversees finance, technology, and administrative operations, and leads internal functions including human resources and staff management. Misty works closely with the Executive Director to guide strategic planning, strengthen board engagement, and support fundraising efforts.
Before joining NC Child, Misty spent nearly two decades at the NC Rural Center, where she led initiatives in leadership development, community engagement, policy and advocacy, and strategic partnerships. She is known for bringing people together, building strong teams, and turning ideas into action.
Misty began her career as a social worker serving children and families, and that experience continues to shape her commitment to advancing policies and systems that strengthen families, promote economic well-being, and create the conditions all children need to thrive.
She holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina State University and is a proud alumna. A lifelong North Carolinian, Misty enjoys highlighting the state’s small towns and hidden gems. Outside of work, she loves spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, playing Mahjong, and keeping up with her two dogs.
Kelvin Stallings is an outreach and policy professional with almost a decade of experience navigating the intricacies of state government and public advocacy. Kelvin most recently served as the Policy and Advocacy Manager at Children’s Home Society of North Carolina where he led sustainability efforts around multiple agency programs and helped coordinate the overall advocacy and engagement strategy at the North Carolina General Assembly on behalf of the agency. Prior to Children’s Home Society, Kelvin served as a Legislative Assistant to State Representative Abraham Jones of Wake County for two years in the North Carolina House of Representatives.Kelvin’s experiences over the years equipped him with a profound understanding of the legislative process and the importance of stakeholder engagement, leading him to various impactful roles in political activism. A proud graduate of Elizabeth City State University and East Carolina University, Kelvin currently lives in Southwest Raleigh with his wife, Allysa, and their dog, Olive.
Neil serves as NC Child’s Research Director, where he leads the organization’s policy research and data analysis efforts. Prior to joining NC Child, Neil worked for the Labor & Economic Analysis Division of the NC Department of Commerce and for a research and public relations consulting firm in Jackson, Mississippi. He sits on the board of SwingPals, a Durham nonprofit that teaches social-emotional regulation skills to under resourced students in Durham Public Schools through golf.
He holds a BA in political science and history from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Public Policy degree from Duke University. Neil is the proud father of his daughter, Lucille, and husband to his wife, Kristen. He is also the proud pet father to his dog, Aaron Burr, and Bengal cat, Seymour Spots.
Kim has always wanted to be an accountant, even as a little girl, when she dreamed of growing up to work with her Dad – an accountant. As NC Child’s Director of Finance & Administration, Kim manages the organization’s finance and human resource functions. Kim received her BS in – surprise! – accounting from Binghamton University. Outside of work, Kim spends most of her time watching her six kids in action in their wrestling matches, football, soccer, volleyball, and basketball games.
Kim’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “Knowing I have a small part in making kids’ lives better in NC – not many accountants can say that!”
Joined NC Child Staff: 2017
Pets: 2 dogs, Koda and Bailey
Meisha Evans brings several years of legal and policy experience to the NC Child team. She started her career as a Staff Attorney for the NC Center on Actual Innocence reviewing wrongful conviction claims for North Carolina inmates. During her tenure, the Center exonerated two individuals who were wrongfully incarcerated for a total of 65 years. As the Policy Attorney for Disability Rights NC, she worked on legislation impacting healthcare, education, and the criminal justice system. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Meisha served as Deputy Director of Government Affairs for the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Most recently she served as General Counsel for EQV Strategic. She received her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and her law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law.
As Communications Director, Emily leads a multi-channel communications strategy that uplifts our collective opportunities to make a lasting, positive impact on North Carolina’s kids and families. Prior to joining NC Child, Emily directed strategic marketing and communications initiatives to advance the priorities of small business, community, and rural economic development organizations. She earned her M.S. in Communication from North Carolina State University and a B.S. in Public Relations from Appalachian State.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, film photography, and making headway on her annual reading goal.
As Grants Director at NC Child, Jeff works collaboratively to support the organization’s mission by exploring new partnerships with funders and managing a wide portfolio of state, federal, and private foundation grants. He has many years of experience in grants management, nonprofit management and strategic planning. Prior to joining NC Child, Jeff worked for The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, The National REACH Coalition and The North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the Department of International Health and Development at Tulane University.
Away from the office, Jeff loves spending time with his family. He can often be found hiking, mountain biking and walking on a greenway.
Kristi Maida previously served as the Director of Education for PBS North Carolina, where she developed and led initiatives to support the education and development of North Carolina’s children. She is a former Education Policy Fellow for the Public School Forum of North Carolina and has served as a faculty member at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak State College. Kristi is also a former early childhood educator and received her PhD in Leadership, Research, and Policy from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. A dedicated educator for over 25 years, Kristi is passionate about creating equitable learning opportunities for all children.
Outside of her professional work, she enjoys exploring the beautiful beaches of North Carolina and spending time with her husband, their teenage twin sons, and a lively household of pets.
A lifelong North Carolinian, Leanna’s first job as a child care floater was supposed to be just a summer gig—but it sparked a passion that continues to drive her work today. No matter the role, she has always found herself immersed in efforts to improve outcomes for children and families. As a former high school teacher and nonprofit analyst, she focused on making data and policy accessible, believing that common ground exists for everyone. Most recently, at UNC-Chapel Hill, she worked with Operational Excellence and the Adams School of Dentistry to streamline processes for faculty and learners, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients and families. Now, as the Director of ECE Policy and Research at NC Child, she is excited to contribute to meaningful, lasting change for children and families in the state she proudly calls home.
Leanna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master of Science in Counseling with a concentration in Holistic Child Development from Lee University. She is recently completed a PhD in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development with a concentration in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis at North Carolina State University, where her dissertation focused on the North Carolina Child Care Stabilization Grant. She received an unconditional pass.
When she’s not working, she enjoys exercising, spending time with her partner, and spoiling her three-year-old cat, Moira Jolene.
Nina Turton joined NC Child in 2024 with a genuine commitment to the work we do and shares a passion for our mission; ensuring children and youth have access to the resources they need to live and thrive. With a background in nonprofit Development and leadership, Nina brings extensive experience in all facets of fundraising and stewardship. As the Director of Donor Engagement, Nina is committed to ensuring your philanthropic journey with NC Child is meaningful and rewarding. Nina holds a BS in Human Services from Stevenson University in Maryland, and a master’s in organizational leadership from Eastern Washington University. Originally from Maryland, Nina now lives in Wake Forest, NC with her husband, Damien, and two very active sons, Blake and Colin.
Attorney Rocky Cabagnot grew up in Salisbury, North Carolina. He is a proud graduate of the Class of 1992 of Salisbury High School. He furthered his education in the “Southern Part of Heaven” at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received his bachelor’s degree. Following a call to become an attorney, Rocky ventured to Gainesville, Florida and obtained a Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he served as Senior Research Editor of the Florida Law Review.
After working in Florida in community and economic development with a focus on affordable housing, Rocky returned to North Carolina, where he was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Law at an ABA accredited law school in Charlotte. He also previously taught courses in public administration law and nonprofit capacity building at UNC Charlotte’s MPA program. Rocky also served as the executive director of the Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency, where he oversaw a Head Start program that served more than 1,000 children and families in five counties.
As fractional general counsel for NC Child, Rocky serves as legal advisor and provides legal support to the organization.
Aimee is a family support professional with over 20 years of experience working directly with parents and children in a variety of settings such as home, hospital and schools. As the Senior Manager Parent and Family Engagement, Aimee works alongside parent leaders and focuses on the topics important to them. She received her master’s from University of North Carolina Wilmington in Leadership, Advocacy in Early Childhood, and completed a certificate with University of North Carolina Greensboro in Leadership Infant and Toddler Development.
Aimee moved from Georgia to the beaches of Wilmington in 2013. She has been married for over 30 years and has two children. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching live theatre, and playing tennis.
As the Senior Marketing Manager, Taylor works to showcase the work NC Child does to make lasting change for North Carolina’s kids and families. Prior to joining NC Child in 2023, Taylor worked as a wildlife photographer and videographer. She continues her photography work with weddings and college seniors. Taylor graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Media Arts and Design and left a piece of herself back in the Shenandoah Valley.
When she’s not working, you can find Taylor listening to an audiobook and traveling, both domestically and internationally. She also loves spending time with her dog, Remy, and her two cats, Pepper and Mozzie.
Before joining NC Child, Emily was a Policy Analyst at The Hunt Institute, where she facilitated state-level and national convenings for senior-level legislators to hear from resource experts in higher education and provided policymakers with information on best practices, trends, and current research in higher education. Prior to this, she was a graduate research assistant at the Education Policy Initiative at UNC Chapel Hill.
Emily earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She continued her studies at UNC, earning her Master of Public Policy degree in the inaugural cohort of the program.
As a senior analyst, Emily is committed to the use of data and research to promote equitable outcomes for North Carolina children.
In her free time, Emily enjoys reading, going to concerts, and playing the flute!
Hannah Robinson Michael is a public health professional with a deep commitment to improving community health and well-being, particularly in rural areas. Hannah most recently served as the Healthy Lifestyles Program Manager at Partners Aligned Toward Health (PATH), where she coordinated community-based programs focused on health promotion, supported coalitions, and led community engagement efforts to drive impactful health initiatives across Mitchell and Yancey counties. Before joining PATH, Hannah worked with Girls on the Run in both Asheville and Durham, where she oversaw outreach, volunteer engagement, and large-scale event planning to promote physical activity and youth development.
Hannah is a proud Tar Heel and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Public Policy from UNC Chapel Hill and a Master of Public Health from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.
Hannah lives in Yancey County with her husband and their Alaskan husky, River. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor adventures like hiking, camping, and paddleboarding, as well as traveling, reading, and experimenting with plant-based cooking.
Dorian Cromartie, a native of Wilmington, NC, and a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division and has dedicated himself to making a difference in his community. He previously served as the Organizer for the Southeastern and Eastern regions of North Carolina at the NC AFLCIO, Dorian’s primary role involves mobilizing and uniting unions throughout the state. Beyond his work with unions, Dorian also takes on various leadership roles. He proudly serves as the chair of the Northside Food Co-op, where he actively promotes access to healthy and sustainable food options. Additionally, Dorian is a silver life member of the New Hanover NAACP. He is also a founding member of SEPTA which is the first Special Education Parent Teacher Association of NC organized specifically to help parents, students, and educators on how to advocate for themselves and others. With a passion for community empowerment and social progress, Dorian Cromartie continues to make a lasting impact in North Carolina. He is also a board member of The NC Children’s Foundation for Public School Children and The Cape Fear Community LandTrust.
Growing up in a close-knit town in North Carolina, Kaitlyn approaches life with a warm, welcoming spirit – treating everyone she meets as a friend. She has dedicated her career to advancing policies that improve the lives of children and families. She most recently served as the Government Affairs Liaison at South Carolina First Steps where she led the agency’s legislative initiatives and coordinated the work of the SC Early Childhood Advisory Council.
Kaitlyn received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2017 and furthered her education at Penn State University’s Dickinson School of Law where she received her Juris Doctorate in 2021.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Kaitlyn enjoys traveling with her partner, getting lost in a good book, and attending live concerts.
Sydney Mason is NC Child’s spring communications intern. A senior at UNC Chapel Hill, Sydney is studying English with minors in statistics and creative writing. Sydney is currently completing her honors thesis in fiction, an ecofeminist collection of short stories, which is heavily inspired by the social and environmental landscape of her birthplace, the eastern shore of Virginia.
She serves as the events coordinator for UNC’s Student Organization for Undergraduate Literature, where she organizes their biannual soiree and author readings for the broader UNC community.
At NC Child, she supports marketing and promotional efforts by writing blog posts and feature stories, as well as contributing content for social media. In this role, she blends her skills in storytelling and data interpretation to move the needle on the issues impacting North Carolina children and families.
