Women to Watch Awards Finalists – Rising Star

This category is open to women under the age of thirty.

Katie Blackwell

Executive Administrator of Community Engagement, paws4people foundation

Describe your role and work that you do.

“I oversee community engagement, volunteer initiatives, and strategic partnerships that advance our mission. As a member of our events team, I help plan and execute fundraising and community events that increase awareness and support for our organization. I also connect individuals, businesses, and organizations with meaningful opportunities to get involved while coordinating programs that strengthen relationships and expand our impact.”

What are some of your career highlights so far?

“Some of my greatest career highlights have been representing paws4people alongside the MrBallen Foundation at the EVAWI Conference, collaborating with incredible community partners and working directly with our clients and their service dogs. I’ve also enjoyed helping plan and execute our fundraising events with our amazing team. Above all, the greatest highlight has been being part of the paws4people family and contributing to a mission that changes lives every day.”

What’s a future goal?

“My goal is to continue growing as a leader while helping paws4people reach new levels of impact. I hope to build lasting community partnerships, strengthen volunteer engagement, and create meaningful opportunities for others to support our mission. As I continue learning and taking on new responsibilities, I want to help ensure that more individuals with disabilities have access to the life-changing support of an assistance dog.”

Jenna Cosentino

Marketing Coordinator, Thomas Construction Group

Describe your role and work that you do.

“I manage digital media, events, branding, and marketing strategy in the A/E/C (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry. Outside of work, I run Cosentino & Co, my own creative marketing agency, and host a podcast about building your life and becoming your best self. I also create social media content that helps women build confidence, shape their mindset, and grow through discipline, style, and self-improvement.”

What’s a future goal?

“One of my future goals is to continue growing my podcast, Better Than Yesterday, with hopes of becoming one of the top podcasts in its space. I want to use it as a platform to inspire and help women understand that no matter your age, you can go after what you truly desire and build the confidence to do it. Alongside that, I plan to keep growing Cosentino & Co!”

Anything else you want us to know about you?

“I’m someone who believes hard work truly pays off, and that you don’t have to choose just one passion to be successful. Between my career in marketing, hosting my podcast, and building Cosentino & Co, I’ve learned that growth comes from pushing through challenges, not avoiding them. My mission is to inspire women to build the confidence, discipline, and mindset to go after the life they truly want, without letting anyone else’s opinion hold them back.”

Gabriella De Souza

Consumer Horticulture Agent & Extension Master Gardener Program Coordinator, N.C. Cooperative Extension

Describe your role and work that you do.

“I coordinate the state’s largest EMG volunteer program – 200-plus active volunteers – run our Plant Clinic, manage the Nature at Home habitat certification program, co-chair the Cape Fear Native Plant Festival, and produce Cape Fear Gardening for WECT.”

What are some of your career highlights so far?

“Leading the thirty-ninth annual EMG Plant Sale, our largest fundraiser, raising over $80,000 to support extension’s educational programs, community grants, and college scholarships; spearheading the establishment of the first volunteer association-funded Extension Master Gardener endowment in the state with a $50,000 founding gift; automating administrative tasks for our Nature at Home program by writing JavaScript code, and co-chairing the eleventh annual Cape Fear Native Plant Festival.”

Anything else you want us to know about you?

“Outside Extension, I own The Plant Ecologist, a science brand that educates the public through art and social media, offering scientifically accurate pins and stickers of native Southeastern U.S. species across the country and in Canada. I hold an M.S. in biology from UNCW and am currently pursuing a postgraduate certificate in horticultural science at NC State.”

Susannah Spratt

Mobile Market Manager, Feast Down East

Describe your role and work that you do.

“I oversee and coordinate all activities related to our Mobile Farmers’ Market, which travels to eighteen locations around the Cape Fear region providing access to fresh, locally-grown foods to our community. In this role, I also manage programs like Fresh Bucks, our SNAP matching program, Food Rx in partnership with Novant Health, and our Senior Voucher programs. All of these programs aim to ensure accessibility and affordability for our underserved communities.”

What are some of your career highlights so far?

“One of the biggest highlights was launching our Food is Medicine initiative, Food Rx. I was initially hired at Feast Down East to design, implement, and manage this produce prescription program, where patients would be ‘prescribed’ a voucher for healthy foods from our Mobile Market. Since launching in October 2023, it has been adopted at five locations across New Hanover and Pender counties, and we have served close to 1,000 patients experiencing food insecurity and chronic conditions. Through data analysis efforts, we have seen improvements in health outcomes and metrics such as reduced ED visits and reductions in no-shows for appointments. This program aims to integrate the concept of food as medicine into traditional healthcare systems and create healthier communities.”

Clelia Tufts

Children’s Library Associate, New Hanover County Public Library

Describe your role and work that you do.

“I support families and children in New Hanover County through library programs and services. I lead weekly storytimes that build early literacy through talking, reading, writing, singing, and playing, and I run school-age programs that spark STEAM learning and creativity. I collaborate with community partners on large-scale events to expand children’s access to opportunities.”

What are some of your career highlights so far?

“In April, I was awarded the Smart Start Children’s Champion Award for my work with families with children ages 0-5. I also brought STEAM programming to our library system through Science Story Hour and a Lego Robotics program, and my April 2024 Solar Eclipse program was featured by the State Library. Yet my true career highlight is the relationships and community I’ve built with NHC families – everything I do, I do for them.”

What’s a future goal?

“This December I will earn my Master of Library Science. Combining this education with my professional experience will fuel my continued growth in the field, and I am excited to put it into practice. Having benefitted so much from the leadership around me, I am eager to apply what I have learned to lead future generations. I also intend to build stronger community connections that expand access to enriching experiences for families and children.”

To view more of photographer Madeline Gray’s work, go to madelinegrayphoto.com.

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