Ashley Persaud is the Associate Marketing Manager for The Quell Foundation and the First Responder Resilience Project, where she leads marketing and communications efforts that help break down the stigma surrounding mental health. She earned her degree in Advertising, Public Relations, and Social Media from Lynn University and is passionate about using storytelling to create […]
Sarah Beth is a nonprofit development and strategy leader with more than two decades of experience building the relationships, resources, and momentum behind ambitious social-impact work. Her career includes fundraising and leadership roles with organizations ranging from the Jane Goodall Institute to New York City Health+Hospitals, including a wide range of advocacy and philanthropic initiatives. […]
Mike Wynn is the Director of The Quell Foundation’s First Responder Resilience Project (FRRP), where he leads the development and execution of strategic programming focused on supporting the mental health and well-being of first responders nationwide. A former Chief of Police for the Pittsfield (MA) Police Department, Mike brings nearly 30 years of leadership experience […]
Amber Chembars Meyerl of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, joined our team in June 2023 as the Executive Director of The Quell Foundation. In April 2025, she transitioned into the role of President. Amber brings a diverse and dynamic professional background, with extensive experience in the behavioral health field spanning several years. Amber’s history includes working with […]
Ridwan Adhami is the Director of Marketing at The Quell Foundation. He brings over 15 years of experience in creative direction, brand strategy, and impact storytelling across the nonprofit, education, and humanitarian sectors. His work focuses on elevating powerful narratives that inspire action and foster connection. Ridwan has led nationally recognized campaigns for organizations such […]
Karl Starkweather’s passion for filmmaking began at a young age with hand-drawn animation and claymation. At 17, he founded The SW Group, a Philadelphia-based community organization that provided free filmmaking instruction and showcased local individuals’ work in monthly sold-out shows and annual film festivals. From 2007 to 2014, The SW Group helped hundreds of people […]
Isabella “Bella” Nadeau joined the Quell team in April 2025 as the Assistant Director of University and Alumni Programs. She brings with her a wide range of experience in mental health advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and public affairs. Having played collegiate softball and experienced mental health challenges firsthand, Bella created a social media movement. She […]
Shannon Atkins is the Director of Development at The Quell Foundation. Her dedication to mental health advocacy is deeply personal, informed by her own journey with anxiety and C-PTSD. This has given her a profound passion for the mission of improving mental health by ending stigma, providing educational opportunities, and creating resilience tools for first […]
Erin Smith is the widow of Officer Jeffrey L. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D.C. Officer Smith died in the Line of Duty on January 15, 2021, due to injuries he suffered at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. His loss led Erin to fight for Line of Duty Designation for his […]
Julia is a Junior at Elon University studying strategic communications and psychology. As Marketing Intern, she focuses on Quell’s social media pages, as well as, the monthly blog posts. Quell has helped her find a creative outlet to promote breaking the stigma towards mental health challenges. Beyond academics, Julia is involved in Elon’s on-campus PR […]