Directors & Staff

The Northern Star Board of Directors is composed of local community members who passionately support the mission of Northern Star, and who have committed to creating and overseeing a program that will aid young adults in becoming successful members of the community.

BOARD OFFICERS

 

MICHELLE STEVENS
Board Chair

 

DEIDRE TINSLEY 
Secretary

 

DYLAN RICHARDS
Treasurer

Dylan joined Northern Star in August of 2018. He was introduced to Northern Star through a friend at his church and he has been excited to serve ever since. He is a recent graduate of the University of North Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration Accounting. He commissioned into the Georgia Army National Guard as an Armor Officer and he is in the process of becoming a chaplain candidate. He is a student at Southeastern Theological Seminary pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree, and he is the pastoral resident at The Branch Church in Dahlonega. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Macie, and he enjoys spending time with his wife, CrossFit, and various outdoor activities.

BOARD MEMBERS

JENNIFER STAPLES

MARY ENRIQUEZ

 

MEET THE STAFF

mandy

MANDY WILLIAMS

mandywilliams@northernstarga.org

770-364-9319

Mandy is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Northern Star Inc. The idea of a program to support and teach life skills to teenage youth came from Mandy’s teaching and counseling background along with her and her husband’s passion for fostering children. Mandy and her husband Larry have 4 children and have fostered 20 children over the past 8 years.

Northern Star became incorporated in December 2013, followed by the establishment of the board of directors and becoming a nonprofit in 2014, finding the perfect property in 2016 and opening the doors for the first participant in 2017.

Mandy’s vision for Northern Star has become a reality over the past four years and now each day the program is making a difference in the lives of youth aging out of foster care.

 

COURTNEY FORTNER

Courtney became Northern Star’s Executive Director in January 2022. 

 

codah

CODAH GUERRA

codahguerra@northernstarga.org

Codah joined the staff of Northern Star the beginning of 2018 after three consecutive internships while obtaining her Human Services Bachelor’s degree from UNG.  Her dedication and passion for Northern Star’s mission were evident after her asking to continue her internship after the first semester.

Codah serves as the Life Coach for Northern Star’s Independent Living Program. She enjoys meeting with youth weekly, planning and teaching life skills, building trust and relationships, and just taking the time to listen and get to know each of them.

Codah is local to Dahlonega and her and her husband look forward to supporting youth aging out of foster care in her hometown. 

ALLISON LAYNE

Allison is in school full time to obtain her Master’s degree. She is excited to gain knowledge and experience in a new career field for her. Allison’s passion for young adults and their success makes her a huge asset to the staff at Northern Star.