Shannon has over two decades of experience working with nonprofit and for profit organizations. She currently serves as the director of operations and special projects for the Office of the President Emeritus at Tulane University. Shannon was the founding executive director of the Cowen Institute, a ‘think and do tank’ based at Tulane that objectively researches and reports on public education, motivates youth achievement through college and career programs, and inspires innovation and influence through purposeful collaborations with education, community and employer partners. Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, she handled project management for the Mayor’s Bring New Orleans Back Commission’s Education Committee. Prior to that, Shannon spent five years as the Product Manager for Broadband Products at Cox Communications, a national telecommunications firm. She managed product strategy, development, marketing, and finance for the company’s broadband products.
Shannon has served on the boards of the Louisiana SPCA, Louisiana Appleseed, and the Foundation for Math and Science Education. She earned a B.A. from Tulane University.
Shannon Jones Couhig, Associate
Stacey Stephens, Associate
Brinkley Serkedakis, Associate
of New Orleans
The Jones Group
Stacey Stephens has over a decade of non-profit experience, specifically in consulting a variety of organizations in capital campaigns, annual fund efforts, and board development. Stacey worked as a Senior Campaign Manager for Coxe Curry & Associates, a well-known fundraising consulting firm in Atlanta, for five years before providing local organizations with grant writing and development strategies. Stacey also has a background in graphic design and provides design services for a variety of projects.
Stacey is a graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and their two young children, where she is actively involved in her church and local community.
Katherine Seligman, Associate
Drawing upon her successful 36-year career in higher education administration, Yvette's areas of expertise include: strategic and program planning; board development, governance, and engagement; organizational assessment; talent building; and all aspects of fundraising and campaign planning and management. Yvette works with clients in health care, education, culture and arts, economic development, and other sectors in the not-for-profit world.
Yvette served at Tulane University during four administrations in a variety of senior administrative roles, including serving as Executive Vice President for University Relations and Development, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President for External Affairs, and Vice President for Finance and Operations. As Tulane’s chief advancement and external affairs officer for more than a decade, Yvette gained extensive experience in fundraising, governmental relations, board development, and strategic and program planning, and communications. Her work in the New Orleans philanthropic community has been recognized by many organizations, including CityBusiness as a Woman of the Year; Young Leadership Council as a Role Model of the Year; and the Association of Fundraising Professionals-New Orleans as Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year.
Yvette is actively involved in the New Orleans community. She serves on the Boards of Metairie Park Country Day School, Bricolage Academy, Eden Centers, and Clover, formerly Kingsley House.
Yvette earned the Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Business Administration degrees from Tulane University.
Kathy Epstein Seligman advises diverse clients on all aspects of private sector philanthropy. From initial assessments and strategic planning to campaign management and continuing engagement, Kathy’s particular skill is helping clients of all sizes create sustainable relationships.
Kathy has extensive experience in major gift fundraising—much of it in her native New Orleans where she began her development career at Tulane University —with cross-sector experience for institutions and organizations of all sizes and at all stages. Based in London for many years, she has broad knowledge of the philanthropic landscape, including several years advising former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife, Sarah, on funding for global education and health.
With a passion ignited through her consulting experience, Kathy founded Nola4Women, a call to action and foundation to support better outcomes for women and girls in the city.
Kathy holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in Art History from Newcomb College of Tulane University and attended Tulane Law School.
Brinkley Serkedakis is a frequent collaborator with The Jones Group and is Founder and Principal of Arabella Street Strategies, a New Orleans-based firm providing nonprofit clients with fundraising, communications, and executive search consulting services.
Previously, Brinkley served as the Executive Director of Common Cause Georgia, where she led advocacy, policy, and fundraising efforts around redistricting and voting rights reforms. She also served as an Associate Campaign Director at Coxe Curry & Associates, where she provided fundraising counsel and management services for nonprofit organizations in metro Atlanta. Previously, Brinkley managed national events for CARE USA and led fundraising efforts for Georgia Appleseed. She was also a founding Partner at Peachtree Battle Group, an Atlanta-based political consulting firm. Earlier in her career, Brinkley worked in Washington, D.C. for Senator Mary Landrieu and for the Democratic Governors Association. She also spent several election cycles in states throughout the Southeast, serving in campaign roles for Governor Roy Barnes and Governor Bev Perdue.
Brinkley earned the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alabama.
Yvette Jones, President/Owner