Our Team

Nona Mitchell Richardson is the Founder and Chief Strategist at MitchRich Communications.

Ms. Richardson leads a team of professionals to identify and execute the most effective communications strategies to achieve their client’s organizational goals. The firm specializes in strategy communications planning, digital engagement, narrative and message development, writing and editing, executive coaching, speechwriting, and community engagement, among other tactics.

Ms. Mitchell-Richardson’s prior professional experience includes 20 years in the communications field, working on issues affecting youth and families, public education reform, environmental sustainability, health and wellness, and community economic development. She served as the Director of Communications at the DC Public Charter School Board for nearly ten years before serving as a Vice President at Widmeyer Communications, an award-winning Washington, DC PR firm. She left Widmeyer in 2013 to start MitchRich Communications and has been serving nonprofits and socially-minded for profits with her team ever since.

Ms. Richardson earned a Bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Georgetown University and a Master’s degree in Communication from The Johns Hopkins University.

Karen James Cody is a Senior Writer and Editor at MitchRich Communications.

Karen James Cody is a writer and content strategist who has supported MitchRich clients since 2018. She helps nonprofits and social enterprises define brand and content strategies and communicate their impact. A former Communications Director at Bloomberg BNA, formerly The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., her roles in corporate communications involved corporate identity and branding, employee and shareholder communications, technical writing, media relations, and promotions. Her media relations experience involved pitching experts to broadcast media, placing the company’s survey data in print and broadcast news stories, and managing local news relationships for one of D.C.'s largest employers. Independently, she has been a ghostwriter and book editor, playwright, and a writer and editor of fiction.

Current professional memberships include service on the national board of the Social Enterprise Alliance and a current member and past president of the American News Women’s Club. Previously, she served on the board of the Rock Creek Conservancy, dedicated to preserving Rock Creek National Park, DC’s urban oasis.

Celeste A. James is a Health and Social Impact Strategist at MitchRich Communications.

Celeste James has over 25 years of achievement in corporate communications and public health. She has led communications at Gannett Company, Inc. (USA TODAY), US News & World Report, and NPR, enhancing the visibility of executive leaders, journalists, and their organizations through high-profile media placements, partnerships, and events.

Transitioning to public and community health at Kaiser Permanente, Celeste guided systemic interventions to improve healthcare delivery and reduce care costs. With over a decade in community health leadership, she directed multi-million dollar philanthropic investments, promoted health equity, and drove policy revisions through collaborative partnerships. She also worked closely with communities, governments, and philanthropic organizations to advance equitable access in areas like food systems, housing, and education.

Currently, Celeste advises organizations such as AmeriHealth Caritas DC, Heudia Health, LLC, and Philanthropy DMV, focusing on bold strategy development, data-driven impact reporting, and fostering shared-value partnerships.

Maria Pia Mecklemberg is a Senior Associate at MitchRich Communications.

Maria Pia Mecklemburg has grown with the MitchRich team since 2017, and is a multi-talented asset to the firm. She has served in roles as a digital strategist, content creator, social media specialist, photographer, videographer, and editor. She has supported Spanish language messaging and campaigns and brings her perspective as a first-generation American citizen, born in Peru.

Maria Pia is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, where she majored in communications media arts. She is a fluent Spanish speaker.

Kenon Mitchell Sewell is an Associate at MitchRich Communications.

Kenon has served the MitchRich team since 2021. As a digital native, he specializes in digital strategy, email, and newsletter copywriting, social media campaigns, as well as photography and video editing. A fluent Spanish speaker, he has supported Spanish language messaging for clients serving multilingual audiences. He also happens to be a DJ with a talent for incorporating music into storytelling. He has international experience, having served as an English teaching assistant at a small, community-based non-profit in Costa Rica.

Kenon studied mass communications at Delaware State University.

Fatimah Williams is a Junior Associate at MitchRich Communications.

Fatimah Williams is MitchRich’s newest team member and is a rising talent in digital media, specializing in innovative storytelling, research, and content creation. With a flair for both professional and creative writing, she is dedicated to crafting captivating narratives and effective digital marketing strategies. Fatimah brings a unique perspective to the team, as a digital native with a world view.

Fatimah is a graduate of Goucher College where she majored in Communications and Media Studies. She also holds a certification in Digital Marketing. She is based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Malcolm Richardson is an Intern at MitchRich Communications.

Malcolm Richardson is high school scholar-athlete who has many interests. He is a writer, a video editor, a chef and baker. He provides part-time administrative and technical support to the MitchRich team. After high school, he plans to study entrepreneurship and finance.