About Our Staff

Robert A. Stellingworth
President Emeritus

Robert Stellingworth serves as a liaison between stakeholders in the New Orleans criminal justice system across a wide variety of administrative and political levels. He is extensively involved in criminal justice negotiations, as well as fundraising and developmental efforts for the Foundation, overseeing annual budgets exceeding $3,000,000 in grants and private-sector donations.

Mr. Stellingworth brings to NOPJF more than 30 years of experience managing investigations, personnel, programs, technology projects, criminal justice reform and budgets at various organizational levels in law enforcement and education. A proven success in program development, training, personnel motivation, and goal achievement, Mr. Stellingworth served in law-enforcement management positions with national and regional responsibilities for over 10 years. Following a distinguished career with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Mr. Stellingworth also served as co-director of the Center for Society, Law and Justice at Metropolitan College, University of New Orleans.

Mr. Stellingworth holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University, and has been involved with the development and implementation of innovative law-enforcement programs and technology initiatives throughout his career. He has earned several professional distinctions, including the nationally awarded ATF Director‘s Award for Public Service, the Gene Jewel Award for Arson Prevention and Public Service in the State of Ohio, and selection to the U.S. Senior Executive Service Program in 1997. Mr. Stellingworth is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and a life member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators.

Heidi J. Unter
COO/Acting Director

As Vice President of Research & Development, Heidi Unter manages multiple, large-scale efforts centered on rebuilding and renewing the criminal justice system in New Orleans and the surrounding metropolitan area following Hurricane Katrina. Current projects include integrating the technologies of the criminal justice agencies of Orleans Parish, facilitating business process reengineering between criminal justice agencies, managing federal funding initiatives related to Hurricane Katrina recovery, and conducing applied policy research on evolving issues affecting the criminal justice system.

Prior to joining the NOPJF, Dr. Unter was Associate Director of Research at the University of New Orleans’ Center for Society, Law and Justice. As Associate Director, she was involving in providing technical assistance and training to law enforcement stakeholders around the country on strategic planning, performance measurement and business process change. Dr. Unter has published both qualitative and quantitative research on a variety of criminal justice topics. Dr. Unter is also an adjunct professor at UNO and teaches courses in political science and criminal justice. Dr. Unter earned her doctorate in Political Science from the University of New Orleans. Her research agenda has focused on fear of crime, public opinion, police integrity and other justice related issues. She has completed specialty training in the areas of Justice Information Sharing Technologies, Criminal Justice Performance Measurement and Evaluation, Project Management, and Strategic Planning. Dr. Unter has also completed FBI training in the areas of Leadership, Teambuilding and Managing Death Investigations, and has participated in Department of Justice seminars on Justice Information Exchange Mapping and Approaches to Violent Crime Reduction.

Dr. Unter’s professional affiliations and recognitions include:

• FBI Citizen’s Academy Alumni
• American Political Science Association
• Louisiana Technology Council
• American Criminal Justice Association
• National Criminal Justice Association
• National Association of Justice Information Systems

Dr. Unter was born in Lafourche Parish and comes from a rich Cajun heritage. She is fluent in Cajun French and is involved in efforts to preserve the culture, heritage and language of the Cajuns of south Louisiana.

Elodia M. Blanco
Vice President of Programs & Special Projects

As Vice President of Programs & Special Projects, Elodia Blanco serves New Orleans law enforcement and the community at large in a variety of capacities. She screens and processes all new police officers entering law enforcement in the City of New Orleans. She is also the Director of the NOPJF COPS for Kids summer camp, and Director of Walk the Beat / Crescent City Bluesfest, one of NOPJF’s annual fundraisers and community events.

Prior to joining the NOPJF, Ms. Blanco held a management position with the city’s Federal Credit Union, and worked seven years as a manager of Mayor Dutch Morial’s office, where she was director of the largest volunteer force in the history of New Orleans, overseeing the activities of 1600 volunteers.

Ms. Blanco studied business at Sonoma State University in northern California. She is a leading advocate for Environmental Justice and works with many grassroots organizations. She is a member of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, the president of Agriculture Street Landfill, and has served as a board member of the National Black Environmental Justice Network. She also is a board member of WYES Television Station in New Orleans.

Annette C. Bodden, CPA
Chief Financial Officer/Vice President

Ms. Bodden joined NOPJF in early 2002. Prior to joining NOPJF, she held executive level financial positions in the commercial and residential real estate, property/casualty insurance, public utility and automotive industries. She most recently was the SFO for Columbus Properties, owned by local commercial real estate developer and hotel owner, Joseph C. Canizaro.

Ms. Bodden is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Louisiana. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans with honors. She was admitted to the University of New Orleans MBA Program and also completed the US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Financial Management Training Seminar.

Ms. Bodden is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants.

Nathaniel Weaver
Program Manager

As the Program Manager for Hurricane Criminal Justice Infrastructure Recovery and US Department of Justice COPS Technology grants, Nathaniel Weaver manages wide ranging efforts to rebuild and enhance the capacity of criminal justice agencies in Orleans Parish.  These grant initiatives include targeted projects to integrate information technologies, facilitate improved business processes between agencies, address criminal justice staffing needs and provide training and technical assistance for criminal justice professionals.  

Before joining the NOPJF, Mr. Weaver worked in the City's Office of Criminal Justice Coordination under the direction of Col. Terry J. Ebbert, USMC (ret).  During his tenure with the City of New Orleans he served alternately as the Grant Manager for Edward Byrne Violent Crime and Drug Control formula grants, Crime Victim Assistance Project Manager and Domestic Violence Program Coordinator.  In addition to his grant responsibilities, he acted as the Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety's liaison to the Mayor's Military Advisory Committee during the successful effort to retain the Algiers branch of the Naval Support Activity military installation, initially slated for closure under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act.  Following Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Weaver was the first employee of the Office of Criminal Justice Coordination to report to work at the City's Emergency Operations Center.  There he served as an analyst within the Center's Planning Division from September 2005 through February 2006.  Among other projects for the Emergency Operations Center, he co-designed and directed the City's Rapid Population Estimate Project.  In addition to his work with the City of New Orleans, Mr. Weaver has worked on a contractual basis to assist in the collection and analysis of criminal justice data for Linder & Associates, Inc.

Carole Berke
Vice President of Development

Carole Berke has a development career working extensively with a variety of nonprofit organizations, Ms. Berke has assisted them in the development and implementation of effective fundraising strategies that include corporate sponsorship, foundation fundraising and major gifts. She has helped to raise more than $2 million dollars for local and national charities.

Ms. Berke has also coordinated a multitude and range of events that include black tie-dinners, events, promotions, celebrity sporting events, children’s festivals, cocktail receptions, awards dinners, and national conferences.

Ms. Berke has also served as the Director of Marketing for both a national emergency child care company and for a catering company with more than $4 million in gross revenue. During this time she developed and implemented marketing presentations to international companies, produced company-wide marketing plans that incorporated customer satisfaction and retention strategies, and created effective collaborative marketing materials.

Ms. Berke has provided special event consultation to several event management companies including: P.W. Feats, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, Events Management Inc., and Natalie Shear Associates, Inc., Washington, DC, and USA Hosts, a national destination management company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ms. Berke holds a Masters degree in social work.