Author: Lulu Black

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Press Releases

New members to provide vital support and leadership as the DSC continues transforming Durham into a championship hub while creating social and economic change through sports 

Durham, NC (July 10, 2023) — The Durham Sports Commission’s (DSC) Board of Directors has elected two new members, Angelique Stallings and Ryan Craig. Stallings is the owner and founder of Mocha Mind Agency in Durham, a full-service consulting and communications strategy firm. She also serves as the vice president of community investment with the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. Craig currently works at Gallagher, one of the world’s largest insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firms, as a health and welfare consultant and is a member of the Duke Sports Business Conference Alumni Board.  

“I first want to thank our outgoing board members, Terrence Holt and Susan Scott, for their six years of service. Their commitment, guidance and passion set a foundation and has created extraordinary momentum for the DSC,” said Marcus Manning, executive director of the DSC. “The future is bright, and our board, made up of dynamic leaders who are visionaries and forward-thinkers will utilize the new three-year strategic blueprint as a playbook to elevate the local Durham sports community and recruit and retain both regional and national sporting events to the Bull City. Both Stallings and Craig have demonstrated their deep-rooted, unwavering dedication to our community. Their contributions will be essential in the continued growth and sustained success of our organization and the broader Durham sports ecosystem.” 

Stallings has served the Durham community for 20-plus years in various roles and is passionate about being a conduit between underrepresented populations and the business community. She demonstrates her commitment to civic engagement as a member of the Durham Success Summit Advisory Counsel, Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People and the NC Central University Athletics and Alumni Association. Before her current roles, she worked as a marketing and sales executive at Radio One Raleigh. She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and is an active member of the Durham Alumnae chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family and traveling around the world.  

Craig is a graduate of Duke University with degrees in history and psychology. Immediately after college, he worked at WRAL-TV for eight years in various roles, including producer, reporter, videographer, assignment desk editor, video editor, web editor, writer and radio host. He then went on to work in the Athletics Department of his alma mater, primarily focusing on digital strategy, overseeing the website, mobile apps and social media for all 27 varsity sports. During this time, he worked across campus on various projects, including Duke’s Code+, Data+, and Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum programs and also served on the Campus Communicators Steering Committee.  

The term for these two new board members began July 1, 2023 and will expire June 30, 2026. Ingrid Wicker McCree, Ed.D., founder and CEO of WM Leadership & Legacy Coaching, LLC, will continue as chair, with Ray Trapp, executive director of NPower North Carolina, replacing Susan Scott, President and executive director of Public Television Major Market Group, as vice-chair. Mitch Moser, higher education consulting director for Huron Consulting Group will continue in his role as secretary/treasurer. Other continuing board members include Dan Hill, former president of the Carolinas Golf Association and former partner of the Orange County Speedway, Bill Kalkhof, retired CEO of Downtown Durham Inc., Jonathon Leach, executive director of administration at NCCU, Umar Muhammad, professor of sport management and faculty athletic representative at St. Augustine’s University and Scott Strickland, assistant general manager – operations at the Durham Bulls Baseball Club.   

For more information about the Durham Sports Commission, please visit www.durhamncsports.com. 

About Durham Sports Commission  

The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) is a collaboration of the City of Durham, the County of Durham, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and Discover Durham. The DSC was established in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) with a mission to create economic and social impact by leading the community’s efforts to attract, support, and promote youth, amateur, collegiate, and professional sporting and recreational events and is operated by Discover Durham. The DSC provides leadership for sports-based initiatives and create positive economic impact and quality of life in Durham and the surrounding region. Be sure to follow the DSC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with all sports-related news in Durham, NC, and other announcements. 

Author: Lulu Black

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Uncategorized

North Carolina State University Graduate to Combine a Love of Sports, Wellness and Community Outreach to Facilitate Lasting Community Change in New Role

 

Durham, NC (June 20, 2023) — The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) is excited to announce Lulu Black as the most recent addition to the DSC team. Black recently graduated from North Carolina State University and is looking forward to stepping into a role combining her enthusiasm for sport, wellness, and community outreach. As Assistant Director of the DSC, Black will manage internal operations such as organizational administration along with project management duties. She will also oversee the internship and grants and incentives programs while acting as lead for servicing of all bid-on and local events.

“I feel so thankful and privileged to be brought on as the assistant director for the DSC,” said Black. “Having lived in the Triangle area for several years, it is truly a dream come true to contribute to the betterment of my community. I’m so eager to create an impact and achieve equality for all through sport within the City and County of Durham.”

Prior to joining the DSC, Black was a member of the 2021 and 2022 Women’s Cross Country National Championship team during her time as a student at NC State. She also has experience working with sports organizations on the local, national, and international levels. She was a student intern with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, an undergraduate research assistant with the NCAA Grant Research Program, and, as a student intern, had the privilege of being part of the North Carolina Bid Committee for the 2027 Summer World University Games. Additionally, she has served as the U.S. Ambassador for the International University Sports Federation.

“In Lulu, we’ve found a bright young mind with the grit, patience, strong work ethic, and teamwork mentality necessary to help further grow the DSC and make an impact on our community,” said Marcus Manning, executive director of the DSC.

Black joins the team at an incredibly exciting time for the DSC. The DSC recently hosted the first ever Emerging Women in Sports Leadership Summit on April 19, as well as various championships, such as the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Lacrosse Championships, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Baseball Championship, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Track and Field Championship, and North Carolina High School Athletic Association Softball Championship. As the DSC team works tirelessly to transform the Bull City into a championship hub, Black will be the ideal addition to the team to support these efforts. She will play a key role in the next upcoming DSC-supported event, which will be the Russell E. Blunt East Coast Invitational for track and field held at Durham County Memorial Stadium July 21-23. As a fellow runner, she is especially looking forward to her involvement in this exciting event.

In her role at the DSC, Black will serve as the project manager on DSC projects like bid documents, facility development research, various marketing efforts and owned and operated events. As the key team member in charge of the grants and incentives program, she will coordinate and execute committee meetings, periodically evaluate the program, and oversee the budget. She will be the lead for all bid-on events and the lead contact for volunteers and interns. She will also be in charge of communication with stakeholders for events while reporting and supporting administrative staff at the DSC.

Black grew up in Indianapolis, where sports were an integral part of her community. Because of this upbringing and her personal experiences as an athlete, she is determined to use sports as a catalyst for positive change in the communities she is a part of. Black is the daughter of Scott and Jodette Black and enjoys running on trails, watching sports, being outdoors, making art, and cuddling with her dog Walter in her free time.

For more information about the Durham Sports Commission, please visit www.durhamncsports.com.

 

About Durham Sports Commission 

The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) is a collaboration of the City of Durham, the County of Durham, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and Discover Durham. The DSC was established in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) with a mission to create economic and social impact by leading the community’s efforts to attract, support, and promote youth, amateur, collegiate, and professional sporting and recreational events and is operated by Discover Durham. The DSC provides leadership for sports-based initiatives and create positive economic impact and quality of life in Durham and the surrounding region. Be sure to follow the DSC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with all sports-related news in Durham, NC, and other announcements.