Kaila’Shea Menendez Elected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors

The Durham Sports Commission’s Deputy Director was Unanimously Elected for a Three-Year Term

DURHAM, NC (February 8, 2023) – The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) is proud to announce Deputy Director, Kaila’Shea Menendez has been named to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors. Menendez was unanimously elected during the board’s quarterly meeting at Elon University on February 6 to fill a three-year term through May of 2026.

“The rich sports history of North Carolina is something we are proud to celebrate at the Durham Sports Commission,” said Menendez. “It’s an honor to join this organization and help fulfill the mission of sharing that history to inspire the next generation of North Carolina sports greats.”

Founded in 1962, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame has a mission to use sports as a way to connect, enrich and inspire communities across the state. Its goal is to utilize the stories and achievements of local athletic talents to inspire others to find the courage to speak up, encourage others, and aspire to lofty goals. In 1992, the Hall was given a permanent place in the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh and later this year it will induct the 59^th class of honorees.

“We’re excited to have Kaila’Shea join us in telling the story of North Carolina’s illustrious sports history,” said Executive Director Trip Durham. “Throughout her career, Kaila’Shea has shown a commitment to using sports for the betterment of her community and we look forward to aligning in that mission together.”

Menendez will bring a unique perspective to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors. She is a Raleigh native and a part of North Carolina sports history as a former student-athlete at Wakefield High School and Western Carolina University. Now, as Deputy Director of the Durham Sports Commission, she is tasked with spearheading the work of the DSC’s Advisory and Sports Tourism Committees while building dynamic, productive relationships with key stakeholders. She has readily stepped in and owned her position as the point of contact for various national governing bodies in sports as well as other external rights holders and local event owners.

For more information on the DSC’s impact, please visit durhamncsports.com. For more information on the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, please visit ncshof.org.

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.  

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First-Time Partnership Between Three Organizations to Offer Skill Building and Professional Networking Focused on Sports and Business Careers 

Durham, NC (January 30, 2023) – The Durham Sports Commission in partnership with Women Leaders in College Sports, along with presenting sponsor Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, are proud to announce the first Emerging Women in Sports Leadership Summit will be held on Wednesday, April 19 at 1 p.m. at the Durham Convention Center. Registration for the event is now open and more information can be found at www.durhamncsports.com/emerging-leaders.  

“Leadership is not limited by gender, but strengthened by diversity,” said Kaila’Shea Menendez, Deputy Director of the Durham Sports Commission. “This summit is a powerful opportunity for women to come together, connect, and learn from each other as we work towards becoming more effective leaders. We are thrilled to bring together these three amazing organizations to elevate the women leaders of today and cultivate the leaders of tomorrow.” 

The Emerging Women in Sports Leadership Summit will be an unparalleled event that brings together women who are passionate about sports and business. The summit is geared towards promoting the growth and development of women in the sports industry and beyond by providing a platform for student-athletes, graduate assistants, interns, volunteers, and young professionals to enhance their skills and expand their professional network.  

“By supporting women, we celebrate our shared commitment to provide inclusive opportunities that empower our next generation of leaders,” said Cheryl Parquet, Director of Community Engagement and Marketing Activation for Blue Cross NC. “We look forward to working with these future leaders and building healthier communities for all North Carolinians.” 

The summit is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for emerging women leaders in the Durham community and surrounding Triangle region to connect with industry leaders, gain valuable insights and career tools, and build lasting relationships. It will be a day packed with speakers delivering real-world expertise and guidance along with opportunities for professional networking and skill building. There will also be an on-site photographer offering professional headshots to attendees. The speaker lineup will be announced in early March.  

“We are thrilled to be a part of this local event that empowers women to reach their full potential and pursue a career in sports,” said Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports. “The Durham Sports Commission and Blue Cross NC are actively cultivating the pipeline of women working in sports on a local level and we hope it inspires other organizations to do the same.”  

For all summit participants, Women Leaders in College Sports is providing a one-year membership to access leadership and career resources and connect with a powerful network of women working in sports to support them on their career journey. For those wishing to attend and in need of financial assistance, a total of 20 summit scholarships will be made available by the participating organizations. More information about scholarship opportunities can be found on the event’s website. 

“I am delighted about the opportunity for the Durham Sports Commission to partner with Women Leaders in College Sports, an organization that contributed greatly to my career in college athletics,” said Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree, former Athletic Director at North Carolina Central University and current chair of the Durham Sports Commission Board of Directors. “This is an amazing opportunity for women at various stages of their careers to connect and learn from experienced leaders in the sports industry.” 

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 creates 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.  

About Women Leaders in College Sports 

Founded in 1979, Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA) is the only nationally recognized professional membership organization whose mission is to develop, connect and advance women leaders working in college sports and beyond. Nearly 5,000 members strong, Women Leaders provides career and leadership training, access to a powerful network, and the resources to advance women at every stage of their careers. Women Leaders is reshaping the leadership landscape by elevating the women leaders of today and cultivating the women leaders of tomorrow. Follow Women Leaders on Twitter, Instagram, & TikTok @WomenLeadersCS. 

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July 12, 2021 (DURHAM, N.C.) – The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) is proud to announce that Deputy Director, Kaila’Shea Menendez, has been named as one of 11 board members of the North Carolina Sports Association. The NCSA Board Development Committee elected Menendez to fill one of three the at-large seats available for a three-year term beginning with the 2022/2023 year. 

“The NCSA is an important collective that works to further our state’s sports ecosystem, bettering communities in Durham and beyond through the social and economic impact of sport,” said Menendez. “It’s an honor to work more closely with my peers to further position North Carolina as a premier destination for national governing bodies and event planners looking to enhance or bring more events of all shapes and sizes to the area.”  

NCSA is a statewide collaboration of sports commissions, convention and visitors bureaus, parks and recreation entities, and sports authorities who share a direct interest in supporting sports events in North Carolina. The nonprofit’s mission is to grow, promote and enhance the general welfare of the sports industry across the state. By positioning North Carolina as a top-tier destination for the sports tourism market and recruiting event rights holders to the area, NCSA helps generate economic and social impact for destinations from the mountains to the coast.  

“In just a few short months, it’s clear Kaila’Shea is a gamechanger for Durham and the state’s sports tourism industry,” said Marcus Manning, executive director of the DSC. “We’re proud to have her make her mark and contribute to more regional conversations as Durham and North Carolina continue to solidify our positions as championship-caliber destinations.”    

One of seven sports commissions in North Carolina, the DSC was established in 2016 as a collaboration between the City of Durham, Durham County, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and Discover Durham. Menendez joined the DSC in December of 2021, shortly before the organization hosted the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Football National Championship and Senior Football Classic, as well as the inaugural Champion Durham Classic high school basketball invitational. In her first few months on the job, Menendez has immediately excelled by leading the management of strategic initiatives and special projects. She spearheads the work of the DSC’s Advisory and Sports Tourism Committees, building dynamic, productive relationships with key stakeholders. She has readily stepped in and owned her position as the point of contact for various national governing bodies in sports as well as other external rights holders and local event owners. While those are the responsibilities she is formally charged with, Menendez’s keen eye for forecasting event owners’ needs, multifaceted skillsets honed by years of leadership experience, and innate thoughtfulness permeate and across all the organization accomplishes.  

Menendez was previously the senior director of leadership programming and events at Women Leaders in College Sports, the premier leadership organization that develops, connects, and advances women working in college sports and beyond. She oversaw the Women Leaders in College Sports National Convention and was responsible for the execution of all association-wide leadership programming and events. Additionally, she managed initiatives dedicated to furthering and supporting women of color in sports and remains an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Before assuming her senior director role, Menendez served as an events coordinator and director leadership programming. Prior to Women Leaders in College Sports, she held positions with the University of California San Diego, Camp Pendleton, and various parks and recreation centers and YMCAs across the country.  

For more on the DSC’s impact, please visit its website. For more on the NCSA, please visit its website or contact Paul Sheehan, Chair, at paul@visitwinstonsalem.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. 

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The Durham Sports Commission Names Four New Board Members 

Board Members to Provide Leadership and Guidance as the DSC Fulfills its Mission to  

Create Social and Economic Impact Through Sports 

July 7, 2022 (DURHAM, N.C) – The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) is proud to share four new members have joined its Board of Directors. The new board members are Ingrid Wicker McCree, Ed.D., founder & CEO of WM Leadership & Legacy Coaching, LLC; Ray Trapp, vice president of strategic engagement at the Research Triangle Foundation; Umar Muhammad, a professor and faculty athletic representative (FAR) at Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) and founder of USports Consulting; and Scott Strickland, assistant general manager of operations for the Durham Bulls Baseball Club.  

“We have a forward-thinking, strategic, and versatile lineup of board members, guiding us into the future as we continue to partner with and support Durham’s local sports ecosystem and recruit regional and national events to the Bull City,” said Marcus Manning, executive director of the DSC. “Each member has passionately served Durham in various capacities and will continue to do so through the DSC’s mission – this cohort is ready to assist the organization in taking advantage of future opportunities, and ultimately positioning the DSC for sustainable success.”  

Wicker McCree has an impressive and storied career as a higher education leader with more than 25 years in diverse roles. In 2008, she made history becoming the first female to hold the permanent title as the Director of Athletics at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Wicker McCree recently retired as one of the longest-tenured athletic directors in NCCU history, and as one of only a handful of women athletic directors in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). As founder and CEO of WM Leadership & Legacy Coaching, LLC, she will impart her extensive expertise and leadership skills to individuals, organizations, and corporations within higher education and beyond. She is a native of Durham and graduate of C.E. Jordan High School.  

Trapp joined the Research Triangle Foundation (RTF) as vice president of strategic engagement in January 2021. Prior to his current role, Trapp was the director of external affairs for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) as well as a Guilford County Commissioner representing District 8 from 2012-2017. He participates on the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges and is a board member of Communities in Schools of Wake County, Communities in Schools of Greater Greensboro, the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce, Durham Public Schools Foundation, Leadership Triangle, and the Nature Conservancy. He was also in the U.S. Navy, serving as an interior communications specialist aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN).  

Muhammad has recently made history and garnered national acclaim for becoming one of two head coaches on the inaugural SAU cycling team – the first and only cycling squad and women’s crew team at a Historically Black college and university (HBCU) in the country. Professor Muhammad has been a sport management professor at SAU for nearly five years and most recently appointed the new FAR, a faculty member designated by an NCAA member institution to serve as a liaison between the institution and athletics department as well as a representative of the institution in conference and NCAA affairs. A native of Durham, he is active in his community and involved with the Durham County Juvenile Crime Prevention program, the DSC’s Advisory Committee, and the NCCU Recreation Program Advisory Committee. He founded a sports consulting business, USports Consulting, and was once the general manager of a professional basketball team, the Bull City Legacy, in the Tobacco Road Basketball League.  

Strickland has served as the assistant general manager, operations for the Durham Bulls since 2018. He started his career with the Bulls in 2004 as an assistant groundskeeper, prior to being promoted to head groundskeeper then director of operations. In his role, Strickland oversees stadium and field operations, special events, management of the Durham Athletic Park, as well as the team’s partnership with Duke Baseball. He resides in Durham and is active with the Miracle League of the Triangle where he services on their board of directors. 

The four new board members’ terms started July 1, 2022, and expires June 30, 2025. With the new appointments comes a new board chair, too. Wicker McCree will succeed previous board chair Dan Hill, former president of the Carolinas Golf Association and former partner of the Orange County Speedway. Hill will continue to serve as a board member. Susan Scott, senior director of advancement and marketing at UNC-TV, will keep her position as vice chair and Mitch Moser, deputy director of athletics/resource development and management/chief financial officer at Duke University’s department of athletics, remains secretary/treasurer. Other continuing board members include Terrence Holt, president of Holt Brothers, Inc.; Jonathon Leach, executive director of administration at North Carolina Central University; and Bill Kalkhof, retired CEO of Downtown Durham, Inc. Coinciding with the new appointments, founding members Omar Beasley, George Habel, and Tommy Hunt have rotated off the board.  

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. 

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