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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