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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