Lauren Clements Promoted to Lead CORRAL Riding Academy

CARY, NC – CORRAL Riding Academy, a Cary-based, faith-motivated nonprofit founded in 2008, announces a unanimous board vote promoting longtime volunteer-turned-staff leader Lauren Clements to become the organization’s next executive director.

Clements, 32, will take the reins from tireless founder Joy Currey, who has dedicated the past 15 years to establishing a proven foundation for CORRAL’s transformational equine therapy and education work while growing the program in line with its vision of ending the cycle of intergenerational trauma and systemic marginalization in its community.

Under Currey’s leadership, CORRAL has grown steadily from one to 15 full-time employees, inspired a community of 400 donors and 300 volunteers, increased annual fundraising from its inaugural $17,000 to $1.5 million in 2023, rescued 32 mistreated and abused horses, and successfully served more than 500 young women, primarily from Wake County. By equipping adolescent girls in high-risk situations through a long-term, holistic program of equine therapy and education, plus mental health support, CORRAL provides the skills, resources, and support to propel the girls and their communities toward promising futures.

Throughout her tenure, Currey has focused on cultivating a reputation for fostering remarkable female leaders, resulting in a professional environment where women not only flourish but also make big things happen for their community.

As one of the many visionary leaders working alongside Currey throughout the nonprofit’s existence, Clements has played a pivotal role in shaping CORRAL’s trajectory, starting as a volunteer in 2008 and working her way through various roles to the most senior position within the organization. Her steady presence and thoughtful guidance will be instrumental in providing CORRAL with the stability and leadership required to reach its 2030 vision. Clements will assume her new role following CORRAL’s annual Grow & Bloom Gala on April 26 at the main farm in Kildaire Farm Road in Cary, and Currey will transition into a founder’s role on the board. Learn more at corralriding.org.

“It is with great enthusiasm that the board and I announce Lauren Clements has been voted in as CORRAL’s next Executive Director. Lauren has shown so much commitment and compassion since she joined us as a volunteer, and she has the gift of being a knowledgeable horsewoman who is passionate about helping adolescent girls overcome difficult challenges. She naturally embodies the vision of CORRAL, and I’m beyond delighted she agreed to take on this crucial role,” Currey said.

While Clements’ career accomplishments with CORRAL are vast, some of her most significant achievements include co-authorship of nearly every policy and procedure over the past decade, her pivotal guidance in the organization’s strategy and vision, her aptitude for problem-solving and deep knowledge of the organization, and her innate gift for building the program and the community that surrounds the girls so that both continue to thrive.

Clements, who was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, has lived in the Triangle since age 6. She took riding lessons and was part of the 4-H show team at McNair’s Country Acres in Raleigh. A Raleigh Charter High School graduate, Clements landed her dream job as equine director at CORRAL while an animal science undergrad at North Carolina State University, where she rode on Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) teams. She has been helping build CORRAL and its equine programs ever since. Now, she’ll be the leader.

“This is truly momentous for CORRAL, and I don’t know if I’ll ever have the words to express how grateful I am for Joy to not only create CORRAL but also to grow it to a place where it is more than one person’s vision,” Clements said. “There are so many people who have joined CORRAL, and I’m honored to be charged with leading CORRAL’s continued growth.”

CORRAL will continue to build off the momentum of an exceptional 2023 fundraising season cementing the organization’s future success. That effort has included acquiring a second farm in 2023 through a partnership with the City of Raleigh. The acquisition of 100 acres along the Neuse River – under Clements’ leadership – is providing space and infrastructure to serve more girls and horses.

A pivotal indicator of CORRAL’s health and continued potential is its ability to transcend the influence and vision of its founder – a crucial step in the evolution of any nonprofit. With Clements now leading the way, the collective hope of the CORRAL community shines brighter than ever, supported by a team of exceptional leaders united by a common purpose and poised to guide CORRAL well into the future.