Durham Sports Commission Appoints Five New Board Members

DURHAM, NC—The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) has announced the addition of five new members to its Board of Directors: Troy Austin, Cheryl Parquet, Monica Brown, Brendan Madigan, and Jaye Pratt. These new members bring a wealth of athletic experience and a strong commitment to community engagement, aligning with DSC’s mission to drive social and economic impact through sports and recreation events in Durham.

New Board Members

– Troy Austin: In his current role, Austin oversees fundraising and development operations for Duke University’s athletic programs, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of Duke Athletics by securing substantial financial support and driving strategic growth for the programs under his management. A four-year varsity football letterman at Duke, Austin served as team captain his senior year and earned several prestigious awards, including the William J. Griffith Service Award. He has also served as director of athletics at Longwood University. His deep commitment to athletics and strategic growth in sports will be instrumental to the DSC board.

– Cheryl Parquet: As the Director of Community Engagement at Blue Cross NC, Parquet leads initiatives to enhance the company’s brand through strategic community partnerships. With over 16 years of experience, she has played a crucial role in fostering collaborations with community organizations, civic leaders, and businesses to advance health and wellness initiatives across the state. Parquet holds a Certified Diversity and Inclusion Professional (CDIP) credential from Cornell University and a Corporate Social Responsibility certification from Duke University. Her experience fostering health and wellness initiatives statewide will be invaluable to the DSC.

– Jaye Pratt: A Durham native and former track and field athlete at NCCU, Pratt is the founder of JCP Fitness, Inc. and JCP Performance, promoting fitness in the Raleigh-Durham area. A 2011 Hillside New Tech High School graduate, Jaye excelled in track and field, earning multiple awards and an athletic scholarship to North Carolina Central University (NCCU). At NCCU, he continued to achieve, earning MEAC Conference and NCAA East Regional Honors while serving as vice-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He is currently Hillside High School’s head boys’ soccer coach. His dedication to sports and youth development will contribute significantly to the DSC’s goals.

– Brendan Madigan: The chief financial officer at Limited Run Games in Apex, NC, and a licensed CPA in North Carolina, Madigan brings extensive financial expertise and a strong commitment to community service. He previously served on the Durham County Boxing and Wrestling Commissions and is currently serving on the Durham Audit Oversight Committee. Madigan has a master’s degree in accounting from NC State University and a bachelor’s degree in public policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His professional acumen will support the financial oversight of the DSC.

– Monica Brown: Senior Director of Equity Advancement at the YMCA of the Triangle. A member of the team since 2013, Brown has a background in sports management and a passion for coaching. She graduated from NC State University with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in sports management, where she also played for Wolfpack soccer. Her experience in team building and driving effective communication will be a great asset to the DSC.

Leadership and Vision

“Bill Kalkhof, Dan Hill, Mitch Moser, Ray Trapp, and Umar Muhammad laid a foundation, provided a vision, and charted a path forward for the DSC. And for that, we will be forever grateful for their service,” says Marcus Manning, executive director of the DSC. “As the landscape of sports and sports tourism continues to evolve and transform, our new dynamic leaders and forward thinkers led by chair Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree and incoming vice chair Angelique Stallings will play a significant role in our city’s continued growth and sustained success. With future opportunities in front of us, we anticipate witnessing the Durham sports ecosystem continue expanding and thriving under their innovative leadership, strategic thinking, and guidance.”

Additional Board Updates

Ryan Craig will step in as the new secretary/treasurer of the DSC Board of Directors.

Looking Ahead

“We believe in the power of sports to foster community spirit and improve lives, and we look forward to tapping into our new board members’ experience, expertise, and passion to support the DSC’s mission,” says Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree, chair of the DSC Board of Directors. “We are honored to have such bright, dedicated community members join our team and be a part of what’s next for the Bull City.”

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