DURHAM, N.C.—The Durham Sports Commission (DSC), the department that organizes sporting and recreational events operated by Discover Durham, has appointed Ray Trapp and Emily Jo Roberts to its board of directors. It has also introduced new leadership roles for several existing board members. Having previously served on the board in 2023, Trapp is now the director of communications and development for Families & Communities Rising, where he oversees the organization’s fundraising, marketing, and public relations efforts. Before this, he was a district manager at Duke Energy Corporation and the executive director of NPower. He also has experience as the VP of strategic engagement at Research Triangle Park. Trapp is a board member of the North Carolina Community College System, The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, the Duke-NCCU Clinical and Translational Science Advisory Committee, and the Inter-Church Council Housing Corporation.
Roberts is the current director of women’s coaching and executives at Wasserman’s The Collective. She works daily to advance the power of female coaches and other sports industry leaders, which aligns with DSC’s mission to create social impact. Previously, she was the assistant women’s basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at Appalachian State University.
“We’re excited to welcome Ray, who’s returning, and Emily Jo, a new member to our board of directors,” says DSC executive director Marcus Manning. “Their backgrounds and commitment to community impact make them tremendous assets to our organization. Their leadership will help guide us as Durham strives to be one of the best sports destination hubs in the country.”
Many board members at DSC are also taking on new roles. Angelique Stallings will serve as board chair, and Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree will step into the immediate past chair role. Additionally, Ryan Craig was appointed vice chair, and Jonathon Leach will serve as secretary/treasurer.
