About NCDDA

NCDDA

The North Carolina Downtown Development Association is the leader in education and advocacy for economic growth and development in North Carolina’s downtowns.  NCDDA is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit professional membership organization that is led by a 21-member volunteer board of directors, which meets quarterly.  Members include downtown development managers, coordinators and Main Street managers; economic developers; town planners; town managers; architects; landscape architects; developers; and other professions related to the development of North Carolina’s downtowns.

NCDDA Board of Directors

President (2025-2027)
Jeff Murison, President & CEO
Hillsborough Street Community Services Corporation

President-Elect (2025-2027)
Rick Thurmond, Chief Marketing Officer
Charlotte Center City Partners

Past-President (2025-2027)
Kimberly Van Dyk, Planning and Community Revitalization Director
City of Wilson

Secretary (2024-2026)
Hayden Plemmons, Executive Director
Asheville Downtown Association

Treasurer (2025-2027)
Will Gaskins, VP Economic Development and Planning
Downtown Raleigh Alliance

VP Governmental Affairs (2025-2027)
Kathleen Rose, President
Rose Associates

VP Membership (2025-2027)
Jennifer Herbert, Downtown Development Director
Wake Forest Downtown, Inc.

VP Education (2024-2026)
Kelli Laudate, Executive Director
Downtown Sanford, Inc.

Western Region Director (2025-2027)
Amy Bridges, Downtown and Community Development Manager
Town of Forest City

Northwest Region Director (2025-2027)
Amy Fauquet, Executive Director
Hickory Downtown Development Association

Piedmont-Triad Director (2024-2026)
Morgan Johnson Vasquez, Executive Director
Mount Airy Downtown, Inc.

North Central Director (2024-2026)
Vacant

Northeast Region (2024-2026)
John Jesso, Executive Director
Washington Harbor District Alliance

Southwest Region Director (2025-2027)
Sada Troutman, Economic and Downtown Director
City of Salisbury / Downtown Salisbury, Inc.

South Central Region Director (2025-2027)
Sarah Beth Ward, Downtown Development Coordinator
City of Lumberton

Southeast Director (2025-2027)
Erin Fonesca, Downtown Development Director
Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation

Large Cities Director (2024-2026)
Christina Haley, President & CEO
Wilmington Downtown, Inc.

Associate Director – Community Member (2024-2026)
Eddie Belk, President
Belk Architecture

Associate Director – Corporate Member (2024-2026)
Sam Hardwick, Sales
MOSCA Design

Associate Director – Professional Member (2024-2026)
David Maurer, President
Maurer Architecture

Associate Director – Associate Member (2024-2026)
Jennings Gray, Senior Retail Development Specialist
Electricities

NCDDA Staff

Jason Epley, Executive Director

NOTE: The region director positions align with the NC Commerce Prosperity Zones.

Phone: 704.305.4381
PO Box 3392
Salisbury, NC 28145