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.