Tara Kenchen Named Founding Executive Director of Durham Next

For Immediate Release:

Local Collaborative Leader to Spearhead Transformational Projects, Organizational Growth

[DURHAM, N.C.] July 1, 2025 — Durham Next, a visionary community partnership for the sustainable advancement of Durham as the best place to live, work and visit, is pleased to announce Tara Kenchen as its first executive director. Kenchen will be stepping in as an influential community leader to build strong relationships, inspire support and drive progress on a wide range of initiatives put forth in the Destination Master Plan (DMP), starting July 21.

"We needed to find someone to both expand and operationalize our vision and found that person with Tara," said Farad Ali, board chair of Durham Next. "She's aligned with our values and is eager to continue building momentum behind priority projects. After an official search, it feels great for her to have emerged: someone I've crossed paths with through community development work and leadership positions for years."    

Kenchen most recently led UF Strategies, a management consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations increase impact through leadership building, operational excellence and strategic growth. Clients included Prosperity Now; Partners in Equity; Frontline Solutions; The Aspen Institute, Business Ownership Initiative; and Education NC. Prior to launching the agency, she served as president and CEO, among other leadership positions, at the NC Community Development Initiative for 15 years, as well as its Community Development Financial Institution affiliate, Initiative Capital, investing $25 million in communities and small businesses across North Carolina.  

"I'm excited to lead an organization that will have such a positive, long-term impact on Durham's future. This is a community-building role: work that really exercises my experience, for the betterment of the community I've called home for 25+ years," said Kenchen. "I've spent my career developing and executing strategy, finding ways to strengthen communities. I know there are a lot of moving pieces for Durham Next right now with eight priority projects in motion and dozens more proposed. Building relationships and listening to community members will be the keys to achieving success, so I intend to get started by talking with as many people as possible during the first several weeks." 

Kenchen's career also includes serving as an adjunct law professor at North Carolina Central University for seven years, teaching administrative law and nonprofit management courses in the Department of Public Administration. Prior to the NC Community Development Initiative, she served as assistant general counsel and other roles at Self-Help, a leading Durham-based community development financial institution, credit union, research and policy organization.  

"We've accomplished a lot since Durham Next's inception last year and the Board of Directors' launch a few months ago, and I can't wait to see the leap in impact Durham Next will have with such a talented executive director at the helm," said Susan Amey, president & CEO of Discover Durham, the parent organization to Durham Next. "Yes, Tara's resume is outstanding, and her balance of humility and drive, thoughtfulness and action, quick wit and compassion distinguished her as the leader we know Durham Next will need. She's the right person to push these once-in-a-generation, large-scale projects forward and to also keep our commitment to honoring our destination's history and people."  

Durham Next was created to lead the research, planning and implementation of initiatives from the DMP that advance Durham as the best place to live, work and visit through the power of tourism. The DMP is an assessment of Durham's development needs, serving as a playbook for Durham Next by providing 60+ proposed initiatives that were shaped by community input and unanimously approved by leaders in the public and private sectors. The nonprofit is managed by Discover Durham, the county's destination marketing organization, which also manages the Durham Sports Commission, another 501(c)3 that generates economic and social impact through sports.  

Priority projects as previously determined by the Durham Next Board include:  

• Working with the Durham Sports Commission to pursue a multi-sport facility.  
• Installing "Welcome to Durham" signage at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.  
• Conducting a feasibility study to understand how we can maximize Durham County Memorial Stadium's potential.   
• Moving into the next phase of imagining a new downtown convention and events center and hotel. 
• Launching a Matching Grants Program to partner with other organizations in the community to create new or expanded experiences and spaces.  
• Exploring ways to strengthen our festival and events ecosystem.  
• Partnering with the City to update the community's gateway signage to elevate the experience of arriving in Durham.  
• Supporting community safety efforts for residents, visitors and hospitality businesses.  

Kenchen, who will also sit on Discover Durham's executive leadership team, will lead Durham Next, its board and a new Community Advisory Council to plan and direct implementation of initiatives that were identified by the Durham community as local priorities. Durham Next is funded by a portion of occupancy tax available to support these initiatives, and at Kenchen's direction, the nonprofit will also seek state, federal, and private grant money and philanthropic support for flagship projects.