Exchange Family Center Board of Directors
Lars Mortenson
President
Lars Mortenson joined the Board of Directors in 2023. He is a Technical Lead at Renaissance Learning, a company dedicated to nurturing children's education and development. With over two decades of software development experience, he is the father of two young boys, a William & Mary alumnus, and a North Carolina resident since 2006.
Titus Tard Secretary
Titus Tard began serving on the Board of Directors in 2021. He is a veteran preschool teacher at First Environments Early Learning Center. Titus is a graduate of Saint Augustine’s College/ University with a degree in Psychology and has an Administration Certification from Durham Technical Community College.
Alan Jessup Treasurer
Alan Jessup most recently began serving on the Board of Directors in 2016. He has been a member of the Exchange Club of Greater Durham for 25 years and served on the task force that originally formed the agency. He also served on the Board of Directors from 1999-2003. Alan is a graduate of East Carolina University and has worked for Nationwide Insurance for 35 years.
Kendrick Shackleford
Member
Kendrick Shackleford started serving on the Board of Directors at the beginning of 2023. Kendrick is a native of Durham, NC. He is currently a Logistics Manager at Raytheon Technologies with 20 plus years of experience in Operations and Supply Chain Management. He is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University (B.S.) and Kettering University (M.S.) in Manufacturing Technology.
Mary-Charles Nassif
Member
Mary-Charles Nassif began serving on the Board of Directors in 2021. She has also been a member of the Exchange Club of Greater Durham since 2018. As a Triangle native and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill alumna, Mary-Charles has long been active in local business and civic affairs. She enjoys her career as an Edward Jones Financial Advisor in Durham.
Lackisha Freeman
Member
Lackisha Freeman joined the Board of Directors in 2023. She is the general manager of WNCU-FM and is responsible for the overall management and operations of the station. Freeman has over 15 years of experience as the leader and visionary of WNCU and has worked in the public radio industry in various roles for more than 23 years. She obtained both her B.S. and J.D. from North Carolina Central University. Freeman currently serves on the board of Eastern Region Public Media as the Vice President and The Exchange Center of Durham because of her love and passion for public media and her community.
Shunda Brown
Member
Shunda Brown began serving on the Board of Directors in 2025. She has over 20 years of experience in Human Resources. Shunda currently holds the position of Senior Human Resources Advisor at First Citizens Bank.. A native of Connecticut, Shunda received her B.S. in Business Management from Central Connecticut State University and holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation.
Sarah Elder
Member
Sarah Elder joined the Board of Directors in late 2024. She’s a former corporate CEO turned Executive Coach and Management Consultant, working primarily with women founders and leaders. With over 20 years of experience building and growing businesses, Sarah partners with women to help them clarify their vision and execute bold strategies to achieve it. Her work is grounded in the belief that success in business creates the opportunity and responsibility to give back and make a lasting impact. A North Carolina resident who loves small-town life, Sarah is a runner, outdoor enthusiast, traveler, cat lover, and mom to two.