Durham Tech Foundation welcomes new board members

The Durham Tech Foundation has welcomed three distinguished community leaders to its Board of Directors who bring extensive professional experience and valuable community connections. Kelly Calabria, Emilee Collins, and Kenneth Gibbs have demonstrated their dedication to the local community through their leadership and advocacy roles and are committed to advancing Durham Tech’s mission.

Kelly Calabria is senior vice president, chief marketing and corporate social responsibility officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. She leads the division of corporate social responsibility, brand management and marketing. The role focuses on driving results for the business and supporting the company’s purpose, which is to ensure health care is better for all.  

Calabria’s role also addresses social drivers of health, community engagement and health equity. Formerly president and CEO of the Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation, Calabria worked to advance health equity through community-driven action and systems-level policy advocacy.  

“The 58 community colleges in North Carolina are hubs for workforce development, community connection and leadership,” Calabria said. “I am honored to join the Board of the Durham Tech Foundation and am committed to supporting this amazing institution grow and find new, exciting ways to serve its students and community.”

Focusing on industrial projects in the Interstate 85 Corridor spanning the Triangle and Triad regions, Emilee Collins of Pickett Sprouse Commercial Real Estate brings a multifaceted skill set to serve her clients who are sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants. Her team’s primary area of specialization lies in industrial properties, where their expertise, meticulous planning and unwavering commitment to understanding their clients’ needs are at the forefront.  

Collins is a firm believer in being an active and a supportive member of the communities in which she works and lives.  

“Helping to lead a valuable organization such as The Durham Tech Foundation is just one way that I can give back to the community that has given me so much both personally and professionally,” she said. Demonstrating the belief that fostering connections and engaging with the community is essential, Collins holds memberships in a number of professional associations. Additionally, she has served as president of The Rotary Club of Durham and is currently vice president on the Board of Directors for the Hillsborough/Orange Chamber of Commerce.

Kenneth Gibbs is the Durham tax partner with McConnell Jones, the second largest African-American-owned CPA firm in the United States. With more than 30 years’ experience in corporate taxation, compliance, strategic planning, and audits. Gibbs has held senior leadership positions in companies such as Glaxo, Pitney Bowes and Uniroyal. In addition to earning the CPA designation, Gibbs is also an attorney and proud alumnus of North Carolina Central University, where he served on the Board of Trustees.  

When asked about the importance of education, Gibbs quoted former President Barack Obama: “No matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee you’ll need an education to do it.”  

Gibbs amplified this sentiment by acknowledging the value of life’s lessons in addition to formal education.

The leadership team of the Foundation’s Board of Directors includes Chair Indira Everett, Vice President, Government and Community Relations for Duke Energy. Also serving are Vice Chair Ellen Shannon, Treasurer Andrew Kleitsch, and Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton, who serves as secretary. Other board members include Mary Bus, Michael Goodmon, Ryan Hampton, Tai Huynh, John Messick, Walter Newton, Dale Pulczinski, Wade Smedley, Brandt Smith, and Bill Stokes.  

Vice President and Chief Institutional Advancement Officer Roxanne Miller, who serves as executive director for the Foundation, said the new members bring valuable experience to the Foundation.  

“With the addition of these visionary leaders in their respective sectors – health care and health equity; commercial real estate and community engagement; financial expertise – the Durham Tech Foundation is well-positioned with strong, diverse and experienced board members to propel the College forward,” Miller said.