336.264.7550

TRIP DURHAM | Executive Director

At 14, Trip was a varsity baseball manager at Williams High School in Burlington. Thus began what he affectionately calls his “sports life.” As the third Executive Director of the NC Sports Hall of Fame, Trip has built an incredible resume of resources, experience, and know-how. Through his work in minor league baseball, college athletics, and his own consulting business during the most protracted recession in US history, he works daily to make this Hall of Fame a true treasure for the Old North State.

JULIE LAWHON-MARKS | Deputy Executive Director

Raised in Savannah, GA, Julie attended College in Charleston at Johnson & Wales, and after two years, she relocated to Las Vegas, NV to finish school and start a career in food and beverage. Julie worked her way up from server to Regional Director of Recruiting & Training with 79 restaurants under her. Upon moving to North Carolina, Julie returned to Johnson & Wales, Charlotte for Sports Management. She has helped facilitate several swimming events at the Greensboro Aquatic Center from ACC Championships to Toyota U.S Opens. Julie has also facilitated NCAA Basketball and Soccer Tournaments as well as AAU Junior Olympics. She joined the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2021 and loves the opportunity to highlight stories from the past while encouraging the athletes and students of the future.

ALAN ARMSTRONG | Associate Director, Special Events

Alan brings an executive background of marketing and association management to NCSHOF. Following a 30-year career with advertising agencies and consumer product companies where he executed marketing strategies that drove sustainable top-line growth and built global brand awareness, Alan pivoted to the not-for-profit world in 2004. His career since has engaged a focus on brand marketing, educational program development, and event management in legal, clinical research, insurance, and athletics. Alan is a native of Columbia, South Carolina, and graduate of Lenior-Rhyne University.

STEVE GOWAN | Associate Director, Corporate Partnerships

A 30-year collegiate sports marketing veteran, Steve spent 22 years with Learfield in multiple leadership positions, most recently Senior Vice President, providing corporate-level management for the college sports properties in the eastern US. Earlier, he served as General Manager of the Learfield collegiate multi-media properties in Oregon and Oklahoma. Prior to his career at Learfield, Steve was part of the athletic administration leadership teams at both East Carolina University and the University of Missouri. He has also held on-air broadcast roles with the Tar Heel Sports Network (UNC-CH) and Pirate Sports Network (ECU). A Wallace, NC native, Steve is a University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill graduate.