Michelle Lancaster
Executive Director
Julia’s Community welcomes Michelle Lancaster as Executive Director. With more than 25 years of experience as a Local Government Executive and Community Advocate who drives mission-critical results that make a positive difference in the lives of children, families, and the entire community. Highly skilled in strategic planning, building dynamic teams, establishing and maintaining successful relationships, and steering cultural change to blend diverse goals into one.
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Michelle’s key accomplishments include multi-agency collaboration, engagement, and partnerships, realigning resources and services, and leading strategic high-visibility events and initiatives. Prior to joining Julia’s Community, she served as Deputy County Manager and Assistant County Manager for Union County and Mecklenburg County.
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She serves on the board of the United Way of the Central Carolinas/Union County Advisory Board and the Union County Arts Council Board, as well as being a member of the International City/County Manager’s Association and the North Carolina City/County Manager’s Association. She was the recipient of the 2010 Charlotte's 40 Under 40 award.
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Lancaster is a native North Carolinian and was born in Rutherford County. She and her husband, Brian, live in Huntersville. They have two sons, one of whom has Down Syndrome. She is a strong advocate for children living with disabilities, and that dedication and personal connection will allow her to merge professional skills with a personal passion through Julia’s Community.
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Michelle holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration, a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Multi-System Integration Certificate in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice from Georgetown University.
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