Durham Exchange Club Industries, Inc. (DECI), a self-supporting non-profit dedicated to serving adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in Durham County, is pleased to announce the appointment of Christina “Chrissy” Sailstad as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective May 15, 2026. Chrissy will be succeeding Alan Wayne who has subsequently joined the DECI Board of Directors after serving 36 years at DECI, including a 20-year tenure as President and CEO. In her new role, Chrissy will be responsible for the overall management of DECI and achievement of organizational goals, including financial performance, program services, production, operations, customer service, facilities, human resources, business and information technology, as well as marketing and public relations. Positioned as first in command, Chrissy will oversee business development and growth of DECI staff, clients, advocates, and associates, and ensure the overall success of organizational objectives determined in conjunction with the Board of Directors.
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Alan Wayne, member of the DECI Board of Directors and former President & CEO
“After more than three decades of serving individuals with vocational and developmental disabilities throughout Durham County, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the profound impact DECI has on the individuals and their families,” said Alan Wayne, acting member of the DECI Board of Directors. “Chrissy brings a deep commitment to our mission to helping individuals in our community thrive, with decades of philanthropic experience, and I have full confidence in her ability to guide DECI into its next chapter by strengthening our programs, empowering our team, and expanding opportunity for the people we serve. I look forward to supporting her and the organization in my new role on the Board of Directors.”
Prior to joining DECI in July 2023 as COO, Chrissy has held a variety of community-centric managerial roles including as COO at Triangle Family Services and Director of Business Process Management for Habitat for Humanity of Wake County. Chrissy earned her Bachelor of Arts, Gender Race and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University in 2006 and her Master of Business Administration at Elon University in 2012. She serves on the Board of We Will Walk With You, a non-profit organization focused on supporting families of children with disabilities in their communities, and is passionate about helping staff, organizations, and members of the community reach their full potential.
“I am deeply honored to take on this new role and lead an organization with such a strong legacy of service and impact,” said Chrissy Sailstad. “Alan has done incredible work shaping DECI into a reputable nonprofit that has helped transform the lives of thousands of individuals and his shoes will be hard to fill, but I am determined to continue to build on that strong foundation that Alan has created and drive growth and success in the years ahead.”
Among this transition to onboard the next generation of DECI leadership, Nicholas “Tate” Moorefield will take on Chrissy’s previous role as COO, becoming responsible for translating DECI’s mission and strategic goals into actionable plans that lead to business growth and success. Working closely with Chrissy to ensure corporate alignment, Tate will oversee all aspects of internal operations including HR, sales and marketing, business development, employee engagement and the creation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) across departments.
For more information about DECI and our services, please visit us online at https://www.deci.org/.
About DECI:
Celebrating 60 years of impact, DECI is a private, nonprofit community-based rehabilitation organization serving adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in Durham County. Through job training, placement services, and ongoing support, DECI empowers individuals with disabilities to achieve independence, earn wages, and build meaningful lives.
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