The voting poll will be open until Tuesday, June 16th when the four candidates with the most votes will be given a seat on the Board. Please review the submissions below before voting to learn more about each candidate. The election winners will be announced on social media and at our annual open Board meeting on June 29. Our Summer Social in July will be a great opportunity to meet the new board. Only active members of the Charlotte Running Club are allowed to submit votes for the Board. You can submit votes for up to FOUR (4) candidates. If you are not a member and would like to join, annual memberships are $25 for individuals, $20 for students & seniors, and $35 for a family membership. |
Jenny Chompholphakdy
I would be honored to serve on the Charlotte Running Club Board because running has had a profound impact on my life, and I’m passionate about helping others experience the same sense of community and belonging.
Over the past several years, I’ve become deeply involved in Charlotte’s running community as a runner, race ambassador, volunteer, and event organizer. I recently launched Charlotte’s first AAPI Heritage Month 5K, which brought together more than 60 participants and raised funds for OurBridge for Kids. Through this event, I saw firsthand how running can connect people across cultures and create meaningful impact beyond the miles.
Professionally, I work in marketing and development, with experience in fundraising, event planning, sponsorships, and community engagement. I would bring these skills to help the club expand its reach, strengthen partnerships, and create inclusive opportunities for runners and walkers of all backgrounds and abilities. I believe the Charlotte Running Club has the power to inspire and unite our community, and I would be excited to contribute my energy, creativity, and passion to support its mission.
Debra Dandro
I discovered running back in 2013 as a way to get in better shape / lose some weight and enjoy both road and trail running. As a proud "back of the packer", I like representing the slower runners and those who do run/walk intervals. I also enjoy pacing and encouraging others to the finish line by pacing the 3-hour Half Marathon group when able. To date, I have completed over eighty half marathons, ten marathons, three 50K+, and one 50 miler. Over the years, I have assisted with several Charlotte area run clubs and am currently assisting Running from the Cartel in China Grove, which is close to where I reside now in Kannapolis. Also, I am now hosting the CRC Mallard Creek Greenway Run each month in the University Area.
Why I would like to be on the Board? I joined the Charlotte Running Club back in 2018 and then the CRC Board in 2021 because I absolutely love the Charlotte running community. During that time, my involvement included helping coordinate events like the Christmas lights run and staffing local race water stops, plus ordering some merchandise and shipping out orders from the website. If elected, I would love to continue serving. My interests include assisting with merchandise, helping plan events, supporting the various events, as well as generally promoting CRC. If you have been to an event with me, I have probably captured you in a photograph (or two or more) and love to document any event I am attending. Thank you in advance for your consideration!
Dan Keller
Sara Kenefick
One fateful Friday two years ago, Eric Smith intercepted me at Summit Coffee OTP (my first ever run club), and during our five miles together (including twice up Pinckney #iykyk), he briefed me on Charlotte running. The rest is history…
You may know me as a morning run club regular, Mental Health Matters ambassador, Feetures sponsor, and/or pacer (perhaps my true calling). These experiences remind me why I run—for “the love of the game” and this special community. Through Charlotte Running Club, I have connected with the most supportive and welcoming people. You all inspire me every day, living proof of doing hard things to achieve audacious goals. To serve our community on the CRC Board would be an immense privilege.
Professionally and personally, I enjoy turning ideas into action that drives meaningful impact. As a board member, I would focus on fostering opportunities for connection through both running and non-running events. Ultimately, I hope to be someone’s “Eric Smith” by providing the same sense of belonging and encouragement.
It would be an honor to help guide CRC's future and give back to the community that has supported me in more ways than I can count.
Mico Quijano
My running journey began in Charlotte, and this city continues to shape who I am as a runner and community member. From supporting the ATC 10K to completing 12 half marathons across 12 states, I’ve seen what makes running communities thrive, and Charlotte stands out.
What makes our city special is its people. It’s early mornings on the greenways watching Naim Bell fly by, run clubs that feel like family, and finish lines where you’re just as likely to see Eric Smith with a pacing flag as you are your closest friends. Charlotte Running Club represents connection, growth, and shared purpose, and I believe deeply in that.
My purpose is to energize and empower others. I’ve found ways to do that as a pacer, handing out flowers in costume, and sharing the experience through vlogging, sometimes all at once. I’m always looking for creative, intentional ways to uplift this community.
I want to represent and elevate Charlotte Running Club, to help it grow, become even more inclusive, and ensure every runner feels seen and supported. Charlotte has given me so much, and I’m ready to help pace it forward.
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I am excited to run for a two-year term on the Charlotte Running Club Board. Since 2018, running has played a transformative role in my life, improving both my physical and mental well-being while connecting me with an incredible community.
Professionally, I bring strong organizational, analytical, and collaborative skills to support the club’s continued growth and member engagement. I have also served as an ambassador for Charlotte Marathon 2025 and Run Charlotte, and I currently serve as an ambassador for Alter Ego Running’s 2026 campaign. These experiences have allowed me to actively support local events, encourage runners of all levels, and strengthen connections within the Charlotte running community.
Originally from Puerto Rico, I moved to the United States in 2017 and recently made Charlotte home. Through involvement in multiple running clubs across Charlotte, Matthews, and Mint Hill, I’ve gained a broad perspective on the diverse needs and goals of our local running community.
If elected, I will focus on inclusivity, community engagement, and creating opportunities that make every runner feel welcomed, supported, and inspired.
Contact usEmail us: run.charlotte@gmail.com | Join usThe Charlotte Running Club consists of passionate runners that strive to spread the love of running and to help each other grow. The Club's goal is to bring the expansive, diverse, and exciting Charlotte running community together under one umbrella through motivation, group runs, and social events. |