Board of Directors
After earning his degree in Religious Studies from Duke University, Shane had a distinguished 13-year career in the NBA. He then used that experience to help guide the Miami Heat's basketball development and analytics strategy for several seasons. His long list of basketball accomplishments includes two NBA titles, an NCAA Championship, and countless individual awards for his efforts on and off the court.
Shane’s experiences have positioned him as an internationally coveted speaker, delivering keynote presentations for numerous global companies. He has headlined talks at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, The Nantucket Project, and Thermostat Cultures Live. He advises multiple tech startups and is a global ambassador for the NBA. To serve the communities in which he has lived, Shane and Heidi founded The Battier Take Charge Foundation in 2010 to provide educational resources and programs for the development of youth and teens in underserved areas. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $2.86 million in scholarships to deserving young leaders.
Heidi graduated from Villanova University with a degree in Communications, and spent her professional career as a teacher, coach and mentor in both Memphis, TN and Houston, TX. Through her work in education and various volunteer opportunities, Heidi was inspired to create a platform wherein she and Shane could help further the education of at-risk students. As a result, the Battier Take Charge Foundation was established in 2010, with the goal of encouraging and inspiring a new generation of potential leaders through education opportunities and the cultivation of effective leadership skills. Take Charge has grown their programming to support outstanding young scholars in Miami, Houston, Detroit, and Camden, NJ, with Heidi serving as the Chief Program Officer overseeing academic efforts.
Natives of Birmingham, MI, Heidi and Shane now live in Coral Gables with their children, Zeke and Eloise. In addition to her responsibilities with Take Charge, Heidi has taken an active role volunteering with Ransom Everglades, St. Thomas Episcopal School and Women of Tomorrow.
Lorron grew up in Detroit, and holds a degree in Marketing from Arizona State University, as well as an MBA from Central Michigan University An avid sports fan, he worked with the Arizona Diamondbacks as their Community Affairs Coordinator, before moving back to Detroit to learn the family business, James Group International (JGI). Lorron currently serves as CEO of JGI, a leader in the automotive industry encompassing multiple entities. In addition to his professional endeavors, Lorron serves on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Athletic Club and the Children’s Foundation, the Dean’s Council for the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, and with the Detroit Sessions and Young Presidents Organization – Southern 7. He’s part-owner of the Grand Rapids Drive Basketball Team, a G-League team within the Detroit Pistons organization.
Becky McCarron was born and raised in the Miami Area. She attended Florida State University and earned a degree in Communications and Business Administration. She then went on to earn her Juris Doctor from Mercer University School of Law. Becky has served as an Assistant State Attorney and a legal policy advisor to the Florida State Senate President, chairing the Senate Judiciary, Criminal Law, and Article 5 committees. She also spent time in private practice lobbying the Florida Senate and House of Representatives, and as the lead fundraiser on a Florida gubernatorial campaign. Becky has previously served as President of Beaux Arts and the Saint Thomas Episcopal Parish School Parent Association, and has been a mentor with Take Charge since 2017.
Born and raised in Miami, Maurice was involved with BBBS Miami’s “School-to-Work” Program, which led him to earn a BTCF Scholarship to attend Florida State University. Determined to make his mark at FSU, he majored in finance and held several board seats and leadership positions in student government organizations, notably the Black Student Union and the Seminole Minority Leadership Institute. He is currently establishing a career in compliance, and works with Jackson Health System as a Senior Auditor. In an effort to invest in the areas that raised him, Maurice co-founded The Investor’s Table, and community-focused organization aimed at helping individuals and families create opportunity through financial literacy. He has been active at all levels of our organization, starting as a scholar and growing into a mentorship role with our current GUIDE Scholars.
Ellen grew up in Freehold, New Jersey, and attended Northwestern University, where she earned degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Journalism. She began her career in IT, building software platforms for CXO Media, before shifting gears and embracing her opportunity to be a stay-at-home parent. She’s volunteered her skills to enrich numerous schools and youth-focused organizations over the years – teaching, coaching and leading in every capacity. Ellen has also lent her talents to countless community organizations, working with the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, and Feel Better Friends, for which she crochets look-a-like dolls for sick and disabled children. Ellen also currently serves as a trustee of the United States Olympic Committee, and serves as our mentor coordinator at Camden Academy Charter High School.
