Meet the Team
Andrew Miracle
Economic Development Director
Andrew “Andy” Miracle is the Economic Development Director for Durham County. In this role, he oversees department staff and programming while serving as the office lead for workforce development.
Andy has been with Durham County for the last 12 years. Starting in Budget and Management Services with the County allowed him to work closely with a range of departments, Management, and the Board of County Commissioners in the development of the annual budget as well as refinement and administration of the County’s nonprofit process. From there, he was promoted to Economic Development Officer where he has grown the office from a single position to the department of its current staff and portfolio. Initially focused on Business Recruitment, the County’s Economic Development programming now includes efforts to support workforce development initiatives like the BULLS Academies Life Sciences as well as support of small business ecosystem in Durham County.
Andy earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from Bridgewater College and a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina State University. Andy enjoys spending time with his wife outdoors and will always make time for a dog in need of attention.
Matthew Filter, AICP
Economic Development Manager
Matthew "Matt” Filter is the Economic Development Manager for Durham County. In this role, he manages the County’s business recruitment and expansion program, and also assists the Director with various special projects, particularly those relating to real estate, utilities, and planning.
Matthew has spent nearly fifteen years in the public sector and public sector consulting. From 2016 to 2022, he worked at the City of Durham, first in the City-County Planning Department’s Policy and Urban Design Division, and then in the General Services Department’s Real Estate Division. Prior to this, he was a Senior Associate at an urban planning consulting firm based in Chicago, working with more than two dozen localities across the country on comprehensive, downtown, and strategic plans. His first job after college was working for a U.S. Senator, where he supported the Senator and his senior staff on various national and international issues.
Matthew holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He is also a licensed North Carolina Real Estate Broker and a member of the American Planning Association’s American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). In 2025, he was named "40 Under 40" by the Triangle Business Journal. He doesn’t have as much free time as he used to – his favorite job is being a Dad to his energetic and opinionated toddler boys – but he is a passionate advocate for pet adoption, particularly beagles.
Sabria Futrell
Economic Development Coordinator
Sabria Futrell is the Economic Development Coordinator for Durham County. In this role, she manages the Department’s small business portfolio, provides strategic guidance on MWBE and HUB initiatives, and helps with special projects such as the Department’s newsletter.
Sabria previously worked within the City of Durham’s Underutilized Business Compliance Division, focusing on the City’s MWUBE Ordinance. She was also awarded a two-year NCDOT HBCU fellowship, splitting her time between the NCDOT’s Office of Civil Rights and the North Carolina Global Transpark, a 2,500 acre multi-modal business park in Eastern North Carolina.
Sabria grew up in rural Eastern North Carolina and is a two-time graduate of North Carolina Central University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and a Master of Public Administration degree. She is a Harry Potter enthusiast, and is a proud member of the Hufflepuff House.
Brandi Minor
Senior Administrative Officer
Brandi Minor is the Senior Administrative Officer for both the Economic Development and Transportation Departments at Durham County. In this role, she provides administrative, fiscal, and budget support to both Department directors and their staff. She also serves as the Staff Working Group Administrator for the Durham County Transit Plan, the County’s approved guide for more than $140 million in transit spending over four years.
Brandi is a North Carolina Certified Finance Officer with nearly 20 years of experience in the private and public sectors. She spent the first ten years of her career working in various private sector accounting roles, including banking, manufacturing, insurance, and a contract research organization. In 2015, she transitioned to local government and spent eight years working at the City of Durham, including as a Fiscal Analyst for the Office of Economic and Workforce Development and as a Senior Business Services Manager for the Solid Waste Department. In those roles, she managed multi-million dollar budgets and grants, oversaw departmental budgets, supervised significant operational contracts, and provided administrative and fiscal support to department leadership and staff. Brandi enjoys working in local government because her work has a direct and positive impact on the community she lives, works, and plays in.
Brandi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In her free time, Brandi enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and family. She enjoys traveling, reading, and trying new restaurants (but never seafood!). Her favorite destinations so far have been Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Playa Mujeres, Mexico. Her goal is to add stamps to her passport every year.