Meet our Founders

Caché Heidel is Michele’s eldest. She graduated from Florida State University with her Bachelor's in Accounting and Finance and has also received a Master's degree in Accounting from Wake Forest University. Caché has over a decade of experience in corporate America. She has worked with Ernst & Young, Hertz, Synovus Bank, and in a plethora of other roles. Caché is also a trained Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer for the state of Georgia. She provides individualized attention and advocates for the best interests of children who are in foster care in her community.  Caché, along with her siblings, desire to honor Michele, her upbringing, and her memory with a systematic path to encourage and enable women of color. Caché hopes to lead by example and exemplify humility and diligence in effort to "love our neighbors" as we would love ourselves. The Michele Durant Foundation is the vehicle by which she believes this can be achieved.

James Heidel is Michele’s son. He received his Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University and has also received a Master's degree in Engineering Management from Auburn University. James has over eight years of experience in the Department of Defense as an engineer and a manager within the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command with the Redstone Test Center. He recently transitioned to the U.S. Army PEO Aviation in December of 2022. James served as a program manager for the UH-60M Black Hawk International Programs Office. James now serves as the Lead Mission Systems Engineer within the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft Project office.  James, along with his siblings, desires to honor Michele, her upbringing, and her memory with a systematic path to encourage and enable women of color. James hopes to serve this underrepresented demographic to promote and support the values that we are (1) all created equal (2) made in the Imago Dei (3) and are worthy of service.