Shannon McClure, InCommunity, on Supporting Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Metro Atlanta (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 952)
In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Shannon McClure, Chief Development Officer at InCommunity, a nonprofit serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families across Metro Atlanta. Founded 47 years ago in Roswell by parents at a local church who couldn’t find the services their children needed, InCommunity has grown into the largest nonprofit provider of IDD services in Georgia, serving approximately 2,500 individuals and families each year across a full range of programs, including residential support, day programs, employment coaching, crisis respite, and community living services.
Shannon walks John through how InCommunity tailors its services to each individual’s specific needs and goals, a necessity given the broad range of diagnoses that fall under the IDD definition. She describes the organization’s employability program, which currently partners with more than 50 Metro Atlanta businesses to prepare and place individuals in jobs matched to their skills and interests. One standout example: a partnership with Walgreens that began with a gala sponsorship and evolved into vaccine clinics, a certified partnership status, and a pledge of 25 jobs for InCommunity clients.
Shannon also shares why businesses throughout the region have good reasons beyond generosity to invest in InCommunity’s mission, and she describes InCommunity’s upcoming gala on May 16, 2026, at The Stave Room at American Spirit Works in Atlanta, where day program participants and gala attendees will collaborate to finish commissioned art pieces together.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- Roswell parents, unable to find services for their children with disabilities, founded InCommunity in North Fulton 47 years ago. The organization has since grown into Georgia’s largest nonprofit IDD services provider, though Shannon notes it remains “the biggest nonprofit in Georgia that nobody ever heard of.”
- The definition of intellectual and developmental disability is far broader than most people realize, encompassing autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, fragile X, and many other diagnoses, often in combination, which makes individualized service delivery both complex and essential.
- InCommunity’s Employability program prepares individuals for the workforce and supports them on the job through weekly coaching visits, working not just with employees but also with their supervisors and coworkers to build strong workplace relationships.
- Businesses that partner with InCommunity can go well beyond writing a check. Shannon describes opportunities ranging from ERG volunteer activities to job placement partnerships, making the case that investing in the community where employees live and work pays dividends in talent attraction and retention.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:21 John Ray introduces the show and guest Shannon McClure
02:16 InCommunity’s 47-year history and its origins in Roswell
03:10 How InCommunity was founded by parents at Roswell United Methodist Church
03:49 Wraparound services: residential, day programs, employment, respite, and family support
05:08 What “intellectual and developmental disability” actually means and the breadth of diagnoses
06:32 Group homes, HOST foster-family program, and community living services
07:26 The intake process and how InCommunity evaluates fit with new clients
09:24 Scale of service: approximately 2,500 individuals and families served annually
11:14 The Employability program and how it prepares and places individuals in the workforce
12:52 How employer partnerships are built, including the Walgreens REDI program
14:35 The range of jobs held by InCommunity clients, from retail to veterinary assistant
16:22 The upcoming gala on May 16, 2026, and its mission-focused format
17:34 Partnerships with Orchestra SOOP and No More Liddering for the gala
19:12 How gala attendees will collaborate with day program participants to finish art pieces
20:11 How businesses can get involved with InCommunity beyond financial sponsorship
23:14 ERG engagement, volunteer opportunities, and what types of businesses are a good fit
24:34 Individual stories: the globe-trotter, the 90-year-old resident, and the gala volunteer
Shannon McClure, Chief Development Officer, InCommunity
Shannon McClure is a nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience in strategic management, fundraising, marketing, and public relations. As Chief Development Officer at InCommunity, she leads efforts to advance the organization’s mission by fostering community partnerships, driving fundraising initiatives, and enhancing public engagement.
Prior to joining InCommunity, Shannon founded McClure Nonprofit Solutions, where she provided strategic consulting services to nonprofit organizations nationwide. She has successfully managed multimillion-dollar capital campaigns, executed feasibility studies, and guided nonprofits in building sustainable funding models.
Shannon’s career spans leadership roles in performing arts organizations, economic development, and philanthropy. As Senior Director of Business Intelligence at the Greater Omaha Chamber, she worked closely with businesses, economists, and policymakers to attract investment and support economic growth. Her extensive background also includes serving as Director of Marketing for The Atlanta Opera and leading public relations and fundraising initiatives for arts organizations across the country.
An active member of the nonprofit and philanthropic community, Shannon has been involved with various professional organizations and initiatives dedicated to strengthening the sector. She is deeply committed to organizations that support arts, youth, and community initiatives.
Shannon holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Tulsa and an MBA from the University of Nebraska. A native of Omaha, she now calls Atlanta home. In her free time, she enjoys music, presidential history, travel, and spending time with her 18 nieces and nephews.
InCommunity
Originally founded in 1979, InCommunity, a non-profit agency headquartered in Atlanta, was created to provide community-based services and support to people with disabilities and their families.
For over 46 years, InCommunity has been embracing the abilities in all of us, building an outstanding reputation in Georgia for innovative programs and a willingness to take on challenging support situations for people in their communities.
Currently, InCommunity has more than 650 employees who provide all levels of support in the community to people with a variety of needs, including residential support, employment services, respite care, family support, in-home care, and day programs.
To date, InCommunity has provided support and service to more than 10,000 Georgian community members.
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Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio
Renasant Bank has humble roots, having started in 1904 as a $100,000 bank located in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown into one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, boasting over $26 billion in assets and more than 280 offices offering banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from the commitment of each banker to invest in the communities they serve, which in turn helps them better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, their banking professionals understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.
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Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio
Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.
Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.
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About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray
With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!
The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their respective markets, communities, and professions. There is no discrimination based on company size, and there is never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, which is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
The studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
You can find the entire archive of shows by following this link. The show is accessible on all major podcast apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.
John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.
John is the author of the five-star-rated book The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.
