"Women United For Burr" Leadership Team Announced | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Raleigh, NC     The Burr campaign today announced the "Women United for Burr" leadership team. In addition to the leadership team, Senator Burr's wife, Brooke Burr, will serve as the honorary chair of "Women United for Burr." The leadership team is comprised of an impressive mixture of business leaders, grassroots activists and Republican community leaders. All have been strong messengers in their local communities for Senator Burr, speaking firsthand to his commitment of improving the lives of North Carolinians by breaking down barriers to success.

    "Richard is one of kindest, most honorable people I have ever met and nothing makes me happier than being able to share the man I love with the people of North Carolina. Each day Richard puts everything he has into doing the job of a United States Senator to make sure the next generation of Americans has as many opportunities as we did." - Brooke Burr, Honorary Chair of "Women United for Burr"

    "What I like most about Richard Burr is he is a man of his word and always has North Carolinians' interests at heart. Richard's endless effort to help everyone-be it a mom looking to get her child a quality education or a young professional looking for a good-paying job-is exactly what North Carolina needs in the U.S. Senate." - Susan Tillis, Co-Chair of "Women United for Burr"


    Susan Tillis: Susan was born and raised in Boston, MA. She graduated with a degree in Marketing Management from Bentley College. Before stepping down in 2013 to work full time as a volunteer on her husband's campaign for U.S. Senate, Susan had a successful career in real estate where she was on the leadership team at Allen Tate Realtors and managed two offices. Susan serves on the board of two organizations, NC Heroes Fund and Industry for the Blind. Susan was recently recognized for her community volunteer work, especially with the military with a Top Woman award in the Charlotte region. Susan continues to travel the state as a volunteer spokesperson, visiting and supporting the military, veterans and their families. Susan is married to U.S. Senator Thom Tillis, and has two children.

    Sarah Tellis: Sarah is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of True Justice International, an international anti-trafficking organization. Mrs. Tellis is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston with a degree in Occupational Therapy. She has been actively involved in national and international medical missions for the past fifteen years and has been a strong voice in educating the public both in North Carolina and around the world about the dangers of human trafficking and its impact on women, children and families. She has recently been appointed to the NC Human Trafficking Commission by Governor McCrory. Mrs. Tellis has also served as Vice President of the Eastern Pregnancy Information Center's Board of Directors and resides in New Bern, NC with her husband Dr. Angelo Tellis and their three children.

    Teresa Lewis: Teresa is the Founder and President of WorkForce Unlimited. Teresa currently serves on the Northern Surry Hospital Board, the board for the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, a member of the Surry Community College Capital Campaign Lead Gifts Committee, and the Finance Chairman of the Surry Arts Board. Teresa was the first female President of the Mount Airy Rotary Club and served as Assistant District Governor. She also served as president or chairman of the United Fund, Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, Reeves Community Center Board, Mount Airy Rescue Squad Board, and the Surry County GOP. From 2009-2010, Teresa served as Commissioner at Large for the City of Mount Airy. She is married to Jim Lewis, has 2 children, and 4 grandchildren.

    Erna Womble: Erna is President of Clearly Bespoke Strategies, Inc., a niche strategic advising practice developed as a partner at Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLP, based on more than 26 years of experience in national litigation, practical research and confidential work with key leaders in the private and public sectors on decision-making, problem solving, strategic messaging, communication and leadership presence training. She was recently elected Vice President of the North Carolina Bar Association for a two-year term, and continues to serve on the Association's Professionalism Committee which she formerly chaired. Mrs. Womble earned her JD degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law and is a permanent member of the U. S. Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference. The national Product Liability Advisory Council recognized her leadership in the organization with its Distinguished Service Award. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (elected Secretary) and on the Board of Trustees of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. She was chair of the YMCA Camp Hanes Board of Directors and served on the Board of the Work Family Resource Center. She and her husband, Bill Womble, Jr., reside in Winston-Salem, NC and their children, Sara and David are pursuing careers in the arts and academia.

    Staci Chiomento: Staci is a Gold Star wife and a blessed mother of 2 daughters, Ambre and Syleste. Staci is the immediate past president of the Cumberland County Republican Women's Club and an at-large CCGOP committee member. Staci has a dual major bachelor's degree in political science and organizational communications and leadership studies and her graduate studies include international relations and management and leadership. Staci currently works on Fort Bragg and is an outspoken advocate on improving veterans' care.

    Hope Holding Bryant: Hope is the Vice Chairman of First Citizens Bancshares Inc. and its subsidiary First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company. Hope also serves on the board of Capital Area YMCA, the North Carolina Community Foundation of Wake County, and served as Chairwoman of the North Carolina Bankers Association (NCBA). Hope earned Bachelor's degrees in English and Economics in 1985 and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1990.

    Billie Redmond: Billie is a native North Carolinian, growing up in the small textile town of Eden. She is the Founder of TradeMark Properties. Billie was inducted into the YWCA's Academy of Women for her efforts to empower women and eliminate racism. Billie serves on the Board of Directors of the Carolina Hurricanes Kid's n Community Foundation Board, the Board and Executive Committee of the North Carolina Chamber, and the Make- A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina. Currently, she is Chair of the Governor and General Assembly appointed Education & Workforce Innovation Commission, focused on educational transformation across North Carolina. Billie is a member of Pleasant Grove Church and is the Assistant Supervisor of the Children's Program for Bible Study Fellowship International. She is married and has three children.

    Michele Berger Woodhouse: Michele attended Michigan State for undergraduate and graduate school and was the Co-President of her senior class. Michele recently started her own aesthetic medical practices and medical spas consulting company. She was previously a Regional Sales Manager at Merz North America and a Senior Business Development Manager at Allergan. Michele is married to Eddie Woodhouse and has two children, Olivia and Marcus.

    The Honorable Aldona Wos, M.D.: Wos was born in Warsaw, Poland. Dr. Wos earned her medical degree at the Warsaw Medical Academy and completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine, including a fellowship in Pulmonary Medicine in New York City. She was a presidential appointee to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council from 2002-2006. Ambassador Wos was appointed the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia from 2004 to 2006. She is a former member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. From 2013 - 2015, Dr. Wos served as North Carolina's Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, overseeing more than 18,000 employees across North Carolina and nearly a $20 billion budget. She serves on the boards of The Institute of World Politics, the Council of American Ambassadors, and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Ambassador Wos is married to Louis DeJoy and they live in Greensboro, where they enjoy spending time with their twins.

    Sarah McQuillan: Sarah is a political science and public relations major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she will graduate in the spring. Sarah is involved with the UNC College Republicans and also serves as the Political Director for the North Carolina Federation of Young Republicans. Sarah works as an Associate at Southern Strategy Group North Carolina. Sarah enjoys yoga, Netflix, and spending time with her dog.

    Alice Lang: Alice graduated with a BS in mathematics from Salem College in January 2016 and has plans to continue her education with an MBA program in the next few years. She is an active member of the NCGOP and is a new member of the Forsyth County Republican Women. She will be jumpstarting her career with BB&T and has aspirations of running for governor one day.

    Greer Cawood: Greer is a native of Edenton, NC and currently resides in Winston-Salem. Greer currently serves on the board of her daughter's school, Forsyth Country Day School; is Vice President of Twin City Garden Club; a gubernatorial appointee and Vice Chairman of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund; a Board of Governors' appointee to UNC School of the Arts and Vice President of the Reynolda House Board of Trustees. Greer worked for Senator Jesse Helms and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott in Washington, DC and moved to Winston-Salem to create Wachovia Corporation's Office of Public Policy later also serving as Manager of Corporate Communications. Greer has also served on the boards of the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County; the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem; the NC Chapter of the Nature Conservancy; the NC Center for Public Policy Research, the Foundation of the UNC School of Nursing; the NC Banker's Association and the Republican Women of Capitol Hill. Greer is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and is married to Scott Cawood.

• Contact: Jesse Hunt
•     jhunt@burrforsenate.com