Executive Vice President Terri White

By: Hayden Pigott

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Job: President and CEO of the Charlotte Museum of History

How long have you lived in Charlotte? Four years

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

For any astrology fans, I was born on the cusp of Aries and Taurus. I am an avid baker (The Great British Bake Off is one of my favorite tv shows of all time) and I have a ridiculous amount of house plants ranging from an inch or so to well over six feet.

I love stand-up comedy and think that marching band members/alumni are some of the best people on the planet. I have two dogs: Pee Wee, a nearly 12-year-old inherited Pomeranian, and Carmel, an almost two-year-old Chihuahua/Pug mix that I rescued last year. I am also the biggest Janet Jackson fan you will ever meet — I’ve seen her seven times in five states over three decades and my goal is to see her perform overseas at least once.

Tell us what inspired you to join the JLC.

I originally joined the Junior League in Pittsburgh but went inactive for a number of reasons and focused on my sorority work. When I moved to Charlotte, I decided to look up the local League to see what they were about and was super impressed with the diversity of membership, service projects and programs. I reached out with questions about how to transfer (my favorite membership category!) and the rest is history.

What roles have you held throughout your time in the League?

I’ve been a CRIER reporter, served on the Archives committee, was on the GMM Committee during our 95th anniversary year (aka, the year COVID hit) and served on the task force that was looking to reestablish the NC SPAC (State Public Affairs Committee). I have participated in both Get on Board and the Leadership Development Institute and I’ve also been engaged with the Women of Color affinity group since 2019. I currently serve as the 2022–23 Executive Vice President (EVP).

What skills have you learned in your time in the JLC and how have you leveraged them outside the League? My favorite thing I’ve learned in the JLC is what advocacy looks like and how to organize people to be politically engaged at the local level. I’m not talking about which side of the aisle people are on, but how to organize women to speak up for the things they want to see in their communities and understand how local officials can make that happen. It has come in handy (understanding which offices handle what work) both at my full-time job and with my own company, which is in a very regulated industry.

Tell us your favorite JLC experience or memory.

The 2019 (and last) Lights, Camera, Fashion! I felt super fancy and important being able to say I was a part of the group that took over the mall that day and that it was all for a good cause. I also enjoyed the General Membership Meeting (GMM), where Taiwo Jaiyeoba (the now former Charlotte assistant city manager) came and explained the 40-year plan to us and encouraged us to get involved.

What is the best advice you’ve received from a JLC member?

Don’t be afraid to speak up or do something new — the JLC has been here for almost 100 years, you can’t break it. That is especially important for me since I serve in a role that is still very new to the JLC and carving out what it means to be an EVP is something we are still working on as a League culturally.

What is your ideal day in Charlotte?

My ideal day is one I get to be in the house in a t-shirt and shorts binge watching television, reading or napping. My schedule is always packed, so my downtime is very valuable. But if I have to be out and about, any day I’m not stuck behind someone driving slowly in the left lane is a glorious one indeed!