Meet the Reporters

Tammy Stanard, Editor

Tammy relocated to the Charlotte area in 2018 with her husband Pat and transferred to the Junior League of Charlotte from the Junior League of Greater New Haven, where she spent her Provisional year in 2017. She has more than 20 years of business and marketing experience and is currently working full-time for Kyndryl Corporation as a project manager. Tammy is also an adjunct professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology in the College of Computer Science and Engineering. She is currently following another passion, interior design, by taking classes at CPCC. She holds a bachelor's degree in Transportation Management from the University of New Haven and a master's degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University. In addition to volunteering and meeting new people, Tammy loves nothing more than spending time with her family, especially her four grandchildren, Braxton, Evie, Beckley and Esra.

Shellisa Multrie, Assistant Editor

Shellisa has lived in Charlotte since relocating from Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2004. She holds a master's degree in Educational Policy and Leadership from Marquette University and a bachelor's degree in Writing Intensive English. She joined the JLC in 2018 to gain a broader experience in serving the community and to build a wider network. She is a long time learning and leadership development professional with a history in financial services and retail. Currently, she is a senior leader in Global Culture Programs and North & Latin American Employee Experience at HubSpot. Shellisa enjoys volunteering with the YMCA, teaching the art of charcuterie and writing in her spare time. She is a wife and mother of two wonderful children, Jamison and Savannah.

Cara Tucker, Reporter

Cara relocated to the Charlotte area from Virginia in 2014. She is a health law attorney with a J.D. from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University and a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration from Mary Baldwin University. Currently, Cara is legal counsel with Ensemble Health Partners, where she assists hospitals and providers in their revenue cycle needs. She became a member of the Junior League of Charlotte in 2016 to join like-minded women in the service of the Charlotte community. She is wife to Matthew, an air traffic controller, and mother to one energetic and wonderful little boy, George.

Jessica (Jess) Bush, Reporter

Jessica or “Jess”, is from Clarksburg, NJ. She received her Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University in 2008 and her Bachelor of Arts in History and Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Tulane University in 2006. Jess joined the Junior League of Oakland East Bay in 2013 and transferred to the Junior League of Charlotte in 2015 after her move to the Charlotte area. Prior to moving to Charlotte, Jess and her husband Matt lived in California, Georgia and Arizona during Matt’s active-duty Army service. She is a stay-athome mom to four young children and previously worked onsite in recruiting for LendingTree, Google and Safeway corporate. In her spare time, Jess enjoys crafting, reading, traveling and spending time outdoors with her family and their Goldendoodle, Griffin.

Jessica James-Hill, Reporter

Originally from Tampa, Florida, Jessica received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, MS in Sport Management and a graduate certificate in Fundraising Management from the University of Florida. She worked for the Florida Gators athletic department in ticketing, compliance, student-athlete development, marketing and donor/sponsor relations. Jessica switched to academics as a full-time fundraiser for UF’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where she joined the Junior League of Gainesville in 2015. In 2018, her husband Mike became the athletic director for the Charlotte 49ers, which moved them to the Queen City. In 2021, while seven and a half months pregnant, Jessica landed a dream role fundraising for the Wikimedia Foundation, parent company to Wikipedia. She has three children - Luke, Ellie and Bobby.

Originally from High Point, North Carolina, Grace received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She has 7+ years of experience in the textile and furniture industry with marketing and sales. She currently works for Lenovo as a Customer Engagement Marketing Specialist. She joined the Junior League of High Point in 2017 and served in many positions such as New Member Coordinator and Spring Fundraiser Lead. In 2021 she transferred to the JLC as she moved to Huntersville, North Carolina. Grace has a deep passion for marketing and creativity, giving back to the community and connecting people. She enjoys days on the lake, charcuterie boards and spending time with family and friends. She has kicked off 2022 getting engaged to her now fiancé Jeremy and is planning a wedding for November.

Guest Reporters

Whitney Hill

Whitney is the JLC 2021-2022 Executive Vice President and transferred to the JLC during the 2014-15 League year. She is passionate about eradicating injustice, improving her community and developing others. She previously served as the Education & Training Council Manager, chair of the Membership Meetings committee and a mentor in the Mentor Program. In addition to her work with the JLC, Whitney serves on the Board of Directors and as Board Secretary for Campus Pride, a national organization seeking to build student leaders and make college campuses safer for LGBTQ+ students. Whitney holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Criminology from North Carolina State University and completed the Meredith College Paralegal Certificate Program with a concentration in civil litigation. She is a North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal at Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP and handles coverage work and insurance defense litigation. Whitney spends her spare time visiting local vineyards with friends and spending time with her husband William, dog Marshmallow and cat Mochi.

Charlitta Hatch

Charlitta Hatch is a nationally recognized and locally impactful, wife, mom, author, and business change agent with a heart for service and a mind for results which she has brought to her clients for over 16 years. Passionate about changing the narrative of young black boys in America, she founded and assumed the role of Chief Mom Officer of the Me3 Project which aims to change the narrative of young black boys in America through positive images, expressive stories, and deliberate advocacy. A graduate of Hampton University, Charlitta has received the 2017 Charlotte Athena Young Professionals Leadership Award, a member of the 2017 Charlotte Business Journal Top 40 under 40, and an honoree of the 2016 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation STANDOUT class. She has been recognized by the Mecklenburg Times as an Icon and one of the 2019 50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte. She has been featured in the Charlotte Post, Pride Magazine and Spectrum News. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Jack and Jill of America and Chappell Memorial Baptist Church. She is also appointed by the City Council to serve on the Civil Service Board. Charlitta has served the Junior League of Charlotte for 15 years in a variety of leadership roles including 2020-2021 President.

Spencer Lash

Spencer is originally from Las Vegas, but has lived in Charlotte for the past seven years. She has been in the JLC for the past five years, currently serving as the League’s first Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She is an Emmy award winning producer for the NBC affiliate here in Charlotte. She currently lives in the Steele Creek area with her husband, Ian and their two dogs. She enjoys reading, traveling and hesitantly working out at Orangetheory.

Claire Magee Ferguson

Claire moved to Charlotte seven years ago, by way of Boston College, Georgetown University Law Center and her hometown of Port Jefferson, NY. She is the assistant general counsel to Gray Television (parent company to WBTV here in Charlotte), is a former member of the JLC's Board of Directors, and is currently on the JLC’s AJLI Centennial Board Taskforce. She lives in Uptown with her husband Russ and their infant daughter Murphy Bea. Mallory Pearce

Mallory grew up with half her family in Charlotte and has lived in North Carolina her entire life. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in French and History from Appalachian State University. Mallory chose to continue her studies in the Library Science and Higher Education Masters programs at East Carolina University. She is happy to bring her archival knowledge to cover some of the most unique parts of history throughout the last 95 years of the JLC. Mallory joined the Junior League of Charlotte during the 2019-2020 year and became interested in working with the JLC’s sustainers in the preservationist role. Mallory’s current roles are JLC Marketing & PR chair and 100th Anniversary Task Force member. For her day job, Mallory is a process improvement librarian and architect for Wells Fargo. In her spare time, Mallory enjoys volunteering for Second Harvest Food Bank, traveling to as many countries as she can, trying new breweries and spending time with her pug Millie.

Alicia Morris Rudd

Alicia Morris-Rudd is a Charlotte native and 26-year member of the Junior League. She has served the JLC in a number of roles, including 2018-2019 President. This year Alicia has served as a lead on the Focus Advisory Board Ad Hoc Committee and member of the AJLI Centennial Task Force. Alicia is the Executive Director of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and currently serves on board of directors for Good Friends Charlotte and Meredith College Alumnae. Outside of work, Alicia enjoys spending time with friends, family and her “doghter” Daisy - and being by the water (ocean, lake, river) every chance she gets.

Katherine Santore

Katherine is originally from Long Island, NY, and first joined the Junior League of Boca Raton while living in Florida in 2017. She transferred into the JLC after moving to Charlotte at the end of 2019, most recently serving as Blog Assistant Coordinator. In her professional life Katherine is a Digital Marketing Analyst for Belk. She currently lives in South Charlotte with her husband, Steve and their Pekingese-Pomeranian mix, Mochi. She enjoys baking, traveling and any opportunity to dress up.