Terry Neese

Last updated

Terry Neese
Terry-Neese-IEEW.png
Personal details
Born (1947-12-01) December 1, 1947 (age 76)
Walters, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political party Republican
Education University of Oklahoma
Website Campaign website

Terry Neese (born December 1, 1947) [1] is an American businesswoman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, she was the first woman nominated by a major political party for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, in 1990; [1] in 2020 she was a candidate for the Republican nomination in Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.

Contents

Neese has spent over 30 years working for non-governmental organizations, founding Terry Neese Personnel Services (TNPS), National Grassroots Network, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW).

Neese is a member of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council, [2] as well as a past national president of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). She is known as a small business expert and was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the "Power 30" [3] — the most influential small business persons in Washington, D.C. She has been featured throughout several media outlets including MSNBC, FOX News, CNN, [3] SBTV, The Wall Street Journal , the Washington Examiner , The Washington Times and The Washington Post .

Early life and education

Neese was born in Walters, Oklahoma to Clifford and Vida Mae Farley; [4] she was raised in Cookietown, Oklahoma. She has two sisters. She graduated from Burkburnett High School in Burkburnett, Texas. According to Neese, she briefly attended the University of Oklahoma, studying secretarial science with the intention of being an administrative assistant. [5]

Career

Neese began her career as a secretary and office manager. In 1975, she launched her own business, Terry Neese Personnel Service, which has helped over 34,000 people in Oklahoma get jobs. [5] [6] In 2000, she then passed the company to her daughter, Kim Neese-Brown. [6] [7]

The impact of Neese's career then took off as she created and led multiple organizations around the world. She co-founded GrassRoots Impact, Inc. [8] with Democratic National Committee member Barbara Kasoff. [9] [10] GrassRoots Impact provides a communications strategy for corporations and government agencies to effectively reach out to women and minorities in business. [11] In 1986, she founded a charity called Oklahomans Helping Oklahomans. [12] The next year, she was named a co-chair for Business Partners Inc. in Oklahoma. [13]

Neese is a co-founder of WIPP — Women Impacting Public Policy — which was created in 2001. [14] WIPP currently has over 600,000 members and works to advocate for women in business. [5]

Neese currently serves as the founder and CEO of IEEW.org, the Institute for Educating and Empowering Women All Around the World, [15] which is a business education training and mentorship program for women around the world, most notably in Afghanistan & Rwanda. [16]

In 2001, she created the Terry Neese Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, which is an SBA Women's Business Center. She served as chairwoman of the board.

Politics

In 1990, Neese became the first woman nominated by a major political party for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. [5]

During the 2016 United States Presidential Election, Neese served as the National Finance Chair for the Carly Fiorina 2016 presidential campaign. [17]

In April 2019, Neese announced her candidacy for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district in the 2020 election. [18] [19] In the June 30, 2020, Republican primary, she placed first among a field of nine candidates, but was then defeated in a runoff election by state senator Stephanie Bice. [20] [21]

Controversies

Neese had claimed "Native American (Cherokee) Heritage" membership in the Cherokee Nation. This led to her being appointed by President George H. W. Bush in the 1990s to be a Commissioner to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education, whose members must be Native American. She was reappointed to this Council in 1993 by President Bill Clinton. Similarly, President George W. Bush nominated Neese to lead the U.S. Mint in 2005 at least partly because of her claim to have roots in the Cherokee Indian Community. In an article published at the time (of President George W. Bush), Neese stated that "her roots to the Cherokee Indian Community run deep". A 2020 investigation by KFOR later found Neese to have no membership in the Cherokee tribe. [22]

In 2005, Neese was requested to decline a government appointment from President Bush after training tapes had been uncovered in which she instructed her employees to lie and use unethical behavior. At the time, Neese — who had been a large Bush fundraiser — claimed she was declining her appointment as Director of the U.S. Mint for family reasons; the allegation of impropriety was not made until 2019. [23] Neese said the tapes were doctored. [24] [25]

Awards and nominations

Neese was inducted into the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame, sponsored by Enterprising Women, in 2004. [26] In 2013, she earned their Enterprising Women Legacy Award. [27]

Neese was inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame in 2007. [7]

In 2006, Neese was named an Outstanding Business Leader by the Northwood University Board of Trustees and received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the university in 2008.

In 2017, Neese was among 24 leaders from the United States and around the globe who were recognized at the 21st annual Global Goddess Artemis Award ceremony (given annually by the Euro-American Women's Council) at the Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece. Neese was recognized and honored as a leader, innovator and visionary for impacting and supporting women. [28]

In 2018, Neese was honored as one of 100 Oklahoma Women Trailblazers, [29] by the League of Women Voters of Oklahoma, in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Oklahoma women winning the right to vote.

Other notable accolades include NAWBO's Lifetime Achievement Award. [30]

Electoral history

2020 Oklahoma's 5th congressional district Republican primary results [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Terry Neese 24,828 36.5
Republican Stephanie Bice 17,292 25.4
Republican David Hill12,92219.0
Republican Janet Barresi 6,79910.0
Republican Jake A. Merrick 1,7362.6
Republican Michael Ballard1,6912.5
Republican Miles V. Rahimi9671.4
Republican Shelli Landon9121.3
Republican Charles Tuffy Pringle9081.3
Total votes68,055 100.0

Runoff results

Republican primary runoff results [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Stephanie Bice 27,402 52.9
Republican Terry Neese24,36947.1
Total votes51,771 100.0

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilma Mankiller</span> Cherokee Nation chief and activist (1945–2010)

Wilma Pearl Mankiller was a Native American activist, social worker, community developer and the first woman elected to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, she lived on her family's allotment in Adair County, Oklahoma, until the age of 11, when her family relocated to San Francisco as part of a federal government program to urbanize Indigenous Americans. After high school, she married a well-to-do Ecuadorian and raised two daughters. Inspired by the social and political movements of the 1960s, Mankiller became involved in the Occupation of Alcatraz and later participated in the land and compensation struggles with the Pit River Tribe. For five years in the early 1970s, she was employed as a social worker, focusing mainly on children's issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Fallin</span> American politician (born 1954)

Mary Fallin is an American politician who served as the 27th governor of Oklahoma from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she was elected in 2010 and reelected in 2014. She is the first and so far only woman to be elected governor of Oklahoma. She was the first woman to represent Oklahoma in Congress since Alice Mary Robertson left office in 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Cornett</span> American journalist

Michael Earl Cornett Sr. is an American politician and former television personality who served as the 35th mayor of Oklahoma City, from 2005 until 2018. A member of the Republican Party, he was only the fourth mayor in Oklahoma City history to be elected to three terms and the first to be elected to four terms. He also served as President of the United States Conference of Mayors and as national President of the Republican Mayors and Local Officials (RMLO). He also served as Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Urban Economic Affairs Committee until 2007. In 2018, he was defeated in the Republican runoff by Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt for the GOP nomination for Governor of Oklahoma. In 2006, Cornett was defeated by Mary Fallin for the Republican runoff for U.S. Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimberly Teehee</span> Cherokee political advisor from Oklahoma

Kimberly Teehee is a Cherokee attorney, politician, and activist on Native American issues. She is a Delegate-designate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Cherokee Nation. She served as senior policy advisor for Native American affairs in the administration of President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2012. In February 2020, she was named by Time as one of 16 activists fighting for a "More Equal America."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Holt (politician)</span> American politician (born 1979)

David Holt is an American attorney, businessman and Republican politician who is the 38th mayor of Oklahoma City and dean of the Oklahoma City University School of Law. He is a member of the Osage Nation. He served in the Oklahoma Senate from 2010 to 2018, eventually as majority whip.

Chad Richison is an American entrepreneur who has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Paycom since its founding.

Darci Lynne Farmer is an American ventriloquist and singer. She has been credited with the revival of ventriloquism, earning praise and numerous accolades for her work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George E. Young</span> American politician

George E. Young Sr. is an American pastor and politician who has served in the Oklahoma Senate from the 48th district as a member of the Democratic Party since 2019. Prior to his tenure in the state senate he served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 99th district between 2015 and 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Stitt</span> Governor of Oklahoma since 2019

John Kevin Stitt is an American businessman and politician serving as the 28th governor of Oklahoma since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in 2018, defeating Democrat and former state Attorney General Drew Edmondson with 54.3% of the vote. Stitt was reelected to a second term in 2022, defeating Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister, a Republican turned Democrat, with 55.4% of the vote. A member of the Cherokee Nation, Stitt is the second Native American governor after former Oklahoma governor Johnston Murray.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie Bice</span> American politician (born 1973)

Stephanie Irene Bice is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district since 2021. She is the first Iranian American to be elected to Congress. A member of the Republican Party, Bice previously represented the 22nd district in the Oklahoma Senate from 2014 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma</span>

The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma were held on November 3, 2020, to elect the five U.S. representatives from the state of Oklahoma, one from each of the state's five congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.

Jimmie Carole Fife Stewart is a Muscogee (Creek) art educator, fashion designer, and artist. After graduating from the Chilocco Indian School and taking courses at the University of Arizona, she earned a degree from Oklahoma State University and began working as a teacher. After a six-year stint working for Fine Arts Diversified, she returned to teaching in 1979 in Washington, Oklahoma. Primarily known as a painter, using watercolor or acrylic media, Fife-Stewart has also been involved in fashion design. Her works have been shown mostly in the southwestern United States and have toured South America. Having won numerous awards for her artworks, she was designated as a Master Artist by the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in 1997.

Jeanne Rorex-Bridges is painter and illustrator based in Oklahoma. She is a member of the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama, a state-recognized tribe.

Mary Adair is a Cherokee Nation educator and painter based in Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma</span>

The 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma were held on November 8, 2022, to elect the five U.S. representatives from the state of Oklahoma, one from each of the state's five congressional districts. The primary elections for the Republican. Democratic, and Libertarian parties' nominations took place on June 28, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial election</span>

The 2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Oklahoma. Incumbent Republican Governor Kevin Stitt was re-elected to a second term, with 55.5% of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate Joy Hofmeister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maude Brockway</span>

Maude Brockway was an American teacher, milliner, and activist. She was born in Arkansas in 1876 and moved to Indian Territory after completing her education at Arkansas Baptist College. Initially, she worked as a teacher around Ardmore, Chickasaw Nation and then opened a hat-making business. In 1910, she moved to Oklahoma City and became involved in the Black Clubwomen's Movement. She was one of the founders of the state affiliate, Oklahoma Federation of Colored Women's Clubs and city chapter, Oklahoma City Federation of Colored Women's Clubs of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs. She served as president of the city chapter from 1925 to 1950 and of the state federation from 1936 to 1940, as well as holding offices in the national organization.

Joan Brown is an American artist, illustrator and educator. She is of Cherokee and Creek descent from Oklahoma. Her work is of the Bacone school style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Oklahoma City mayoral election</span>

The 2022 Oklahoma City mayoral election took place on February 8, 2022, to elect the Mayor of Oklahoma City. Incumbent Republican Mayor David Holt won re-election outright with 59.8% of the vote, eliminating the need for a runoff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Malham</span> American soccer player (born 1999)

Taylor Malham is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). A native of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, she played college soccer at Arkansas.

References

  1. 1 2 "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Terry Neese".
  2. ↑ "USAWC Booklet" (PDF). U.S.-Afghan Women's Council. April 28, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Overfelt, Maggie (September 1, 2000). "The Power 30 From the SBA to the House floor to the nation's airwaves: our guide to some of the most influential folks in and around the Beltway who talk your talk". CNN.
  4. ↑ "VIDA BOWLES Obituary (1921 - 2018) Oklahoman".
  5. 1 2 3 4 Nykolaiszyn, Juliana (August 23, 2007). "Oral History Interview with Terry Neese". Inductees of the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame Oral History Project. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Terry Neese Personnel Has Open House". The Daily Oklahoman. August 28, 2000. Retrieved August 8, 2019– via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 "Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame Inductees by Year". Oklahoma State University Library. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Grassroots Impact Inc. Company Profile".
  9. ↑ "Barbara Kasoff – SheSource Expert – Women's Media Center". womensmediacenter.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Terry Neese". www.greateroklahomacity.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Terry Neese". growinokc.com. Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  12. ↑ DeFrange, Ann (November 7, 1986). "Fund-Raising Group Hopes to Build State Morale". The Daily Oklahoman. Retrieved August 8, 2019– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Business Partners Inc. Appoints Co-Chairwomen". The Daily Oklahoman. February 15, 1987. Retrieved August 8, 2019– via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Stafford, Jim (October 28, 2006). "State Women to Attend International Conference". The Daily Oklahoman. Retrieved August 8, 2019– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Institute for Educating and Empowering Women All Around the World". www.ieew.org. IEEW. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Dr. Terry Neese CEO/President Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women" (PDF). ieew.org. IEEW. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  17. ↑ "August 1, 2015 - Carly Fiorina Announces Dr. Terry Neese as National Finance Chairman".
  18. ↑ Casteel, Chris (April 30, 2019). "Neese says she's now a resident of congressional district she seeks to represent". The Oklahoman . Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Two Republican Women Will File For 5th". OKC Friday . May 3, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Live: Oklahoma State Primary Election Results 2020". The New York Times. June 30, 2020. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  21. ↑ Pathe, Simone (August 25, 2020). "Stephanie Bice wins GOP primary runoff for competitive US House seat in Oklahoma". CNN. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  22. ↑ "KFOR investigates candidate Terry Neese's claim of having 'deep roots in the Cherokee Nation'". August 22, 2020.
  23. ↑ Felder, Ben (August 18, 2020). "White House told Neese to withdraw her name from U.S. Mint position after the discovery of training tapes". The Frontier. Retrieved August 18, 2020– via readfrontier.org.
  24. ↑ "Live:GOP Debate". News 9 Times.
  25. ↑ Mock, Jennifer (July 30, 2005). "President Nominates City Businesswoman to Direct Mint". The Daily Oklahoman. Retrieved August 8, 2019– via Newspapers.com. and "Neese". The Daily Oklahoman. July 30, 2005. Retrieved August 8, 2019– via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "Business People". The Daily Oklahoman. May 9, 2004. Retrieved August 8, 2019– via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "Terry Neese receives 2013 Enterprising Women Legacy Award". newsok.com. NewsOK. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  28. ↑ Clark, Vicki (October 20, 2017). "Global Goddesses: Victoria Woods, Dr. Terry Neese Receive International Artemis Awards". OKC Friday .
  29. ↑ "100 Women Trailblazers: League Of Women Voters Celebrate 100th Year Of Voting". OKC Friday . November 23, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Neese Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award". OKC Friday . April 20, 2012.
  31. ↑ "OK Election Results". Oklahoma Secretary of State . Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  32. ↑ "OK Election Results". Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
1990		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.