Terry Neese
![]() | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Terry Neese | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Personal details | |
Born | Walters, Oklahoma, U.S. | December 1, 1947
Political party | Republican |
Education | University of Oklahoma |
Website | Campaign website |
Terry Neese (born December 1, 1947[1])[2] is an American businesswoman and political leader. She was the first woman nominated by a major political party for the seat of Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma[1] in 1990 and a candidate for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district in the 2020 election.[3]
She has spent over 30 years finding careers for men and women, being the founder of Terry Neese Personnel Services (TNPS), National Grassroots Network, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW). Neese’s daughter, Kim Neese, is now the President/Owner of Neese Personnel.
Neese is a member of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council,[4] and 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"[5] — the most influential small business persons in Washington, D.C. She has been featured throughout several media outlets including MSNBC, FOX News, CNN,[5] 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,[6] and 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.[7]
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.[7][8] In 2000, she then passed the company to her daughter, Kim Neese-Brown.[8][9]
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.[10] with Democratic National Committee member Barbara Kasoff.[11][12] GrassRoots Impact provides a communications strategy for corporations and government agencies to effectively reach out to women and minorities in business.[13] In 1986, she founded a charity called Oklahomans Helping Oklahomans.[14] The next year, she was named a co-chair for Business Partners Inc. in Oklahoma.[15]
Neese is a co-founder of WIPP — Women Impacting Public Policy — which was created in 2001.[16] WIPP currently has over 600,000 members and works to advocate for women in business.[7]
Neese currently serves as the founder and CEO of IEEW.org, the Institute for Educating and Empowering Women All Around the World,[17] which is a business education training and mentorship program for women around the world, most notably in Afghanistan & Rwanda.[18]
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.[7]
During the 2016 United States Presidential Election, Neese served as the National Finance Chair for the Carly Fiorina 2016 presidential campaign.[19]
In April 2019, Neese announced her candidacy for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district in the 2020 election.[20] In the June 30th, 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.[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] Her involvement with women business owners and family issues is well documented through her participation with Women Impacting Public Policy and the National Center for Policy Analysis.
Neese was inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame in 2007.[9]
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 2013, Neese was awarded the Sister Cities OKC Global Vision Award[28][29], an award given yearly to a person who has made significant and lasting contributions to citizen diplomacy and the promotion of Oklahoma City nationally and globally. She also received the Enterprising Women Legacy Award, the National Women Business Owners Corporation Leadership Award, and the recognition of Journal Record’s “Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO.”
In 2017, Neese was among 24 distinguished 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.[30]
In 2018, Neese was honored as one of 100 Oklahoma Women Trailblazers[31], 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.[32]
References
- ^ a b "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Terry Neese".
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Live: Oklahoma State Primary Election Results 2020". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "USAWC Booklet" (PDF). U.S.-Afghan Women's Council. April 28, 2022.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "VIDA BOWLES Obituary (1921 - 2018) Oklahoman".
- ^ a b c d Nykolaiszyn, Juliana (August 23, 2007). "Oral History Interview with Terry Neese". Inductees of the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame Oral History Project. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
- ^ a b "Terry Neese Personnel Has Open House". The Daily Oklahoman. August 28, 2000. Retrieved August 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame Inductees by Year". Oklahoma State University Library. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- ^ "Grassroots Impact Inc. Company Profile".
- ^ "Barbara Kasoff – SheSource Expert – Women's Media Center". womensmediacenter.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ "Terry Neese". www.greateroklahomacity.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ "Terry Neese". growinokc.com. Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- ^ DeFrange, Ann (November 7, 1986). "Fund-Raising Group Hopes to Build State Morale". The Daily Oklahoman. Retrieved August 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Business Partners Inc. Appoints Co-Chairwomen". The Daily Oklahoman. February 15, 1987. Retrieved August 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Stafford, Jim (October 28, 2006). "State Women to Attend International Conference". The Daily Oklahoman. Retrieved August 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Institute for Educating and Empowering Women All Around the World". www.ieew.org. IEEW. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- ^ "Dr. Terry Neese CEO/President Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women" (PDF). ieew.org. IEEW. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
- ^ "August 1, 2015 - Carly Fiorina Announces Dr. Terry Neese as National Finance Chairman".
- ^ "Two Republican Women Will File For 5th". OKC Friday. May 3, 2019.
- ^ Pathe, Simone. "Stephanie Bice wins GOP primary runoff for competitive US House seat in Oklahoma". CNN. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ "KFOR investigates candidate Terry Neese's claim of having 'deep roots in the Cherokee Nation'". August 22, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Live:GOP Debate". News 9 Times.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Business People". The Daily Oklahoman. May 9, 2004. Retrieved August 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Terry Neese receives 2013 Enterprising Women Legacy Award". newsok.com. NewsOK. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
- ^ "Neese to receive Sister Cities' Global Vision Award". OKC Friday.
- ^ Clark, Vicki (October 13, 2017). "Global Vision Award To Honor Lee Allan". OKC Friday.
- ^ Clark, Vicki (October 20, 2017). "Global Goddesses: Victoria Woods, Dr. Terry Neese Receive International Artemis Awards". OKC Friday.
- ^ "100 Women Trailblazers: League Of Women Voters Celebrate 100th Year Of Voting". OKC Friday. November 23, 2018.
- ^ "Neese Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award". OKC Friday. April 20, 2012.
External links
- 1940s births
- 20th-century American businesswomen
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- 21st-century American businesswomen
- 21st-century American businesspeople
- American feminists
- American women's rights activists
- Living people
- People from Walters, Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Republicans
- University of Oklahoma alumni
- Women in Oklahoma politics