Meet Terri White, a League member who is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Public Policy & Advocacy Committee. After many years of chasing her dream of owning her own company, Terri has spent the last 18 months putting her ideas into action in the form of her very own beverage distillery. Keep reading to find out how she got to where she is today, and what the future holds for this local entrepreneur.
Terri’s Early Life & League Experience
I was born and raised in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most people will know of the neighborhood because of August Wilson’s plays; in fact, he and my dad were childhood friends and boxed together. My great-grandmother is also mentioned in his play Fences (she was Miss Pearl with a boarding house).
My two heroes are August Wilson and Janet Jackson. Reading August Wilson as a child showed me that the community I was from was important and worthy, and by extension, I too was important and worthy, even if society only saw me as a poor black girl from the inner city. People spend their whole careers trying to learn about the place where I was blessed to be born. If Wilson could be from the same place I was and influence people around the world, then so could I. Next, I am the biggest Janet Jackson fan you’ll ever meet. The “Control” album impressed upon me at an early age the importance of taking ownership of the life I wanted to live. I’ve watched how hard she works to entertain us and have always channeled a similar work ethic into the things I do to engage or be of service to others.
I originally joined the Junior League of Pittsburgh (JLP) and one of my most rewarding experiences there was organizing the JLPs’ thrift store and Done in a Day projects. I went inactive for a few years after that, but decided to give the League another shot when I moved to Charlotte. The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) has been amazing and helped me make new friends and get reengaged in service the Junior League way.
Making an Impact with the Junior League
I don’t believe in paying dues to an organization and not contributing. So I’d say first and foremost, the JLC has my commitment and dedication. Next, I hope that everyone on each committee I’ve served on can agree that I am always looking to do things bigger, better, faster, and more (hopefully I don’t age myself too badly with that 4 Non-Blondes reference!).
I see myself as a #JLChangeAgent largely because of my personal belief that everyone deserves a chance to reach their maximum potential, whatever that means to them.
I’ll say that the JLC has given me an outlet to channel my potential when it comes to civic engagement on the local level with the Public Policy & Advocacy and SPAC Committees. I’m involved in other organizations where I’ve developed my leadership, event planning, and project management skills, but only the JLChas connected me so closely with American policy. I often chat with friends in other Leagues and compare notes on how we are all getting more and more involved thanks to our respective Leagues.
I see myself as a #JLChangeAgent largely because of my personal belief that everyone deserves a chance to reach their maximum potential, whatever that means to them. Because of that, I’m always thinking about ways to measure how successful we are to demonstrate effectiveness and continuous improvement. It’s not enough to just do random acts of charity. It’s important to make sure we are providing meaningful support to the populations we serve.
A New Adventure
I have wanted to start my own distillery for years. My grandmother would tell me stories about her childhood, and many of them centered on the antics that happened in the house because her mother was essentially a small-time bootlegger. Once I realized she was telling the truth (and not just making things up because a bootlegging ancestor sounds right out of a movie script), I said it would be cool to pick up the family business – but legally because I don’t want to go to jail. I procrastinated on the idea forever, but something about losing my job and being stuck in the house during the pandemic finally lit the spark inside of me to get started. I’ve only had my business for about 18 months and I’m at least another year out from having physical products, but it has been an awesome industry to join!
Once I get to a point where I can pay myself a decent salary from my business, I’ll make it my full time work. I can see that happening within five years. I also want to get more involved with the Charlotte community, not just through organization memberships, but to really be a change agent in the city that will be my home for the foreseeable future. Speaking of which, the way this housing market has been, let’s hope I can actually purchase a home within the next five years!
One thing I will never do again is go to school full-time without a job. I paused my career to pursue my MBA because I won a full tuition fellowship, but I enjoy being able to adult too much to live like a broke college student. That was easily the hardest financial time of my entire life and I will never knowingly submit myself to that kind of stress again.
Fun Facts About Terri
If I could choose anything to do for a day, it would be nothing. Seriously, I would do nothing. My days tend to be jammed packed between work, entrepreneurship, the JLC, my sorority, friends, family, dogs, etc. I would take a day where I could lay on my couch, eat the worst foods possible, and watch TV.
I love traveling. My friends make fun of my “field trip itineraries” but always manage to have a great time. I’m working on visiting all 50 states. I used to love going to the movies, but who knows when I can do that again. I’m also a MAJOR baker. I’m always experimenting with new flavors or techniques. Maybe one day I’ll take formal classes or compete on an amateur baking show.
Something people might be surprised to know about me is that I studied the arts EXTENSIVELY as a kid and teen. I started playing clarinet at age seven and spent 21 years in marching bands, concert bands, clarinet choirs, youth symphonies, etc. I also dabbled in oboe, sax, and percussion. In addition, I took art classes at museums and ethnic arts programs for most of my childhood, specializing in acrylics and color theory.
