United Way of Forsyth County announces new board members
United Way of Forsyth County announces that 11 new board members have recently joined its board. Owen Bussey and Vicki Lents will serve one-year terms. The remaining new board members have been elected to serve three-year terms and are: Kitrinka Hairston, Jill Hall-Freeman, Courtney James, Emily Neese, Reid Palmer, Ben Shoesmith, Keith Vaughan, David Wharton and Angel Wright-Lanier.
New board members:
*Dr. Owen Bussey is a Master Scientist at Reynolds American, where he serves in the Research and Development division as a leading analytical chemist. In addition to his scientific contributions, Bussey is also an active community leader. He currently serves as Chair of Emerging Leaders United at the United Way of Forsyth County, where he champions civic engagement, volunteerism and leadership development among young professionals. .
*Kitrinka Hairston is a lifelong resident of Winston-Salem with a deep-rooted passion for community engagement and lifelong learning. A proud mother of three and grandmother of six, Hairston retired from Forsyth County Government after 22 years of dedicated service.
*Jill Hall-Freeman has devoted over 30 years to education in North Carolina, serving as a teacher, principal and district leader. She holds a B.S. in Mathematics Education from North Carolina State University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Currently the West Area Superintendent for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, she leads 20 schools serving more than 18,500 students.
*Courtney James is the part owner and president of Support Systems of Forsyth County Transportation LLC; a locally owned company committed to expanding access to reliable transportation outside of traditional transit hours. Support Systems fills critical gaps in mobility by serving individuals when and where local transit services are unavailable.
*Vickie Lents is a results-oriented marketing executive with over 25 years of experience in building products and business to business markets. She is currently vice president, marketing & innovation at Amarr. A Winston-Salem resident since 1993, Lents is actively engaged in her community and currently serves as chair of United Way’s Women United affinity group, where she helps empower women to create lasting change through philanthropy and service.
*Emily Neese, a graduate of Wake Forest University (WFU) with an accounting degree, she has had a broad career spanning 12 years in public accounting with KPMG and EY; 10+ years as CFO, COO and ultimately president and CAO of a privately held corporation; independent consulting and teaching at WFU; and 18 years in various finance and administration leadership positions at WFU including most recently vice president of Finance, Strategy and Planning.
*Reid Palmer holds a B.A. in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has called Winston-Salem home for the past eight years. He currently works at Alex. Brown, where he brings a strong foundation in financial services and client-focused strategy.
*Ben Shoesmith has over 30 years of global IT experience, leading teams, managing complex projects and implementing systems across multiple countries. He is currently the manager of Information Technology at John Deere Kernersville.
*Keith Vaughan is the former chair and managing partner of Womble Bond Dickinson, where he led the firm through a period of significant growth and strategic development. As the new chair of the United Way Foundation Board of Directors, he brings his leadership experience and deep commitment to community impact to advance the Foundation’s mission.
*David Wharton is a seasoned executive at Bank of America with a distinguished track record of leading multiple business units and geographies within the financial services sector. Wharton’s leadership reflects a deep understanding of both operational dynamics, and the human capital required to drive sustained growth in a competitive industry.
*Dr. Angel Wright-Lanier has more than 20 years of local government experience in North Carolina, including most recently in Cumberland County, where she oversaw the departments of Community Development, Human Resources, I.S. Technology, Solid Waste, Crown Coliseum Complex, Tax Administration and Finance. She also has served as assistant city manager to the city of Fayetteville, the town of Mooresville and the city of Goldsboro. Wright-Lanier has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in history; a master’s in public administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; a master’s in information systems from Strayer University; and a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University.
United Way’s Bold Goal
United Way has initiated a bold goal to move 3,500 local families out of poverty in the next 10 years. Moving 3,500 families out of poverty means creating pathways to financial stability through access to quality education, workforce training and essential support services. It requires a holistic approach, ensuring families have stable housing, livable wages and opportunities to build generational wealth. By aligning resources, partnerships and policy efforts, we aim to break cycles of poverty and create long-term economic mobility. This bold goal represents a commitment to not just providing temporary relief but driving sustainable change for families in Forsyth County. And that is why United Way needs everyone’s support.
