Tricia Ory has volunteered with Susan G. Komen for over 8 years in the capacity of Race Treasurer, Board Treasurer, Board Secretary, and is currently serving as Board President. In 2008, she was recognized with the Promise of One Award for her dedication and contribution to the affiliate’s mission. She is a CPA and the Director of External Reporting for Peak 10. Prevent the preventable, treat the treatable, and let’s find a cure! To contact Tricia, email president@komencharlotte.org

W. Michael Smiley, Co-survivor. Penland Legacy Advisors (formerly known as Blue Ridge Trust) a financial consulting firm. Volunteer since 2007. Watching my wife, Shari Lynn, battle the disease in 2005-2006, as well as losing a dear friend, Kristy Adams Ebel, was very personal. Shari Lynn was 34 and had no high risk factors or family history. Neither did Kristy who passed away at 36. The mission of Susan G. Komen for the Cure resonated with me and I believe our work will one day lead to the cure. Komen’s promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. I am honored and humbled to be a part of such a wonderful, worth-while organization filled with exceptional and very passionate individuals.

I am cancer survivor and a Charlotte native. I began volunteering with Komen Charlotte in 2004 after a friend asked me join the Survivor Committee. Since then she and many other friends have lost their battles while others that I love are fighting for their lives. It is an honor and privilege to serve as Race Chair this year. We have never been in more need of a race with people in our community out of work and without health insurance; Komen Charlotte is seeing an increased demand for services in our area.75% of the monies raised will stay here in our 9 county area while 25% goes to national research. I am so thankful for the Komen family that is working hard to find a cure and the impact it has made on our city. I have been employed by the Us Airways Group since 1989.

I became a volunteer for the Charlotte Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 2007 and I am very determined to see a world without breast cancer. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26 and given a 30% chance of surviving three years until a bone marrow transplant increased my odds to 70%. 16 years later, I am very thankful to be a survivor and consider myself very lucky to be working with Komen Charlotte... for the Cure.

Curt Shaw is the Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis for Novant Health. He is responsible for the execution and analysis of the strategic financial planning activities of Novant, including developing and overseeing the Novant five year financial plan and capital process. Curt joined the board for the Charlotte affiliate of Susan G. Komen in 2009 after serving three years on the United Way of the Central Carolinas Community Health Council. Curt was driven to join the Susan G. Komen community to help make a difference.

I have been volunteering with Komen Charlotte for the past 6 years through committee and board positions. I am a 3rd generation Breast Cancer Survivor and am thrilled to volunteer with an organization that is working everyday to find a cure for this dreaded disease. Early detection saved my life and I look forward to spreading the word so that no one is left behind in our quest. I volunteer so that my daughter and her generation can one day know A World without Breast Cancer! I am the Southern Account Executive with CFN/Commercial Fueling Network based in San Francisco, CA.

Lise Hinton has volunteered with the Charlotte Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure since 2000 and served as a member of the Charlotte Affiliate’s Board since 2007. As a volunteer, Lise was active on the Race for the Cure committee before serving as Race Chair in 2007. Lise is currently serving as an at-large member on the Board of Directors and has historically served as Vice President and Development Chair. Lise has been recognized as Race volunteer of the Year and has participated in Lobby Day, where she lobbied Members of the House of Representatives and Senate from North and South Carolina on breast cancer. When not volunteering with Komen, Lise is a Vice President with Fifth Third Bank and is the parent of two boys (5 ½ and 3) with her husband, Bo.

I am now entering my second year in this position. It has been extremely rewarding working with such well organized and committed individuals as we tackle the issue of breast cancer outreach. I’m excited about expanding this role to be not only informative for others but for myself as well. As a practicing Ob- Gyn, I hope to effect growth, knowledge, and continuing effort to work “for the cure” in my patient population and my entire community.

Dena became involved with the Charlotte Affiliate in 2005 as a volunteer on the race committee increasing her involvement each year. She had the honor to be the 2009 race chair. She is proud to return to the Board of Directors for a second year. In her at large position, she will be able to assist with unanticipated projects important to the mission – a world without breast cancer.

By day, I'm an employment litigation attorney at the Charlotte firm of Johnston, Allison & Hord. By night, I'm secretly looking for a way to fulfill my dream of opening a bakery. In any case, I'm a bit of a joiner, so board service of any kind is a perfect fit for me! I've been so fortunate in my life to be blessed with good health and, until recently, a cancer-free existence - cancer has never really been a huge worry for my family. Heart disease and bad knees, yes - but cancer, not really. That changed in August 2010 when my dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Following surgery at the amazing Indiana University Medical Center in December 2010 to remove his bladder, we thought he was done with this horrible disease. Unfortunately, the cancer returned in June 2011 and my dad is now courageously battling metastatic bone cancer. I truly believe that the research currently being done and funded by the generous donations to Susan G. Komen for the Cure will unlock the secret to curing all forms of cancer. Komen Charlotte raised more than $2 Million last year - $2 Million!! If we can raise that kind of money in one year, anything is possible! Maybe, just maybe, we'll see cure for cancer in our lifetimes - and we'll all have been a part of that!

I am a Charlotte native and co-survivor. After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill and the UNC School of Law, I returned to Charlotte to work as an attorney. I was very personally and profoundly impacted by breast cancer when my wife Neil was diagnosed with the disease in 2007. Following Neil's diagnosis, she and I both became involved in fundraising for Komen Charlotte. Beginning in 2008, I also volunteered as a member of the grants committee. After gracefully battling breast cancer for three years, Neil passed away in August 2010. I feel privileged to be able to honor my wife's memory through service on the Komen Board of Directors. I am hopeful that Komen's efforts will save lives and contribute to the quest for a cure

After over 20 years of serving as an auditor of not-for-profit organizations, I am very excited to be able to add some perspective as a board member of Komen Charlotte. The advances the organization has made to the battle against breast cancer are life changing for many women, and with 2 cousins and a sister-in-law fighting this disease it is very personal to me and so many others. Every day and every advance counts and I couldn’t be prouder than to be associated with an organization that is so dedicated to finding a cure. Joyce is a CPA and audit partner with McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.

Joining the Komen board in 2011 just felt right. The cause is personal and universal, and my professional skills meet Komen’s needs. I started participating in the local race when it was small enough to be held at Charlotte’s then one-and-only Mint Museum, long before contracting breast cancer and achieving survivorship. Fundraising and advocacy drive Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, and the latter is my niche. I compose most of the written and electronic communications targeted to elected officials in the Affiliate’s nine-county service area. Those in public policy affect the funding for government programs regarding breast health education, screening, treatment, and research for the cures. Statewide, I help Neel Stallings, one of Charlotte’s early Komen advocates, coordinate joint advocacy efforts among North Carolina’s four Affiliates. Neel and I are also two of six volunteers nationwide selected by Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to assist Affiliates in other states in enhancing their advocacy programs. Professionally, I am a former federal lobbyist and director of media relations for Duke Energy, and I perform part-time paralegal work on a contract basis. Personally, I am a delighted, grateful grandmother of two and hope someday those dear children will know a world without breast cancer.