Cary, NC - United Way of North Carolina (UWNC) is excited to announce the latest news on our Board of Directors! Long time Board Member Sherry Bradsher has become our Board Chair and will serve until 2028.
Sherry Bradsher - Chair
In her job outside of UWNC, she operates as the Managing Principal for CCR Consulting Group. Prior to this role, Sherry served as Deputy Secretary of NC DHHS over the agency’s human services divisions. Prior to that, Sherry served as Director of the NC Division of Social Services. With a start in county Department of Social Services administration, Sherry brings over 30 years of experience in the effective delivery of human services, program administration, and human services policy development. We are so excited to welcome her into the Chair position and look forward to her leadership over the next two years!
In addition, we have seven Board Members to welcome to UWNC! Already in their roles and providing excellent points of view to guide our organization, we are thrilled to officially introduce them:
Shereá D. Burnett
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Shereá D. Burnett, J.D., VSP (she/her) is a dedicated advocate and visionary leader committed to advancing equity for underrepresented communities. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Shereá earned degrees in Political Science and Afro-American Studies, with a minor in Social and Economic Justice. She also earned her Juris Doctorate from Elon University School of Law.
As a citizen of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Shereá’s Afro-Indigenous heritage profoundly informs her work. Her career centers on building equitable systems, reshaping narratives around marginalized communities, and empowering those communities to lead transformative change.
Her impact spans housing and homelessness, domestic violence advocacy, and child and family welfare. She has directed housing programs and a domestic violence shelter, served as a Child Welfare Social Worker, and advocated for children in foster care as a Guardian ad Litem.
In November 2025, Shereá became President of United Way of Alamance County. Recognized for her dynamic approach to civic engagement, she also serves as an Adjunct Professor and contributes to community-focused publications.
A strategic problem solver and passionate advocate, Shereá uses her platforms to raise awareness, strengthen communities, and foster meaningful dialogue on pressing social issues.
Kathryn Firmin-Sellers
Kathryn Firmin-Sellers is currently serving United Way of Greater Charlotte as President and CEO. Formerly, as Chief Impact Officer and Executive Vice-President, Kathryn led the organization’s community impact strategy, focusing on advancing racial equity and empowering previously disinvested communities while also providing basic needs support across our four- county region. Since joining United Way in 2018, Kathryn develops strategic impact plans, navigates key issues and works tirelessly with partners in the philanthropic, corporate, nonprofit and government sectors to increase economic mobility. Kathryn also leads efforts to implement “A Home For All,” the first comprehensive effort to address housing instability and homelessness in our community involving the public, private and non-profit sectors.
In 2020, Kathryn was instrumental in working with other community leaders to establish the COVID-19 Response Fund, coordinated by United Way and The Foundation For The Carolinas. Nearly $24 million was raised and distributed to 237 local nonprofits to help those affected by the pandemic with basic needs such as childcare, education, housing, food, emergency financial assistance, legal advocacy, health and more. Prior to her current role at United Way, Kathryn spent 11 years with Safe Alliance, where she served as the agency’s chief operating officer and led strategic planning and program evaluation efforts, in addition to leading and managing Safe Alliance’s domestic violence shelter. Kathryn also led a restructuring of the organization’s programs and services, which included the development of data-driven strategic goals and a process evaluation framework to monitor implementation.
Kathryn was a senior relationship manager for United Way of Greater Charlotte from 2005-2007, leading the relationship between United Way and its community partners and volunteers in the Mooresville/Lake Norman area. Kathryn previously served in roles with the Lake Norman Community Development Council and the Davidson Partnership for Children and Families after beginning her career as an associate professor at Indiana University. Kathryn earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Carleton College and a master’s degree and doctorate in political science from Duke University. She is married and has two adult children.
Carlos Harper
Carlos Harper is a senior operations leader with extensive experience in supply chain, logistics, customer experience, and performance improvement. He currently serves as Senior Manager of North America Operations at Castlery, where he leads distribution, transportation, and support operations across a complex multi-location network. With previous leadership experience at Bernhardt, Wayfair, and Lowe’s, Carlos brings a strong background in operational strategy, analytics, and cross-functional leadership. He holds an MBA and is passionate about building systems and teams that deliver meaningful results. Carlos is married, a father of three, and values opportunities to contribute to stronger communities.
Sue Tidd
Sue leads with vision, strategy, and a deep commitment to strengthening communities across eastern North Carolina. With more than 30 years of nonprofit experience, she is recognized as a collaborative leader who builds partnerships and inspires engagement to drive impact.
Sue began her career at Mid Maine United Way and has since held leadership roles with organizations including the National MS Society, Brain Injury Association, and March of Dimes, always centering her work on uniting people and resources to create meaningful change.
Known for her ability to connect diverse voices and foster authentic collaboration, Sue has become a trusted facilitator and advocate for community progress. She and her husband, Kurt, enjoy Jeep adventures with their pup, Hatteras, and exploring their land in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Christopher Tissot
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Christopher Tissot is an accomplished human resources professional with more than two decades of experience specializing in employment law, employee relations, and organizational strategy. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for effectively navigating complex workplace issues, advising senior leadership, and fostering positive, compliant, and high-performing work environments.
Currently serving as a Senior Retail Associate Relations Manager with Publix Super Markets, Inc., Christopher acts as a trusted business partner across multiple states, supporting Publix’s northern retail divisions (SC, NC, GA, TN, VA, AL, and KY) in all aspects of human resources. He provides strategic guidance on employee relations, staffing, succession planning, and employee engagement strategies while supporting large-scale hiring initiatives and delivering impactful training to managers and staff. His expertise in Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) compliance and his ability to resolve conflict have made him a key resource for leadership teams navigating complex personnel matters.
In his previous role as a Divisional Associate Relations Manager (DARM), Christopher led a team of regional Associate Relations Specialists, providing coaching, mentorship, and oversight to ensure consistent application of company policies and employment law compliance across multiple markets. He partnered closely with divisional leadership to align HR strategies with business objectives, driving initiatives that improved employee engagement, reduced turnover, and strengthened leadership capability within the retail divisions.
Earlier, as a Retail Associate Relations Specialist (RARS), Christopher served as a hands-on HR business partner to store and district leadership. In this capacity, he provided guidance on employee relations, performance management, and organizational development, while supporting workforce planning and succession efforts. His proactive approach to problem-solving and his ability to build trust with leaders and associates alike helped create a culture of accountability, fairness, and inclusion. Christopher also served as a Senior Employment Law Investigator, where he handled sensitive internal complaints and litigation-related matters for Publix. His early career with the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission further strengthened his foundation in civil rights law, ADA compliance, and investigative best practices.
Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from the College of Charleston, where he also minored in Religious Studies. His academic background complements his professional work by deepening his understanding of human behavior, culture, and conflict resolution.
Outside of his professional life, Christopher is a devoted family man. He and his wife, Kimberly, are raising their teenage son and a lovable goldendoodle. In his spare time, he is committed to maintaining his health and fitness and values creating meaningful memories with his family.
Lauren Wargo
Lauren Wargo serves as Government and Community Relations Manager for Duke Energy’s New Bern District, where she acts as the primary liaison to local governments across eastern North Carolina, covering 11 counties. In this role, she works at the intersection of infrastructure, public policy, and community partnership, collaborating closely with elected officials, community leaders, and senior decision-makers on issues that impact coastal and rural communities.
Lauren lives and works in the region she serves and brings firsthand experience supporting communities before, during, and after major storm events, as well as coordinating long-term infrastructure preparedness and recovery efforts. Her academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Botany and a master’s degree in Public Administration, informing a multidisciplinary approach to local opportunities.
Prior to joining Duke Energy, Lauren built her career in local government, serving in municipal and count roles. Her experience spans municipal and county operations, public communication, strategic coordination, and community engagement.
Lauren is actively involved in regional economic development and civic leadership and serves on multiple boards across eastern North Carolina. She is a graduate of several leadership development programs, including Leadership Jones, Leadership Carteret, and Leadership Beaufort, and remains committed to investing in the people and communities that make eastern North Carolina strong.
Teresa Wiley
Teresa Wiley currently serves as the Director of Health Equity and Community Network Development at Community Care of North Carolina. Previously, she was an accomplished Health Administrator at Piedmont Health Services, Inc. with over 20 years of experience in nursing leadership, program development for special populations, and community advocacy for health equity.
She has served as an active member of the United Way Grant Committee for the past 4 years, Health Equity Council, a graduate of the 2022 Leadership Institute, and currently consulting with Community Care of NC and DHHS to provide subject matter expertise for historically marginalized populations impacted by the COVID pandemic in NC.
Teresa earned her BSN degree from UNC Chapel Hill and MHA from Winston Salem State University. She is a native of Alamance County. She is the mother of one daughter, Tayloir, who attends Alamance Burlington School System. Teresa is an active member of the Parent Teacher Association. She is a member of the local faith community, The Ebenezer Church. Teresa is passionate in humanitarian service and has travelled to Guatemala, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic in September 2022 for mission work to provide medical and dental care.
More than her role as a Health Administrator, she is also effective at developing and strengthening community partnerships and collaborations. Her opinions are highly valued, people trust and respect her judgments.
She wants to engage more with influential decision-makers and thought leaders in Alamance County. She's open to challenges, conversations, and an exchange of ideas from all levels of community members.
To learn more about our entire Board of Directors, visit this page on our website.