Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Envelope

The Committee

Meet the Wake County School Bond committee members.

Our Co-Chairs

Friends of Wake County

Courtney White

BASF

Courtney J. White, prolific speaker and recognized Leader in Diversity by the Triangle Business Journal, is the head of human resources for BASF Agricultural Solutions North America and global leader for Diversity & Inclusion. He is accountable for leading the development and implementation of strategies to engage and harness the dynamic power of people.

Having worked with multiple top organizations for more than 15 years, Courtney’s career has been focused on unleashing organizational potential, enhancing innovation and driving performance-based cultures of growth on six continents.

READ MORE

Tom Oxholm

Wake Stone Corp.

Tom was recently appointed as Executive Vice President after serving as Vice President of Finance & Administration for 34 years.

He currently oversees all financial and administrative functions, and leads strategic planning, legal matters, family business planning, and community engagement. Prior to joining Wake Stone in 1986, Tom served as the company’s external CPA for five years at KPMG.  He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

READ MORE

Kristen Hess

HH Architecture

Kristen M. Hess is founder and CEO of HH Architecture, a North Carolina based full-service architecture and interior design firm focused on creating spaces that promote discovery, wellness, recreation, and civic service.

Kristen’s passion for sustainable design is a driving force in HH Architecture’s continued growth and success, including the design of the North Carolina Agricultural Sciences Center, the State Farmers Market Master Plan, and the expansion and ongoing renovations of the North Carolina Zoological Park.

 

 

READ MORE

Our Committee

The Friends of Wake County Committee for the 2022 Wake County School Bond

  • Dana Martinez
  • Keith Poston
  • Jennifer Allen
  • Jason deFreitas
  • Blount Williams
  • Asa Fleming
  • Nathan Spencer

Vote YES for the Wake County School Bond on November 8th

Paid for by the Friends of Wake County.

Submit media requests below:

CO-CHAIR

Courtney White​

Head of Human Resources, Agricultural Solutions North America

Courtney J. White, prolific speaker and recognized Leader in Diversity by the Triangle Business Journal, is the head of human resources for BASF Agricultural Solutions North America and global leader for Diversity & Inclusion. He is accountable for leading the development and implementation of strategies to engage and harness the dynamic power of people. Having worked with multiple top organizations for more than 15 years, Courtney’s career has been focused on unleashing organizational potential, enhancing innovation and driving performance-based cultures of growth on six continents. 

A true Tarheel, Courtney was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina; later graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In life, he is guided by the quote “If your presence doesn’t make an impact, then your absence won’t make a difference.”  

CO-CHAIR

Tom Oxholm

Executive VP at Wake Stone Corporation, and Wake County Board of Education 1999-2003

Tom was recently appointed as Executive Vice President after serving as Vice President of Finance & Administration for 34 years.  He currently oversees all financial and administrative functions, and leads strategic planning, legal matters, family business planning, and community engagement.

Prior to joining Wake Stone in 1986, Tom served as the company’s external CPA for five years at KPMG.  He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Outside of work, Tom has been very active in Wake County community services including 12 years on the WakeMed Foundation Board (Chairman 2007-2009); 10 years on the Board of WakeMed Health & Hospitals (Chairman 2011-13); elected to the Wake County Board of Education (1999-2003); and a founder and chairman of the Wake County Business Education Leadership Council (1995-2007; now School to Career Council).  In addition, Tom also served on the board of Paragon Bank for 14 years, Wake Key Community Care for 6 years, and the Public School Forum of North Carolina for 6 years.  Tom was named Knightdale’s Citizen of the Year in 1997, and WakeEd Partnership’s Friend of Education in 1998.  In 2008, he co-authored with Bill McNeal, A School District’s Journey to Excellence, Lessons from Business and Education

CO-CHAIR

Kristen M. Hess

Kristen M. Hess is founder and CEO of HH Architecture, a North Carolina based full-service architecture and interior design firm focused on creating spaces that promote discovery, wellness, recreation, and civic service. Kristen’s passion for sustainable design is a driving force in HH Architecture’s continued growth and success, including the design of the North Carolina Agricultural Sciences Center, the State Farmers Market Master Plan, and the expansion and ongoing renovations of the North Carolina Zoological Park. In 2018, HH Architecture was honored with the Firm of the Year award from AIA Triangle. In May 2022, Kristen was recognized as the US Small Business Administration’s Small Businessperson of the Year in North Carolina. Over the past 3 years, the firm’s revenue has grown by over 60% and personnel by 43%.

Kristen is a devoted volunteer, donating countless hours to non-profits and helping students, mentoring entrepreneurs, and serving as a role model to young women. She also speaks frequently at events focused on women in leadership and is an annual guest lecturer at the NCSU College of Design. A proud Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, Kristen influences the lives of many as a board member and mother of a fourth-generation Girl Scout. In 2011, Kristen was awarded the Marshall Memorial Fellowship by the German Marshall Fund of the United States and, in 2016, was honored with the Zhi-Xing China Eisenhower Fellowship. Through these affiliations, she forges connections around the world and advocates for other minority and women-owned businesses.

DONATE NOW