Dr. Terry Neese, PhD, is a serial entrepreneur, founding both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Under the umbrella of IEEW, Dr. Neese launched the Peace Through Business® program, which educates and empowers women entrepreneurs in developing countries to achieve their dream of financial independence, community involvement, and political activism. Since the merger of IEEW with the Enterprising Women Foundation, Dr. Neese now serves as the Ambassador of the Peace Through Business Program on the Enterprising Women Foundation leadership team.

Since its creation in 2006, the Peace Through Business program has trained 1,860 women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and Rwanda, who have in turn employed over 16,901 of their countrymen and women. In our 17th year, 60 percent are still in business, mostly from Rwanda.

One of the big successes of this program is the mentorship between American women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs around the world, which opens potential trade partnerships. A successful businesswoman, Terry made history in 1990 when she became the first woman nominated by a major political party for the seat of Lt. Governor of Oklahoma. She was named an Outstanding Business Leader by the Northwood University Board of Trustees in 2006, and received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University in 2008.