Meet the 2022 Dancers! | Onslow Women's Center

INDIA POLLARD

India Pollard and her husband are co-owners of Flavor Hills, an up and coming restaurant in Onslow County. India is also a licensed NC Real estate broker. After moving to Jacksonville, in support of her husband’s service with the United States Marine Corps, she fell in love with the southern hospitality and splendor of the coastal environment. India and her family ultimately decided to make Onslow County their permanent home. India has a passion for the arts and loves traveling, photography, and crafting. She is a devoted spouse with two beautiful children who love their pet dog Hazel. India is looking forward to participating this year, affording her the opportunity to pay her blessings forward.

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Dr. Doug Lesan

After graduating both pharmacy and dental schools, Dr. Lesan moved to Camp LeJeune to serve 5 years in the US Navy Dental Corp. Loving the area, he made Jacksonville his home and has been in private practice for the last 31 years. Along with actively serving in his church with his wife, Angie, he has also served on the City of Jacksonville Planning Board for over 25 years. An Eagle Scout, Dr. Lesan now serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 319 and enjoys mentoring scouts on their path to Eagle. He is proud to be a supporter of the DTOJ Nutcracker Performance. He looks forward to his new role as “Wolfpack Dad” to his son, Jackson and continuing in his role as supportive “Dance Dad” to his daughter Sydney. Dr. Lesan is looking forward to this opportunity to support the community and residents of Onslow County in a unique and exciting way!

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Suzanne Popkin

Suzanne Popkin was born and raised in Massachusetts, where she obtained her law degree in 1997 and owned and operated a general practice until relocating to Onslow County North Carolina in 2006. Suzanne decided to remain in Onslow County where she soon established and operated another private firm for the next 10 years. She started her own family in 2010 and is proud of her 11-year old kind, considerate and intelligent, twin daughters and adores Frank, the family dog. Suzanne and her family decided to remain in Onslow County and is confident it was the right move for both her family and her career. She continues to practice law in North Carolina and is currently an Assistant District Attorney prosecuting felonies in Onslow County and is fulfilled by the experience to seek justice for the citizens of Onslow County. Suzanne enjoys having traveling and having fun with her family, exposure to new and different experiences, dancing, yoga and reading. She is thankful for the opportunity to give back to this community that so graciously welcomed her!

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Gregg Whitehead

Gregg Whitehead was born in Massachusetts, raised in Sanford NC, took a side trip to Key West for high school (Navy Brat) and graduated from Appalachian State University in Boone North Carolina. He attended and received his MPA from East Carolina University in 1995 where he met his amazing wife, Dana Whitehead, and just celebrated their 25th anniversary. Gregg has been the Town Administrator for the Town of Richlands for over 24 years and the place he and his wife have called home since 1999. Born and raised in Richlands, Gregg and Dana’s only child Jason currently attends Lenoir-Rhyne University. Gregg is a long time member of the Richlands Rotary Club, current Chair of the Revive Downtown Richlands Committee and over the years has been involved in a multitude of organizations and events with the goal of improving the quality of life for the community. An avid reader, unintentional guitar collector and terrible golfer, Gregg is excited to participate in the Dancing Stars of Onslow County and hopeful he can make a difference and contribute to such an important mission in Onslow County.

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Vanessa Smith

Vanessa Smith is originally from South Carolina, moving here in 2007 after her husband received orders to Camp Lejeune. Vanessa started working at Jacksonville Police Dept. in 2007 and has risen to the rank of Sergeant through the years. She has also enjoyed the privilege of teaching the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) at CCCC as well as teaching throughout the state with the NC Forensic Tests for Alcohol Branch. Vanessa stays active in the community through work and outside of work through church, Discovery Church International. Her husband retires this year from the USMC and they plan to continue to keep Jacksonville as their home, as they have grown to love this community and area. Vanessa looks forward to serving her community in this way and helping out a fantastic cause!

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Mayor John Davis

John Davis and his wife Jennifer have been married for 25 years and are proud to call Swansboro their hometown. Together with their three children, Joseph, Joshua and Jayden; the family has remained very involved in their community throughout the years. John holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from NC State University and acquired a unique combination of work experience in the corporate and self-employed worlds before taking on his most gratifying work challenge to date as the Mayor of Swansboro, NC. John has been extremely active in many local organizations over the years, working with the Swansboro Soccer Association, Town of Swansboro Parks and Recreation Board, Onslow County Board of Adjustments, just to name a few. John Davis believes that every citizen of Onslow County has a voice that deserves to be heard. The mantra that has served him well as a public servant will take on a very special meaning this year as he works to serve as both a beacon of hope and a voice for our most vulnerable residents. He is both honored and humbled to be asked and is eternally grateful for the community he calls home.

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Amber Lumley

Amber Lumley is a native of Onslow County, a graduate of Richlands High School, a North Carolina Teaching Fellow, and graduate of Meredith College. She has been teaching history at Jacksonville High School for almost 17 years- Go CARDS! In 2016, she became the International Baccalaureate Program Coordinator at JHS. Outside of the classroom, she has been the adviser for Student Council, a cheerleading coach, and an assistant coach for Varsity Women’s Soccer. Additionally, she is a teacher mentor, and was Jacksonville High School’s Teacher of the Year in 2017. She attends Catalyst Church where she enjoys working with the youth. In all her free time, she enjoys practicing her “fancy fonts”, binging all of her favorite shows, and cheering for the Duke Blue Devils! Amber is excited to be part of this year's Dancing Stars of Onslow so that she can give back to the community that has given so much to her.

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Terrence Barber

Terence Barber is a native of Detroit but chose to make Onslow County his home when he began practicing law here in 2011. He and his wife Kirsten have been practicing law together now for over 10 years while raising their two sons, Cameron and Samuel. Terence is a graduate of Campbell University and North Carolina Central University School of Law and is a retired U.S. Army Veteran. In his legal profession, Terence is committed to being a passionate and ethical advocate for his clients. He is ecstatic to have this opportunity to serve as an advocate on both a much larger scale and stage!

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Candy Brown Thompson

Candy Brown Thompson was born in New Hanover County but has lived in Onslow County since 1990. She is married to Marty Thompson, and they have one daughter, Ally that will be graduating high school this year. Candy recently retired from the dental field after 30 years, 22.5 of that spent with Armstrong and Tant. May 1st of 2021, Candy began selling real estate full-time with Century 21 Champion Real Estate and was recently awarded the 2021 Rookie of the Year by the Jacksonville Board of Realtors. Candy has held a passion for both fundraising and creating awareness for the Onslow Women’s Center as both an event Chairperson and Board member for over 10 years. Candy was presented with a Golden Rule Lightkeeper’s Award in 2020 and a Governor’s Award in 2021 in recognition of her dedication to philanthropic work. Candy’s alter-ego, Candy Cantore has become quite the local celebrity with her insightful and always accurate weather forecasting. She has also been known to channel her inner flamingo on occasion, coming up with creative ways to raise money for various causes throughout the years. We will just have to wait to see what Candy has up her sleeve when she “shakes a tail feather” on stage on October 22nd!

Click here to donate to Candy Brown Thompson!

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