The firstborn in a family of six children, Teri was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was raised in New Orleans and in Houston, Texas. She moved to Georgia in 1994 and received her Bacheloris in International Relations from Agnes Scott College in 1998. Her professional experience includes public affairs and government relations, with an emphasis on alliance development, coalition building and grassroots mobilization. Teri lives with her husband, Chris, and their two children near the heart of downtown Smyrna.

In addition to representing Ward 3 on the Smyrna City Council, Teri is involved with organizations including the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, the Girl Scouts of America and the Junior League of Atlanta. In 2008, she was named a i20 Rising Stars Under 40i by Cobb Life Magazine, and in 2012, she was recognized as a Woman of Achievement by the YWCA of Northwest Georgia.

Affiliations h Georgia Municipal Association Legislative Policy Council h Cobb Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee h Participated in the U.S. State Departmentis Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairsi Legislative Fellows Program in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2011 h Past Treasurer of the Cobb Municipal Association h Sustaining member of the Junior League of Atlanta, past co-chair of the Political Affairs Committee h Past Chair of the Smyrna Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors h Past president of the MOMS Club of Smyrna-Northeast h Bible Study group leader at Holy Spirit Catholic Church h Troop leader for the Girl Scouts of America Recognitions h 2014-2015 Catholic Charities of Atlanta Leadership Class h 2012 YWCA of Northwest Georgia Women of Achievement Honoree h 2008 i20 Rising Stars Under 40i by Cobb Life magazine h 2006 graduate of Leadership Cobb