Julie House - President

 I moved to Carolina Beach in 2016 from Pittsford, NY located near Rochester, NY and did not know a single person. Enter Island Women! I was told about Island Women and decided to go to a meeting to check it out.(2017) Imagine my delight when I was welcomed warmly and encouraged to volunteer. I did volunteer and started to feel that connection to my new community.  I started with Martha's Kitchen, then the Literacy committee, various fundraisers, fireworks, and recently took the Chair position for the Literacy Committee. I am a member of the Ft. Fisher Recreation Turtle group, and you may have seen me line dancing with Beachs and Boots.  Yes, that is cowboy boots, cowboy hat and line dancing to country music! I met so many wonderful and talented women who are volunteering their time to support  this community. As  member at large, I hope to  provide support to the board as well as represent the interests of the membership for this wonderful organization of women.

Susan Hughes – President-Elect

I have been a resident of Carolina Beach since 2019. I work full time as a Project Manager of Oncology Clinical Trials with Thermo Fisher Scientific. I joined Island Women in 2019, and it has truly been a pleasure to get more involved and give back to this lovely community I call home. I have had the opportunity to volunteer with Martha’s Kitchen, the Katie B Hines Center, various centennial, and Island Women events throughout the year and look forward to doing more. I had the honor as serving as the Chair for the SEA Committee this year and it has been such a blessing to collaborate with the people of this committee to celebrate and support our members as well as local businesses. Women uplifting other women warms my heart.

As candidate for President-Elect, I hope to provide support to the Board as well as the Organization’s mission to enhance the quality of life on Pleasure Island through volunteerism and fundraising. Together we can do great things. It would be my privilege to serve on this Board. 

Teresa (Terry) Merrick – Treasurer

A permanent Kure Beach resident since late 2020, I moved here from New Jersey where I was the treasurer of my church for 15 years. I also served on the board of directors of North Jersey Meals on Wheels. I was a computer programmer working for IBM until my husband and I adopted our son (29 years ago!). After my husband died, friends enticed me to move to this area, where I enjoy the absence of snow and presence of the beach. I currently volunteer at Carolina Beach Elementary School and enjoy working with the kids.

Kathy Becker – Secretary 

I am a retired Registered Nurse, and I moved to Carolina Beach in January of 2014. I enjoy volunteer activities related to my passions for supporting children and finding “fur” ever homes for rescued dogs. Currently I volunteer at Carolina Beach Elementary, I mentor a middle school student at Myrtle Grove Middle School, and I serve as a volunteer and Board Member for Freedom Bridge Animal Rescue NC. I am a member of the IW Membership Committee; I serve as the Secretary of my HOA Board and lead a Widows Group that I started to support widows in our community.

I am so happy to be a member of Island Women and to have the opportunity to support the Pleasure Island community through fundraising, volunteering and relationship building. I would be honored to serve on the Board and to contribute to the continued growth of Island Women and its mission to enhance the quality of life for members of our community. 

Melinda Bomar - Member at Large 

Originally from a small West Texas town, I first discovered the NC coast in 1997 while interviewing in Wilmington for my first job out of college. One look at the big, beautiful ocean and I knew I had found my happy place! After several years in Wilmington, my career in drug development took me elsewhere, but I always dreamed of returning. In the fall of 2023 after 17 years in Durham, I made that dream a reality by moving to Kure Beach, where I now work remotely. Outside of work, I enjoy the beach, working in my yard, sewing, and spending time with my salty sidekick, Boscoe the pug.

I’ve enjoyed becoming part of this wonderful community through involvement with Island Women, the Island Arts Council and Meals on Wheels. My goal in joining the Island Women was to build connections and to find meaningful ways to serve our community. One of the most rewarding experiences for me has been helping serve meals at Martha’s Kitchen. I would be honored to serve as Member at Large to help advance Island Women’s mission.

Kerri Collins - Member at Large

I was born and raised on Long Island, New York, and since leaving, I’ve always wanted to get back to the beach. I’ve lived in Wilmington for 15 years now and I can’t think of anywhere else I would want to live. I joined Island Women three years ago to fulfill a long-standing desire to volunteer and give back to my community. Although I live “OTB”, my heart belongs to Pleasure Island. I can’t say enough about the wonderful women I’ve met since joining Island Women. I am honored to serve on the Board.

Kathy McBryde - Member at Large

I have been a decades long visitor, a part-time islander since 2020, and finally a full-time resident this past September. My dream came true! I "retired" from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system as a school-based Physical Therapist. I am currently working part-time as a home health pediatric Physical Therapist. My neighbor introduced me to the Island Women organization in 2023. I started joining a few volunteer opportunities to meet people and then became a Bunco junkie and Bingo enthusiast! I love

meeting new people, being an active part of the community, and giving of my time, energy, and talents. I have participated in multiple fund-raisers and hope to be able to support the committees and activities of IW.

I would love to be a part of the continued growth of Island Women and to foster relationships within this organization and throughout the community.