Theresa Coates Ellis built her own business, is a mother and a grandmother. Theresa understands the family and economic challenges in our city.

She and her spouse, George Ellis, have had an empty nest for a few years. They are active volunteers in the community and members of All Saints Catholic Church in the City of Manassas.

Theresa (Terry Schmalhofer) grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a small historic city. She was raised by two hard-working parents who own an auto repair business. She pitched in and helped at the shop, managed a large toy store, and was a server for a few restaurants to play for college herself.

She moved to Manassas in 1987 after working in management and trading for large stock and financial portfolios in Philadelphia / New Jersey and LA / Southern California for E.F. Hutton and Merril Lynch.

Theresa is from a family of entrepreneurs. She is the founder and owner of Tackle Management Corp., providing management and public relations services to local businesses and organizations.  

She is the founder of the nonprofit Friends of the Manassas Bee Festival and manages and operates the annual festival (6 years), launched “Buzz Around Town,” a City pop-up shop for local honey, handmade and curated reuse goods. She spearheaded the newer Pollinator wall mural at the gateway to the historic downtown. These initiatives bring awareness to saving our pollinators and planting native.

While working full time and raising a family, she graduated cum laude from George Mason University (Mason) with a Business Communication degree.

As a Mason Community Speaker, she provided business and communication strategy presentations in the Northern Virginia area.

Other Community and Professional Organizations:

Appointed Member, Manassas Regional Airport Commission; Assistant Governor and iPast President, Bull Run Rotary Club; President, Inter-Service Club Council (ISCC) Greater Manassas; Manassas City Public Schools Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Board Member; Manassas City Public Schools Education Foundation Board; Cobblestone Business Center Board; Prince William Chamber of Commerce; Operations, Executive Committee, Manassas GOP; Bull Run Republican Women’s Club Member; All Saints Catholic Church Member, Manassas.