Lorie Burch has always had a burning desire to educate and advocate for others. After graduating from Plano Senior High, she headed off to college, never imagining she’d come back. But, after graduating cum laude from Trinity University in San Antonio and earning her J.D. at The George Washington University School of Law in Washington, D.C., she began to miss her family and the sweet hospitality of Texas.
After suddenly losing her stepfather, Lorie dropped everything, moved back to Texas and bought a house in Plano. Inspired by her hard-working mother, who started two successful businesses in North Texas, and her stepdad – “her rock” as she calls him –she opened her own law firm with a focus on estate planning.
She joined the Plano Chamber of Commerce and quickly became ensconced in the community. She helped launch the Chamber’s Young Professionals of Plano group and is the former National President of the American Business Women’s Association.
Lorie says she decided to focus specifically on this type of law “because estate planning is about more than material possessions, it’s about protecting all families and loved ones,” she explains.
Lorie’s longtime friend and incoming Plano Chamber Chair-Elect, Jeff Beckley, shared, “Lorie is one of the most engaging people I have ever met. She’s smart, charming, articulate, passionate about everything she does, and has a terrific sense of who she is and what she can accomplish.”
While growing up, Lorie spent two years in Jakarta, Indonesia and attended an international school with kids from more than 30 countries. She brought back a love for and strong sense of culture and diversity. This experience deepened her desire to represent, reach out to and advocate for the community. She has served as co-chair on the DFW Human Rights Campaign Steering Committee, North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Black Tie Dinner Board of Directors, Dallas Lambda Legal Leadership Committee, and she’s been recognized locally and nationally for her contributions to women’s causes and the LGBT community.
Lorie says she’s noticed a lot of changes in Plano over the last few years. With the economic boom, there’s been a rapid growth in diversity in Collin County, and she knows we deserve and need representatives who listen to the cares and concerns of all citizens they represent. That’s one of the reasons she’s running for a United States Congress seat representing Texas District 3.
Lorie hopes that no matter what, her legacy in Plano will be that she inspires people to become active in their community and speak up for what they believe in: “I hope that I can put Plano on the map as a community that welcomes and values diversity, inclusion, civility, education, economic growth and opportunity for all.”
See all of the 2017 Girl Bosses >
