Lori received her Bachelor of Art in Psychology from Wofford College and her Masters in Education from Converse College. She moved to Charleston in 1993 to begin her teaching career with the Charleston County School District as a special needs educator and Master Teacher for over 12 years and was promoted to the position of Director of Teacher Effectiveness with the school district for 13 years before she retired in 2016.

While with the school district Lori and a fellow colleague created, managed, and directed An Evening with the Stars, an annual winter gala fundraiser that honored the district’s top teachers and administrators. Lori and her team were directly responsible for raising over $500,000 that was used to provide professional development during the annual Charleston Educator Symposium, a nationally recognized event.

Retiring in 2016 to work alongside her husband, David Bates, owner of Beresford Realty and the Beresford Appraisal Group, she continues to utilize her dynamic organizational skills to help her clients with a smooth experience from contract to closing.

Lori and David have two active girls who enjoy soccer, piano, violin, and karate. Lori enjoys spending time with her family exploring the waterways by boat, cheering on her girls at their various activities, traveling, and cooking. She is a volunteer and committee head for various activities at her girls’ school and her church.