Rebecca Ballard:  

Life After graduating from SUNY New Paltz in 1987, I spent two years working for the New York State Senate Finance Committee in Albany. My mom and dad had just retired to NC (where my mom was from), and shortly after, she passed away from cancer. In mid-1989, I moved to NC to be closer to my dad and earn my Master's Degree (like I promised my mom I would) at Western Carolina University. I have worked for Silver Bluff, Inc. for just over 12 years as Human Resources Manager for 190 employees. I do a lot of volunteering in the community with an Alzheimer's Support group, an HIV/AIDS Task Force, and the County and State Democratic Parties. I bought a house 5 years ago where I live with my two cats, Lennon and Abby. I have no children, but am the proud Godmother of Zoe (aged 9) and Ally (aged 7). I am divorced but, believe it or not, my ex-husband Jack, is a close friend. Life in the mountains in Western North Carolina is great. A much slower pace than NYS (and when I first moved down here, it took me forever to slow down). I don't have much of a Southern accent, but I have been told by my Northern friends that I speak much slower now and I elongate my vowels (I also pepper my conversation a lot with "ya'll"). It is a beautiful part of the country, and convenient to many areas (2.5 hrs to Atlanta, 1.5 hours to Charlotte, 4 hours to Myrtle Beach, etc.). Free time is spent working around the house, antiquing, politicing, and constant reading. I travel to Hyde Park every 2 years to visit my brother, check out my favorite places and show these Southerners how beautiful the Hudson River Valley really is! School I spent two years at DCC after graduating from high school in '83. At DCC, was ...Expand for more