Connie has been described as being a Superwoman, and after reading her biography and letters of recommendation, I have to agree! This honoree moved to Burlington in the mid-1970s with her family, graduated from Williams High School and UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in Math. After working as a programmer for Health Services Research and AT&T System Support, she returned to UNC to obtain a Master’s in Computer Science through a Fellowship with AT&T. Connie reports that she did the most courageous thing she’s ever done by taking early retirement from AT&T and deciding to change her career path in 1996 to Social Work. After obtaining her MSW from UNC-CH, she began her second career with Lutheran Retirement Ministries at their Twin Lakes campus. She began there as a social work intern, moving to research and development, assisted living administrator, memory care administrator, and quality assurance and HIPAA officer. While working with Memory Care, Connie was responsible for planning and implementing a state-of-the-art program and designing the facility for persons with dementia which is an award-winning residence. In recognition of her many contributions to the senior services industry, she received the prestigious Leadership Award from Leading Age N.C.
Since retiring from Twin Lakes, she is serving on their Board of Directors and is a member of the I/DD committee which looks for innovative ways to serve people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Connie has a passion for working for organizations that improve the lives of adults with developmental challenges. She was a founder of HESED Retreat of NC, a non-profit devoted to helping those with disabilities by designing a 2-day retreat that included drama, music, dance, and worship, and is now an annual event. In addition, she has been active with Christmas Cheer and served on boards at Ralph Scott LifeServices, ARC of Alamance, and Alamance Affirmative Enterprises. Connie served as co-director of Celebration Singers, which is a special choir including adults with disabilities. Through her church, Macedonia Evangelical Lutheran Church, she manages several projects, including the monthly Community Meal and Sunday school for adults with developmental challenges. She also chairs the Community Benevolence Committee at Macedonia, which is a committee of women who decide how to spend endowment monies. Connie has also helped with backpack giveaways for children in need and care packages for Church World Services. It is evident that she gives tirelessly of her time, talent and treasure to many worthy causes and they are all of them better off for her contributions to their work. She is an exemplary leader, mentor, volunteer, and friend to many in Alamance County.
This honoree is married to her husband Bill and they have four children, nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and dog, Domino. It is evident that they are very active members of Macedonia Church. Connie enjoys cooking, reading, family game nights, and all kinds of puzzles. She is especially enjoying experiencing retired life with Bill. Her favorite quote: “We cannot all do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa
