I was raised in Smithfield, North Carolina, where my first job, at age 13, was hanging tobacco. I earned my undergraduate degree and teaching certificate from UNC-Chapel Hill and taught middle school history between 1985 and 1988, during which time I also served as a football and tennis coach, and as advisor to the school quiz bowl team and the school newspaper.

I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 1989 and recently left the North Carolina Industrial Commission as a Deputy Commissioner after ten years of service. While at the Industrial Commission, I presided over workers’ compensation trials throughout the state, issuing over 600 opinions and awards. Between 1994 and 1997 I supervised the Industrial Commission’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit, and later managed its Claims Administration Department.

Prior to joining the NCIC, I was a Criminal Prosecutor for the 9th Judicial District from 1991 to 1994. In 1990, I was a Criminal Prosecutor for the 11th Judicial District, successfully prosecuting many DWI, burglary, sexual assault and murder cases. During the election for the North Carolina state Senate seat representing the new seventh district in 2004, which encompasses Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties, I won with 56% of the popular vote.

As the newest member of the Workers’ Compensation team, I will be concentrating my practice on Workers’ Compensation litigation and dispute resolution. I may serve as a mediator in your workers’ compensation case if there is a dispute about the compensation to which you may be entitled for an injury suffered while on the job.