Esther graduated from Youngstown State University in Ohio in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in international banking and finance, graduating with magna cum laude honors.

She joined the CCCS family in 2005 as the Education Counselor to provide counseling, seminars and interactive workshops on money matters, budgeting, credit and preparing for homeownership to members of our community. Her background in education, finance and mortgage lending has enhanced the Education Division's programs in financial literacy for CCCS. In 2006 she was promoted to the position of Community Education and Outreach Coordinator. In 2008, she was promoted to Counseling Services Manager. She is responsible for the supervision and coordination of all counseling services throughout the CCCS service area which stretches from Wilmington to Southern Pines and from New Bern to Smithfield and Sanford to Lumberton. She continues to provide meritorious instruction that enhances our role in Southeast North Carolina to positively impact the financial well-being of members of our communities through financial literacy education.

Esther has obtained numerous certifications while at CCCS, to include:

• NFCC Credit Counselor (2005)
• NCAHC Housing Counselor (2005 & 2007)
• NCHFA Reverse Mortgage Counselor (2005)
• HUD Home Mortgage Foreclosure Mitigation Specialist (2005)
• IRS Volunteer Income Tax (VITA) Program Certification (2006 & 2007)
• HUD Advanced Foreclosure Prevention (2007)
• NCHFA Advanced Reverse Mortgage Training (2007)

The CCCS Education Division under Esther's guidance has expanded our ability to provide a variety of programs to community organizations, churches, schools, and military units on all aspects of personal finance. Interactive workshops include money management, understanding credit basics and how to reestablish credit, personal financial management (pre-discharge from bankruptcy course), how to develop family spending plans, prevention of identity theft, banking basics, homeownership and reverse mortgage instruction. Homeownership programs include prepurchase and postpurchase counseling with emphasis on foreclosure prevention through establishing and following a stable family budget, to include developing savings for emergencies, large purchases and retirement planning.