Patricia Tyson joined Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Fayetteville (CCCS) as a Financial and Housing Counselor in 1987. During her tenure as a counselor, Ms. Tyson received her certification as a Credit Counselor through the National Foundation for Credit Counselors. Additionally, she received certification as a Housing Counselor through the National Federation of Housing Counselors and certification as a Reverse Mortgage and High Cost Loan Counselor through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency.

She was promoted to Director in 1997, and under her leadership, CCCS has grown to be the largest non-profit community consumer education and counseling service in eastern and southeastern North Carolina. CCCS currently has eleven branch offices providing comprehensive housing counseling; financial literacy education, and money management to over twenty-six counties, impacting the lives of more than fifty thousand members of our communities through counseling and education programs.

Prior to joining CCCS, Ms. Tyson taught psychology and sociology at Methodist University. In addition, Ms. Tyson worked as a clerk for House Representative Henry M. Tyson at the North Carolina Legislature.

Ms. Tyson currently serves in varying capacities on local non-profit boards. She is on the Governing Board of Work Force Development and is a member of the Fayetteville Technical Community College Banking and Finance Advisory Board. Additionally, Ms. Tyson is a Work First Committee Member for the Cumberland County Department of Social Services. Ms. Tyson is a past president of the Affordable Housing Coalition of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Ms. Tyson is also a grant reviewer for the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Ms. Tyson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Methodist University, a Master of Science in Management from Troy University, and attended Law School at Campbell University. In addition, Ms. Tyson was awarded a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and has completed the National Community Action Management Academy Course "Core Competencies of Community Action." Ms. Tyson has also attended the Institute of Real Estate Management and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Training Institute.

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.

Amy graduated from Fayetteville State University in North Carolina in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She was hired at CCCS of Fayetteville in 2002 as a financial counselor. Amy has obtained numerous certifications in this position to include:

• NFCC Credit Counselor (2003)
• NCAHC Housing Counselor (2004)
• HUD Reverse Mortgage Counselor (2004)
• HUD Home Mortgage Foreclosure Mitigation Specialist (2004)
• NCHFA Advanced Reverse Mortgage Training (2007)
• IRS Volunteer Income Tax (VITA) Program Certification

With these certifications, she has assisted customers with money management, credit counseling and education, homeownership education, mortgage default assistance, reverse mortgage counseling and education, and bankruptcy counseling. She has also been able to provide the community with workshops on the following topics: money management and credit, homeownership, and reverse mortgage.

Amy has been able to assist clients with identifying their options to avoid foreclosure by establishing a stable budget that supports a work out option through their mortgage company and by learning what options are available from their mortgage company. She has also been able to assist consumers to avoid foreclosure by obtaining loans that are more beneficial to their financial situation.

John graduated summa cum laude from Fayetteville State University in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

John joined the CCCS family in 2004 as the Client Representative. In 2006, he was promoted to Financial Counselor.

John has obtained numerous certifications in this position to include:

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

These certifications have allowed John to assist clients with money management, credit counseling and education, and bankruptcy counseling. He has also assisted with workshops on the following topics: money management and credit, homeownership, and reverse mortgage.

Marilyn graduated from North Carolina Central University with a bachelor's degree in sociology.

Marilyn has experience with group counseling and conducts workshops designed to education potential homebuyers on budgeting for homeownership; shopping for a home; how to pre-qualify themselves; how to obtain a mortgage; closing procedures; and maintaining the home after purchase. She is certified in the following:

• NCHFA Reverse Mortgage Counselor
• NCAHC Housing Counselor

Ms. Fields conducts one-on-one housing counseling sessions to include pre-purchase, mortgage default, and reverse mortgage counseling by identifying causal factors; establishing client budgets/cash flows; contacting lenders regarding cure options; counseling client on possible solution; preparing client paperwork for cure; conducts follow-up. Marilyn conducts pre-purchase counseling by establishing client budget/cash flows; projecting homeownership costs; credit review; and counseling on purchase costs, mortgages, and home buying information. She conducts reverse mortgage sessions ensuring the required information is covered and all questions are answered.

Mike graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. In 2006, Mike joined the CCCS family as a Financial Counselor for the Wilmington, NC Branch Office.

Mike's certifications include the following:

• NFCC Credit Counselor (2006)
• NCHFA Reverse Mortgage Counselor (2007)
• AARP National Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (2007)

Mike has helped clients with money management, credit counseling and education, mortgage default assistance, bankruptcy counseling, and reverse mortgage counseling. He has provided the community with workshops on budgeting, credit repair, constructive vs. destructive debt, and human relationships. Customers have learned budgeting skills, proper use of credit, setting priorities for payment of debt, and how to interpret credit reports. Mike is active in the community through the Chamber of Commerce, media interviews, and visiting businesses to present the programs offered by Consumer Credit Counseling Service.

Rosey graduated from Oakwood College, Huntsville, AL in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in finance and marketing.

Rosey joined CCCS in 2006. While in her position, she has received the following certifications:

• NFCC Credit Counselor (2006)
• NCAHC Housing Counseling Certification
• NCHFA Reverse Mortgage Counselor

These certifications have allowed Rosey to assist clients with money management, credit counseling and education, homeownership education, mortgage default assistance, and bankruptcy counseling. She has also been able to provide the community with workshops on the following topics: money management and credit, and homeownership. Customer have benefited from this service by improving their budgeting skills, knowledge of credit, ability to repay debt, purchase homes, and save homes from foreclosure.

Cynthia Williams has been with CCCS since December 2008. As the Community Education and Outreach Coordinator, Williams is responsible for maintaining a positive CCCS image in the community in addition to providing education opportunities for members of the community to learn more about CCCS services. Williams also serves as the site coordinator for the organization’s VITA tax site program. Located in the Green Street office in Fayetteville, Williams spends the majority of her time at events in the community that promote financial health and understanding.

Williams comes to CCCS with an extensive 25 years of experience in accounting and finance. Though the bulk of her experience is primarily in the real estate and construction industry, Williams has served in a number of capacities that give her expertise in the financial sector. Most recently, Williams was the Senior Disbursement Officer at Single Source Real Estate in Fayetteville. Williams has additionally held positions in Georgia, Alabama, and Texas throughout her career.

Williams notes that this position is a definite career change for her, but one that is proving rewarding and valuable to her personally and professionally. Williams brings her specific expertise in housing, money management, and tax preparation to the CCCS family where her knowledge will help the clients served.