Deborah’s family hails from New Orleans, LA, but she was born in Virginia. She holds B.S. (mathematics/statistics) and MBA degrees from the University of Alabama, and a Ph.D. in strategic management/international business from the University of South Carolina.

Her industry experience was quite diverse...banking, telecommunications, computer consulting, shipbuilding, and government contracting. As evidence of the merger mania, none of the companies she worked for bear their original names. Occupations were also very diverse including industrial engineer on nuclear submarines, systems analyst, payroll supervisor, and finance manager. She has established or helped to establish new departments and companies within existing companies and has negotiated contracts with subcontractors and the U.S. government. Deborah is a firm believer in “win win” negotiations.

Feeling the need for a major career change and a desire to help others realize their goals, Deborah left industry, obtained her Ph.D. and taught college for several years. During this time period, she was selected as a Malone Fellow in Arab/Islamic Studies (traveling to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain for 3 weeks) and was the only academic selected to attend the 2000 Air Force War College Symposium. There have been other awards over the years, but the one that touches her most is the Golden Apple Award from Jacksonville State University's student government. Many of her students, both American and international, have kept in touch with her.

Currently, she changed careers again and is presently working as a Realtor in Asheville, NC and teaching in an online MBA program.

A lover of the outdoors, Deborah enjoys several activities and has taught sailing in South Carolina and snow skiing in Colorado. She shares her home with three cats or it may be more accurate to say they allow her to live with them.