CELESTE COLLINS, celestec@cccsofwnc.org
Executive Director
Celeste began her employment with CCCS in November 1993 as the Director of Education
and Marketing. She joined CCCS after a ten-year career in banking with First Union
National Bank. During her banking career Celeste spent 5 years as a branch manager,
responsible for consumer loan and mortgage production. Her last position with First Union
was Vice President, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager for the bankâs 88-branches in
western NC. Celeste holds a BS in Business Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Celeste
was certified by National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) in 1996, and received
her Advanced Housing Counselor Certification from North Carolina Association of Housing
Counselors (NCAHC) in May 1997. In her time with CCCS, Celeste has created and presented
many of the agency's education workshops. Celeste is a board member of the Affordable
Housing Coalition of Henderson County and the NC Association of Housing Counselors.
Celeste
enjoys spending time with her husband and children, reading, writing, and investing time
in church and community activities. She is a member of the First Baptist Church of
Asheville and Rotary Club of Asheville.
 GRACE HINES, graceh@cccsofwnc.org
Financial and Housing Counselor
Grace joined CCCS in March,
2006 as our first bilingual financial counselor. She is a long-time Asheville resident
with experience in consumer lending and one-on-one counseling. Grace recently completed
her Housing Counseling Certification.
VICTOR
MOORE , victorm@cccsofwnc.org
Certified Financial & Housing Counselor
Victor joined the CCCS family in November of 1998, after having working
for 10 years in the finance industry.
In 1999, he was certified by the North Carolina Association of Housing Counselors for
basic Housing Counseling. He also received the Advanced Housing Certification
(mortgage default), and the additional High Cost Loan Certification in 2000. Victor
was certified as a counselor by the National Foundation for Consumer Credit in October of
2000 and as a credit report review counselor in 2004. Victor manages the
Hendersonville, Cherokee, and Harrah's satellite offices.
Victor studied at the University of North Carolina in Asheville, majoring in accounting.
Victor enjoys bike racing, hiking, and eating good food.
 DAVE
WERLE, davew@cccsofwnc.org
Financial & Housing Counselor
Dave
joined CCCS as a financial counselor in January 2006.
He
is a candidate
for the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standard’s certification and is a HUD-Certified Reverse
Mortgage Counselor. Dave also is a Certified
Credit Report Review Counselor and has experience as a personal income tax preparer. Dave’s past work includes eight years of
marketing, training, and sales administration in the private sector plus economic
development planning, strategic planning and consulting in the non-profit sector. In addition to counseling in Asheville, Dave
manages the Brevard and Pisgah Forest satellite offices.
Dave holds a bachelors degree in economics and psychology from Vanderbilt University.
A resident of Asheville for the past 14 years, Dave enjoys spending time with his family,
hiking, fishing and camping and Chicago Cubs baseball.
 LAURIE KNOWLES, lauriek@cccsofwnc.org
Director of Education/Certified Financial & Housing Counselor
Laurie joined CCCS in March
1997. She received her National Foundation for Credit Counseling certification in
May 2002. She became a certified Basic/Advanced Housing Counselor in 2004 and
received her certification as a credit report review counselor. Laurie designs and
conducts the majority of the agency education programs throughout the region.
From 1978 to 1995, Laurie was the owner of a home-based word processing service. Prior to
that she managed her family's restaurant, The Alpine Lodge, from 1971 to 1978.
Her main interests are knitting, gardening, and reading.
CAROLYN MCCARTER-WOOD, carolynw@cccsofwnc.org
Financial Educator/Certified Financial & Housing Counselor
Carolyn is a native of Western North
Carolina, "born and raised" in Haywood County. Prior to joining CCCS, she was an
instructor at AB-Tech. She has worked for over fifteen years in education and human
services. She is currently in her final year of a Master of Social Work from UNC-CH.
Carolyn especially values working with people whose financial lives are complicated
by domestic violence, mental health issues, addictions, or organizational challenges.
 BECKY BROWN,
beckyb@cccsofwnc.org
Homebuyer Education and Saving Programs Manager
Becky joined CCCS in 2005 as our WNC Saves
Coordinator, helping promote savings, not debt. Recently promoted to program
manager, Becky is managing our new homebuyer education program and continuing to
coordinate savings initiatives. Becky is a graduate of the Peace Corp, where she served in
the Dominican Republic and is a proponent of simpler living.
LYNN HUGHES, lynnh@cccsofwnc.org
Director of Finance and Operations
Lynn is another native of Western North
Carolina. She joined our staff in November 2005. As Director of Finance and Operations,
Lynn is responsible for Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Human Resources,
and Financial Reporting. She was previously with Coca-Cola Bottling Company of WNC for 14
years and also a Credit Union Manager. She holds a Certificate of Credit Union Management
from the University of Georgia @ Athens. She holds an Associate Degree in Accounting from
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and a Bachelor in Business Administration
from Montreat College. She previously served on Consumer Credit Counseling Service of
WNC’s Board of Directors from 1992-1998. She was also Board President in 1997-1998
and has an impressive history as a human resources and financial professional. Lynn enjoys
spending time with her family and RV Camping.
 MARIS WILLIAMS, marisw@cccsofwnc.org
Office Manager
Maris joined CCCS in June of 2005 after
moving to Asheville from south Georgia. In addition to serving as our Office Manger, Maris
assists in event planning and public relations. She trained to pull and review credit
reports and became a Certified Consumer Interviewer by the Consumer Data Industry
Association in June of 2005.
Maris previously worked as the West
District Director for the State YMCA of Georgia, where she planned and coordinated
leadership conferences for thousands of 6th through 12th graders,
recruited and trained over 250 volunteers, and raised in excess of $200,000 for the Y-Club
program. From there Maris moved to the position of Human Resources Director for an
international chemical manufacturing company where she handled personnel operations for
300 employees and planned the company’s special events and international sales
conferences. Before coming to CCCS, she managed the enrollment and administration of
insurance policies for school systems at an independent insurance company in her hometown
of Metter, Georgia.
Maris is a graduate of Wesleyan College
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. She loves Duke Basketball, watching
& performing in plays & musicals, reading, spending time with her family &
friends and being a “cool aunt” to all their children.
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