Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Heather was born in Ft. Dix, New Jersey, where her father was stationed in the United States Army.  She moved to Buncombe County when she was four years old. Her father was a physician in the emergency room at Mission Hospital, and her mother was a first-grade teacher at Fairview Elementary School. 

Heather is a graduate of A.C. Reynolds High School and Duke University, and an honors graduate of The George Washington Law School, where she served as Senior Articles Editor on The George Washington Law Review and on the Moot Court Board. Following graduation, Heather worked for The Honorable Welton Curtis Sewell, United States Magistrate Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. She later joined the Washington, DC office of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, working on complex commercial and employment litigation cases. 

In 1999, Heather returned to Asheville and associated with McGuire, Wood & Bissette, P.A. She represented clients in a wide range of civil litigation matters in state and federal court including contracts, fraud, unfair trade practices, trademark infringement, negligence, real property, estates, insurance, banking, employment, and construction law. 

Since 2003, Heather has served as the Executive Director of the Asheville Jewish Community Center, a $2 Million nonprofit organization serving over 2,000 households annually and employing 45-80 staff members seasonally.  She is responsible for coordinating policymaking and compliance on all business-legal issues including wage and hour, employee benefits, occupational safety and health, records retention, financial reporting and transparency, and corporate governance.

Heather's volunteer affiliations include Safe Schools for All, The Center for Diversity Education, Asheville Community Theatre, Asheville's Affiliates, The Junior League, and The Junior Miss Scholarship Program.  

I look for opportunities to do thoughtful and meaningful work that will benefit our community.  As an attorney in private practice, I was the first Buncombe County attorney to win the North Carolina Bar Association's Younger Lawyer Pro Bono Service Award. As the Director of the Jewish Community Center, I have worked to improve, expand, or establish programs in early childhood education, afterschool, summer day camp, eldercare, counseling, employment coaching, and other social services.  As a community volunteer, I have tried to eliminate bullying in our schools, raise awareness of community mental health issues, foster understanding between and among individuals, and raise funds to support human services and the arts.    

Judges are given an extraordinary opportunity to have a positive impact in their communities, and to do this they must meet the highest standards of excellence in legal knowledge, integrity, and community leadership. My academic, professional, and personal accomplishments demonstrate my fitness to fulfill these expectations.

My legal background demonstrates excellence in the knowledge and application of the law, and strong analytic and communication skills. My management background shows an ability to quickly and competently resolve complex questions or issues, including allocation of limited resources; consequences for actions; or policy interpretation. 

I have always endeavored to conduct myself with sincerity in my personal  and professional life. I make decisions consistent with my values and character, I thoughtfully apply precedent to the resolution of a wide variety of issues, and I keep promises.

Finally, as a leader I work effectively with a large number of staff, volunteers, and colleagues. I respect the contributions of each team member; deal fairly and openly with everyone; resolve conflicts; and demand accountability.

Thank you for considering my candidacy. Please learn more about me at www.heatherforsuperiorcourtjudge.com.