Paralegal Debbie Miller, who has been with GUC for two and a half years, says she got into the legal field while living in New Jersey. She worked in an attorney's office there for 13 years before deciding to move back home to North Carolina in 2011.

Her first legal job in North Carolina was with Dixon Law Group in Greenville where she assisted our Commission Attorney Phil Dixon, primarily with his GUC responsibilities. When Phil was hired at GUC as General Counsel in 2015, Debbie made the move as well. "I applied for the position at GUC and was thrilled when they offered me the job."

As the Paralegal, Debbie is responsible for assisting Phil in day-to-day responsibilities that include title searches, preparation and review of miscellaneous legal documents, legal research, and standard clerical duties.

"We handle a wide variety of issues and have increasing levels of responsibility," she said. "This enhances my skills in my current position." In addition, Debbie also assists our Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data Services team with managing recorded easement documents, is the Recording Secretary for the Corporate Safety Initiative Steering Committee, and is a Lighthouse Observer. While she loves the challenges and the room to learn and grow, she says she also loves all of the smiling faces that she sees at GUC.

Debbie graduated from West Craven High School in 1986 and later attended what used to be Middle Georgia Technical Institute in Warner Robins, GA, studying Information and Office Technology.  Upon graduation in 1997, she was awarded membership in the National Vocational Technical Honor Society, which was the highest scholastic honor awarded for excellence in workforce education in America at that time. 

Debbie comes from a military family, with her dad being a retired Captain from the U.S. Marine Corps. She was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, and although she moved around a lot as a child, she was mostly raised in Havelock, where she graduated from high school. "Many military kids don't like moving around, but I honestly did," she said. "It helped me grow."

Debbie is one of four kids in her family. Her brother, Gary, is a Captain in the U.S. Army and is stationed in Texas. She also has two sisters, Connie and Cherie. Connie lives in Vanceboro and is retired from the Air Force. Cherie passed away five years ago at the age of 45, shortly after retiring from the Army. "Cherie and I had a special bond," Debbie said. "Our mom used to dress us as twins growing up even though we were a year and a half apart."

Debbie also has a son, Jeremy, who is a firefighter with the New Bern Fire Department. Between his shifts at the fire department and plumbing jobs on the side, it's hard for Debbie to get together with Jeremy's family. "We all try to get together at least once per month," she said. "He may be 33 but he will always be my baby boy."

Jeremy has a baby daughter, Harleigh Lynn. "She's my chunky monkey," Debbie said. "Holding your child's child is one of the most rewarding moments ever." Debbie was close with her grandparents on both sides and she hopes that she and her granddaughter have the same closeness. Mostly, she is excited for the day Harleigh Lynn can say "Nana."

Debbie and her boyfriend of six years, Anthony, love spending time together. They went to the same high school and then reconnected on Facebook eight years ago. "On our first date, we both agreed that we did not want to be in a relationship," she said. "That was six years ago."

Debbie and Anthony enjoy trips to the mountains in the fall and vacationing in Myrtle Beach or Ocracoke Island in the spring. When she's not travelling with Anthony, Debbie enjoys cooking, gardening, home remodeling, refinishing furniture, shopping at Lowes, and driving the zero turn lawnmower around the yard with the yard sweeper.

Debbie's Favorites

Favorite Movies: "Pretty Woman" & "The Shack"

Favorite Snack: Chips, Guacamole & Salsa

Favorite Color: Sky Blue

Favorite Vacation: Mountains of North Carolina