This week I would like to recognize my dear friend, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. I will always remember when she swore me in as the first Asian American elected in North Carolina and on the Morrisville Council. In 2019, I had the honor of representing North Carolina with her at the Global Bengal Business Summit in Kolkata, India at the invitation of NC Delegation Chair and Padma Bhushan, Swadesh Chatterjee.

In 1996, Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall became the first woman ever elected to a statewide, executive branch office in North Carolina.

Secretary Marshall was a member of the NC State Senate before rising to statewide office. She holds a B.S. in Home Economics from the University of Maryland and a law degree from Campbell University. She has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Campbell University, Lees-McRae College, Meredith College and the Republic of Moldova Testemitanu State University of Medicine.

Her work experiences include teaching Home Economics in the public school and community college systems, co-ownership of a book and gift store, establishing an interior decorating business and the private practice of law.

Secretary Marshall has been very active in many civic groups in the areas of child welfare, women’s issues, and agriculture and small town economic development.

Since becoming Secretary of State, she has received numerous state and national awards for leadership in technology, government innovation, and women’s leadership.

I want to thank Elaine Marshall for being a great friend, mentor, a trailblazer, and most importantly, a magnificent leader for the State of North Carolina!