Meet Albemarle Area United Way’s newest Board Director – OBX Today

Meet Albemarle Area United Way’s newest Board Director - OBX Today
Melissa Verkuilen, Albemarle Area United Way’s newest Board Director. [Submitted]

Albemarle Area United Way is thrilled to announce their newest Board Director, Melissa Verkuilen. Recently elected, Verkuilen will be making a difference by joining the ranks of other community leaders with the goal of helping people reach their full potential in the Albemarle area.

Melissa will bring a diverse set of skills to Albemarle Area United Way. Please join Albemarle Area United Way in congratulating and thanking Verkuilen, who offered the following verbiage:

I am the CFO/HRO for a government contractor in Elizabeth City since 2019. I have worked as a Payroll Administrator, Human Resources Manager and in various Accounting departments for almost 35 years. I’ve had my Professional Human Resource (PHR) designation since 2007 and became a Notary Public for the State of North Carolina in 2022.

I’m a New Englander living in the South! I was born and raised in Boston and Kennebunk and escaped the snowy winters by moving to Virginia Beach 25 years ago. I live in Northampton County at Lake Gaston. Being on, in or around the water is a requirement for me to live my best life. I’m a mom to one son who lives in Elizabeth City and is a contractor for the Coast Guard. I’m a dog mom as well as a cat mom of 4. I also foster animals (mostly kittens and senior dogs) from local shelters for the past 8 years.

I love to knit and sew as well as any project around my home or my son’s. This includes painting, organizing, repurposing, woodworking, and planting pollinator & vegetable gardens. I volunteer for different organizations through the Lake Gaston Ladies Club by driving residents who can’t or are unable to drive to doctor appointments or grocery shopping, notarize documents for ramps to be built at homes for easier access, and I enjoy being the “event coordinator” or “social butterfly” various groups.