Orange County NC Website
6 <br /> Page 1 of 3 Jeanette Benjey <br /> Volunteer Application <br /> Orange County Advisory Boards and Commissions <br /> Name: Mrs. Jeanette Benjey <br /> Name Called: <br /> Home Address: 708 Cloverfield Drive <br /> Hillsborough NC 27278 <br /> Phone: 919-308-5774 <br /> Email: jmbenjey@gmail.com <br /> Year of OC Residence: 2018 <br /> Township of Residence: Hillsborough <br /> Zone of Residence: Hillsborough ETJ <br /> Gender Identity: Female <br /> Ethnic Background: White <br /> Age Range: 60+ <br /> Community Activities/Organizational Memberships: <br /> Friends of the Orange Co. Library, Fellowship Board, United Church of Chapel Hill, <br /> Communications Coordinator, Greater Raleigh Alumnae Chapter of AGD <br /> Past Service on Orange County Advisory Boards: <br /> none <br /> Boards/Commissions applied for: <br /> Affordable Housing Advisory Board <br /> Please explain how your background, education and experience is relevant to this board <br /> I have a BA in Communications from Michigan State University. I owned my own advertising and <br /> graphic design business from 1977-2006. Although it is no longer an official LLC I still do graphic <br /> design work for several builders and real estate agents. I had a real estate license from 2000- <br /> 2022, worked for Keller Williams. I have designed and built two homes in the area working with <br /> engineers and architects. I also remodeled 3 homes, and owned 3 for rental investment. <br /> Please explain your reasons for wanting to serve on this board <br /> I feel availability of affordable housing is one of the most important needs in our community and <br /> really everywhere. Builders build homes/townhomes at a marketing point where they can make <br /> the most profit. Understandable. But this leaves a great percentage of the population unable to <br /> afford their own home, no matter how small. This seems in conflict with our American dream. I <br /> would like to work with people to share ideas on how we can build homes (getting land the hard <br /> part), for the average hard-working American family. The pride of owning your own home is <br /> important for every family. It is so grounding and gives such a feeling of belonging. You can fix it <br /> the way you want it, you can feel that you have an investment in the American dream. I think it <br /> gives people a reason to want to succeed in life. <br /> How would your particpation on this board contribute to the diversity of viewpoints? <br /> Not knowing anything about the current viewpoints, that is a bit hard to answer. But I may have <br /> some thoughts on ways to help build homes that are more affordable without sacrificing too <br /> much quality. I have a good sense of design, reading and fiddling with floor plans is one of my <br /> favorite hobbies. I think I can look at a design and make it efficient and accomplish practical <br />