Meet Our New Mayor!
Mrs. Pritchett was sworn into office at the Lake Lure Town Council Meeting on Wednesday, 8/13/19. The following is her resume.
Mayor Carol Pritchett
A Personal Connection to Lake Lure
In 2011, I moved from Houston, Texas, to Lake Lure with my husband, Joseph Pritchett. We wanted to be closer to our sons and their families, who were then living in the Southeast. We searched diligently for the perfect gathering place for our family and were rewarded when we discovered breathtaking Lake Lure.
We built our home on the lake, and the life we have created here has surpassed every expectation. Lake Lure quickly became not simply a place where we lived, but the gathering place we had envisioned for our family and a community we deeply value.
EDUCATION
Master in business administration (MBA)
University of Dallas
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry and Microbiology
Louisiana State University
EXECUTIVE & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Executive Vice President of Operations — National Healthcare Organizations
17 years of executive leadership experience with two multimillion-dollar national healthcare companies.
Experienced and successful executive leader with responsibility for complex, multi-state healthcare operations and a proven record of integrating a strong clinical and scientific background with corporate business leadership. Areas of expertise include:
- Profit & Loss (P&L) management
- Budgeting and financial oversight
- Acquisitions and integration
- Census development
- Operational performance
- Productivity improvement
- Profitability enhancement
- State and federal regulatory compliance
- Multi-state healthcare operations
By integrating my clinical background with corporate business leadership, I increased operational performance, productivity, and profitability while navigating complex regulatory and financial environments.
Founder, Coulter Consulting — 2014–Present
Founded Coulter Consulting in 2014 to provide multi-state operational and financial support to medical practices and healthcare companies.
Adjunct Professor — University of Dallas, MBA Program
Served as an adjunct professor in the University of Dallas MBA program, bringing practical executive and business leadership experience into the classroom.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP & PARTNERSHIPS
Lake Lure Classical Academy School Board
2014–2016
Isothermal Foundation Board
2020–Present
Foothills Regional Commission Board
2021–Present
Foothills RPO Transportation Area Commission
2021–Present
American Flood Coalition — WNC Partnership
2024–Present
The Hunt Institute — Fellow
2026–Present
Founded by former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt
POST-HURRICANE HELENE COUNTY, STATE & FEDERAL LEADERSHIP
Leading Lake Lure’s Recovery and Rebuilding Effort
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, it became immediately apparent that Lake Lure would need to pursue every possible source of funding and assistance to reclaim and restore the lake—the heart and soul of our community—and rebuild critically damaged infrastructure so that our community could continue to live, work, and thrive here.
Through immediate and sustained daily meetings with FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) over several months, we worked to secure FEMA Direct Assistance for the removal of sedimentation and debris from the lake. This extraordinary effort ultimately contributed to the reopening of Lake Lure in the spring, restoring the lake for residents, visitors, businesses, and future generations.
The overall recovery and restoration effort represented an undertaking costing more than several hundred million dollars.
Federal & State Advocacy
I, along with other commissioners, made numerous trips to Washington, D.C., and Raleigh, North Carolina, to meet directly with federal and state elected officials, FEMA department heads, and other federal and state agencies.
These efforts focused on securing support for Lake Lure's recovery, communicating our community's urgent needs, and ensuring that Lake Lure remained visible at the federal and state levels throughout the recovery process.
All of these trips were made at no expense to the Town.
Regional & National Recovery Leadership
As a result of Lake Lure's recovery experience, I have been asked—and continue to be asked—to speak about Lake Lure, our recovery, our continuing needs, and the resilience of our people.
Selected Speaking Engagements & Partnerships:
- WNC Partnership Meeting — Asheville, 2025
Met with federal and state elected officials while partnering with leadership from counties throughout Western North Carolina. - American Flood Coalition Meeting — November 2025
Speaker - Water Summit — Wilmington, North Carolina, 2025
Speaker; North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) / Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) - American Flood Coalition WNC Partnership Trip — Kerrville, Texas
Participated in the WNC Partnership delegation to offer Lake Lure's support and aid to victims of the Guadalupe River flood. - NCWorks Partnership Conference — Greensboro, October 2025
Speaker - Disaster Recovery, Rebuilding, and Resilience Conference — Asheville, October 2026
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