Christine Holmes is College’s 2010 Distinguished Alumnus
Holmes knows that insurance is one way to manage the uncertainty of the future. With more than 15 years of experience in Ernst & Young’s insurance division, she relocated to The Netherlands in 2008 as a global coordinating partner specializing in accounting services for the insurance industry.
She provides services to a variety of companies, including property/casualty, life/health, captive insurance companies and managed care organizations, and has worked with the Security and Exchange Commission to provide registration statements and due diligence for clients involved in merger and acquisition.
Holmes also has completed audits under the International Financial Reporting Standards and the Financial Accounting Standards for clients such as Jefferson Pilot Financial, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and South Carolina, Assurant Group and the departments of insurance of Georgia, North Carolina and Nebraska. Holmes is frequent speaker at conferences and training courses, where she is recognized as an expert on national and international accounting standards for the insurance industry.
She has also been a friend of the college. In 2006, she joined the Department of Accounting’s annual banquet to recognize Dr. Lorraine Wright for her contributions to the department, and in 2001, she pledged a financial gift to establish the Holmes MAC Scholarship. And this year, she was meeting with accounting students in the virtual world of Second Life to talk about international accounting.
Her international assignment kept her from attending the NC State Alumni Association’s 2010 Evening of Stars celebration in Raleigh, N.C., but Holmes was represented by her sister and brother-in-law Wendy and Fred Douglas. Wendy Douglas presented her sister’s acceptance speech, as follows.
Acceptance Speech
First I must thank my sister, Wendy Douglas – a College of Management Executive Masters Program Alumnae from 2001, and my brother-in-law, Fred Douglas – an enthusiastic Wolfpack supporter all his life, for graciously agreeing to represent me tonight. Although I am thoroughly disappointed that I could not be here to accept this award in person, Wendy is a most fitting alternative since she was an influence in my choice to study accounting. While she only briefly considered accounting for her own studies, her interest sparked my curiosity and led to a very fulfilling and challenging career with Ernst & Young LLP.
However, I have jumped ahead. To prepare for my professional career, I received more than just an outstanding educational foundation from the College of Management. The professors and staff provided counseling, encouragement, and most importantly, job placement support that allowed me to graduate and secure my position with Ernst & Young.
Since graduation, the college has allowed me to continue to be involved with the program and its students through occasional guest lecturing. For these reasons, I am eternally grateful to the college and humbly honored to be a “star”. Thank you for this award and congratulations to all the “shining stars” this evening.
