When is the last time YOU had
somebody in the NC Senate
working for YOU? If YOU
struggle to come up with an
answer, it has been too long.
Join with me!
Ann Akland:
A champion for our families, communities,
and people with disabilities
Personal History
Ann is very proud of her Wake County heritage. She has deep roots in eastern
Wake County, with her ancestors being among the first families settling in
Knightdale in the late 1700s. Her family instilled in her strong traditional values
including honesty, integrity, hard work and a commitment to give back to the
community.
Ann’s early experiences taught her to stand up for what is right and just regardless
of the popularity of the issue. Her later experiences taught her how to turn
concerns into actions, achieving change.
Ann lives in Knightdale, NC with her
husband of 35 years, Gerry 
and their
three
poodles. Gerry and Ann have two adult
children, Kristen and Mark. Kristen is a
graphics and web designer, and Mark is
Construction Manager working in the family
business.
Ann is an Executive Coach and Consultant. In addition, she and her husband
started two small businesses, Akland Residential Properties, Inc. and Home
Makeover Wizards, Inc., of which she is a co-owner and operator. She is also a
retired federal employee. She has served on committees of
the Wake County Human Services Board for the past seven years. She has been
recognized as one of the most effective and vocal family advocate in Wake County during
the State’s reform efforts. For example, the outgoing Chair of the County
Commissioners recognized Ann for her accomplishments in his State-of-the
County address.
Ann was born and raised in Wake County. She grew up working on her family's tobacco farm in
Knightdale, attended Wake County schools, and graduated from Hardbarger’s Business
College. Her first job, other than working on the farm, was
driving a school bus for the Wake County School System.
The Wake County school system was integrated for the first time in 1966 when
Ann was a junior in high school. Ann has always championed equal rights for
everyone. She spent the summer after high school graduation working with the
federal program, “Project Head Start.” Ann’s next job was working for the NC
State Department of Revenue. After a year there, she took a job as a clerk typist
for the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Research Triangle
Park, NC. Through her strong work ethic, continuing to obtain additional
training, and skills at making things happen, she rose through the ranks at the
EPA. When she retired after 32 years of service, she was a member of the Senior
Executive Service and the Deputy Director of a national research laboratory. This
management experience (for example, a budget of $500 million during her last
year with EPA as the Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Management for
the Office of Research and Development) will be useful in assessing how to
increase the efficiency of how YOUR tax dollars are spent.
Through the years while still working, Ann went back to college part-time at
Duke University and later completed her undergraduate degree, earning a BS in
Business Administration from Barton College in Wilson, NC.