Ellen was born and raised on a tobacco farm in Greensboro. Her first career, spanning 21 years, was in retail management where she lived in lots of places in the USA and Europe. In 2001, returning to her roots, Ellen and her husband purchased a 45 acre farm in northeast Stokes County and then in 2002 joined Carolina Farms & Homes as a Broker. In 2004, Ellen became a partner in the business. She is the Broker-in-Charge of the Pilot Mountain office. Ellen is licensed in North Carolina and Virginia. She is a member of the Realtor Land Institute and has earned her designation as an Accredited Land Consultant; she serves on the Executive Board of the Surry County Board of Realtors. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Stokes County Arts Council in Danbury.