Ballantyne Magazine covers news, events, real estate, restaurants, shopping, health, schools and business in the upscale Ballantyne Area of Charlotte, NC.
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BALLANTYNE | family sset BALLANTYNE family assets The O'Keefe Family Amy O'Keefe is one of those female dynamos who thrives on living life to the fullest. In addition to mothering her young daughter, O'Keefe serves as a regional manager for Excelsior Benefits, a national insurance intermediary that designs and implements benefit plans for group clients. For most women, those two responsibilities would be enough. But not O'Keefe, who also sits on the board of the Morrison Family YMCA, and co-owns Dolcetto's Wine Room in the Piedmont Towne Center near SouthPark. Oh — and just for fun, she's taking lessons at the Dana Rader Golf School. Amy O'Keefe is one of those female dynamos who thrives on living life to the fullest. THE O'KEEFE FAMILY 68 BALLANTYNE MAGAZINE CELEBRATING TEN YEARS 2000-2010 O'Keefe's determination to push herself to the max began in high school, when she implored her parents to obtain her working papers at 15 so she could lifeguard at the Harris YMCA. "By the age of 17, I was teaching swim lessons and helping manage the pool," she says. Her involvement on the Morrison Y board came about through insurance contacts with board members Mike Thompson and Bill Jackson. "I rely on this community for my income, so what a great way to give back," she says. "To see the way the Y changes lives is gratifying." When it comes to building financial security, O'Keefe's habits date to childhood when family members gave savings bonds at birthdays or holidays. She has already begun a college savings fund for her daughter. "Education is critical because it lays the groundwork for the rest of your life," she stresses. "When you work, trusting and deciding who will have the most impact on your child throughout the day is infinitely important." Even though her daughter isn't FALL 2010