Rebekah (LaMoreaux) Carroll ’08: Balancing Life, Business, and Community Impact

 

When Rebekah (LaMoreaux) Carroll ’08 first chose SUNY Corning Community College, she was in a phase of life that few traditional students experience. Juggling the demands of motherhood, running two home-based businesses, and seeking a fresh start, Rebekah needed a college that would offer flexibility and support. “I was considered a ‘mature’ student,” she recalls. “I needed a hybrid model and the flexibility to balance my busy life.” CCC’s hybrid learning environment—offering a blend of in-person and online courses—proved to be the perfect fit.

But more than just flexibility, Rebekah found something even more valuable at CCC: a sense of community. "I chose CCC because it was important to me to attend a college where I was a name, a face, and a person to the faculty. I didn’t want to be just another statistic.” This personal touch made a lasting impact, fostering an environment where Rebekah felt seen and supported as she embarked on a new chapter in her life.

Some of Rebekah’s fondest memories from her time at CCC involve the professors and courses that helped shape her future career. “I thoroughly enjoyed my online accounting classes with Pete Bacalles. He was an incredible professor, and I still miss learning from him,” she shares. While much of her experience was online, her few in-person moments stand out vividly, from dissecting frogs in biology lab to spiking the volleyball over the net in PE class. Yet, it was walking across the stage at graduation that remains her most cherished memory. “The pride and accomplishment I felt when my name was called during the ceremony was overwhelming. As a young adult who had made some poor life choices, I finally felt like my life was back on course.”

Rebekah could not have predicted the doors that would open for her after earning her degree. Within months of graduation, she found herself interviewing for the role of Executive Director at the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce. "No one was more surprised than I was to be selected for that position," Rebekah admits. But over the next eleven years, she made her mark on the organization. Under her leadership, the Chamber grew significantly—membership increased by 65%, revenues by 95%, and financial reserves were rebuilt.

During her tenure, Rebekah was at the forefront of many exciting projects. She led a major renovation and relocation of the Chamber’s offices and the Schuyler County Visitor Center, and even helped open a second visitor center at Watkins Glen State Park that received the New York State Tourism Industry Association’s Customer Service Award in its first year. She spearheaded the creation of programs like iLead: The Base for Workplace Success, the SPARK Regional Leadership Summit, and the Harvest Schuyler Program, all while cutting ribbons for more than 100 new businesses in the region. “I taught many leadership classes, gave more speeches than I can count, and created professional ties that I know will last a lifetime,” she recalls fondly. In addition to running the Chamber, she was actively involved in the community, serving on several boards, including Finger Lakes Wine Country and the Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED).

In 2020, however, Rebekah made the difficult decision to step down from her role at the Chamber and follow her true passion—accounting. That same year, she launched Statements Accounting & Consulting LLC. What she envisioned as a small home-based business quickly grew beyond her expectations. Within four years, Statements relocated twice, expanded to include six employees, and now serves over fifty-eight businesses. In addition to running Statements, Rebekah offers consulting services, contract CFO roles, and teaches collegiate-level trainings on leadership, budgeting, and financial excellence. “It makes me smile every time I get to teach a class at CCC,” she says.

But Rebekah’s entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t stop there. Alongside her husband, Rick, she founded R&R Enterprises, a short-term rental business. And now, she’s working toward the launch of a nonprofit organization that will provide free startup, accounting, and consulting services to new businesses during their critical early years. “I’m excited about this new venture,” she says. “It’s an opportunity to give back and support other entrepreneurs at the start of their journeys.”

Rebekah credits much of her success to the education and experiences she gained at CCC. “In my past role as Executive Director at the Chamber, I wouldn’t have been considered for the position without a college degree. Now, as the owner of two businesses, I believe that between my education, my experience, and my skill set, the sky is the limit.”

Her advice to anyone considering SUNY Corning Community College? “DON’T GIVE UP! It’s never too late to pursue a dream, discover confidence in yourself, or make a life change. Every successful journey begins with one step at a time.”

Today, Rebekah continues to call the Finger Lakes Region home, where she lives with her husband and their youngest daughter, Ruby. Their six older children are out of the house, pursuing their own dreams, and having grandbabies.  

From starting her education at CCC as a non-traditional student to building a thriving accounting firm and giving back to the community, Rebekah Carroll’s story is one of resilience, passion, and the belief that it’s never too late to rewrite your path.