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Faces of Jackson County: Dr. Emily Howell

Meet Dr. Emily Howell! Dr. Howell is a wife, mother, and entrepreneur. She moved to Jefferson about 12 years ago to start her adult life and business. She is well known in the Jefferson community through her business, Howell Orthodontics, and through her involvement with many different organizations like her church and Rotary Club.
We would like to thank Dr. Emily Howell for sitting down with FBLA members and JHS students, Sadie Wilson and Katie Ronci for this interview.

Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: “That’s an easy one, actually! My orthodontist. When I was about 14 years old, I finally got braces. I had a huge gap between my front two teeth and a tooth that was impacted, stuck up near my nose. He performed a sheer miracle on my mouth when he closed the gap and a surgeon helped to uncover and bring the tooth that was stuck into place. I was not only amazed at how my teeth were looking better, but how my confidence and self-esteem grew. I talked to him about his career and he allowed me to shadow him and see it from a different perspective which I enjoyed. He proceeded to tell it would take 10 ½ years beyond high school to complete my degree. I about died, but the more I worked with him, the more I realized it was worth it and I could do this. I had four years of college and then four years of dental school and then two and a half years of residency, all in Georgia at The University of Georgia and then the Medical College of Georgia, which was nice. So, that’s who inspired me.”

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Jackson County, and what do you love there?
A: “My favorite restaurant in Jackson County would be the Roman Oven in Braselton. I love Italian and it’s authentic Italian and just really, really good. My kids love it, too!”

Q: What modern convenience would you want if you were stuck on a deserted island?
A: “I would probably just want my phone because it has everything. I love music, so I would want a Pandora or Amazon music app.”

Q: Who was your favorite teacher growing up?
A: “I had a lot of favorite teachers growing up so I’m trying to think how I pinpoint my favorite! WOW, there have been a lot of teachers! You know what, even beyond the most current teachers I’ve had there is one that still inspires me today. That is Dr. Van Haywood. He was a teacher I had as an adult and the reason he inspired me was because he was such a strong Christian and he wasn’t scared to share his faith at all. He believed in us so much and inspired us, it was cool! He even led a Wednesday morning huddle for students who wanted to come and just hear about the Lord and sing together. His son actually ended up being in a band that became famous, Lady Antebellum! I still keep in touch with him, even though he goes to the Grammy’s and all that now!”

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Jackson County?
A: “I have lived here for 12 years and I’ve been practicing here for about 11 and a half years.”

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in Jackson County and why?
A: “In all of Jackson County, it would have to be Martha Martin. That’s an easy one! Martha Martin, she is intriguing to me because she is all in to her community! She always has tickets on her, always selling tickets to something for a fundraiser in Jackson County. She is so sweet, so encouraging, has a great business, but is so inspiring and wanting others to gain the same spirit, the same community spirit that she has. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know her.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “I would probably go to Scotland because I have family roots that go back to there and I hear it’s a beautiful place.”

Q: What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “Probably ‘E.T.’ I’m old!”

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “To not forget who made you and who created you. The Lord has a purpose for each and every one of us and to cling to the Lord in times of trouble because He’s there waiting to help you.”

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “To go to Scotland, like we talked about. I guess…that’s a tough one…we’ll just say travel!

Q: What is your favorite music/ three bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “Need to Breathe, Rolling Stones, and Chris Stapleton.”

Q: What local business makes you the most nostalgic about Jackson County and why?
A: “I haven’t lived here my whole life, so that’s a hard one. This is a business and I’ve been a part of it and I’ve loved it, and that would be the Chamber of Commerce because they encompass all the businesses and they really do promote Jackson County. I’ve served on their board years ago and I’m still an active member of the Women in Business. I just love that they embrace community.”

Q: Choosing anyone (past or present and a non-relative), with whom would you love to have lunch? And where locally would you have this lunch?
A: “I would give anything to have my grandmother back. To just have lunch with her and we would go anywhere! I love Kay’s Vintage Pantry so maybe I would take her there. She was an inspiration to me in many, many ways.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about Jackson County?
A: “That it’s small enough to know a lot of people and have that sense of community and feel like everybody is looking out for each other. You can go places in town and see each other. Some people don’t like going to Kroger and seeing everyone you know, but I like that…I like being able to see people. I’m a people person! But I also like that we’re in an area of growth and development and we have a few things within reach that we can drive to and still feel like we’re in an up and coming area.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “Right here! We’ve invested in this community and we want to be right here. I love where I work and I love what I do. My children are a little bit involved, but they are only 4 and 7 so I see them getting more and more involved in sports and extracurricular activities. It’s going to be fun to see what all they get involved in. There’s just so much to pick from now and all that they’ve expanded to…soccer, swim, the STEAM center, the arts and I could see them being in plays, but just enjoying life and broaden their horizons.”

Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I’m an open book, so they know a lot about me actually, but a lot of people are surprised to hear that I was an only child. That’s kind of a boring fact, ha, ha, but I don’t know that there is anything super surprising about me! I don’t have a lot of secrets!”

Q: What three words mean “Home” to you?
A: “The Lord, My Family, and Heaven because that’s my eternal home.”

Jill Venable-Abernathy with the Abernathy Cochran Groupwould love your Faces nominations.

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