Active Spotlight Alyssa Bowker

By: Hayden Pigott

Hometown: Hope Mills, NC

Job: Audit Director, Ally Bank and CEO and Accountant, Wildcat Contractors Inc.

How long have you lived in Charlotte? Six years

Tell us a little bit about yourself. I met my husband, Kyle, at an NC State tailgate while I was in undergrad. We’re both alumni and huge fans of the Wolfpack!

We have two cats (Arnold and Amelia) and a border collie/Aussie mix (Jacqueline), all adopted from Carolina Pet Adoption and Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.) rescue. We also foster cats/kittens through CPAWS. We’re a rotating petting zoo! My current foster kitten was found at only a week-and-a-half old and requires bottle feeding; you can follow my IG stories to watch his growth (@a.s.bowker).

I’m a big girls-girl and love hanging out with my gal pals. I play in a Sunday Funday ladies’ golf league where we dress in theme and kick off our rounds with jello shots. I also took up tennis during the pandemic — mostly for the cute outfits!

When it gets cold out, I trade the cute skirts for my snowboard and hit the slopes — but usually, just the blue designated hills (easy with slope gradients between 25% and 45%) as I’m naturally pretty risk averse (I am an auditor, after all). As you can see, I like to stay busy! I’ll sleep when I’m dead, as they say.

Tell us what inspired you to join the JLC.

Growing up, my mom was very involved in philanthropy and took my sister and me along with her. The Junior League feels like a post-grad sorority with a mix of volunteer and social events. Joining the Junior League just felt like the obvious next step after college.

What roles have you held throughout your time in the League and what was your favorite?

I’ve been in a number of placements and positions, including Service Saturday Chair, Done in a Day Chair and I’m currently Risk Manager. I really enjoyed my time as Service Saturday Chair. It was a special task force in 2019–2020 that united the Provisionals, Actives and Sustainers. It was a great experience getting to connect with so many membership categories of the League.

What skills have you learned in your time in the JLC and how have you leveraged them outside the League?

So many skills! I’ve been in the Junior League since 2013 when I began in the Raleigh League. The League has taught me about the need to stay organized and structured when possible. Templates and lists are your friends! These tools help manage the chaos, make it easier to delegate and help me to be more efficient with my time. I use these tools at work and in my personal life where applicable.

Tell us your favorite JLC experience or memory.

This is super nerdy, but I really love the training that the JLC provides. My favorite was about Enneagrams and how to flex or use personality traits to your benefit. The training instructor was really knowledgeable and the topic was so fun and interesting.

What is the best advice you’ve received from a JLC member?

Another tough question, as I’ve received so much great advice! Someone told me that others will be happy to get involved if you just ask them. I often feel like I’m imposing on others or they won’t be interested, so I have to consciously implement this advice.

What is your ideal day in Charlotte?

My ideal day starts with a lazy morning cuddling with my pets and foster kitties. Then I’ll get in a morning round of golf or tennis and lunch. I’m a homebody and love hosting, so I would have the girls over for a pool day and drinks in the afternoon. The day would end with a nice little date night with my husband, followed by a movie at home and cuddling with the pets to round out the day.