Debbie earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY.  After graduating, she moved to Philadelphia where she worked with a financial consultant editing and publishing a trade journal tracking initial public offerings of stock.

In 1981 she moved to Hilton Head to help her parents open a second branch of the family business, Forsythe Jewelers.  In the spring of 2000, Debbie bought out her parents, expanded and renovated the Sea Pines Center store, and added the top jewelry brands in America today, including Roberto Coin, David Yurman, and John Hardy.  During her tenure as owner, store sales doubled.  Two years ago she sold the business to a trusted employee and retired. 

Debbie holds the title Certified Gemologist from the American Gem Society, and has also been awarded the title Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America.

She says her greatest joy is travel.  She has visited diamond cutters in  Antwerp, South Africa, Botswana, New York City, and Israel.  Debbie is married to a Norwegian and spends summers in Oslo.  From there she has visited Sweden, Scotland, Austria and Italy.

Debbie is an Elder at First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island, past president of Zonta and Toastmasters, and active in the Foreign Affairs Council.