Attorney Biographies
Susan Chitwood Barton is a graduate of Indiana University School of Law. Prior to and after graduation in 1981, Susan worked for Legal Services Organization in Bloomington, IN. During her time as a paralegal, she began her career as an advocate for Social Security Disability clients. Susan later worked in Transylvania County handling Social Security, Workers Compensation and personal injury cases.
Susan worked with Ganly, Ramer and Strom before starting her own practice in April, 2003. She and Holly formed Chitwood & Fairbairn in June, 2006.
Susan is a sustaining member of NOSSCR (National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives). She is also a member of the NC Bar Association, NCATL (Disability Advocacy Section) and is admitted to practice in the Western District of NC’s federal court. She is an honorary board member of Project Access, a medical assistance program.
Susan is a cofounder of Noah’s Ark, Inc. and is an active member of Asheville’s Animal Compassion Network. She also likes plants and trees and speaks Spanish rather well. She knows nothing about elevators but does have recurrent elevator dreams.
Holly Fairbairn received her BA in Economics and Religious Studies from Guilford College in 1989. She worked as an outdoor guide for five years, spending many winter months doing community service projects before entering law school in 1994.
She graduated with honors from the NCCU School of Law in 1997. She worked at Pisgah Legal Services for six years and then joined the firm of Ganly, Ramer and Strom, later the Law Office of Cynthia Strom. In 2006, she and Susan formed Chitwood & Fairbairn, P.A.
Holly has written extensively and given presentations to her attorney peers on Ethics, Social Security, Medicaid, and other government benefits programs. She has spoken to groups of medical providers, insurance billers, and support groups including those related to living with brain injury, arthritis, mental illness, and fibromyalgia.
She is an active member of the 28th Judicial District Bar, the NCBA, and organizations committed to assisting disabled people, including NOSSCR (Sustaining member) and NCATL (LPM and Disability Advocacy Section). She practices in federal court, and accepts referrals from other attorneys for representation of their clients or for brief-writing.
She is also an active mom, who loves music, swimming, and hiking with her family. She was excited to turn 45 recently and win her age-group in a local 5k running race sponsored by Girls on the Run. She is a volunteer Board member of Homeward Bound of Asheville and Buncombe County and WNCAP.
Follow the link to the NC Bar Specialists web page:
http://www.nclawspecialists.gov/
Cynthia Harbin Holman
Cindy is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. She has a B.A. in History from Salem College. She is an Asheville native and attended Asheville High School. Her 20+ years’ experience in the practice of law includes working with Social Security and Medicaid clients, and a clerkship with U.S. District Judge Martin K. Reidinger where she worked on the court’s Social Security and Medicare caseload. She worked with the Office of Attorney General for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, before becoming accredited by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to handle veterans’ benefits matters.
She chose to become accredited and lead the firm’s veterans’ disability compensation practice after first-hand experience with relatives who are veterans with disabilities.
Cindy has provided leadership to Bar and community organizations, and is active in her church. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, and walking. She fondly recalls having the time to ski and the skill to play semi-decent pool.
