02/28/2012

After becoming a finalist on Season 12 The Biggest Loser, Becky Comet changes gears

LITTLE ROCK –Rebecca “Becky” Comet of Benton was named as the Association of Arkansas Counties new member benefit manager today.

Chris Villines, AAC executive director, announced the hiring recently and he said Comet would officially join the AAC in June.

“Becky has a vivacious personality and a passion for building relationships,” Villines said. “She is an excellent fit for our team here at AAC.”

Comet was a contestant on Season 12 of NBC’s The Biggest Loser show where she lost 88 pounds and was the only woman and oldest contestant to make the final four.

“I learned a great deal about nutrition and exercise, but more importantly I learned so much about myself and my faith,” Comet said about her experience on The Biggest Loser. “I believe it was the strength I found within myself through my faith that allowed me to do as well as I did.”

She said her time at the The Biggest Loser Ranch left lasting impressions on not only her but also her family.

“The things I learned while at The Biggest Loser Ranch brought a complete lifestyle change to my immediate family. We have adopted active, healthy changes that we will enjoy for the rest of our lives,” Comet said. “As I travel across the country I am very humbled by the fact that I am continually approached by people who say that they have committed to a new, healthy lifestyle because of my journey and what they witnessed on the show.”

Comet graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in education and has taught in Arkansas for 25 years. 

She was born in Belleville, Illinois and credits her parents with giving her a stable base seeded in hard work.

“One motto I learned from my parents and have tried to teach my children and my students through the years is ‘set your goals and finish what you start.’ This is a motto that served me well on The Biggest Loser and I am sure it will serve me well in my tenure at the AAC.”

Villines said Comet would serve as the AAC liaison to counties when it comes to quality control, insurance and partnership programs.

“I believe my public relations and relationship building skills will serve me best in my new position at the AAC,” Comet said. “I look forward to traveling this state and meeting new people as I represent the AAC.”

Comet and J.C., her husband, have been married for 29 years and live in Benton. They have four children: Nickole Comet, 27; Angela Comet, 25; D.J. Comet, 22 and Samantha Comet, 19.

The Association of Arkansas Counties supports and promotes the idea that all elected officials must have the opportunity to act together in order to solve mutual problems as a unified group. To further this goal, the Association of Arkansas Counties is committed to providing a single source of cooperative support and information for all counties and county and district officials. The overall purpose of the Association of Arkansas Counties is to work for the improvement of county government in the state of Arkansas. The Association accomplishes this purpose by providing legislative representation, on-site assistance, general research, training, various publications and conferences to assist county officials in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of their office.