(WINSTON-SALEM) -- A North Carolina woman was sitting with the First Lady Tuesday night during President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address.  55-year old Kathy Proctor from Randolph County met President Obama during his visit to Forsyth Technical Community College last month.

Proctor lost her job in the furniture industry in 2009 and entered Forsyth Tech's biotechnology program. The President singled her out in his speech as an example of how retraining can get people back into the workplace.

Proctor said she was driving down I-40 last week when she got the call from the White House inviting her to attend the speech. "I should have pulled over and got out and did a dance.  It was very exciting, very exciting," said Proctor.

She understands why the President used her as an example.  "I'm glad to have this opportunity to represent the people that have worked and lost jobs and need new jobs.  People have lost their jobs in manufacturing. I feel honored to have been selected to represent them," added Proctor.

She said that President Obama is genuinely concerned about turning the economy around and getting people back to work.

(Thanks to: WSJS)