By Andrea Morrow
 |
| Claudia Sands |
Claudia
Sands lives by Winston Churchill’s words, “We make a living by what we get, we
make a life by what we give,” and she is certainly no stranger to giving back. A
2004 Leadership Missouri Graduate, Sands has been named the 2012 Leadership
Missouri Alumni of the Year for her tireless work to make Missouri a better
place through her work and volunteering.
“I’m
truly honored to win this award, because I truly love this program,” Sands said
about her award. “Leadership Missouri
provides participants with leadership skills, but I think anyone who
participates is already a leader. The Leadership Missouri Program just sharpens
and enhances those leadership skills, and I’m so glad I was able to
participate.”
Sands
began her career in 1979 with United Telephone, as a telephone operator and
worked her way to the position she currently holds as State and Local
Government Affairs Manager.
“I’ve
seen so many changes with this company,” Sands explained. “But I’ve gotten to
work with great teams of people through the years and I wouldn’t be the person
that I am, with the current job title that I have, or the leader that I am,
without this company.”
Sands
takes leadership very seriously, and she believes anyone can be a leader.
“Leadership
is measured by what you do, not what you say,” she explains. “It’s how it impacts your community. You
don’t have to have a special job or role to be a leader, it can start from
home.”
“Claudia
is totally devoted to her job, community and this industry, said coworker Greg
Gaffke. “Her leadership over the years speaks for itself. Like many of us who
are called to volunteer, I’ve never heard Claudia say no to requests for
helping to serve others or benefitting the community or even the state.”
While
growing up, Sands actually wanted to be a nurse, so it’s no surprise she’s
chosen to make helping people her life’s work. Sands is active in the Rolla
Area Chamber of Commerce as an Ambassador, United Way, and Leadership Missouri
Alumni, having served as a past president. One of her proudest achievements was
serving on the Newburg School Board for 12 years. Sands was a graduate of the
district and had a son, Holden, graduate from the district as well.
“Being
on the school board doesn’t always make you more friends or make you popular,
but I feel like my time on the board made an impact on the district, and it
meant a lot to serve on the board,” Sands said.
In
2008, Sands was named the Spirit of Rolla Award winner by the Rolla Area
Chamber of Commerce. The award is
presented to a woman in the Rolla community in recognition for significant
achievement and/or lifetime contribution to the spirit of giving that is so
indicative of Rolla and the surrounding community.
At
the end of the day, after her work and volunteering, Sands is most proud of her
family including husband Orel, son Holden and daughter-in-law Amanda. She firmly believes that all leaders need the
support of their families, for without a support system, there wouldn’t be as
strong a level of leadership.
In
her spare time, which she admits she has very little of these days, you might
find Sands fishing on the Gasconade River with her family, which counts among
her favorite things. She doesn’t stay still for long, however, she’s too busy
giving back.
No comments:
Post a Comment