94 / 116
Sa r ah Thomas
92
|
NOVEMBER 2016
|
CONNECT
S
he started out as a legal
secretary and fell into the
promotional products industry by
chance. Now, 11 years after joining
Glenwood, Minnesota-based
distributor American Solutions
For Business (UPIC: A577956),
SarahThomas, director of vertical
markets/GPO specialist, is still as
enthusiastic as her first day on the
job, maybemore so.
“We all have our ‘off’ days but I
still love what I do, I still love the
industry and I still look forward
to what’s coming around the next
corner. I meet so many people
in my travels who are miserable
in their jobs. I am grateful to
have landed in a company
where I’ve been challenged both
professionally and personally
but able to grow and build a past
and a future here,” says Thomas,
who works out of the company’s
Dallas-area office.
A newlywed (her spouse,
Cathy Armando, works in sales
at ASB), Thomas can often be
found exercising, traveling,
trying new restaurants, spending
time with family and friends,
and volunteering in her Irving,
Texas, community.
Giving back and connecting
with others are both important to
Thomas and she recently helped
start the Young Professionals of
Irving-Las Colinas, a group that
helps local nonprofits through
monthly events, volunteering
and fundraising. “Growing this
group within our community
has become a passion. I see the
good that we’re doing and that
drives me both professionally
and personally,” she says. She
hopes others will join her in
starting or becoming a part of
local groups that give back to
nonprofit organizations that
help underprivileged residents
of their communities. See her
tips for how to grow your own
organization on page 93.
Who has had the
greatest influence on
your career and why?
My parents. I was raised by a
single mom until I was 15. I look
back on those younger years and
I realize how little we had but I
never once wanted for anything
(except maybe a playmate since I
am an only child!) My stepfather
moved into my life and began
raising me with my mom, and the
two of them somehow managed
to shape me into the person
A Passion For People
Sarah Thomas (right) and
Cathy Armando explore the
Paso Robles Wine Country
between Los Angeles and
San Francisco, California.
Sarah Thomas
connects young
professionals in
her community
—and helps
underprivileged
residents at the
same time.
by
Julie Richie