If you ask Sandra Byers for her resume, you will find that she doesn’t list too many 9-5 jobs. Sandy considers herself a “professional community volunteer” and she has had this occupation for the past 45 years. The majority of those years were spent on day-to-day tasks in running Columbus community organizations. Sandy now primarily works in the planning and implementing of fund-raising events and campaigns.
Sandy graduated from Capital University, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She went on to attend Capital Law School and is an active alumna for Capital and has sat on the board for the nursing school. Sandy is currently on the Board of Trustees for Ballet Met, on the Board of Governors for the Capital Club, on the Women’s Board with the Franklin Park Conservatory, and part of the Capital Campaign Advising Board with Action for Children. Some of Sandy’s past experiences include being the owner and manager of the Wyandotte Inn restaurant, being President of the Women’s Board of Children’s Hospital, Chairman of the Muirfield Memorial Tournament, and President of the March of Dimes Women’s Board, just to name a few. Sandy notes that the busier she gets, the more organized she has to stay to find balance.
Sandy finds support and encouragement for everything she volunteers with from her family. “I have been blessed with a wonderful family. My husband, mother and father were my cheerleaders. My mother is 92 and continues to be my biggest supporter. She is an extremely active member of her community and volunteers almost every day of her life – either working at her local hospital, visiting veteran’s hospitals, or collecting and delivering clothes to needy school children.”
With all that Sandy is involved with, she says that the best moment in her life that defines her is her “Grandma’s Slumber Party.” Every year her 11 grandchildren gather at her house for her grandma-and-grandkid’s only all-night slumber party. “My grandchildren range in age from their twenties to seven years old and they all love coming year after year. My grandchildren always request in advance my mashed potatoes and toast (not together) and say that I make them the best they have ever had!”
Sandy says that the best advice that she has ever received comes from her Economics 101 class. “We studied the ideas of Paul Samuelson and his metaphor about ‘guns’ and ‘butter.’ I have followed this advice ever since, clearly thinking about investing in ‘guns’ (real estate, saving, and investments) and not ‘butter’ (disposable and throw-away assets). It is a simple metaphor but it helps me in the way I think about spending money.”
Now that Sandy is part of Sunny 95’s 20 Outstanding Women, she says that her life will remain the same, filled with hard work and opportunities to give and share love.