Sara Shingleton
From: Raleigh, NC
What do you do for a living? I am an Assistant Director of Supply Chain Engineering at Tompkins Solutions. I work client-facing as a project manager as well as an internal director of our consulting team of engineers. We do supply chain and operations consulting, designing warehouses and distribution centers, and supply chain network optimization modeling. I have worked there for 17 years!
How did you first connect with Herren Project? I came across Pam’s Instagram page. My husband had been sober for almost a year, but we were still learning to embrace sober life and running had become an outlet for both of us at that point. I quietly watched Pam and Herren Project happenings via social media for another 2 years before I reached out to Pam to run the Blue Ridge Marathon for HP in April 2018!
What is your interest in/connection to recovery? While my hubby is in recovery from substance use disorder, I am in recovery for co-dependency. We had some very difficult times prior to his sobriety. I thank God every day for the guidance He showed to us, for the friends and family that supported us, and for the patience and forgiveness Frank and I are able to give each other as we grow in sobriety. Just by way of our new lifestyle, I am also sober for almost 3 years.
Who is someone who inspires you? Well, for sure, my husband. He has done some HARD work to get here. He is the reason I ran the Blue Ridge Marathon with HP—to support him and others and acknowledge that if he can get sober and thrive, I can run up a mountain for him!
What’s your favorite pastime or hobby? Running and traveling with my little family, going on adventures with them, whether it’s around town, out for ice cream, or on a “Runcation” as we like to take! Anytime I’m with my family I am happy happy.
What are you most proud of? Definitely the life that Frank and I have built especially over the last 8 years or so, in sobriety, with focus and attention to the things that matter. I could’ve never imagined it.
What does serving as a Herren Project Ambassador mean to you? Truly helping others believe that things can be better, that there is a way through when it seems there is not. Being in the midst of substance use disorder is scary, unpredictable, sad, and dark. It felt like it was hard to find someone that understood and could help and tell me what to do next. I want to spread the word so that people know there is support, they will know exactly who to call when they are ready.
