Sarah Shores stumbled into her career in construction. She spent her early career in the staffing field but later found herself in an administrative position at Outside the Lines, Inc. (OTL) when she moved from Colorado to where she grew up in California. 

Having developed a fondness for the construction industry and the history that has gone into the industry's growth, she now serves as Vice President of Administration at OTL. “I found such a passion for construction that I've built the rest of my career around it; I don't want to go into staffing ever again,” she said.

Deep Dive Into CFMA Learning

When Sarah started her career, OTL owner, Wickham (Wick) Zimmerman, was the CFMA Orange County Chapter president. He encouraged her to get involved with the chapter, and she quickly became a regular member. “I started going to their luncheons and their conferences and diving into their educational programs,” she explained. As someone new to the industry, the training benefits of the organization were invaluable to her career development.

“Going into construction, I didn’t know very much at all,” Sarah pointed out. But by getting heavily involved in the CFMA Orange County chapter, she quickly expanded her knowledge and built connections with other industry professionals who could help her on her career journey.

“There are these roots that are so deep in construction that makes this industry very special and very unique,” Sarah said. “Being able to surround myself with people who have such a long tenure is so valuable to me.”

In addition to the value of the training itself, Sarah explained how impactful the relationships she has developed with other CFMA Orange County members are. By connecting with others who can share their wisdom and give advice, the benefits compounded as she learned from others who have been in her shoes. “Being able to sit at a table with people that are having the same issues or the same struggles or are having the same wins, quite frankly, is cool and it feels more personalized than listening to an educational podcast or listening to a book,” Sarah said.

Stepping into Leadership

Today, Sarah is still a regular participant in the educational benefits that CFMA Orange County offers. Currently, she’s in the middle of a 9-month leadership program provided by the organization. “It has opened my eyes to a lot of things and is helping me to understand myself as a leader,” she explained.

During her membership, Sarah has taken advantage of countless courses and educational opportunities with CFMA Orange County. As an administrative professional in the construction industry, she claims it is a crucial factor in how she engages with her career. “All of those things that I learned at either the luncheons or the conferences, I apply them back to what I do almost every single day,” she said.

Despite the time commitment that comes with being a CFMA member, Sarah said it is well worth it in the long run. “Being a part of CFMA makes my job easier. I’m able to reach out to people and have a support system,” she said. The combination of the educational events and the valuable relationships with other industry professionals helped Sarah become the professional she is today. She attributes much of her learning to the opportunities she received through CFMA Orange County.

Sarah recently stepped into the role of Secretary for the CFMA Orange County Chapter. As a longtime member and someone who has taken full advantage of the organization's benefits, she is eager to be a part of the chapter’s growth. “CFMA has taught me so much, and being a part of this group has changed the trajectory of my career… so I am so excited to be secretary,” she said.

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