Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherry Martell.
Hi Sherry, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in North Carolina in a small mill town in 1946. When I started high school I knew I’d have to leave home to further my education and make a living.. During high school I worked selling shoes. I guess that set a pattern in my life in sales. I moved to Canada, went to school to become an executive secratery. In the early 70’s I moved back to North Carolina and stated work at NAPA once again in sales. After several years I went to work with TRW an after marked auto parts company. I was a regional sales rep. for them in North Carolina, Texas and ended up in Tennessee in 1982. In 1986 I started my on busuness here in Adams,Tn. with a partner. It was a cottage industry making fabric items that we sold in major markets in the US and some other countries. We had a good thing going until our products started being made in china, india etc. I lucked into a good oppertunity in 1994. I was ask by a pool company if I’d be interested in cleaning pools. Since I had a pool I figured I’d get by and learn things as I went along. Sherry’s Pool and Spa was born. In 2003 an older lady I knew from church ask me to help her at a food bank in town. It was. United Ministries.
I’d clean pools all season and voluntered at the food bank in the winter. Later on I sold the pool business and started working more at the food bank. In 2015 the gentleman who ran the food bank was moving away and ask me to take over as President if I was voted in. So for the last 10 years I’ve been running the food bank.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are alway bumps in the road. Nothing major just a little bump you go over and regroup..
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about United Ministries Food Bank of Robertson County?
We run a food bank and I say we because it takes a lot of people to do what we do. Someone has to be in charge, but I have a great group of people that makes my job easy. I enjoy what I’m doing and the people I’m in contact with. We serve a great community that have needs we try and help them with.
What does success mean to you?
Doing the things that make you happy and give you peace. Along the way being able to make other peoples lives better.
