Her Story
About Sabrina
Sabrina Shannon serves as the Assistant Operations Director for a national corporate facility maintenance company, where she oversees daily operations and manages multi-million-dollar client accounts for companies across the country.
Her career in facility maintenance began unexpectedly nearly five years ago. After her mother, who worked in the company’s accounting department, mentioned an opening created by a retiring employee, Sabrina accepted what was initially intended to be a part-time position. That opportunity quickly evolved into a permanent role and ultimately a leadership career she never anticipated.
Before transitioning into operations, Sabrina spent nine years coordinating emergency communications for hospitals and physicians. She also earned a degree in Culinary Arts and completed pre-med coursework, coming within reach of applying to physician assistant school. Finishing her medical education remains a personal goal for the future.
As a leader, Sabrina believes in empowering her team by providing support, flexibility, and the autonomy to accomplish their work in the way that best suits them. She is known for taking a hands-on approach to problem-solving, including developing an internal website that streamlined data management and improved operational efficiency.
Integrity is the foundation of Sabrina’s leadership philosophy. She values honesty, transparency, and accountability in every professional relationship and believes trust is built through open communication and consistent follow-through.
Sabrina’s resilience has been shaped by both personal and professional challenges. Inspired by her late mother’s unwavering determination and the belief that “no” is never the final answer, she continues to persevere through adversity. Following the loss of her mother in 2023 and her own battle with cancer, she remains committed to leading with strength, compassion, and an unwavering determination to overcome obstacles.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sabrina
01What do you attribute your success to?
At this point in my life, a lot of what drives me is making my mom proud. Even though she’s no longer here, she’s still the biggest influence on who I am. Growing up, it was just my mom, my sister, and me. My dad had another family, but my mom stayed and raised us, often carrying the weight of everything on her own. No matter what life threw at her, she never gave up.
One of the biggest lessons she taught us was that “can’t” wasn’t part of our vocabulary. Giving up simply wasn’t an option. That’s something I’ve carried with me throughout my life. Whenever I’m faced with a challenge, I don’t think about whether it can be done—I think about how I’m going to figure it out.
My sister LaSchelle is the same way. She manages Chick-fil-A restaurants, recently earned her accounting degree, and is raising a son with a severe disability. Despite everything on her plate, she never stops moving forward. Never stops thinking of others or a way to help the community. We were raised to be resilient, to keep pushing through, and to find a way no matter the circumstances.
That mindset has become part of who I am. I don’t believe in letting obstacles define the outcome. Failure isn’t what motivates me—perseverance does.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
No matter how hard life gets, keep fighting, because it does get better. That’s true for anything you’re facing.
Over the last three years, I’ve experienced some of the hardest moments of my life. I lost my mother. Not long after, I got sick. I got married, was diagnosed with cancer, and eventually went through a divorce. It felt like one challenge after another.
But I’m still here.
Those experiences taught me that you don’t always get to choose what happens to you, but you do get to choose whether you keep moving forward. Every setback has strengthened my resilience and reminded me that giving up is never the answer.
No matter what life throws your way, keep going. Keep fighting. Better days are ahead if you’re willing to hold on long enough to reach them.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
No matter how hard life gets, keep fighting, because it does get better.
I think a lot of people experience setbacks and begin to believe those moments define what they’re capable of. They see a challenge as a reason they can’t get back up, a reason to stop chasing their goals, or an explanation for why something will never happen for them. I’ve never looked at life that way.
I’ve learned that difficult seasons aren’t meant to stop you—they’re meant to shape you. Sometimes you have to step back, figure out where you’re going, remind yourself why you’re going there, and keep moving forward.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that not everything works out the way we expect, and that’s okay. Sometimes things fall apart because they were never meant to happen that way. Often, those setbacks are simply redirecting you toward something better.
You can’t change what happens to you, but you can choose how you respond. Keep going. Keep fighting. Trust that even when the path changes, there’s still a purpose ahead.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the facility maintenance industry right now is balancing speed with quality. Clients expect immediate responses, real-time communication, and consistent service across multiple locations, all while costs continue to rise and skilled labor becomes harder to find. Meeting those expectations takes strong systems, great partnerships, and a team that’s willing to adapt quickly.
At the same time, I think that’s also the industry’s biggest opportunity. Technology is changing the way we manage operations, communicate with vendors, and analyze data. Companies that embrace automation, better reporting, and more efficient processes are going to stand out because they can provide faster, more transparent service without sacrificing quality.
For me, the opportunity is in continuous improvement. I’m always looking for ways to make processes more efficient, whether that’s building internal tools, improving workflows, or finding better ways to support our clients and our team. The companies that succeed will be the ones that continue to innovate while remembering that great customer service and strong relationships are still at the heart of this business.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I believe honesty is the foundation of everything we do, especially in the type of business we’re in. We manage multiple million-dollar accounts and work with nationwide companies that trust us to represent their interests every day. Without trust, those relationships simply don’t exist.
Transparency is essential, even when the conversation isn’t an easy one. If something goes wrong, our clients deserve to know the truth. It may be uncomfortable in the moment, and sometimes being honest can even cost us in the short term, but protecting the integrity of the relationship is far more important than protecting ourselves.
Our clients rely on us because they know we’ll be upfront, accountable, and committed to finding solutions. That’s how you build long-term partnerships. In this industry, honesty isn’t just a value—it’s a necessity.
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