Each year during our Trefoil Society Luncheons, we seek to honor women of distinction in our council area who are either Girl Scout alums and/or identify with what it means to be women of courage, confidence, and character, who makes the world a better place.

This year at our Knoxville luncheon on Wednesday, August 8, we will honor entrepreneur Sandy Martin.

Sandy embodies the characteristics of a true Girl Scout alum. Throughout her life she’s demonstrated that she’s a go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, and leader! A native of Knoxville, she was active in the Girl Scout Tanasi Council as a young girl.

“I would always proudly wear my uniform to school on days when we had a meeting,” said Sandy.

She graduated from Central High School in 1973 and the University of Tennessee in 1977 with a bachelor of science in professional interior design. She also earned the highest GPA in her college! Propelled by the momentum she left college with, Sandy gained valuable experience working with two local design firms before launching her own company.

In 1983, Sandy founded Corporate Interiors, Inc., the only locally-owned interior design firm in Knoxville at the time. Starting with one employee in six hundred square feet of space and working 12 to 18-hour days, Sandy grew her company with the same work ethic she applied to her schoolwork. Corporate Interiors soon moved to a 4,000 square-foot building and then to a 6,000 square-foot location on the Southern Railway grounds in 1990.

In 1999, Sandy expanded her company into Northeastern Tennessee and opened an office in Johnson City. She sold both offices seven years later and went on to serve on various boards and volunteer with a number of organizations including The Development Corporation of Knox County, The Joint Economic Community Development Executive Committee, The Historic Zoning Commission, Shannondale Health Care, The Great Smokey Mountains Institute at Tremont, St. Mary’s Health System, Knox Heritage, and more. Sandy also returned to her alma mater as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Architecture and Interior Design. Always keeping busy, Sandy still does some freelance interior design on the side.

To reserve a seat at the Knoxville Trefoil Society Luncheon, contact Marguerite Hogan, special events and campaign manager at Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians, by phone at 800.474.1912 or email at mhogan@girlscoutcsa.org.