b'SANDY GRAPPERHAUSFOLLOWS HER OWN WAYSandys career reflects growth and staying true to herself. She started in the print room, quickly gaining a reputation as an adaptable, hard worker. Soon, she became an administrative assistant in the architecture department. She was just one of two people who knew how to use the word processing equipment to write specifications, and she often found herself training new assistants.I trained several different girls because a lot of the time wed hire them, then theyd fall in love, get married and leave.Sandy got married, too, but she resolved to stay. Eventually, she moved to Korte Interiorssharing spaces with revered figures likeJane Lauer, Bill Pistrui and Dennis Calvert.And she thrived as she absorbed theirknowledge and experience.In 1991, her hard work culminated in a leadership position as the manager of Korte Interiors. But it wasnt quite her calling. She voluntarily stepped down three years later, a decision that coincided with her familysneeds as her husband Dan recovered from a severe head injury. Even though he fully recovered, talking about those days stillmakes her emotional.The Korte Company has always taken care of me. They fronted me sick time, worked with my schedule and they even threw a benefit for him.I owe them a lot. Its been great.Today, shes an executive assistant who answers to Brent Korte, Todd Korte and Susan Bowman. But her sense of duty also goes beyond The Korte Company. In 2011, she won an elected position with the board of directors for the Southwestern Electric Cooperative.I thought itd be interesting, give me something outside of Korte, just to be involved in something different.Thats Sandy. Always making her own way, improving the lives of the people around herand thriving.46'