Read about how Sara's STAR status and 45+ years of experience in accounting, legal support, and state government prove that resilience and self-belief can carry you further than any degree.
Sara is a Program Specialist and Case Management Advisor with the State of Arizona, where she supports systems that help people with disabilities find meaningful employment. Based in Phoenix, she brings decades of experience in accounting, legal support, and operations to her work—along with a deep commitment to helping others rebuild and move forward. As a STAR, Sara’s journey reflects resilience, reinvention, and the power of believing in your own worth.
Sara’s career spans more than 45 years, beginning with a junior accounting certificate and early roles in bookkeeping, radio, and banking. Over time, she took on increasing responsibility—often performing at leadership levels—but repeatedly encountered the paper ceiling when she was denied advancement due to not having a degree. Her path also included profound personal challenges, including addiction, incarceration, and years of rebuilding her life. After 15 years on disability, Sara reentered the workforce during the pandemic as an Unemployment Adjudicator, drawing on her legal training and lived experience to help people navigate job loss at a critical time. Through determination and continuous learning, she advanced into multiple roles within the state, ultimately finding purpose in work that makes a difference.
Sara’s breakthrough came through resilience—learning to trust herself and recognize her own value after years of doubt. Today, she plays a key role in modernizing systems that serve others, combining her accounting expertise, legal knowledge, and leadership skills to create impact. Her story is a testament to the strength of the STAR community: that skills, perseverance, and self-belief can carry you forward, no matter where you start. As Sara puts it, “No mud, no lotus…your ability to shine is entirely up to you.”
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