February 28, 2025 • 6 mins
An Account Executive for five years with NCR Corporation, Sharon specialized in software solutions for the medical, educational and governmental marketplace. She moved on to The Center for Chemical Dependency at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, and as the Grants & Research Director was privileged to work on groundbreaking HIV research. A resident of South Florida for 26 years, Sharon was introduced to the local non-profit community as a volunteer for Kids In Distress. She went on to serve as the President of the KIDs Auxiliary. A founding partner of The Alchemy Group, a non-profit consultancy firm, Sharon assisted local organizations with their strategic planning, board development, grant writing and achievement of their fundraising goals. Clients included JM Family’s Deliver the Dream, The Epilepsy Foundation of South Florida, Broward Meals on Wheels, Young at Art, and The Chris Evert Children’s Hospital. Sharon served for 5 years as the Executive Director of the St. Thomas Aquinas High School Foundation, moving to NSU Florida as the Executive Director of Advancement, Alumni Relations, and Community Partnerships from 2012 -2018. In her role at NSU, Sharon served as the primary liaison with the university president for community philanthropic events and with university deans and their national alumni community. She served on the Board of Directors for Gilda’s Club and the Jason Taylor Foundation while residing in Florida. Owner/CEO of Renewal by Andersen of the Carolinas since 2018, Sharon is a leading executive in the Home Improvement industry. She remains committed to serving her community, serving on the Board of Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region, and the NSU Assaf College of Nursing Advisory Council. Sharon has earned a Masters in Management of Human Services from Brandeis University, and a BS in Marketing from Siena College.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the iHeartMedia Charlotte Women of Impact, celebrating women
in our community, presented by the Carolina Ascent and New
Hope Treatment Centers.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm so excited by my next guest. I have Sharon
Sullivan with me from Renewal by Anderson. Sharon, thanks for
being here.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Oh my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Gwinn. Now, Sharon, tell me a little bit about your
career path with Renewal. I'm sure that's not where you started.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
No, my career path did not start with Windows Indoors
Renewal by Anderson. My first life I was in sales.
I was a tech sales person computers. Met my husband
there and we've been happily married thirty four years. And
then I kind of segued. I wanted to get out
of the commercial area and I got into not for
profit and I did fundraising and development for years and years.
(00:47):
Prior to moving here to Charlotte, I was working at
a university in South Florida, and then Windows and Doors
became our life here in Charlotte.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Now, was that the reason you made the move to
Charlotte or did something else lead you here?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
It is so. I am co owner and CEO of
renewal by Anderson in the Carolinas. We work with Renewal
by Anderson Product in Charlotte, Greenville, Asheville, Columbia, South Carolina,
And on Monday we open up in Charleston and Hellnhead.
So very excited, but we bought the Charlotte business and
that's what relocated us here.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Exciting to take that leap of faith. Do you feel
like as an entrepreneur and as a woman in business,
you kind of have to have that gut instinct to
just jump sometimes.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
I absolutely think that the key to success is flexibility,
looking out at opportunities that might present themselves, and being
willing to take a risk.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Absolutely. Now, what are some of the challenges that you
felt as your career has evolved that you feel like
I overcame something that was big.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
You know, I don't particularly look at overcoming things. I
really look at how am I going to meet the
challenge that's presented? Right? Everything is a challenge everything. People
face challenges every day, whether it's deciding to get out
of bed in the morning or something much more significant.
And I think that women are uniquely positioned because we're
(02:07):
very good multitaskers. And I think in general, every woman
I know is thinking three steps ahead. So you're looking
at an opportunity or a challenge and you're able to say, Okay,
this has some risks to it, but if I look
three steps ahead, there's a lot of reward. There an
opportunity for a lot of reward. And I think that's
what makes women so successful. That's in the business place.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, it's hard to art. That's an awesome perspective to
have it and a great approach to take to so
many things in life.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Absolutely, I mean I apply that. When I worked at
the university, I had an opportunity to work with a
lot of students, and particularly college students that are all
filled of anxiety. Am I in the right major? What
am I going to do next? What happens when I graduate?
And I always say, just do something. You don't know
where that path may lead you. I absolutely never would
(02:57):
have thought that at this point in my life I'd
be in construction based business and I love I absolutely
love it. And it's not so much the actual windows
and doors, though I love the product that we provide
for homeowners. I love the people part of it. You know,
we started on April first. It'll be seven years for us,
and we had twenty four employees when we started and
(03:19):
we have two hundred and fifty now seven years later.
So being able to impact people's lives in such a
meaningful way, that's what's exciting.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
That's some growth too, that's something very applaudable. Congratulations, Thank
you very much. We've had a great team. Now, what
are some things that you think, like you mentioned earlier,
with college kids, the anxiety, what's something that you feel
like they need to have confidence in when they're going
out to try to get started.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
They need to be prepared. Do not under sell being prepared.
I can't tell you how many people have reached out
to me that they will say, oh, could I talk
to you about this or talk to you about that.
I am always willing to talk to students, and you know,
we've looked at doing internships, et cetera. But knowing who
you're going to speak to in these days, it's pretty easy.
(04:07):
Do the LinkedIn, look up, look at the company's website,
know where it is that you're going. You'll feel more
confident if you feel more prepared.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Absolutely. I say that with clients all the time. When
I'm working on a commercial for example, I'd rather have
too much information from you than not enough.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Absolutely, And the other thing I would say to students
is take the hand that's offered to you. You will
get people that want people want to help. In general,
people feel good about helping somebody else move further along
their their path, wherever that path may be going. Don't
don't neglect following up with someone. If someone said I'd
(04:47):
be happy to talk to you, call them, Yeah, take
them up on it. Call them on that offer. Call
them on that offer.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
It always is who you know sometimes when you really
think about the longevity of someone's career and timeline.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Network, network network. Even I have three adult children, and
when they were each starting out, everyone wants to think
they're doing it on their own. They are completely independent, right,
We are all independent success stories. We are none of
us in dependent success stories. It takes a team, it's
very much and I have said this before. Someone might
(05:20):
help you open a door, but you're the one who
has to walk through the door, and you're the one
who has to seal the deal. Don't ever turn down
that opportunity to go through the door.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
And with Anderson, it's a beautiful door, and it's a
beautiful new door. No, if you're giving advice to a
group of young women that are listening right now, who
are ready to kind of take that next step, what
is your words of wisdom you want to impart on them.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Or words of wisdom? Work hard, be prepared, and dream big.
And I think I would also say, you don't know
where your path is going to go, and so be curious.
Be curious about the things that are out there. I
love learning, lifelong learning, love learning about what other people do,
So always just be curious to what other things might
(06:08):
be out there.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I think that's such great advice. I mean, for me,
I started in TV, went to radio. Never imagine going
across town, but you know, to competing sessions. But you
never know where the road's going to lead you.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
You never know where the road's going to lead you.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Well, awesome, Charon, Thank you so much for joining me
and being a part of this. And we all are
rooting for you and Anderson to have seven plus more
years of success here in the Carolinas and wherever you
may expand to.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Guinn, thank you.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
iHeartMedia. Charlotte Women of Impact celebrating Women in our Community,
presented by the Carolina Ascent and New Hope treatment centers
This is the iHeartMedia Charlotte Women of Impact, celebrating women
in our community, presented by the Carolina Ascent and New
Hope Treatment Centers.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm so excited by my next guest. I have Sharon
Sullivan with me from Renewal by Anderson. Sharon, thanks for
being here.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Oh my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Gwinn. Now, Sharon, tell me a little bit about your
career path with Renewal. I'm sure that's not where you started.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
No, my career path did not start with Windows Indoors
Renewal by Anderson. My first life I was in sales.
I was a tech sales person computers. Met my husband
there and we've been happily married thirty four years. And
then I kind of segued. I wanted to get out
of the commercial area and I got into not for
profit and I did fundraising and development for years and years.
(00:47):
Prior to moving here to Charlotte, I was working at
a university in South Florida, and then Windows and Doors
became our life here in Charlotte.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Now, was that the reason you made the move to
Charlotte or did something else lead you here?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
It is so. I am co owner and CEO of
renewal by Anderson in the Carolinas. We work with Renewal
by Anderson Product in Charlotte, Greenville, Asheville, Columbia, South Carolina,
And on Monday we open up in Charleston and Hellnhead.
So very excited, but we bought the Charlotte business and
that's what relocated us here.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Exciting to take that leap of faith. Do you feel
like as an entrepreneur and as a woman in business,
you kind of have to have that gut instinct to
just jump sometimes.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
I absolutely think that the key to success is flexibility,
looking out at opportunities that might present themselves, and being
willing to take a risk.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Absolutely. Now, what are some of the challenges that you
felt as your career has evolved that you feel like
I overcame something that was big.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
You know, I don't particularly look at overcoming things. I
really look at how am I going to meet the
challenge that's presented? Right? Everything is a challenge everything. People
face challenges every day, whether it's deciding to get out
of bed in the morning or something much more significant.
And I think that women are uniquely positioned because we're
(02:07):
very good multitaskers. And I think in general, every woman
I know is thinking three steps ahead. So you're looking
at an opportunity or a challenge and you're able to say, Okay,
this has some risks to it, but if I look
three steps ahead, there's a lot of reward. There an
opportunity for a lot of reward. And I think that's
what makes women so successful. That's in the business place.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, it's hard to art. That's an awesome perspective to
have it and a great approach to take to so
many things in life.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Absolutely, I mean I apply that. When I worked at
the university, I had an opportunity to work with a
lot of students, and particularly college students that are all
filled of anxiety. Am I in the right major? What
am I going to do next? What happens when I graduate?
And I always say, just do something. You don't know
where that path may lead you. I absolutely never would
(02:57):
have thought that at this point in my life I'd
be in construction based business and I love I absolutely
love it. And it's not so much the actual windows
and doors, though I love the product that we provide
for homeowners. I love the people part of it. You know,
we started on April first. It'll be seven years for us,
and we had twenty four employees when we started and
(03:19):
we have two hundred and fifty now seven years later.
So being able to impact people's lives in such a
meaningful way, that's what's exciting.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
That's some growth too, that's something very applaudable. Congratulations, Thank
you very much. We've had a great team. Now, what
are some things that you think, like you mentioned earlier,
with college kids, the anxiety, what's something that you feel
like they need to have confidence in when they're going
out to try to get started.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
They need to be prepared. Do not under sell being prepared.
I can't tell you how many people have reached out
to me that they will say, oh, could I talk
to you about this or talk to you about that.
I am always willing to talk to students, and you know,
we've looked at doing internships, et cetera. But knowing who
you're going to speak to in these days, it's pretty easy.
(04:07):
Do the LinkedIn, look up, look at the company's website,
know where it is that you're going. You'll feel more
confident if you feel more prepared.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Absolutely. I say that with clients all the time. When
I'm working on a commercial for example, I'd rather have
too much information from you than not enough.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Absolutely, And the other thing I would say to students
is take the hand that's offered to you. You will
get people that want people want to help. In general,
people feel good about helping somebody else move further along
their their path, wherever that path may be going. Don't
don't neglect following up with someone. If someone said I'd
(04:47):
be happy to talk to you, call them, Yeah, take
them up on it. Call them on that offer. Call
them on that offer.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
It always is who you know sometimes when you really
think about the longevity of someone's career and timeline.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Network, network network. Even I have three adult children, and
when they were each starting out, everyone wants to think
they're doing it on their own. They are completely independent, right,
We are all independent success stories. We are none of
us in dependent success stories. It takes a team, it's
very much and I have said this before. Someone might
(05:20):
help you open a door, but you're the one who
has to walk through the door, and you're the one
who has to seal the deal. Don't ever turn down
that opportunity to go through the door.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
And with Anderson, it's a beautiful door, and it's a
beautiful new door. No, if you're giving advice to a
group of young women that are listening right now, who
are ready to kind of take that next step, what
is your words of wisdom you want to impart on them.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Or words of wisdom? Work hard, be prepared, and dream big.
And I think I would also say, you don't know
where your path is going to go, and so be curious.
Be curious about the things that are out there. I
love learning, lifelong learning, love learning about what other people do,
So always just be curious to what other things might
(06:08):
be out there.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I think that's such great advice. I mean, for me,
I started in TV, went to radio. Never imagine going
across town, but you know, to competing sessions. But you
never know where the road's going to lead you.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
You never know where the road's going to lead you.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Well, awesome, Charon, Thank you so much for joining me
and being a part of this. And we all are
rooting for you and Anderson to have seven plus more
years of success here in the Carolinas and wherever you
may expand to.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Guinn, thank you.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
iHeartMedia. Charlotte Women of Impact celebrating Women in our Community,
presented by the Carolina Ascent and New Hope treatment centers
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