2014 Most Influential Women Honoree: Sharon Alexander

Sharon Alexander is quietly and diligently working behind the scenes to make southwest Missouri a better place.

As director of development for Legal Services of Southern Missouri – a position she’s held for 13 years – Alexander’s duties include researching and securing funds through grants, solicitations and contracts across the organization’s 43-county service area. She oversees the marketing and public relations functions for the nonprofit that works to ensure low-income people have equal access to the courts. She also handles its outreach and education efforts, relationship development with government entities, other nonprofits, law firms and businesses, as well as partnerships via the organization’s pro bono coordinator.

“I always try to do the right thing, for the right reasons, and then do it the right way,” Alexander says, adding she feels leadership defines a person’s character. “I would never ask someone to do a task that I wouldn’t do myself. I work hard at providing focused and clear communications.”

At Legal Services, she demonstrates leadership in various ways. Alexander provides outreach by participating in and speaking at a range of community events, and before different organizations and groups of people such as senior citizens, domestic violence shelters, grandparents caring for relatives and veterans, among others.

“I try to encourage others to be involved and accept opportunities and challenges that come their way in order to expand their knowledge,” Alexander says. “I also encourage our staff to do the same in order to provide the public with valuable information about our services to, in turn, help them face and conquer issues they are facing so they become more productive citizens in the community.”

During the past 13 years, Alexander also has invested much of her time and energy into local civic work.

“Making your community a better place is driven by volunteer involvement,” Alexander says. “It is important to give back to your community and leave it a better place for others to thrive.”

Her community activities include a 12-year stint on the board of directors for Christian County Family Crisis Center; nine years with the Barry-Lawrence County Advocates Standing Together Board of Directors; a year as a member of the Missouri Department of Public Safety Envisioning the Future Committee; 12 years as a Community Partnership of the Ozarks Violence Free Families member; and a year with CPO’s Homeless Veteran’s Task Force.

“My proudest civic accomplishment was serving as board president of the Christian County Family Crisis Center, which oversees a 14-room facility, for victims of abuse and their children, as well as a thrift store,” Alexander says.

“During my three-year tenure as board president, the organization expanded funding and was able to hire its first paid executive director and increase the shelter staff to five employees.”[[In-content Ad]]