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Biography

Vergarie Sanford intended to be a teacher, but ended up with a Master’s Degree in Business. Put that together with her church involvement and her role as an anti-bullying teacher, the results are a well rounded woman whose future looks to be as varied as her past.

Transcript

Date of Interview: 3 April 2008

Erica Hampton: My name is Erica Hampton interviewing Vergarie Sanford.

Vergarie Sanford: Hi! My name is Vergarie Sanford.

Erica: What kind of education do you have and where did you go to get it?

Vergarie Sanford: I have a master’s degree in management and I went to Bellevue University in Omaha, Nebraska, in Bellevue, Nebraska actually. And I also have a Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education where I went to Buena Vista University here in Council Bluffs.

Erica: Did you plan on being a business woman, or was there something else in your mind? If so what did you plan on doing?

Vergarie Sanford: I planned on being a Social Studies teacher for 7th grade social studies. And what’s funny is I kind of came full circle, I went and did my masters degree in business. And I’m back now doing middle school training on diversity issues. So I kind of went full circle, so I didn’t necessarily plan on being a business woman first, but I’m kind of right back where I started, as a middle school teacher.

Erica: Did you major in business or take any business classes in school?

Vergarie Sanford: Yes, I did because I majored in management. So I took all business classes. Everything I did was business related.

Erica: What are you doing now? Are you happy with your job?

Vergarie Sanford: Currently I am the executive assistant to our pastor here at Mt. Zion, to our Apostle here at Mt. Zion Church. And I also do diversity training. I teach anti-bullying in the middle schools for 7th and 8th graders.

Erica: What do you plan on doing in the future? Do you think you think it’ll be successful?

Vergarie Sanford: I plan on owning my own bakery. I do believe it’ll be successful because I get a lot of calls for the items that I make. So I’m really excited and just looking forward to the future and what we’ll do in our business. And I’m going to be my own business owner.

Erica: How does it feel to be an African American business woman in Council Bluffs?

Vergarie Sanford: It’s been a challenge, but it is a challenge that I have been enjoying. There’s a lot of racism that we still face here in this city. But I can see changes, changes are coming. And I can see them; they are coming. It’s been insane. I’m looking forward to the challenge.

Erica: Thank you.

Vergarie Sanford: Thank you!