Meet Sandy Fagan!

Sandy has been volunteering for the Yountville Chamber of Commerce since 2013 and won Volunteer of the Year in 2018.

Scroll down to learn more about Sandy.

1. What brought you to Napa County? What brought you to Yountville?

I was raised on Napa and I returned to the Valley to retire and address family issues. Yountville was a great choice in that it is a small rural community and we were able to find a perfect home at Rancho de Napa.

2. Describe your volunteer path and how it lead you to the Yountville Chamber of Commerce?

Most of my career I’ve worked in the public sector in an effort to achieve a level playing field for all in the areas of education, employment and housing. I’ve also volunteered in community-based efforts to better the lives of my friends and neighbors. As a retired person, I couldn’t wait to volunteer at the Chamber Welcome Center and sing the praises of the Napa Valley and of Yountville, in particular.

3. What is your favorite part about volunteering for the Yountville Chamber?

Ah…the best part is having visitors to the Valley discover all that makes the Napa Valley so special. Many of these visitors report back that the help they received in planning their visit resulted in having a wonderful time. Nothing can beat that feedback!

4. What does volunteeringat the Yountville Chamber entail?

Acquainting visitors with the Napa Valley and the many opportunities for enjoying and learning about the Valley. In addition, my volunteering entails promoting business members of the Yountville Chamber.

5. What is the most surprising thing about volunteering at the Yountville Chamber?

Not really surprising, but the number of international visitors we have to the Valley was a very pleasant surprise.

6. What is the hardest part of your job?

It’s tough sometimes not being as helpful as I’d like to be when a visitor comes into the Welcome Center at 3:30 in the afternoon and wants a comprehensive wine-tasting experience Upvalley. Time is of the essence.

7. What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?

I am a person who likes order and predictability. Covid has been full of uncertainty. I think I’ve adapted pretty well to the uncertainty of changing protocols and the like. Also, recently, my toy poodle, Pepper, died. I’m grieving and probably always will. However, dealing with that loss has helped me be a more compassionate, caring person.

8. What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?

I raced oval track motorcycles as a teenager…

9. Where’s your favorite place in the world?

Frankly, right here in Yountville!

10. What is one food that you cannot resist?

Violet’s homemade world-famous hamburgers!

11. What is the one thing, you can’t live without?

Social contacts; I love being with people.

12. What is your motto or personal mantra?

This, too, shall pass.

13. Three words to best describe you:

Good-Humored, Dependable, Thorough