Sarah was born and raised in Mankato, and from an early age wanted to be the first female quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.  Instead, she spent her college and early professional years in the Twin Cities; and in Florida working as a PGA golf professional and playing on the Futures Tour, and then in Cannon Falls as Head Golf Professional and GM at Cannon Golf Club. She is a PGA member.

Community immersion is a pillar value for the Jones Metal extended family. Sarah has been involved in many Mankato-area philanthropic organizations and volunteer activities since returning to the community in 2008, including the Mankato YWCA Board and Executive Committee, Greater Mankato Growth Council, MSU Big Ideas Challenge, Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, STEM advisory committee, South Central College advisory committee, and Dream Big Planning Committee for the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation.

A common thread that links her local volunteer work to her professional career is the idea of “leadership from legacy.” When Sarah returned to Mankato to join the family business, Jones Metal Inc., she aspired to promote her grandfather’s legacy of entrepreneurship and her great-grandmother’s legacy of non-traditional roles for women in the community. 

This drives her work at Jones Metal, where she is president and CEO and a third-generation owner along with her siblings David Richards and Jessica Richards-Palmquist.  She is determined to lead the company through business diversification and sustainable growth with a strong commitment to its employees and the greater Mankato community.

As one of her co-workers’ notes, “Working with Sarah is demanding, fulfilling and fun at the same time, as Sarah constantly strives for excellence in the management team and the entire company. She is an outstanding boss, leader, and friend.”

Sarah was appointed to the Mankato Area Foundation Board of Directors in 2020.