Since 1981, Sharon Trammell has been the Executive Director of Grace House of Memphis, the last remaining long-term, residential, alcohol and drug treatment center in Tennessee specifically designed for women. She has overseen the transformation of Grace House from simply a safe place for women alcoholic/addicts to live, into an innovative, top quality, comprehensive treatment program that focuses on all aspects of recovery for women. Under her leadership, Grace House has cost effectively served approximately 5000 women. The rate of abstinence remains above 80% according to follow up data.

Sharon has worked in and remained politically active in the field of alcohol and drug abuse in the state of Tennessee since 1971. She has pioneered and worked consistently for womens’ rights to receive ‘equal treatment in treatment’ and has been instrumental in making the face and the needs of the woman alcoholic/addict visible. She was on the original Certification Board that started the certification process for Alcohol and Drug Counselors in the State of Tennessee. Thus, she has been instrumental in opening and making this rich and tremendously empowering vocational avenue accessible for women wanting to be counselors, regardless of previous educational background. Many of these women are recovering addicts/alcoholics themselves.

Sharon has served as the Director of Treatment Centers at State Hospital in East Tennessee; Director of Prevention for the State of Tennessee; President of the Tennessee Alcohol and Drug Association; Executive Committee of TADOC and the Tennessee Alcohol and Drug Counselors Association. Her educational presentations in the field are vast. The Women’s News of the Midsouth recognized her in 1998 as on the “50 Women Who Make a Difference” in the Midsouth.

In addition to her work with Grace House, Ms. Trammell has her own production company that produces guided healing tapes, and as a cancer survivor, she does extensive work with persons with cancer and AIDS to develop personal healing tapes and provide counseling support.