March 13 marks a meaningful milestone for Commercial Office Environments (COE). Not because it’s the official date the business was formed, but because it’s the day the company truly began: the day the first sale happened.
In 2026, COE celebrates 39 years in business, a journey defined by long-standing relationships, a loyal team, and a belief that great workplaces are built through trust and collaboration.
Below, you can read the story behind COE’s beginning, or listen to the full conversation between Nikki Lewallen Gregory, a longtime friend of COE’s Founder and President, Sara Cook.
The Day It All Started
The story of COE doesn’t begin with paperwork or an incorporation date. It begins with a moment of courage. On March 12, 1987, Sara Cook turned in her resignation at the company where she was working. When she told them she planned to start her own business, she was quickly escorted out of the building.
The very next day, March 13, she placed her first order, Interface carpet, for a customer she had already been working with.
That order became the true start of Commercial Office Environments. It also happened to land on Friday the 13th. Rather than seeing it as unlucky, Sara saw it differently.
She’s always considered the number 13 to be lucky. Her daughter was born on the 13th, and that date has carried positive meaning ever since. For Sara, it felt fitting that the business would begin that day.
More importantly, the moment represented something essential: a business becomes real when it makes its first sale. Many companies start with an idea but never reach that point. For COE, the first order was the moment the vision became reality.
Relationships That Built the Foundation
That first sale didn’t happen in isolation. It happened because of the relationships Sara had built over the years.
Before starting COE, she had worked closely with representatives at Interface and had developed strong trust with them and with her clients. When she shared that she was considering launching her own company, those partners supported her and helped ensure she would still have access to the product lines she needed.
That early support became the foundation for something remarkable: many of those same vendor relationships still exist today. Sara has been working with Interface products since entering the industry in 1981, more than four decades ago.
This consistency reflects something deeper than product loyalty. It reflects the way COE operates: relationships come first.
Why People Stay
One of the most striking things about Commercial Office Environments isn’t just the longevity of the company itself, but the longevity of the people within it.
In a world where the average employee stays in a job for only a few years, COE has team members who have been with the company for decades. In fact, Sara’s very first employee still works with her today.
What explains that kind of retention? For Sara, the philosophy is simple: treat people the way you want to be treated.
Respect matters. Follow-through matters. And relationships matter, both professionally and personally. If someone says they’re going to do something, they should do it. If a team member needs support, they should have it.
Sara believes many people leave jobs not because of the work itself, but because they don’t feel valued or respected by leadership. Her goal has always been to build a culture where people feel supported and appreciated.
That doesn’t mean everyone agrees all the time. In fact, disagreement can be valuable. Different perspectives are part of learning. They’re part of growth. And after nearly four decades, Sara still believes the best leaders never stop learning, mentoring, and helping others grow.
A Workplace That Feels Like Home
Over the years, COE has designed countless workplaces throughout Indianapolis and beyond. But the philosophy behind those spaces begins internally.
Sara believes people should feel welcomed when they walk into a workplace. Visitors aren’t kept waiting in a lobby; they’re invited into the space to experience it.
The COE showroom reflects that same mindset. It’s designed not just as a display of furniture, but as an environment people can explore and enjoy. The goal is hospitality: helping people feel comfortable the moment they walk in.
That philosophy extends to the team as well. During the COVID years, Sara never required employees to return to the office. Yet many chose to come back voluntarily because they enjoyed working together in the space.
For Sara, that meant everything. It showed that the culture they had built over the years was stronger than any policy.
Generations of Connection
One of the unexpected rewards of working in the workplace design industry is the relationships that span generations. Clients become friends and projects turn into long-term partnerships.
In some cases, Sara has worked with families across decades. Children who once visited their parents’ offices during a project later grow up to become professional peers themselves. Those moments create a sense of continuity that few industries experience.
Inside COE, that same generational connection exists. Employees who once brought their children into the office after school now see those children entering the workforce themselves. For Sara, that’s one of the most meaningful parts of the journey.
Work Should Be Fun
Despite the scale and complexity of many projects COE handles, Sara believes something important about work: It should be enjoyable.
Not every moment will be easy, but the work itself should bring a sense of fulfillment and joy.
Designing workplaces offers that opportunity. Each project creates an environment where people will collaborate, solve problems, celebrate wins, and build their careers. The work impacts how people experience their day-to-day lives.
That responsibility and opportunity have kept Sara passionate about the industry for more than 40 years.
A Culture of Appreciation
At COE, the anniversary celebration isn’t just about the company’s longevity. It’s about recognizing the people who make it possible.
Each year, the team gathers to celebrate together and recognize outstanding contributions. One highlight is the Employee of the Year award, which is voted on by employees themselves, with Sara only stepping in if there’s a tie.
Moments like these reinforce something the team already knows: they’re part of something bigger than a typical workplace. They’re part of a community.
Looking Ahead to 40
Thirty-nine years is a remarkable milestone, but the journey isn’t finished. Next year marks COE’s 40th anniversary, a moment that will bring even more reflection and celebration.
What started with one order on Friday the 13th has grown into a trusted workplace partner for organizations across the region.
Through it all, one principle has remained constant: Relationships come first.
When people are treated with respect, when trust is built over time, and when work is done with care and integrity, businesses don’t just survive. They endure.
And sometimes, they last for 39 years, and counting.