It is the end of Admin Week

As I sit here in my pajamas drinking coffee, I glanced up and caught a glimpse of the flowers I received this week. It is a fun week to be in a support role. Think about it, bosses get one day, we get a whole week. It shows how vital we are. Below is this week's column. If you do not sing the praises of your administrative assistant on a regular basis, use this week as your opportunity and make it count. The week of April 22-28 is Administrative Professionals Week. As an administrative professional myself, I am waiting to be lavished with gifts and recognition. Actually, I'm perfectly happy with the flowers sitting on my desk. Here at Express, our managers do well handing out compliments and pats on the back all year round. Administrative Professionals Week was organized in 1952 as “National Secretaries Week” by the National Secretaries Association along with public relations executive Harry Klemfuss and several office product manufacturers. The goal was to recognize secretaries for their contributions and to attract people to secretarial careers. Let’s face it, without those of us in a support role, businesses just would not run smoothly. Our skills, loyalty and ability to run things efficiently while following a process are heavily depended on. According to International Association of Administrative Professionals, administrative professionals are defined as “individuals who are responsible for administrative tasks and coordination of information in support of an office-related environment and who are dedicated to furthering their personal and professional growth in their chosen profession.” The title of secretary is not used as much it was back in the day and has been replaced with more popular and exciting titles such as administrative assistant, office coordinator, administrative specialist, executive assistant and office manager. At Express Employment Professionals, we have an amazing front office coordinator named Jen Heins. She has been with us for a little over a year and knows the business as if she has been here for many. Heins creates a positive first impression on our clients and our associates. Along with helping our internal staff of 20, she starts the application process for candidates as they walk in and processes payroll for about 400-plus associates — all at the same time. She digs in to find the answers to her questions, is independent and is not a hoarder of information. Heins helps whenever and wherever needed and always with a smile. Stacey Vanden Heuvel, vice president of marketing and philanthropy at Olmsted Medical Center Regional Foundation, would like to recognize Michelle Maeder-Hickey, also of OMC Regional Foundation, as an extraordinary administrative professional. “She puts a lot of heart into her work, she keeps the mission of the organization in mind in all her work, always remembering who we serve, and she goes the extra mile in representing our organization. Michelle is efficient and has a 'can-do' attitude. She is amazing." Brad Trahan, co-founder of RT Autism Awareness Foundation Inc., would like to recognize Joanie Trahan, also co-founder of RT Autism. Joanie wears many hats. Not only is she a registered nurse in cardiac surgery, she provides the administrative strength behind their foundation. “With all her duties of being a nurse, mother, wife, co-founder and administrative professional, she always keeps such a positive attitude. She is hard-working, caring and deeply involved with every role.” Don’t forget the work these professionals do, and never underestimate their power. Without your administrative assistant, good luck figuring out how to unjam the copier or how to install the toner; have fun soothing the upset customer; and just lower your head into your hands when the nearly completed project disappears from your computer.