International Virtual Assistants Association – Charting a Steady Course Through a Rocky Economy
June 5th, 2008 Filed under: Uncategorized — Small Home Business AuthorThe International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA) and many of its members have been virtually thriving during the last few years, despite (or because of) fluctuations in our economy. Since 1999, the IVAA has been dedicated to the professional education and development of virtual assistants worldwide, as well as educating the public about the function and services VA’s offer. With over 1,000 members in over fifteen countries (including the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, India, Australia, France, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Kenya, etc.), IVAA is the premier industry association, setting standards for excellence and offering a myriad of courses leading up to formal certification (CVA).
What exactly is a Virtual Assistant (VA)? In these belt-tightening times, more and more small business owners are turning to the “virtual” world for their secretarial and professional support. Today’s Virtual Assistants offer the same dedication, skill level and administrative services one might find in any office team, but they offer these at a greatly reduced bottom line. The difference is that a client only pays for the hours an assignment takes — there are no sick days, vacations, or company-paid benefits in the virtual world. It’s just the work and nothing but the work! And since VA’s work remotely, the business owner doesn’t even have to provide a cubicle, telephone, or a computer. Assignments are transmitted at the speed of light via the internet or fax. In addition to the usual services like document creation, email management and transcription, many virtual assistants also offer web design, online computer training, freelance writing and marketing efforts.
Most recently, the IVAA elected Cindy Opong, owner of marketing and administrative services company, Creative Assistants, to serve as President in 2009. Like many virtual professionals, Cindy Opong has a specific niche and passion – hers is for technology, and this has made her a leader in her field, highly sought after by both her peers and senior level executives all over the country. She is also a well-respected resource both to the online world and in her real-life community of Colorado Springs. Like many virtual workers, the shifting economy poses unique risks to Cindy’s business, but she has been able to parlay her work with the IVAA into many key professional relationships. Like many VA’s in today’s online world, Cindy has a passion for working virtually as well as a unique skillset. In fact, like most of the volunteer executive team at the IVAA, Cindy could be the poster child for Virtual Professionals everywhere. With many years as an entrepreneur, a broad background in administration and a focus on high-end IT services, plus being a small-business owner herself, Cindy is uniquely suited to help her clients achieve the highest level of productivity and profit on every project, every day.
For men and women working from home being able to form these online relationships (often through social networking or chat rooms and teleseminars), is “virtually” priceless. It is the key to their professional sustainability and perhaps a huge inroad to keeping our nation and its workers viable, flexible and sought after in a changing world.
Mary Agnes Antonopoulos
Freelance Writer, Web Copy, Social Networking Expert
845-325-4492
