First, it goes without saying that Barb Lang is an incredible organizer.  Even with all of the challenges she faced this year, which she handled with complete professionalism, she pulled off an awesome FoVA Conference.  Thank you Barb for all you did to make the event so full of great information and resources, and by bringing together some really long-time leaders of our industry.  I was truly in awe.

In no particular order, I would like to acknowledge some of what those of you who didn’t attend FoVA missed, and what those of us who did, enjoyed.

Kathie Thomas, of A Clayton’s Secretary, not only came all the way from Australia to wow us with her Social Media and Blogging session (my head is still spinning Kathie), but Kathie is one of those pioneers of our industry who was promoting VAs in the early ‘90’s, when we weren’t even called VAs yet.  While she began in Australia, it didn’t take long for her seeds to spread into Europe and ultimately the U.S.  We are very fortunate to have someone like Kathie out there promoting us, and coaching and training new VAs to help solidify our industry and create business standards.

I was so touched to find out that during the giveaway of my One-on-One Coaching program, that had been narrowed down to three newbie VAs, she stepped up (as did one other savvy industry leader) to agree to coach one of the other newbies at no charge.  You ROCK, Kathie!

Stacy Brice, visionary and founder of AssistU.com, is someone who really stands out in our industry for all the ways she gives back, and for the standards she sets and maintains with VAs who graduate from her program.  While we all know that the late Thomas Leonard is the person attributed with coining the phrase, ‘virtual assistant’, did you know that the VA he was speaking of was Stacy Brice?

Stacy, with Dawn Goldberg by her side, are a great team who support, promote and educate clients, as well as budding VAs on the advantages of working with us.

Tawnya Sutherland really doesn’t need much of an introduction.  If you don’t know who Tawnya is, you’re not really trying.  Tawnya is one of the most giving people I’ve ever met.  She finds ways to connect with every single participant at these conferences, and gives so much of herself in the way of knowledge and resources, it’s staggering.  Her VANA (vanetworking.com) forum, VAInsider group, and training system are very well respected in the industry, and with clients.  With a forum membership of over 10,000, need I say more? At both the FoVA and the IVAA Summit she gave every participant a one-month trial in her VAInsider program – so incredible!

Sharon Williams of the Alliance For Virtual Business (www.allianceforvirtualbiz.com) has been a long-time supporter of the industry.  She is always willing to go out of her way to help someone in need, and runs a very active VA practice on top of all of her other endeavors.  She established the first ever Virtual Assistance Day (even registered it), and is the founder and organizer of the Online International Virtual Assistance Conference (www.oivac.com).  She is the other person who stood up and offered to coach a newbie when there was a drawing.  I’m just really overwhelmed by these wonderful ladies.

Pam Ivey (an avid supporter of VAs in the real estate niche, and beyond), Mary Lou Ashton (who offered each attendee $50 off her coaching program and had several very nice giveaways), Kristi Pavlik, and on and on.  Sitting among these women on the panel Saturday was truly an honor for me, and really made me think about how unique our industry is.

I hope that you will support and promote these women, and their programs, as you network with others throughout the industry.  Without them, and their kindness, we would not have such strength and support for our entire industry.  These are truly your leaders.

I want to thank each and every one of them, and anyone I may have missed, for all you do, and know that whenever someone approaches me about ‘how to’, I proudly promote you all and give them the most incredible opportunities to connect and grow within the VA industry.  Thank you, thank you thank you.

And I couldn’t close without saying how much fun I had meeting and connecting with everyone in attendance at FoVA – it is a time and place I will not soon forget.

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