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HoustonSaturday, April 10, 2021 | 7 PM | Admin Awards LIVE! 2021 Live Webcast & Watch Parties

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Nominations DeadlineExtended to March 1, 2021

Welcome to the fifth annual Houston Admin Awards, a public celebration of Administrative excellence reserved for extraordinary Administrative Professionals serving as Executive Assistants, Administrative Assistants, Office Managers and any professional serving in an administrative capacity, a profession which is represented by over 100 job titles. Nominations will be accepted through February 10th, and thanks to our Program Sponsors, there is no application fee. All nominations are submitted via our website (simply click the Nominate button) and includes the option of submitting nominations in one or more of the nine award individual award categories and the one company award category.

Cheers to Nominee Cocktail ReceptionMarch 4, 2021Zoom

This year's Cheers to Nominees Cocktail Reception will be a virtual Zoom Happy Hour from 4:00 - 5:00 PM (CST). This event kicks off the competition and is a celebration of all program Nominees prior to finalist announcements. and is complimentary. We'll celebrate 2021 Nominee's, answer questions and get everybody excited about the 2021 Admin Awards LIVE! event!

Finalist Notification WeekMarch 8 - 12

Finalists are notified of their advancement in the competition during finalist notification week. This typically happens via email and our website but in some markets may be delivered in person by our Finalist Notification Street Team.

Admin Awards GalaApril 10 - 7:00 PM (CST)Via live event streaming of Admin Awards 2021 LIVE!

In the can-do spirit of the Admins we honor, The Admin Awards is excited to present Admin Awards 2021 LIVE! This unstoppable celebration of administrative excellence will deliver our iconic awards program via live event streaming to Admin Awards watch parties across Houston where attendees will cheer on their Finalists and party from the comfort of their homes and offices. Following a full week of exciting festivities, The Houston Admin Awards 'Good as Gold' Gala will celebrate this year’s Finalists and reveal the 2021 Award Winners, who will receive their iconic glass Admin Awards "Publisher’s Clearing House" style as our street team safely hand-delivers each Award in person. Watch parties will have an opportunity to enjoy an extraordinary dinner experience provided by hand-picked local caterers, top-shelf libations and lots of delightful surprises to create an evening of fun while making every Admin feel like royalty. While the shape of this year’s Awards Gala is reimagined, the "The Academy Awards for Admins" will continue many of our important traditions throughout the week and will culminate in the joyful and inspiring evening we all look forward to each year!

About Colleen Barrett: Her Journey from Secretary to President of Southwest Airlines and the Award that Bears Her Name

The Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence is the most coveted and prestigious honor bestowed by The Admin Awards and is named after a legend in the administrative profession, a woman who first proved herself indispensable as corporate secretary to former Southwest Airlines CEO Herb Kelleher before ascending the ranks to President and COO of the Dallas-based company in 2001. Throughout her five-decade career at Southwest Colleen advanced from Legal Secretary to VP of Administration, to EVP of Customers to President and COO and President of one of the world’s most successful airlines. Since 2008 Colleen has served as President Emeritus of Southwest and is revered for her leadership and decision-making abilities, along with her dedication to ensuring the needs of customers, employees, and all other stakeholders are met. Colleen has won many business and industry awards including one of the most important, historic and visible aerospace awards in the world, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy which reflects a timeline of the most innovative inventors, explorers, industrialists, and public servants in aeronautics and astronautics.  

Colleen Barrett and Herb Kelleher

Colleen is also a fierce advocate for the administrative profession and she understands first-hand the extraordinary impact that high performing Admins have on an organization’s success. The Colleen Barrett Award honors Administrative Professionals who are following in her hallowed footsteps. Barrett has long credited Kelleher with helping her to succeed: “If you have a boss who will let you stretch,” she said, then you have opportunities to learn. With the Colleen Barrett Award, bosses also have an opportunity to show superstar admins how much their dedication to excellence means — and how far they too can potentially rise. The award will be presented by Barrett to an Administrative Professional who best exhibits those traits that helped her have an extraordinary impact in her role as an Admin and include: high proficiency, shares the same values as their organization, is passionately committed to their organization’s purpose, demonstrates a legendary passion for customer service internally and externally, and has a heart for employee advocacy. Colleen Barrett, Servant Leader and Superstar

Colleen Barrett presents the Colleen Barrett Award at the 2015 Dallas Admin Awards

Lou LindseyAIG
Sharon BellKarel’s Unique Barber & Style Shop
Meredith HayesDaVita Kidney Care
Marchelle ClevelandCheniere Energy
Violet Gobert-PowellJustice Forward
Miho HigashideOsaka Gas USA Corporation
Jennifer MitchellAIG
Sabina NugentBrookdale Senior Living
Mae ReyesBaylor College of Medicine
Misty RussoOffice Manager In Transition
Hannah SchultzMETHODarchitecture, PLLC
Harriet SharrardHess Corporation
Norvella SmithAIG

Contribute A Major Prize and All Eyes will be on your Company at the Gala

The Admin Awards, referred to by many as “The Academy Awards for Admins” is accepting a limited number of Major Prize contributions which will be awarded during “Prize Breaks” throughout the awards ceremony. Past prizes have included all-expenses-paid vacations, electronics, spa packages, gift cards, airline tickets, designer purses and much, much more! Our Prize Breaks have become legendary and represent a potent way to endear your brand to these deserving and connected Administrative Professionals while also enjoying the captive audience of 450-650 executive and administrative attendees during the ceremony (size varies by market).

Here’s how our prize partnership program works:

  • 14 companies are showcased during three “Prize Breaks” which happen intermittently in between the nine award presentations to an audience of Administrative Professionals, their executive counterparts and coworkers.
  • Minimum prize value is $500, subject to review and approval
  • Prize Partners receive prominent display of their logo and giveaway on the big 16’ screens for about one minute while the prize contribution is drawn.
  • Every Admin that attends the Gala is automatically entered to win one of the 14 major prizes. An est. 250 – 350 admins attend each Gala.
  • Prize Partners are given the contact list of Admins including email addresses for future follow up.
  • Prize Partners will receive one ticket to attend the Gala.
  • While not all prizes are accepted, those that we believe would delight our community of Administrative Professionals and include a value of over $500 (although many are in the $1,000 – $2,500 range) are what gets us most excited.
There sometimes is a cost to participate in the Major Prize program depending on the prize, est. prize value and other factors.   To view more details or to submit your major prize for consideration, click here.

The Admin Awards recognizes administrative excellence in nine individual award categories, which may vary slightly from market to market to reflect the leading industries in each program area. Below is a list of all existing award categories and their respective markets in addition to the Founders Award which is the only company award offered by the Admin Awards and is described below. Nominators do have the ability to nominate an Administrative Professional in more than one award category although an admin can only be declared a finalist in one award category (the award category with the highest score from the judges is retained).

The Strategic Partnership Award

This award embodies the tremendous impact an Executive Assistant and Executive can have when they work together in true business partnership to advance the needs of the business by relying on the EA role to deliver greater strategic value to the executive and organization.Award Category Questions

Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence

This is the Admin Awards’ most prestigious award and honors the Admin that best demonstrates many of the qualities which enabled Colleen Barrett’s rise from legal secretary to President and Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Airlines.Award Category Questions

Administrative Excellence in Public Service Award

The Administrative Excellence in Public Service Award honors Administrative Professionals that are involved in either the public or private sectors in the following industries: Healthcare, Biotech, Pharma, Education, Government, Nonprofit, Military, Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue, Politics. Professionals in these areas have made significant contributions to the success of their organizations in an Administrative capacity.Award Category Questions

Above the Call Award

This is the award that's all about providing exceptional customer service both internally and externally and honors the Admin whose job responsibility involves significant interaction with others such as coworkers, customers, vendors, company visitors etc.Award Category Questions

Loyalty Award

The Loyalty Award is presented to the Administrative Professional that has a long history of effective service in the Admin profession (minimum of 15 years) and/or has a long history of effective service to their existing company or executive in an administrative capacity (minimum of 10 years).Award Category Questions

Spirit Award

This award celebrates Admins that are the "heartbeat" of their companies, and consistently exhibit a positive, can-do outlook and is the person that people are drawn to during good days and bad for their optimism, enthusiasm, and positivity.Award Category Questions

Achiever Award

For Admins who have a reputation for “getting it done” – either a significant project that had a company-wide impact or day in day out achievement of tasks and projects.Award Category Questions

Leadership Award

This award recognizes the Admin who leads others (formally or informally) and demonstrates a variety of leadership qualities including persistence, focus, integrity, innovation, patience, decisiveness, open-mindedness, empowerment, generosity and a passion for helping fellow employees and their organization succeed.  Award Category Questions

Rookie of the Year Award

For Admins new to the profession, this Award celebrates those with less than three years of service in the administrative profession and who demonstrate great potential to excel and grow in their role.Award Category Questions

Founders Award

The Admin Awards' only "company" award, this award recognizes organizations that provide an exceptional work environment through the demonstration of specific criteria that brings out the very best in its Administrative Professionals.Award Category Questions
Founders AwardNearterm CorporationCheniere
Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative ExcellenceCassandra Anderson, Texas Children's HospitalMarcy Candela, Platinum Copier Solutions LLCBrandy Meyer, Cokinos | Young
Above the Call AwardJennifer Avalos, Cheniere Energy, Inc.Isabel De La Torre, Texas Children's HospitalAmber Rae Majors, FueltraxKassandra Martinez, Baker HughesAshlyn Monteilh, JacobsSarah Robertson, Callon Petroleum CompanyLisa Santillan, HUB International Insurance Services
Achiever AwardLaVern Clegg, DaVitaKathy Gilbert, Lockton Companies - Texas SeriesBrittnie Wright, Texas Children's Hospital
Administrative Excellence in Public Service AwardMimi Arce, Fort Bend ISDMelissa Falcon, Texas Children's HospitalStacey Green, Harris County Sheriff's Office Community Engagement DivisionJanet Tezino, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO)
Leadership AwardCassandra Anderson, Texas Children's HospitalKara Balluck, Robert HalfBonnie Harbolt, Discount TireJessica Moreno, Meridian Energy Group, IncHeather Motschman, ArchrockBrandi O'Rorke, Sentry Environmental SolutionsJamie Prejean, Cheniere Energy, Inc.
Loyalty AwardKelly Alessi, Southwest AirlinesPatty Honeycutt, DavitaKathryn LaBrosse, Nearterm CorporationAmanda Leger, Cheniere Energy, Inc.Leisa Ruud, Lockton Companies - Texas SeriesCarol Lapsley, Hess Corporation
Rookie of the Year AwardCynthia Aguilar, Hertz Investment Group, LLCChelsea Conley, ShellLeah Cooley, Marsh & McLennan AgencyMarie LeBlanc, Cheniere Energy, Inc.Molly Snayd, Effex Management SolutionsKirby Steiner, Southwest Airlines
Spirit AwardCindy Abelenda, Cheniere Energy, Inc.Cindy Bruchmiller, Southwest AirlinesKim Humlicek, Cheniere Energy, Inc.Felicia Marin, Callon Petroleum CompanyBrandee Mireles, Cheniere Energy, Inc.Shea Smith, Cheniere Energy, Inc.Toinette Wright, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO)
The Strategic Partnership AwardMonique Brotzman, Alera GroupMagideh Marlowe, Callon Petroleum CompanyMisty Wellborn, ChampionX
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