HoustonFriday, March 31, 2023 | Westin Galleria, Houston

Vickie Henrichsen is Administrative Specialist for KBR/NASA, where she most recently has supported the organization’s expanded space efforts. The 24/7 schedule of the International Space Station requires a special level of commitment, which Vickie demonstrates without fail — there have been days when she’s returned to work as late as 11 p.m. to make sure the on-console flight controllers receive a late-night dinner. She has built partnerships with NASA customers, is highly respected by astronauts and senior management, and collaborates and shares her experience in the aerospace industry with her Admin team so they can better understand the administrative processes required to support astronaut training. Vickie is a passionate advocate for Human Space Flight and shares that passion with the community, interns and new Administrative Professionals. Her “can-do” spirit inspires those around her, and her resourcefulness ensures tasks are completed in a highly professional manner. To say her work ethic, expertise and demeanor are “out of this world” is truly an understatement.

Patricia Dugas is Project Controls Specialist for Cheniere Energy, and in her 45 years of Admin experience, she hasn’t just done it all — she’s done it all spectacularly well. Better known to her colleagues as “Miss Pat,” she is a master of customer service who proves day in and day out there’s no task she can’t — or won’t — tackle, from building calendars and databases to ordering and tracking millions of dollars of inventory. But it’s her caring nature that truly sets her apart. Miss Pat mentored new Administrative Professionals when Corpus Christi and Midship Pipelines were commissioned and spent weeks in South Texas and Oklahoma guiding new employees on what was required to meet Cheniere standards. While most people can only plug into an already established process that flows smoothly, Miss Pat has the rare ability to create or improve a process. She consistently keeps the pipelines — and the business — flowing in the right direction.

Michelle Bynum is Executive Assistant for Legacy Community Health, where she has proven to be an invaluable resource, whether effortlessly assisting during a restructure or supporting the logistics of clinical programs. Her coworkers marvel at how willing she is to help, no matter how much it adds to her plate. In fact, Michelle’s impact on Legacy extends far beyond her job description — her character and work ethic support, validate and propel the goals of the agency. Michelle’s heart beats to the drum of Legacy’s mission to aid underserved populations across a 90-mile radius, and it’s her “why” that serves as a guiding light in uncertain times, helping Legacy to pinpoint how to best serve an even more disparate community of patients. And on top of all that, she never forgets a colleague’s birthday or to check in on them when they need it most. Michelle is the backbone of Legacy’s warm, welcoming and thriving environment.

Jessica Creamer is Program Director for B.I.G. Love Cancer Care Services — a role that’s perfect for a person with a heart as big as hers. Jessica oversees programs for Texas Children’s Hospitals in Houston and The Woodlands and for M.D. Anderson, and she personally ensures that any family whose child is diagnosed with cancer receives everything they need, whether that be food, toys, clothes or toiletries. She even searches for special items and makes sure every child gets exactly what they asked for. In addition, she handles all of B.I.G. Love’s fundraisers and events, and travels from one hospital to the other spreading joy to those who need it most. In fact, she’s so committed to the organization’s mission that she was on her computer putting in a lift request while in labor with her third child last year. Jessica is the embodiment of her motto, “Hang tough, laugh hard and lend a hand.”

Crystal Roberson is Program Director for UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she quickly established herself as the go-to leader for any and everything in research administration. Her ability to navigate institutional policies, and then train her team and others in their application, was so exemplary that she received the Excellence in Research Support award at the 2018 Division of Cancer Prevention Employee Recognition Awards — a program that recognizes one employee per division for their extraordinary support. Crystal’s caring and approachable demeanor, problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence have earned her the respect of peers, direct reports, one-ups and institutional leadership. Her office door is always open, literally and figuratively, and she embodies the word “leadership” in multiple ways — she is respectful, kind and always makes time for her employees. Crystal is a rare combination of knowledge, efficiency and compassion, solidifying her reputation as one of the best team members at MD Anderson and a key reason for its high morale.

Karen Reyes is Executive Assistant for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, where her cross-functional knowledge allows her to seamlessly navigate the company’s ecosystem and culture. Throughout her more than 25-year tenure at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, she has been wholeheartedly dedicated to the company’s people and processes during pivotal milestones, including the 2015 HP Inc/Hewlett Packard Enterprise separation and the various spinoffs following the split. Needless to say, Karen was well prepared to join the Office of the CEO, and her loyalty to her role was on full display recently when she relocated after HPE headquarters moved to Houston. Though relocation was optional, she volunteered to be on-site to best support the CEO. That level of commitment is no surprise considering Karen always knows how to get things done and she operates and represents the Office of the CEO with grace, diplomacy — and just the right amount of assertiveness.

Leah Cooley is Senior Executive Assistant for Marsh & McLennan Agency, where she has proved herself indispensable to the Head of Office in Houston, assisting with culture initiatives as well as creating margin and bandwidth for those she supports. She reaches out with questions and constantly looks for ways to improve and refine processes, and as the liaison between staff and the Head of Office, Leah strives for excellence, providing constructive feedback, escalating issues and taking the initiative to solve problems before they escalate. That has been especially evident throughout the pandemic, particularly in her approach to creating fun, culture-building events like a fall football tailgate with trivia, games and prizes; holiday parties; and a daiquiri cart to serve colleagues during the return to office. Integrity, accountability, passion and commitment to clients is integral to Marsh McLennan’s culture, and Leah possesses all of those qualities — and more.

Charrie Bradshaw is Administrative Assistant at Forthea, but she’s perhaps better known as a “logistical plate spinner” — she not only handles the calendar of the president, but also coordinates event planning, team building and social activities such as ping pong tournaments and “Wellness Bingo.” But beyond the delightful activities and events, Charrie truly raises the spirits of the entire office by being dependable, kind, gracious and always willing to offer assistance, no matter the task. At every company meeting, she receives a callout because she consistently approaches her responsibilities with the goal of easing her colleagues’ burdens and empowering them to achieve more. Forthea’s stated purpose is “To experience the joy of helping others be more successful,” which Charrie exemplifies in absolutely everything she does. Considering her unwaveringly cheerful attitude, it might be a surprise to learn she moonlights as a roller derby blocker. Charrie brings that kindness and toughness to her job — and she never misses a beat.

Robin Hensley is Executive Assistant at Hess Corporation, where she is routinely described as one of the most committed and passionate EAs her leaders have ever worked with. She consistently goes above and beyond normal administrative duties by participating in and contributing to the business, its people and processes, and development discussions and plans. Robin regularly makes actionable suggestions that improve organizational effectiveness and engagement — no small task considering she manages administrative responsibilities for the broader Hess Midstream organization in addition to directly supporting the President and COO, CFO and ELT. The “Hess Way of Working” is based on driving continuous improvement by building effective teams and trusted relationships, and Robin’s strongest skill set is her way of working. She is approachable, inquisitive, industrious and, most importantly, kind. Her steadfast commitment to supporting the entire organization has improved communication, collaboration and the performance of the organization — and makes Hess Midstream a better place to work for everyone.

Marcy Candela has been with Platinum Copier Solutions for just more than two years, but she has dedicated 25 years of service to being an exemplary Administrative Professional. While Marcy was initially hired with an accounts payable role in mind, during her career with Platinum, she moved upward in vendor relations and project coordinator roles and is now Executive Assistant to the President/CEO and a member of his leadership team. Marcy earned a B.S. degree in interdisciplinary studies with a minor in speech communication from the University of Houston-Downtown. Her strong business communication skills have enabled the President/CEO to leverage her on critical projects that require attention to detail, word-smithing, and professional acumen. Marcy’s focus on teamwork, integrity, respect, communication, professionalism, and credibility are frequently cited as reasons she is admired throughout the organization. Marcy is privy to confidential information regarding financials, employee issues, customer escalations and the President/CEO’s personal matters. In every instance, she handles such information with the utmost confidentiality and professionalism. Marcy takes her responsibilities to heart and exhibits consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and business ethics principles. She has gained in-depth knowledge of the company’s service delivery model and processes in a short time and has become mentor in numerous ways. Marcy’s attention to detail and follow-through are critical for accounts payable processes. After a recent personality assessment, Marcy was classified as a “contemplator”; she is analytical and a logical thinker – something that proved invaluable in a recent 11-month facility new water source system project that required hours of detailed, accurate work. She boosts employee morale by coordinating team functions and honoring special occasions. From announcements to benefits coordination, she ensures employees feel informed and valued. Marcy is most engaged when she is working on multiple projects and making a positive impact on the work environment. Marcy’s email conclusion sums her up her work ethic best: “I appreciate the opportunity to assist with your request.”

Kassandra Martinez, Executive Assistant to Baker Hughes’ Assistant Controller for Oilfield Services, has spent more than two decades going above the call for executives, staff members, and others in the organization. Imagine learning a company’s general ledger system without any training as an accountant. That’s Kassandra. Voluntarily picking up administrative responsibilities outside of her typical workload? Yes, she does that, too. Facilities management, cost control, coordinating executive travel, scheduling teambuilding events, and seamlessly navigating the complexities of a global company – this is an average Tuesday for Kassandra. She is laser focused on company initiatives and in everything she does, she continually shows a commitment to Baker Hughes’ core values – Grow, Collaborate, Lead, Care. It is no surprise that other administrative professionals look to Kassandra for guidance and assistance and consider her a role model. Even company EA’s in the UK take notice of Kassandra’s abilities, describing her as a trusted resource they can count on to ensure everything is taken care of whenever their executives travel to Houston. In her own office or thousands of miles away, she has become Baker Hughes’ go-to for support whether a task falls under her responsibilities or not. Her passion for her role is evident in the care she demonstrates for others. Everyone is continually amazed by how she takes it upon herself to look for ways to improve her skillset through webinars or company training. It is no wonder colleagues describe her as “an advocate for her profession, team player, kind, caring, generous, and smart” – an impressive combination, indeed.

LaVern Clegg has been an Administrative Professional for more than 20 years, five of them spent as Executive Assistant for the Divisional Vice President at DaVita. LaVern supports the regional People Services team and more than 5,000 teammates in the company’s geographic market. She has been promoted several times throughout her career and continues to achieve new goals daily. She has an uncanny ability to intuitively recognize the needs of those around her, always problem solving so that each team member has every opportunity to excel. She continually looks for ways to add value to her team – organizing meetings, pulling together relevant reports, reaching out to business leaders, and problem solving. She is a master of organizing and executing meetings for large numbers of executives – often working nearly a year in advance to ensure their success. It is not uncommon for LaVern to work with 50 or more high-level executives at once, and she always executes her responsibilities with professionalism, resourcefulness, grace, and tenacity. She has guided the company through the pandemic, hurricanes and the big Texas winter storm, stepping up to help employees in any way possible. By streamlining hiring and coaching practices, LaVern contributed to a bottom-line improvement of almost $50,000, and she is the company go-to for PowerPoint presentations that convey key information in fun and memorable ways. LaVern has become a valuable mentor to other Administrative Assistants at DaVita, and her dedication to helping others extends beyond the workplace.

In her 11 years as Transactional Paralegal for the Legal Department of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Janet Tezino has demonstrated a tireless dedication to the Authority’s complex transactional needs and administrative support to a small but mighty legal team who advises one of the nation’s largest transit authorities. Her colleagues often refer to her as a “Janet of All Trades,” as she is the Authority’s sole paralegal for legal department’s transactional division, managing a wide spectrum of complex transactional, procurement, board, legal and election-related matters. Janet is highly resourceful and fiercely committed to holding each attorney accountable for meeting deadlines and good customer service. She is considered the heartbeat of the transactional team and does an excellent job at prioritizing tasks from multiple attorneys, making herself available for random, time-sensitive tasks. A cancer survivor, Janet applies the industriousness, perseverance, and immutable faith she used to combat her illness to her work duties, always supporting and guiding her young staff—even making sure they take breaks to grab lunch! Janet was indispensable in her work during the pandemic, transitioning the team into remote and virtual workspaces. And if this isn’t enough, Janet stays involved in local community needs, especially those that have been amplified due to the pandemic, such as school lunch drives and holiday donations at a homeless shelter. Her irreplaceable and invaluable contributions to METRO, community engagement, enthusiastic and loving approach to mentoring, and collaborative approach to problem-solving have cultivated a culture of kindness and family throughout the company.

There are core values at Texas Children’s Hospital that all Administrative Professionals are expected to uphold. The first among them? Lead tirelessly. This is what Cassandra Anderson, Assistant to the Executive Vice President of Texas Children’s Hospital – The Woodlands, does every day. She follows up closely with the other core values – amplify unity, embrace freedom and live compassionately. In her role, Cassandra manages the EVP’s packed calendar and often travels to other hospital sites to assist her on a weekly basis, usually without being asked. No task is too big or too small for Cassandra. She has been serving in some capacity as an Administrative Professional for 31 years, 12 with the hospital, and demonstrates leadership by always placing others before herself and putting forth the effort to make herself available to her peers. Cassandra is the trailblazer and leader of the company’s Administrative Support Professionals Network, created to help assist and develop Administrative Support Professionals within the hospital system. She pushes other Executive Assistants toward collaboration and unity by bringing them together for events and educational opportunities. If there is a patient’s family at any location that appears lost or disoriented, Cassandra stops whatever she is doing to help. Trash on the floor? Cassandra takes care of it. Books and toys in the lobby? She organizes those, too, so the space is clean for the next visitor. From assisting the EVP to handling the tiniest details, Cassandra is passionate about the hospital system, and it shows! Others naturally follow her lead.

In today’s ever-changing work environment, it is rare to come across an employee who has worked for the same company five years, much less 22. But Kathryn LaBrosse, Business Manager for Nearterm Corporation, has done just that. When colleagues say she is consistent and persistent, it’s exemplified by her tenure alone. Her loyalty to Nearterm makes her a true leader, and her dedication and knowledge about the business is evident in everything she does, whether that is payroll, HR, employee onboarding, travel arrangements or coordinating quarterly luncheons and office parties. Her primary job is to support recruiters and principals, so they are more efficient. Kathryn is always the first one to the office and the last to leave, often working weekends to ensure things are running smoothly. She continually finds effective virtual working solutions in the pandemic, and during the big winter storm, hurricanes, and floods, she has helped keep the team operational, connected, and updated. Momma Kat, as some team members call her, places the company’s valued team members first. Each day, Kathryn suits up, shows up, and does her job well, always leading by example. One colleague sums it up best: “Kathryn makes the impossible, possible, and it is clear with the passion she exudes for her team and her job, this is what she was born to do. She truly is the glue to Nearterm.”

If anyone needs to master a class in successfully balancing a new career and a young family, look to Chelsea Conley. For the past two and a half years, she has been the Administrative Assistant to the Senior VP-Shales US for Shell Exploration & Production Co. Yes, she is a rookie, but she’s also a recent graduate, mother of twins and responsible for coordinating all administrative duties for the company’s VP and the nine-person leadership team. She enthusiastically went after this prestigious role in the organization with no prior direct professional assistant experience and has been successfully able to showcase her talents through the results of her hard work, project management skills, and a collaborative attitude. Chelsea manages calendars for several leaders across multiple time zones and handles confidential information. Proactive and inquisitive, Chelsea seeks to learn and develop her professional skills an understand more about business operations. Her positive attitude, combined with her sharp skills, have provided her the opportunity to manage projects, including moving hundreds of employees to a new office space. Her work was so seamless that she is now the return to premise focal point post-pandemic. She joined the organization during a challenging time when the business was trying to prove itself amidst organizational changes, impacts on low oil prices and the pandemic. Chelsea faced the challenges head on and supported her executive so he could focus on providing direction to the organization, exactly the boots-on-the-ground attitude deserving of a Rookie of the Year Award.

Shea Smith’s office role is the Senior Administrative Assistant to the Chief Compliance & Ethics Officer at Cheniere Energy, but she has a way of making each executive at Cheniere feel like she is their EA as well. There is just something about Shea’s caring, attentive spirt and willingness to help that stands out. Sometimes it is the little things that are tough to consistently achieve. Staying optimistic, upbeat, and thinking of others – Shea does this every day, keeping the work environment happier and healthier for everyone. She is always looking for new ways to bring team members together. As leader of the Cheniere Administrative Professional Support team, she finds creative ways for team members to interact with other departments, including encouraging city-wide volunteer opportunities. She is the first person in a meeting to greet everyone and leads warm-up exercises to get everything ready for long technical meetings. Shea’s dedication and contribution to the department and the company is indisputable. As one colleague says, “I cannot see how the department can run and coordinate effectively without Shea’s relentless and dedicated support.” By handling hundreds of seemingly simple, small tasks and actively offering help, Shea fills the gaps and connects different parts within the department. From sending out birthday reminders and ordering lunches to complex invoicing and keeping and managing executive calendars, she gets it done. And if she doesn’t know the answer to a question, she quickly and happily does the research to find it. No matter how complex an issue, Shea never says “no” to a request and makes it seem like each one is the highest priority by addressing it with interest, enthusiasm and promptness.

Misty Wellborn is more than the Executive Assistant to the Chief Digital Officer at ChampionX – she operates like a partner in various departments, making it fitting to take home The Strategic Partnership Award. Although Misty has been with ChampionX for just under three years, she has been an Administrative Assistant for 15 years, collecting expertise and experience along that way that is adeptly applied in her role today. In 2020, Misty graciously took on an HR role to support the business during a critical time and has served as first contact for several HR-related issues, a plus as she seeks to broaden her career path in this area. She repeatedly proves that she is a reliable “right hand” who can adapt to any situation. Misty is fantastic with data and is often described as organizational and a tech wizard. In her role as EA, Misty supports the Chief Digital Officer and Digital organization cross ChampionX. Misty performs a variety of work that contributes to Digital’s success – she is extremely organized -- managing multiple projects and schedules for the Chief Digital Officer and leadership team. She pulls together conferences on time and under budget, took the initiative to develop a Management Operating System, books and coordinates international travel for executives and even learned sales and collection reporting for the finance department to better her skills and to help the company. She has served on the Crisis Management Team during the pandemic and has knowledgeably guided the company in various dimensions of change. Misty also helped found Administrative Professionals – Houston, a networking group that focuses on career development, mentoring and volunteering. She serves as the mentorship lead and gives back to other Admins by teaching what she has learned, making her a genuine "guiding light" who is admired by many.

Harriet Sharrard is Executive Assistant to the President and COO of Hess Corporation. She has worked for 33 years as an administrative professional, with the past eight years spent at Hess. In her current role, she supports the President and COO of Hess, as well as teams of executives from other locations when they are in town, including the company’s board members. Harriet flawlessly manages details ranging from travel arrangements to coordinating board meetings to managing schedules and appointments, among many other responsibilities. Additionally, she is a certified notary public, as well as an expert at computers, systems administration and all aspects of contemporary business software. Harriet’s professionalism and attention to detail is often described as second to none, and she has earned the trust and respect of executives from across the Hess Corporation.

Julie Brandwein is a Document Control Coordinator Intermediate at Archrock. She has worked as an administrative professional for 10 years, and has spent the past five years at Archrock, where she coordinates, organizes, tracks and maintains project and unit specific files for the company’s fleet of equipment while also handling travel planning, expense report filing and special projects as assigned. Additionally, she has volunteered countless hours supporting the local community — this year alone, she coordinated Archrock’s Pink Out Program, worked with volunteers to clean a road adopted by Archrock, and once again coordinated the collection of toys for Archrock’s annual Toys for Tots campaign. Julie, a mother of six, says her greatest achievement is her family, who taught her excellent communication and organizational skills, and how to be a superior multitasker.

Kevin Murphree is the Facilities Manager at HCSS, where he has worked as an administrative professional for the past four years. In his role, Kevin leads a diverse number of projects on a team that is known for bringing interdepartmental cohesiveness to HCSS. He is responsible for ensuring the HCSS building, which houses more than 350 employees and 50 customers on any given day, is functioning effectively and efficiently. Kevin also is key to the company culture, hosting parties for employees, including the annual HCSS Christmas party. He is committed to employee safety — even receiving training as an EMT and helping out with HCSS’ Hurricane Harvey outreach — and his leadership has been critical to HCSS’ expansion, in which he brought his expertise to the building and staffing of additional facilities.

Heather Vasquez is the Office Manager at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. She has worked as an administrative professional for 17 years, all of which were spent with MD Anderson. In her current role, she is the program coordinator for two of MD Anderson’s fellowship programs, and her hard work has led to the programs receiving continual accreditation and national attention. She also handles the lab automation project budget, arranges meetings, coordinates CheckPath assessments for faculty, and arranges employee recognition receptions. Additionally, Heather recently worked with a team of executives during a CMS survey at the hospital, handling the arrangement of committee meetings, the creation and updating of policies, and all other administrative needs for the team with her trademark tenacity and efficiency. She is known for her selfless attitude and genuine concern for anyone who crosses her path, whether directly related to her job or not.

Julie Schwab is the Executive Assistant to the Provost for Administration, Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, at Sam Houston State University, where she has worked for the past 17 years. In her role, Julie coordinates efforts among Sam Houston State’s eight colleges and various support areas within the Division of Academic Affairs. She serves as a mentor to other administrative assistants and trains new administrative assistants who are hired. Because of her administrative talents, Julie — a first-generation Sam Houston State graduate — was chosen to serve as a master mentor for the campus. She is known for her excellent customer service skills, even speaking on the topic at staff retreats; her unfailingly positive attitude; and her unshakable commitment to building both the reputation of Sam Houston State and the ever-evolving administrative profession.

Dora Aguiluz has served as Executive Assistant for the Senior Vice President of Programs for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston for the past five years. She has 31 years of experience as an administrative professional, and has dedicated her experience and skills to Catholic Charities since 1998. In her current role, Dora handles extreme cases of client need, working tirelessly to locate assistance for individuals and families. She also serves on a number of volunteer committees that improve the culture and functioning of Catholic Charities internally, as well as the organization’s outreach to the community. Dora volunteers annually for Advocacy Day, during which Catholic Charities takes staff and community members to the state capital to advocate for client needs. Additionally, Dora has provided disaster relief services after major storms like Hurricanes Ike, Rita, Katrina, and Harvey; flood-relief services; and Christmas food and gift distribution, among other good deeds.

Rhonda Hoffman is the Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the CEO at GenOn. She has worked as an administrative professional for 20 years, with the past one-and-half-years spent at GenOn, where she took on the incredibly demanding task of supporting and managing an office that was relocating from Dallas to Houston. In her role, she essentially served as manager, office manager, executive assistant to six members of the C-Suite, procurement director, catering manager, snacks procurer and stocker, driver, delivery person, and general hand-holder, even onboarding more than 50 employees within the first four months. Rhonda has been central to making GenOn the successful organization it is today, and continues to go far beyond her job responsibilities — she is the first to congratulate someone on a success, celebrate a birthday, coordinate office socials, or lend a sympathetic ear.

Kariss Smith is an Administrative Assistant at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she started her administrative career after joining the Department of Laboratory Medicine in 2019. She ensures the doctors, supervisors and managers with whom she works receive quality support. During a routine day, she is the sections timekeeper, requisition operator, travel arranger, meeting organizer, and account reconciler — tasks that she handles with a professionalism far beyond her tenure. Kariss anticipates and stays ahead of all tasks, even diving into research and applying institutional-level policies and financial standards to her role, which has directly contributed to improved success in the operations of the Microbiology section. And her quest for new knowledge is only growing — recently, Kariss enrolled in graduate school, where she is pursuing a master’s in healthcare administration.

Sabina Nugent is District Director of Operations at Brookdale Senior Living. She has worked in the administrative profession for 20 years, with the past five years spent at Brookdale. Last year, she was promoted from Executive Director — supporting one senior living community with 60 employees and 80 residents — to District Director of Operations, supporting nine senior communities, 700 employees and 2,000 residents. No matter her role, she makes caregivers feel needed and appreciated, and ensures they feel empowered to ask questions and seek advice. Sabina is known for her unshakable positivity and genuine enthusiasm, and for her ability to find a solution to any concern posed by a resident or family member. During her time at Brookdale, she has improved budgeting, staff retention, and family and resident satisfaction, resulting in growing occupancy numbers for the company.

Mary Jane began her career 35 years ago at a small privately-owned company that provided comprehensive property tax administration. During this time, she was asked to handle a variety of functions, which she took on willingly and professionally. Not only did she handle administrative duties, she took care of research, case preparation and client relations in addition to other duties. Mary Jane not only dealt with clients, but tax office and appraisal district staff as well. She had to be compassionate and caring when dealing with clients and firm persistent, courteous and respectful when dealing with the staff at the tax offices and appraisal districts. Mary Jane developed many valuable relationships at the tax offices and appraisal districts which benefited the company as well as our clients. Outside of the office, Mary Jane has followed her granddaughter in Future Farmers of America events, attending her livestock showings regularly. She has also served on a couple of committees at the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo and is currently the Administrator of her committee, Rodeo Contestant Services.

Brande Miller joined Camden in June 2000 as the Executive Assistant to the CFO. She contributes to the success of Camden by playing an integral role in various company transactions while supporting the CFO and the Finance, Tax and Treasury teams. Over the last 19 years, Brande has been involved in many company initiatives including serving as a multiple year Camden Cares Leader, coordinating skits for Fall Frenzy, the liaison for Camden's Trust Managers for the Board Portal, and was one of the first mentors in Camden's Corporate Mentor Program. She is also a two-time Camden National ACE Award winner. Brande wears many hats in her daily work life. She could be doing anything from resolving Board Room technology issues to communicating with bankers to digging around in a copier trying to clear jams. It's never the same and she loves it that way! When Brande is not at work, she enjoys playing golf, watching football and hockey and spending time with her children, grandchildren and two dogs.

LilaJan has been with Southwest Airlines for a total of twelve years. She was an Admin for five years at the Houston Reservation Center, and has been at Hobby Airport since 2015 in the Station Services Office. Prior to joining Southwest Airlines, she held several Administrative positions in the banking industry, with property management companies, and with her church. Working at Southwest is very rewarding especially since the goal as an Admin is to give exceptional service to our internal Customers, namely our Agents, our Supervisors, and our Managers. She tries to fulfill their needs, sometimes before they even know that they have one. Her greatest accomplishment, though, has been being married to her wonderful husband Roger for 32 years, and to have raised four successful children.

Dolores Millican is a Senior Executive Assistant - Industry Relations at Halliburton. She has worked for 43 years of the company's 100 year history. She began her career in the Victoria, Texas district field office immediately after receiving an Associates of Arts degree in Business Administration in 1976. Dolores has held several positions after being promoted to Houston: division secretary, executive assistant for Executive Sales, and was selected to be one of the assistants to work on the corporate Project GO Team to restructure the company. Following the reorganization, she worked as the executive assistant for the Vice President of Industry Relations, and then promoted to Senior Executive Assistant. Dolores manages and facilitates hosts for their major entertainment venues, oversees the department's budget, and facilitates numerous industry events. She is an energetic, loyal, detail-oriented, and proactive person. Dolores is a current member of the Oil & Gas Admins International organization and Spindletop Charities volunteer.

Joselin Martinez is a Senior Administrative Coordinator to the Pediatric Department of Neurosurgery at Texas Children's Hospital, which is the largest and one of the highest-ranked Children's Hospital in the United States. Joselin works closely and assists the Chief of Neurosurgery Dr. Howard L. Weiner and Dr. Guillermo M. Aldave, as well as being the division's academic coordinator for the resident and fellowship program. She assists and streamlines complicated and tedious department processes daily. She has over 12 years of administrative experience, respectively in the tax law firm and healthcare field. Joselin has carried high independent responsibilities throughout her career and has been told by her team that she's an efficient stellar admin who has carried her role with the most courtesy, dedication, and extreme pleasant demeanor. Currently Joselin is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives as well as a member of the Medical Group Management Association where's she's actively involved. Joselin currently holds a Dual Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration and Business Administration as well as being certified as a medical office manager and lean six sigma.

Thelma Flores began her career 37 years ago as a secretary for a fast-paced company in the Houston area. Throughout her tenured career, Thelma recognized the importance of customer service and leaving a lasting impression for everyone she works with. The words "detail oriented" is not only an accurate description of Thelma's work ethic, but it has become a trademark. She manages all office supplies needed for the entire office which has grown tremendously in the past 20 years. Thelma started with the firm in 1998 when it was a 35-person practice. It has since grown to a staff count of 300+ with many diverse needs. Thelma resides in Katy, TX where she enjoys spending time with family, getting involved with her church, and traveling.

Judith Johnson, CAP, OM, PM, an Office Manager at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, has worked in the administrative profession for over 18 years. She holds specialty certifications in Office Management and Project Management. Judith manages the administrative personnel in the Department of Laboratory Medicine. She handles compliance, accreditation, budget, HR issues, and all operations for her Department. She served as the 2014/2015 President for IAAP's Medical Center Chapter and was a scholarship recipient at the 2013 EFAM in Anaheim, CA. She volunteers much time educating admins by presenting on topics such as "Your Written Communication, What Does It Say About You" and "Constructing Your Career''. She participated in mentorship workshops as a mock interviewer and resume reviewer. She provided editorial assistance for the 2011 and 2019 versions of the book, Laboratory Administration for Pathologists, of which she is acknowledged in both. Most recently, in 2019, she started the Administrative Professionals Development lecture series. Topics for these include "Professionalism and Civility'', "Real Colors", and "Emotional Intelligence".

Hannah Schultz grew up in Baytown, Texas as the middle child of 11 children. She has a passion for all things mechanical, from working on her car to installing HVAC systems. She spends her time outside of work trying to keep up with her boyfriend and his 2 sons, Nico (4 years old) and Evan (2 years old), who have a LOT of energy. At work, Hannah loves fixing problems and creating more efficient systems that improve productivity and help lower costs. She is proud to

Before she joined Accelerate Leaming, Inc. (ALin), Aidee was in the dental field for 20 years. She had always been excited about science and the mysteries of the universe. When the opportunity arose to help students have fun and learn about the wonderful world of science, she left the dental field to join ALI. Aidee is a liaison between various departments, employees, and vendors. She oversees expenditures and works with accounting to maintain the department's budget. In addition, she helps maintain an organized office, performs clerical duties, provides support for various curriculum projects, and completes executive support tasks to ensure organizational sustainability. Aidee's goal is to help the company grow by doing her part. She strives to build trust and strong long-term relationships with customers. In her spare time, she spends time with her family, swims, reads by the beach, and travels to exciting places.

Debra Fulcher has been an admin for 23 years. She currently serves as Office Manager at RSM US.   Even while managing an endless list of tasks, when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, Debra was part of the core communication team—checking in with employees to ensure their safety and get an idea of personal impacts from the storm. She then joined the fundraising team and helped to raise nearly $200,000 in disaster relief funds that were distributed directly to the employees. This unforeseen new responsibility was handled quickly and flawlessly - a testament to Debra's attention to detail, compassion and willingness to go above and beyond for her team.   Please join us in congratulating Debra Fulcher, winner of The Community Champion Award!

Kimberly Goiffon has been an admin for 2 years (one nomination says 2, other say 4).She currently serves as an Administrative Assistant at Method Architecture.   Kim is kind, humble, and radiates positivity. She is continually looking for ways to bring everyone together in a fun and creative way. She is largely responsible for the planning and coordination of office events like the Halloween cubicle decorating contests, onsite yoga classes, happy hours, volunteering at local food banks, barista bar, birthday celebrations, and work anniversary recognition. These events help employees to feel appreciated and give them a break from the day-to-day grind.   As her colleagues say, “She is a delight to work with and makes our company a better place to work!”

Rachel Fuller has been an admin for 2 years. She currently serves as Administrative Assistant at Acacia Originals.   As a single mom who could only work part-time doing basic administrative tasks, Rachel is now purchasing all materials for a $3M company, handles most of the office management responsibilities, and is learning the accounting system. She has earned the respect and trust to work with minimal supervision and highly confidential company information.   Rachel always shows willingness to dig in, call for training and get the knowledge she needs and wants. She is continuously evolving from an employee who followed directions, to a creative and forward-thinking team member who shows excellent leadership abilities

Kathy Adair began her career at National Oilwell Varco in 1978 and currently serves as Marketing Assistant at National Oilwell Varco, where she’s been for the past 40 years.   The oil and gas market has experienced a few downturns during her career and each time Kathy has stepped up, taken on more responsibility, and guided those who haven't experienced them before. Leadership across NOV can attest to Kathy's loyalty, integrity, and work ethic. If Kathy's name is associated with a project then no one questions whether it will get done, knowing she will exceed expectations. This type of trust has developed from years of doing her best and doing what is right. Kathy made an impact on her very first day and it continues 40 years later. She is timeless, she is committed, and an absolute one of a kind.

Annette McCammon has been an admin for over 30 years. She currently serves as Executive Assistant at Hi-Crush Partners LP.   Annette is a rock of stability at Hi-Crush. She approaches everything she does with enthusiasm and professionalism. She is completely dedicated to making her colleagues’ lives easier. Her sense of ownership and focus on efficiency make her a trustworthy and valued asset every day.   Annette is universally loved and appreciated because she treats everyone with the respect they deserve and values their views and opinions. She also mentors several assistants in the office, teaching them important skills but also serving as a role model. Two receptionists have recently been promoted because of the guidance and training Annette provided!

Melodie Wesson currently serves as Dispatch Customer Service Representativeat US Med-Equip, where she’s served for the past 10 years.   She is most people’s first contact with US Med-Equip, a 24-hour equipment resource company that serves hospitals in 14 states. Shehas significantly raised the bar for how they serve a patient in need. She has a natural empathy and honesty with people that can quickly diffuse an emergency so patients get what they need as soon as possible.   Melodie’s heart is complemented by tremendous industry knowledge regarding equipment, operational processes, and hospital personnel. This allows the company to serve hospitals with greater accuracy and efficiency in situations where every minute counts.

Wendy Millhouse has been an admin for over 20 years (one nomination says 20+ and another says over 25. Her bio says she’s been an EA for the majority of her 35-year career in the oil and gas industry). She currently serves as Executive Assistant - Office of the CEO and Special Projects at Archrock, where she’s been for the past 17 years.   Wendy has worked in the oil and gas industry for 35 years. She’s had the unique experience working at Enron when it dissolved, working through the merger of Universal and Hanover to create the formation of Exterran, followed by working through the spin-off of Archrock. Wendy has demonstrated the agility and perseverance required not only to survive this industry but demonstrate how to thrive through the turbulence.   She plays an instrumental and key role in supporting, managing, and leading many critical special projects for Archrock. Additionally, Wendy eagerly leads many lunches and learns for office staff.   As they say at Archrock… she ROCKS!

Judy Johnson has been an admin for 25 years. She currently serves as Office Manager & Executive Assistant at EDF Energy Services.   Judy spearheaded the selection and move preparation for EDF. This was a huge undertaking, as she needed to assess the need for current personnel as well as future needs and growth strategy. She was responsible for interviewing and selecting architects, interior designers, and multiple vendors for the build-out, relocation, and the future decommissioning of the existing office space. Judy worked tirelessly to plan and execute this great project, while successfully fulfilling her daily responsibilities.   “If time and work management was an art, then she is your Georgia O'Keefe.”

Melissa Menchaca has been with the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center for over 20 years and has served as Senior Executive Assistant to the former President and current Director of the Khalifa Institute for Personalized Cancer for the last 7 years. Melissa efficiently processes the complicated travel plans and calendar of her high-level executive which can include early mornings, late evenings, and trips to his home for signatures. This is all "in a day's work" for Melissa. As a smart, resourceful and flexible assistant, Melissa’s talents were especially useful when her colleague had to take medical leave from the institution. The scope of her work was suddenly altered, and she had to come up with creative ways to provide continued assistance in a newly changed work landscape. To help her colleague transition to an altered way of functioning professionally and personally, she took it upon herself to coordinate with nurses, physicians, and I.T. professionals who shared new technology available to help her colleague receive communications from a different medium. Melissa has gone above and beyond in her current and newly emerging role. She continuously challenges herself to learn new skills to ensure her team has streamlined services. In addition to this, she has developed into a manager of her small team and facilitated the promotion of one of her own staff members.

Diana was born and raised in Houston, TX.  She has worked downtown as an admin since 1983.  The last 10 years with Kayne Anderson. She believes that no matter how much the exterior landscape changes, nor how much the industry and technology evolve; the one thing that should remain consistent is the intent of the work. Software comes and goes, adjustments need to be made but the purpose, (intention), of the value brought by your individual work performance results in the value you bring to the team.  To help shape that picture, a love for people has to be number one.  Sharing information is number two.  Holding the cards close to your vest may work in poker but it is not what builds confidence in a team atmosphere.  Diana has also found that keeping your sense of humor is far better than keeping pace with technology or even being part of the so called “in-crowd”.  Lastly, one key piece of advice she can lend it’s that you should always remember to never leave anyone out and always treat all with respect - from the mailroom to the boardroom and that you should give to the community you live in.

In her third year as the firm's Office Administrator, Jennifer Brabham supports the daily operations and growth for Condon & Company, P.C. by utilizing her experiences with administrative, IT and legal functions in multiple industries. Jennifer's love of people, paired with an enthusiastic mindset, makes it easy for her to consistently promote a positive work environment and cultivate company culture.  In 2016, through these exemplary efforts, Condon recognized her as an Employee of the Quarter.  Jennifer, a native Houstonian, attended the University of Houston.  She now resides in the Kingwood-area with her two daughters and is an active citizen in her community.  She has held the office of HOA President, President of her children's PTA and has sat on the Board of Humble ISD's PTA.  When Jennifer finds spare time to spend, she enjoys gardening, cooking and cheering on the Green Bay Packers.

In 2013, following 20 years in the transportation industry, Cynthia Johnson came to US Med-Equip, a 24hr medical equipment rental company serving hospitals systems in 12 states and employing over 150 people.   Her ability to manage both logistical projects and human employee needs has allowed her role to grow as she supports the Operations Division and leads Human Resources. Cynthia is Six Sigma Silver certified, is a certified Associate Professional of Human Resources (aPHR) and is a member of SHRM and FIERCE. She is working on her PHR and plans to follow with her SPHR.   Cynthia’s Six Sigma process improvement project was showcased in Germany in 2008 at the National Deutsche Post competition.  In 2016, she successfully managed the migration of US Med-Equip’s HR from a PEO to in-house HR, saving the company over $300K.  On the Volunteer Team, she increased US Med-Equip employee donations to Shriner’s Children’s Hospitals in 2014-2015 by over 300%.   Cynthia is an integral part of developing a family atmosphere in the company as she balances her own family and continues to add value to US Med-Equip where the mantra “We serve a patient in need” is as close to her heart as her Southern Texas roots.

Joanna Patton Meinecke has worked as a Firm Administrator for The Nations Law Firm for over 36 years, playing a crucial role in growing the firm from 2 to 150 employees and 40 to 40,000 clients. Joanna was hired on as a receptionist, but quickly took on the roles and responsibilities of a legal secretary, accountant, and client support, hiring full legal staffs, running lease operations, leasing satellite offices, and creating HR and Accounting Departments. Her legal experience started in 1968 at a corporate firm in Dallas, where she was hired as a receptionist, and six months later she was selected by the Senior Partner to be his right hand. She held this position for 10 years before moving to Houston to work for Howard Nations. Joanna grew up in three small Texas towns, attended Baylor University, and graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Business Education. She continues to avidly support the Lady Bears basketball team! Her long-term loyalties extend to her personal trainer of 17 years and her boyfriend of 27 years. When asked by an applicant during an interview what caused her to stay at The Nations Law Firm for over 32 years, Joanna replied: “The people here who give their best to meet the needs of the clients and, more importantly, the trust, fairness and respect shown to me by Howard Nations.”

Shannon Thurmond serves on the management team at Heikkinen Energy Advisors in her role as Office Manager. Heikkinen Energy Advisors (HEA) is an energy research & advisory firm focused on high-quality independent research of Exploration & Production, Oilfield Service and Midstream companies and assets.  As the Office Manager, Shannon’s role includes financial reporting, accounting, tax, human resources, compliance, research management and office management. HEA is headquartered in Houston, Texas with offices in Dallas and New Orleans, Louisiana.  Shannon studied at Texas State University where she received a Bachelor of Health Administration in 2005.   Prior to joining HEA, Shannon began her career as Personnel Director as well as Payroll and Banking Executive Assistant at Harlingen Family Dentistry.  Soon after becoming a Houstonian, she served as an Executive Assistant for the E&P Research Department at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. She is a South Texas native that truly believes in the age-old saying, “hard work pays off”.  It is this hard work that has propelled her into her current role and enables her to wear many hats within the organization.  In her spare time, she enjoys relaxing with her husband and two children ages 6 and 10.

Sofia started her journey with Cardtronics in 2015, supporting Executive Vice President Jeffery Keith and his Global Operations team. She currently supports Executive Vice President of Financial Institutions Sales Bill Knoll. When told she had an allocated budget of $80,000 set aside for an operations project, Sofia led the development of a vendor sponsorship program, raising the budget to $150,000 and crafted an event that was dubbed the “greatest show on Earth!” Sofia also organized a sales conference, where she turned two days of presentations and lectures into actual product demonstrations and sales training. She has enjoyed working with hundreds of employees at Cardtronics and being a part of many company-wide projects and initiatives, while also making sure day-to-day operations improve each day. Prior to Cardtronics, Sofia worked for major public companies in the retail, oil and gas, and financial services industries, playing a part in Human Resources, Marketing and Finance teams. Like many others, she has seen firsthand how crucial Administrative Professionals are to any organization! Sofia was raised in Columbia, South Carolina and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of South Carolina. She made the decision to become a Texan six years ago, and has been thoroughly enjoying it ever since! In her free time, Sofia enjoys interior design, parks, dancing and food. Sofia is happy to be a part of The Admin Awards, which celebrates those who are dedicated to their company, leaders, employees and clients!

Janet Spaulding has been in the Administrative field for over 35 years, the past 26 serving at the Executive level.   She currently serves as Executive Assistant to the President and CEO of The McNair Group, and CFO of the Houston Texans.  In addition, in 2016, she accepted responsibilities for role of Office Services Manager and facilitates daily activities with building management.   Prior to joining The McNair Group, Janet held tenured positions in the waste industry, with Browning-Ferris Industries (“BFI”), as an Executive Assistant/Legal Assistant positions for VP levels which included the Environmental, Health & Safety, Labor & Employment and Hazardous waste segments.   Positions more recently held at Waste Management for C-Suite Executives include:  Sr. EA to SVP, HR, Sr. EA to EVP & CFO, Sr. EA to GC; and Sr. EA to SVP, Business Development.   She recently spoke on a panel of two for the EA Summit, hosted by the Administrative Professional Conference (“APC”) in Dallas on the topic of “The Motivated EA”.   She and her husband are native Texans, born in Dallas and are the parents of three daughters and one son.

Deborah Svatek-Logue is a Senior Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Land Organization at Marathon Oil Company, where she has worked since 2007. She began in 1986 working for the Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) at Fort Bend Independent School District. Deborah didn’t realize at the time how instrumental this job would be in molding her into the community champion she is today.   Volunteering is a way of life for Deborah, especially when the cause involves children or our military.   She is currently the volunteer coordinator for Marathon Oil’s Junior Achievement (JA) program at Browning Elementary.  JA is a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to inspire young people to succeed in a global economy.  Actively involved in JA for more than ten years, Deborah leads a team of about 45 employees to teach the JA lesson plan in all 22 classes at Browning each Fall. She also participates in other educational programs such as JA Pen Pals, Reading Tutor and the My Home Library program, recently launched by the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation.   Each December, Deborah coordinates a Toys for Tots drive at Marathon Oil to help ensure children in the Houston area have a happier and brighter holiday season. In addition to her love for children, Deborah has a passion for helping veterans. Due to a personal connection through her husband and family, she feels she should help those who serve and protect our country and have sacrificed so much. For the last eight years, Deborah has served on the 5K Committee for Impact A Hero. The organization provides support for severely wounded post-9/11 combat veterans, their families and caregivers. Deborah not only helps coordinate the 5K, but she also fundraises.  In fact, she has been the top individual fundraiser for the past four years raising more than $40,000 for this worthy cause. In her free time, Deborah enjoys spending time with her family attending football games and dancing. She and her husband are also very active in their church serving as Chairs for the Annual Church Bazaar for the past two years.  Deborah is married to Michael and has one son, Chris who will be married in May.  She is also mom to her fur baby, Sport!

Prior to joining Newmark Grubb Knight Frank as an Executive Assistant and Associate, Jessica was a General Business undergraduate at the University of St. Thomas - Houston. Notable accomplishments during Jessica’s college career include becoming  a Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges award recipient, and being nominated as her graduating class’s Most Outstanding General Business Student. Jessica joined Newmark in May 2014 as a temporary Administrative Assistant. Jessica was hired in July 2014 as the youngest Sr. Administrative Assistant the office ever hired, and she paved the way for other recent college graduates to be considered for support positions. She was quickly promoted to Executive Assistant when the office gained a Texas Regional Manager and President, US Head of Retail and Hospitality, and Vice Chairman in September 2014. Jessica obtained her Texas real estate sales person license in February 2016, and she provides transactional support to the retail team and advisory services to her clients while managing her executive’s travel arrangements, schedule, and personal needs. She manages a national retail account, helps create offering memorandums and valuations, partners with the retail team on assignments, helps clients look for sites, and attends industry networking events.