Boston & New England RegionFall, 2025 | Details Coming Soon

Judit Brugger is an Executive Administrative Assistant at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. She has been an Admin for 39 years.“At Takeda, ‘Judit’ isn’t just a name; it’s a solution.” Colleagues often say, “If there’s a problem, just ask Judit,” because her proactive problem-solving and deep knowledge have become indispensable to the entire team.With an impressive 39-year career in administration, Judit Brugger’s dedication, skill, and resourcefulness are unmatched. As an Executive Administrative Assistant supporting seven executives and 65 direct reports, Judit is known for her remarkable attention to detail and ability to anticipate needs before they even arise. She embodies calm under pressure, handling complex schedules, high-stakes meetings, and every logistical detail seamlessly. One colleague shares, “Judit anticipates ten steps ahead.” Beyond her administrative expertise, Judit’s compassion and commitment to helping others are always evident. For Judit, tackling challenges with precision and care comes as second nature—whether it’s assembling a wheelchair or managing complex schedules for senior leaders.Every interaction with Judit leaves her colleagues inspired, supported, and confident.

Jessica Bradbury is an Executive Coordinator at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and has been an Admin for 10 years. She has supported various departments, including Field Sales, Global Regulatory Affairs, Global Clinical & Translational Science, and most recently, Digital, Data & Technology. Jessica is known for her proactive approach, exceptional problem-solving skills, and unwavering support for colleagues. She has become a trainer, educating fellow admins on emerging technologies and Artificial Intelligence.She's always looking for ways to contribute back to the admin community, most often through her work as Co-Chair on the Admin Professional Development Committee and it's supervisory Admin Steering Committee. Jessica's contributions extend beyond her administrative duties, as she serves as a mentor and leader, inspiring those around her with her enthusiasm and care. Her relentless pursuit of excellence makes her an invaluable asset to Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

Angela Mieher is an Executive Assistant at Amazon Web Services and has been an Admin for 10 years. She supports the Media, Entertainment, Games and Sports Global Solutions Architecture Leader and the Global sales Leader.Angela’s ability to manage the day-to-day role, plus the needs of the 1100+ employee global team, has raised the bar on how we operate and has won us new relationships, influence and confidence across our organization. Angela has demonstrated exceptional commitment to our strategy and to her career growth through her input to annual planning, leading as a core member of the global Rhythm of the Business virtual team, and her ability to adapt and achieve in the face of organizational change. She has simplified the day to day noise that can bog down our executives, and her relentless work ethic and attention to detail have been instrumental in keeping the leadership team efficient and productive.

Nicholas Sousa is an Executive Assistant at Ascentria Care Alliance and has been an Admin for 13 years. Nick has demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill throughout his career. Starting as a program director for the Boy Scouts of America, Nick's journey led him to the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families, where he rose to the position of Confidential Secretary to the Chief of Staff. In 2021, he joined Ascentria Care Alliance as the Executive Assistant for Community Services and Finance, quickly taking on additional roles to support the organization.Nick's contributions of mentoring colleagues, co-chairing the administrative council, driving strategic priorities and stepping up in critical situations have been invaluable to the success of Ascentria Care Alliance and services they provide.

Kevin Sroufe is an Executive Administrative Assistant at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, supporting the CNO and COO. He has been an Admin for 9 years.Transitioning into a new role, Kevin has exemplified true leadership by generously investing his time and energy to help colleagues overcome challenges and develop necessary skills. He consistently serves as a role model, mentor, coach, and teacher, setting high standards and inspiring those around him. His commitment to sharing knowledge and best practices has significantly contributed to the professional development of his colleagues.Kevin’s influence has been profoundly positive for the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, and his leadership, mentorship and communication skills continue to make him an invaluable member of the organization.

Tatiana Durakovic is an executive assistant at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where she has worked her entire 20 year career.Tatiana’s diligence, diplomacy and attention to detail have been crucial to the company’s growth and the organization’s continuity. She has provided stability during challenging periods and leadership during successful times — always staying loyal to Vertex and her team.Tatiana consistently goes above and beyond what’s required by anticipating problems and proposing or executing solutions to those problems. She will work after hours and weekends when needed and is always on top of every detail.Tatiana connects deeply with the company’s mission to transform the lives of people living with serious diseases — this is not “just a job” for her. Tatiana is completely dedicated to ensuring Vertex is set up for success, and she has complete trust from leadership.

Emily Meserve serves as a Senior Executive Assistant at athena health, where she serves one Vice President and six executive directors. She has been an Admin for 16 years. Emily comes to work every day with a positive can-do attitude. She not only makes her stakeholders shine and strive, but she finds ways to elevate the organization.She regularly volunteers with athenahealth’s nonprofit giving initiatives whether it’s working with the local Boston Food Bank for a food donation drive, helping setup and organize the annual family focused Halloween event “athenaWeen,” or even helping to proactively organize and optimize EA team members during extended family leaves or sabbaticals. Emily is also responsible for tracking the internal recognition program, continuing to drive a positive culture at athenahealth.And a final quote from one of the nominations for Emily ‘Bumping into Emily is always like a warm, fuzzy glow of positivity’

Lauren Kimball is Associate Director of Executive Administration at Mersana. She has been an Admin for 13 years.For many years Lauren (an Admin team of 1), has served as a strategic partner for up to 8 c-suite executives at once. She also conceptualized and executed a robust enterprise-wide cultural and social strategy. As a key driver of employee engagement and a cultural hub for the company, Lauren recognized the need for change management and partnered with Mersana’s Human Resource team to develop and roll out company-wide workshops to manage the impacts of significant company workforce changes and new leadership.Lauren also personally led the onboarding of the new CEO.She continuously performs difficult tasks and solves challenging problems day after day, as a result of her resourcefulness and relentless perseverance. Her strategic value to the organization can’t be understated.

Stephanie Velez and Joleen Howard are Office Managers — called the “Dynamic Duo” — at Matter Communications. As soon as they joined the company in August 2022, Stephanie and Joleen wasted no time in boosting company culture and managing weekly happy hours and Helping Hands Volunteer program events, supply orders, and vendor and landlord communications. In early 2023, the two were tasked with a cost-savings project that they instantly tackled with enthusiasm by detailing all expenses and identifying those they knew would have an immediate impact on the bottom line. Within the first month, they canceled 90 non-value-added publications, and within the first three months, they performed an analysis of current spend, contract and alternative solutions research, and vendor negotiations. Fast forward to today: They’ve played critical roles in opening a new office and closing two existing offices, renegotiating all internet, TV and conferencing services contracts, and switching telephone suppliers and utility suppliers to obtain lower rates — all resulting in more than $200,000 in cost savings annually.

Nichole Gregg is Senior Executive Assistant at Akili Interactive where she is regarded as a super-organizer, companywide emcee and No. 1 pinch-hitter for complex projects. She has become the leader of employee engagement initiatives, coordinating cross-company virtual and live events. For instance, Nichole managed the company’s first all-employee in-person company offsite in 2022, which involved bringing together the Boston and San Francisco offices and remote employees at Cape Cod. The event catalyzed every employee to bring their best and most creative work to Akili’s commercial launch, and Nichole’s incredible efforts in designing the entire experience resulted in her winning a companywide MVP award. Nichole also leads the “Connect Committee” focused on employee volunteerism and charitable giving, where she initiated an annual Akili Day of Service that involved coordinating opportunities for service across seven metro areas for group experiences and encouraging local opportunities for remote individuals. It’s no wonder her leader calls her an “absolute star” who excels each and every day.

In her role as Executive Coordinator at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Vansi Flaherty has become known as “Wonder Woman” — she always goes above and beyond the call and never leaves unfinished business. Her can-do attitude and unwavering positivity in even the most hectic of times have made her a favorite among team members who note that she’s accessible and friendly, interacts efficiently with internal and external stakeholders at all levels, and effortlessly enables collaboration while serving the needs of the leadership team and department. Vansi expertly manages the complex agenda of her leader, including organizing team meetings, town halls and off-site events. Based on her broad experience and deep knowledge of the company’s processes and policies she manages to prioritize her work, stay focused and deliver excellent results within deadlines and budgets. Most impressively, she does it all with a smile on her face, a skip in her step — and a heart that is as large as the Amazon.

As Executive Assistant at Iron Mountain, Christine Hamman consistently demonstrates the company’s core values including integrity, safety and security; customer value; ownership; and inclusion and teamwork. Those values are especially evident in the way Christine is willing to selflessly share her knowledge to help others grow in their roles. When EAs join the team, she is the first person to teach them how to navigate the company and understand how to expeditiously complete tasks. Christine encourages her colleagues to continue to reach out no matter when and where they need support. Not only is she an excellent model of how great EAs make their teams and the executives they support shine, but she is a consummate partner. Christine has stepped in to assist executives who are without an Admin, and even helps to assess potential candidates by leveraging her experience to determine who would be the best fit from a skills and personality perspective. No matter how tough the ask or how numerous the responsibilities, Christine’s “Mountaineer” spirit is always on full display.

Mary E. MacDonald is Executive Assistant at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, but she’s better known as the “heart” of the team who shows up every day with a smile and willingness to do anything that is needed. She also is the ultimate team player: In 2022, she spent more than 70 working days covering for other Admins. But what really sets her apart is the way she cares for her team. Whether it's trekking five blocks in frigid weather because she knows her executive has a tough meeting and would feel better with a brownie from her favorite bakery, staying late to pick up dinner for the team when they’re going to be camped out in the conference room all night, mailing baked goods during the COVID-19 lockdown or performing emergency repairs on wardrobe malfunctions, Mary is on it. She is a bright spot every single day, a trusted confidant and an unbelievably reliable Admin.

Lindsay Flood is Associate Director, Executive Operations, at Repare Therapeutics, where her distinctive and measured approach to administrative leadership sets her apart. Her hallmark attributes of judgment, maturity, unbounded initiative and bias for impact have moved the organizational needle from a small private biotech to a leading, Nasdaq-listed integrated biopharmaceutical company. Shortly after Lindsay came aboard, she took the initiative to manage the administrative leadership of Repare’s IPO process. In six months, without either investment banking or biotech experience, Lindsay completely immersed herself in the world of banking, securities and biotech buy-side, supporting the executive and finance teams in literally thousands of interactions across Wall Street. The end result was among Boston’s most successful IPOs of 2020 — completed entirely virtually during COVID — that resulted in a massive leap in Repare’s profile, resources and potential. Lindsay is trusted by executives and staff alike to resolve the most sensitive matters, and she is widely regarded as a standout contributor and a principled and thoughtful advisor.

In her role as Executive Assistant at Amazon Web Services, Michele Hoyt does many things exceptionally well — she’s highly organized; she effectively prioritizes in order to balance the complexity of serving teams of up to 1,200 employees globally; she is customer obsessed both internally and externally; she demonstrates incredible judgment; and she operates autonomously. In fact, she’s so good at her job that Michele’s executive credits her influence and leadership with positively and dramatically impacting the two global multinational companies at which she has supported him over the past 20-plus years. As soon as Michele signed on as EA at Amazon, he says, her impact was felt immediately. She stepped in to organize team cadence calls with different stakeholder teams and engaged with her many existing customer EA contacts to secure meetings and organize events. Within 90 days, the entire team was more energetic and enthusiastic. Michele’s calm, focused approach provides a foundation of strength for the entire organization.

As Senior Administrative Assistant at Novartis, Jocelyn Williams is an enthusiastic and integral member of her department, the company and the global Admin communities. Not only is she a founding member of a Cambridge-based Administrative Employee Research Group — where she continues to share her knowledge globally — but she also helps onboard new Admins at Novartis through an Admin Buddy program that she founded. With Jocelyn’s guidance and willingness to act as a sounding board, new Admins quickly learn to navigate the company’s complex organization and systems. Additionally, Jocelyn has been a pioneer and role model for working partially remotely. She is an active member of the Novartis Digital Workplace Champions community, and she frequently brings her learnings from this community back to the Cambridge Operations team. Her tips and tricks, and her shared knowledge of policies, significantly contribute to Cambridge associates having an easier, happier day. Jocelyn loves to collaborate, is curious, has fantastic energy and continuously upholds great values.

Since the day he joined the PAN Communications team as Executive Assistant, Eric Chapman has been the ideal employee — one whose talent and heart courses through every responsibility he takes on. His drive to deliver excellence and quality is unmatched, particularly in the level of care and passion he shows to students in ensuring they are engaged and have the resources they need to be successful in their first job out of college. In his work with multiple departments throughout PAN, Eric’s collaboration is front and center. He partners with everyone from finance to marketing, helping with invoices, design work, social media, setting up meetings and more. He treats everyone he meets with the highest respect and demonstrates that every person should feel heard and valued. He knows just how to handle any situation thrown at him, big or small — a characteristic that is vital for someone who handles an array of responsibilities from coordinating office renovations to complex monthly expense reports to onboarding, training and managing interns. Eric truly embodies the spirit of #onePAN.

Gaia Liotta is Executive Assistant at Cambridge Crops, and during her time with the company, she and her executive have developed a symbiotic relationship. From day one, she worked with her leader to develop guidelines for how to operate, building a system that at its core is about time savings and capacity expansion. Through the creation of an interactive weekly memo system used to track essential details about meetings and deliverables, as well as a time-tracking system that uses systemized calendar color coding, Gaia has ensured her executive has adequate time to deliver on the needs of the business. She  is extraordinarily dutiful and committed, has an unparalleled work ethic, and is a strong fit both culturally and to the specific responsibilities of her role. Gaia has a strong desire to contribute wherever possible and is always willing to take on new responsibilities. One of her key mandates is to make her executive healthier and more productive — a goal that she has unequivocally achieved.

Laurie Ainsworth is Executive Assistant to the CEO at Merchants Fleet, where her bright and friendly nature, stellar work ethic, high integrity and administrative expertise have made her a star. Her round-the-clock support and dedication have been crucial to the company’s success, which was especially apparent during the onset of the pandemic. Laurie quickly adopted the new “Zoom culture” and worked to keep her executive seamlessly connected to his team. When speaking engagements, trade shows and even company holiday celebrations all became virtual, Laurie was on the frontlines making sure he had everything necessary to stay in touch with all company stakeholders. While the office was largely empty during the COVID shutdowns, Laurie continued to stay onsite to oversee document preparation, coordinate communications, run meetings and manage schedules. Her optimistic attitude and genuine care for the people she works with are evident in the amount of respect and adoration her name garners among the employees at Merchants Fleet.

As Senior Administrative Assistant with Veolia North America, Katelyn Miller has become an instant family member of the Veolia C-suite group supporting the ESS team. In only weeks with the company, she managed the ESS divisional General Managers meeting offsite in Plymouth, where she not only took care of the meeting logistics but was an active participant and developed key relationships with team members. She quickly grasped the company’s Google platform and accounting systems and has become an ambassador to train other assistants on the systems. Katelyn is forward thinking, positive and always offers engaging new ideas — her work is timely and accurate, and she is consistently one step ahead. She unfailingly rolls up her sleeves and offers to help, graciously taking on duties with other C-suite, Technical and Performance Executives and their teams. It’s little surprise that her colleagues at Veolia call themselves lucky to have her as their Admin.

Susan Flaherty is Senior Executive Assistant at Fidelity Investments, but perhaps a better title is “bridge builder” — Susan is a true team player who consistently offers her assistance and expertise to anyone who needs it. Her background in event planning gives her unique insight when it comes to planning and coordinating large meetings, both internally and with external clients. Susan flawlessly manages each detail to make sure that everything runs smoothly and is an exceptional communicator who ensures that all parties are on the same page. Throughout her 20-plus years at Fidelity, Susan has shown not only a willingness but a desire to take on more responsibility, volunteering for projects above and beyond her day-to-day administrative tasks. More importantly, she never settles for the status quo — if Susan thinks there’s a better way, she always speaks up to advocate for change. She is someone her team can undoubtedly count on, whether to complete a small task or to undertake a larger project.

As Executive Assistant to CEO/Executive Team for Iron Mountain, Shannon Flaherty is the primary point of contact for the executives she supports, providing the highest service not only to her leaders but to every employee in the organization. In fact, she is known as the “employee liaison extraordinaire” — she is on the front lines every day to ensure excellent service. Shannon solves problems she has never encountered before seamlessly, tackling every challenge with a professional and friendly demeanor. On top of that, Shannon is the liaison for Iron Mountain’s 12-member board of directors, where she coordinates and collects all materials that are submitted to the board and engages with numerous executives across the company. Gathering the information often requires late hours and skillful ways to gently remind people of their deliverables and deadlines — and she is a master at getting it done. According to her coworkers, Shannon is a pro at making everyone’s life just a little bit easier.

Meylia Kurnianto is Executive Assistant to the Provost at University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she performs her role at an exemplary level and demonstrates extraordinary commitment to the university. Meylia is highly organized and focused on continuously learning and developing best practices to manage all activities effectively. For instance, she took the initiative to develop a streamlined process for how academic deans handle faculty members' requests for sabbatical, replacing cumbersome paper requests with a more efficient digital solution. Additionally, Meylia develops and fosters relationships with faculty, staff, students and guests on campus, serving as a wonderful ambassador for the institution. She actively participates in meetings and events, and her attention to detail ensures the provost is prepared for every occasion, whether it’s commencement or the promotion and tenure process for faculty. Meylia approaches all of her duties and interactions with grace and a can-do attitude, making her a critical member of the UMass Lowell team.

In her role as Executive Assistant to the SVP at Analog Devices, Ann Veronelli has made a significant difference within the entire organization. That impact has been felt since day one and has only grown since — making Ann a testament to Analog founder Ray Stata’s advice to “hire great people and stay out of the way.” Her excellence is evident in the way she consistently goes above and beyond to support the Analog team, using creative strategies and constructive approaches to offer suggestions for improvement. For example, she planned for specific calendar structure that captures all external events related to advanced research spanning reviews, webinars and special lectures. Ann is a perfect example of what every Admin should strive to be — she handles every request and responsibility in a polished and professional manner and operates in a way that ensures every team member knows that their voice has been heard, their request addressed, and their concerns or challenges brought to light.

Alexandra Taylor is Manager, Executive Operations – Commercial at Epizyme, where she has a reputation for solidly staying 10 steps ahead in everything she does. Her philosophy is “no job is too big or too small,” and she puts that mantra into action every day, whether that requires serving as a gatekeeper, diplomat, organizer, communicator or confidence keeper. She has the unique ability to efficiently multitask, collaborate and provide suggestions to mitigate potential workday roadblocks. For Alexandra, it’s not just about “doing the job” — it’s about how doing the job makes people feel. During times of stress, Alexandra maintains a focus on the positive by keeping the culture of the company — resilience, collaboration and communication — top of mind for the team through her words and actions. Likewise, she makes every customer interaction enjoyable and productive by ensuring all stakeholders have the information and resources necessary to succeed. It’s no wonder her colleagues call Alexandra “the best of the best.”

Marion Riemenschneider is Executive Assistant to the CEO of Novartis, who fully credits Marion’s extraordinary proficiency, dedication, and willingness to go the extra mile with ensuring the success of his transition to CEO. In addition to her organizational, communication, and collaboration skills, she consistently demonstrates tremendous adaptability and agility, establishing herself as a true and valued partner. Marion cares deeply about Novartis and the ways in which the company impacts the world, seeing her work as serving the higher purpose of improving human health. She shows tremendous leadership in navigating multiple asks and handling them with courage and tact while maintaining an upbeat approach that ensures continued positive relationships with key stakeholders across various offices and sectors. Additionally, she created and leads a network of more than 100 Executive Assistants across the company, engaging them to collaborate in their daily work, share best practices, and support each other professionally and personally. Marion is a shining example of leadership who brings her whole heart to her work and ensures her peers receive the support, dignity, and recognition they deserve.

Kelly Hanson is the Executive Assistant to Greg Henderson, Senior Vice President of Automotive, Communications, and Aerospace (ACA) at Analog Devices, Inc. In her role, some of Kelly’s many responsibilities include heavy calendar management, global travel, large meetings and events, PowerPoint presentation development, and company-wide communications — all of which she handles with immeasurable grace and positivity. Kelly acts as a true business partner to Greg, attending staff meetings to ensure that she has a pulse on the organization’s goals and objectives and to better understand the ACA business. She acts as a liaison to relay information between her executive and the business unit vice presidents, spearheads their questions or concerns, and is truly her SVP’s right hand, anticipating his needs often before he does. While Kelly is no doubt an asset to her executive and the entire ACA team, her work ethic and professionalism stretches far and wide, bolstering nearly every aspect of the company.

Cameron Kinnally is the Director of Administration at PIERCE Property Services, where her work focuses on streamlining operational and administrative processes, including marketing strategies, job scheduling, and invoicing. She is fully dedicated to solving any problem that arises — and does it all with a sense of humor. Cam not only takes on tasks that are assigned to her, but also helps everyone in the office become better at their jobs and proactively fixes processes that the company wasn’t even aware were inefficient. For instance, Cam created a Standard of Operation for email management that essentially eliminated missed and delayed responses to clients and organized an email campaign with existing customers to capture their needs for multiple services per year, which boosted PIERCE’s success. Even though she has only been with the company for a year, PIERCE’s COO has said on more than one occasion that Cam has changed his life — and her colleagues say they cannot imagine the office without her.

Diane Finigan is Administrative Assistant with Reading Public Schools – Parker Middle School, where she consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty, showing enthusiasm and passion in her support of the school’s mission. From problem solving to projects, Diane can do anything she sets her mind to, welcoming every challenge and always finding creative solutions and systems that make sense. She creates a welcoming office space where people feel cared for and safe, provides helpful information to families, and acts as the “hub” for the school, using her clear and concise communication within Parker and beyond to support the school’s accessibility and collaboration goals. In fact, a district-level administrator recently shared that Diane is the most effective, competent school administrative assistant she has ever worked with. Diane sets high expectations for herself, which makes her an excellent model for others, and her colleagues say they cannot — and do not want to — imagine Parker Middle School without her.

Lisa Habig is Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO of PTC, Inc., where she has garnered a reputation as a truly exceptional and trusted partner. She is known for being tough, smart, hard-working, positive, and committed to excellence, and a confident self-starter who proactively addresses day-to-day challenges and opportunities. Through her own initiative, Lisa pulled together all of PTC’s Executive Assistants into an EA Forum where they meet periodically to collaboratively discuss and align around best practices and company-wide standards for the profession. After seeing her exceptional skills as a manager, PTC changed reporting structures so that all EAs now report to Lisa. Though she often has many balls in the air at once, she never drops any, always maintaining her impeccable work standards. Lisa has become a powerful force at PTC in just a few short years, emerging as a respected member of the executive leadership team whose leadership qualities distinguish her as an invaluable colleague.

Merve Gould is Executive Assistant to the President of Takeda Oncology, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, where she is often referred to as a “legend.” Beginning in her early days at Millennium (prior to Takeda’s acquisition), Merve fostered knowledge-sharing across the community and helped lay the groundwork for a uniquely collaborative community of Administrative Professionals called MASTERS who work together to tackle tasks and problems. Through this ambitious and often thankless effort, Merve and her colleagues developed a network to provide tools, resources, and training, and created a rising tide to lift all boats in the form of a highly productive, collegial Admin community. Merve also has tirelessly served the most senior level of the organization, where her institutional knowledge, wise advice, and high level of emotional intelligence have proved invaluable. Her positive influence in the organization reflects her intelligence, emotional maturity, and sensitivity to others — and most importantly, her unwavering service and loyalty to Takeda.

Kelley Duchesne is Senior Office Manager at Massachusetts Technology, where she accomplishes so much more than any title could imply — it’s no exaggeration to say that she is the company’s heart and soul. Kelley selflessly intends for her work to be seamless and even invisible, and she always asks team members what more she can do to better help and support them. During the past year, these efforts have been more impactful than ever — when MassTLC faced a steep drop in revenue due to the pandemic, Kelley immediately began investigating the company’s eligibility for PPP funding, and despite an initial rejection, continued exploring possibilities until she secured funds. During social-distancing protocols, she went the extra mile — literally — to drive documents to the CEO for signature in his driveway. Considering Kelley stops at nothing to support the MassTLC team, it’s no wonder her colleagues describe her as “the best coworker, bar none,” “the core of the team,” “stellar,” “unwavering,” and “awe-inspiring.”

Mie Perala is Executive to the President, R&D, of Takeda, where she is described as “off-the-charts incredible.” She has been foundational in the Takeda transformation over the past several years, helping to solidify its presence as the largest biopharmaceutical employer in the Cambridge area. Everyone in the organization connects in some way with Mie, and many R&D reports, senior advisors, and external partners have expressed that Mie is the best and most strategic executive assistant they have encountered. Mie’s leadership extends beyond supporting her executive, as she also delivers strategic value through her leadership within the Administrative Professional community at Takeda. Mie has played a significant role in the establishment and leadership of the Admin community in Cambridge, building it beyond the R&D organization to include those from all functions and business units. Most impressively, she handles this tremendous teamwork and strategic partnering with no sign of how much stress goes into making everything look so easy. Mie truly is the definition of a proactive, and excellent, partner.

Barbara Saunders, Executive Assistant to the Chief Marketing Officer with Pegasystems, has been described as the pinnacle of administrative excellence. Her proficiency, bandwidth, attention to detail, proactive mindset, and expertise are noticed and appreciated every day at Pegasystems. An organizing ninja, a master of systems, a shining example, and an excellent communicator, writer, project manager, and planner are other ways team members have describe Barbara. Whatever the job, she goes above and beyond so that executives, employees, and partners have what they need to do their jobs and keep the company running smoothly. Barbara learns by doing, digging into opportunities for training and education. She becomes so adept a procurement, HR, communications, and other operational tools that she often serves as an ambassador or trainer herself once she masters the topic. She looks at each day as an opportunity to improve and to learn something new. The level of support she provides to executives unparalleled and inspiring, and her desire get involved, assist, learn, and grow is admirable. She fully embodies the company's values: Innovative, Inclusive, Passionate, Engaging, Genuine, and Adaptable. She has taken the initiative to replan the layout of several floors, organized and advocated for the protection of paychecks for longtime janitorial staff in the building during the pandemic shutdown, and encourages company-wide community charitable participation--often helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars. Barbara's positive and infectious energy has become a fixture at Pegasystems. Her desk is the spot where everyone gravitates each morning. Executives readily admit they get their energy each day simply because of Barbara’s presence, and clients and partners have mentioned the same. She also goes above the call of duty to organize gifts, travel, and schedules for customers, always recognizing how important the "full customer experience" is for the business. Pegasystems’ tagline, “Build for Change,” is something Barbara embodies every day, and this has become even more evident during this pandemic. She adapted flawlessly, putting everyone else’s needs above her own so they had what they needed to continue to be successful. She embraces change and encourages others to be just as adaptable. Beyond the unassailable proficiency Barbara demonstrates each day, what makes her truly special is her genuine kindness.

Without Zynetta Canning, there wouldn’t be much of a Jobcase culture. She brings spirit to each event and meeting. Her enthusiasm for the company’s culture is evident in everything she does. Jobcase has a fun call-and-response at events to ramp up the team, and it’s usually Zynetta who leads the charge: "One place, Jobcase!" At each event, no matter its size, you’ll find Zynetta engaging with coworkers and elevating the room’s energy with her infectious laughter and enthusiasm. And this in addition to organizing and executing the actual events themselves. Zynetta also organizes conferences and event attendance for the outside sales team, often participating in the sales efforts. She has a way of drawing people in with her bright smile and positive energy and is always willing to explain the company’s platform and mission. Because of this is, Zynetta is far more than the Sales Business Systems Architect for Jobcase; she is a vital member of the team who drives progress in the company’s mission. From ensuring the office is well stocked and supplied and organizing holiday parties to setting up virtual events and happy hours during stay-at-home orders and creating a daily virtual coffee hour to keep team members connected, she has become the glue that holds the company together. Zyentta is also quick to spot a coworker in need of extra support and volunteers for Jobcase’s first Diversity Equity and Inclusion council. It’s the very nature of Zynetta that drives Jobase to be more than just a place to work. Because of Zynetta, it’s a community.

Chris Gooch has more than 30 years of Executive Assistant experience, two with Novartis. She was top choice as EA to the President after a thorough recruiting process, and every day, it’s easy to see why. Although Chris didn’t have experience in a biopharmaceutical company, she jumped right in and was a quick learner. From day one, Chris approached her role with genuine curiosity, learning about drug discovery and development, understanding strategic priorities, and establishing a broad network within and beyond R&D. She asked to be a part of the monthly leadership team meetings to better understand the company’s mission, challenges, and people. Chris invests effort to maintain relationships with the Novartis Executive Committee and their EAs who regularly comment how much they value Chris’ friendship, and it’s not uncommon for other executives to go to directly to Chris with questions. Chris is a master of keeping the busy calendar for the company President of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research and regularly intervenes to make sure there is balance between speaking engagements and time to focus on NIBR’s strategic priorities. Chris also manages another administrative assistant and leads the broader NIBR EA community. She oversees financial planning for the front office and leads coordination for major on-site and off-site events. Regardless of situation or time of day, Chris is the first to say, “Let me help.” She takes initiative to find a solution despite ambiguity or unfamiliarity, COVID-19 coordination included. Across Novartis, Chris has helped keep the team connected, motivated, and energized.

Lori Simmons has managed to do the seemingly impossible. In addition to her full-time role supporting the President at Emmanuel College, in just two years, she earned a Master of Science in Business and a Master of Art in Elementary Education, never missing a step in maintaining an excellent standard of work. Every day, Lori works to support Sister Janet Eisner, the President of Emmanuel for over 40 years and a well-known and respected figure in higher education. She sets an example of how to effectively and efficiently support an executive who is in such high demand. Lori handles the President's external committee obligations, balancing not only what is being asked of the President, but also what is being asked of her by many others. Her excellent organization skills and ability to prioritize ensure all parties receive the information and answers needed in a timely manner. Lori has a wonderful rapport with everyone she connects with and has built strong connections with internal and external constituencies. Whenever a Trustee has a question or concern, they ask for Lori by name. Lori plans the university’s commencement ceremonies and other college-wide events. She serves as the President’s Office contact with members of the Board of Trustees and is the liaison to the college’s Development and Alumni Relations Office. She also planned and executed the college’s centennial anniversary celebration—no small feat. Her work ethic, dedication, and organizational skills contribute to the overall success of the President’s office and Emmanuel. Her collegial approach, dedication to service, and strong interpersonal skills are evident in her work with colleagues and offices across the campus. Her curiosity and strong work ethic – combined with her adaptability and responsiveness--are recognized and appreciated by her team members and beyond.

Managing an office for a company with nine global locations is no easy feat. Imagine the laundry list of day-to-day responsibilities. It would be a challenge for most office assistants. But not Erica Benedick. Prior to joining RAIN Group in 2016, Erica was “organizer-in-charge” at Harvard Law School and MIT—perfect training ground to prepare her to successfully run the global office for RAIN Group. As Office Assistant, the support Erica provides is all-encompassing, and she finds the resources to get it all done with limited direction or guidance. With good humor and grace, Erica oversees tech support as a liaison for worldwide teams, offers customer support for a global client base, manages the calendars for the executive team, handles lead qualifying and scheduling, speaks to Fortune 500 companies regarding their sales training needs, oversees client operations, provides product development support, is a proofreader for content associated with online training, assists with planning the company’s annual conference, and more. Erica not only completes her duties in a timely manner but does so even better than what’s expected. When someone asks Erica for help, it’s never just “Yes.” It’s always “Yes, and…” She is always thinking of better approaches and new ideas. Her generous attitude in the pursuit of excellence and ability to adapt to any situation are appreciated throughout the company. Therefore, it’s no surprise she is often referred to as the Swiss Army knife of RAIN Group. Whatever obstacles arise, she is the MVP with the tools to solve them.

The best administrative professionals are more than assistants; they serve as an extension of the people they support. This statement describes who Judi Lambert is as an administrative professional. She understands her boss’ working style and knows his expectations. And because of this, he trusts Judi and relies on her completely. Judi is admired throughout the company, and she reflects not only the values of her boss, but also the values of the organization. She is always ready to volunteer for extra projects in addition to keeping the office running smoothly and making it a better place to work. For more than three decades with Colliers International, Judi has demonstrated loyalty, friendship, and mutual respect. She is an intuitive, professional and leader and, in addition to being CoChairman, she has become a personal confidante and sounding board. In short, she is indispensable. Judi positively impacts everyone in the company by her loyalty to each team member and always puts others first. She is widely known as a great business partner and leader in the community. With a smile and ready to help, she answers work calls on the weekends and after-hours, and she jumps into action whenever needed. Recently, while Judi was on a much-deserved vacation, she took time away from rest and relaxation simply to wish her boss a happy birthday. This may not seem like a big deal to most, but it is an admired quality that exemplifies who Judi at work and beyond. She recognizes that the little things, whether at work or in life, are important, and she makes sure to attend to them all.

The people who Shannon Vanasse supports are considered leaders at Teledoc, but everyone knows that Shannon is the true leader here. In nine years as Senior Executive Assistant to the VP Client Operations, she has supported various top-level executives, including the CEO, President, Chief of Staff, and Vice Presidents. At any one-time, Shannon may be supporting up to five executives, along with leading a team that supports another seven executives. But Shannon doesn’t stop there. She exemplifies a positive attitude, is always willing to help, and eagerly takes on any task. She has an innate ability to anticipate the needs of the leaders she supports and is a positive influence on all team members. She has worked hard to set specific measures of success for her team, working with the HR department to reorganize the Executive Assistant teams after a series of acquisitions and leadership changes. Shannon also established a monthly call to discuss training and best practices, and to share organizational insight. She is the company’s webinar expert and helps organize and execute the company’s annual Global Growth Summit, bringing client management and sales organizations together for a week of training and learning. She also organizes the annual client survey and teaches soft-skills classes and presentations. Shannon coordinates charitable giving opportunities and was quick to start diversity and inclusion programs. She also created and maintains the company’s You Rock program, a company-wide recognition system. Above all, Shannon is passionate about Teladoc. She is the first warm greeting employees receive when they come aboard. She has become the lifeblood of the organization. Some call what she takes on every day “herding cats,” but for Shannon, it’s all in a day’s work. Not a week goes by without hearing, “We couldn’t have done this without Shannon.”

Heather LaCombe joined Boston Properties just after college and has been a significant and contributing member to its 15-member construction department, and the region’s success, during the past eight years. Heather is a steady and positive influence for all internal and external customers and keeps multiple construction projects on track and properly documented. She has become the go-to person for long-term projects. Under her guidance, projects have grown in scope, and she is now the regional coordinator for records retention. A self-starter, she established a procedure to catalog and track the documents and drawings for major projects, overseeing the coordination of multiple property managers to establish a standard. The procedure is still in use today and has been so successful that it was adopted by other regions. Heather is also a key contributor for organization of region-wide events, such as Boston Properties University, an annual gathering of associates, clients, and business partners to share knowledge. The event requires detailed coordination to host hundreds of attendees. She seamlessly tackles this job in addition to her daily responsibilities as Office Manager. Organizing and executing this event is a massive undertaking, and Heather’s excellent attention to detail and positive impact doesn’t go unnoticed. She also expertly took on the challenge of creating the website for the event and continues to maintain the site. And if that’s not enough, Heather also trains incoming administrative assistants and is regularly called upon by the company’s IT and accounting teams to test various new programs. Heather’s personality, nonstop work ethic, never-give-up attitude, outstanding work product, dedication to the company, and team-centered spirit epitomize the Achiever Award.

Allison Gartmayer is a Senior Executive Assistant at Cambridge, MA based HubSpot. Allison manages the schedules for Brian Halligan, our co-founder and CEO and Dharmesh Shah, our co-founder and CTO. Allison has been in her current role for 9.5 years and prior to that, she was the office manager of Performable, which was acquired by HubSpot in 2011, and she also spent time as the Office Assistant at Charles River Ventures.

Allison has grown with HubSpot as the company went from a busy, small start-up with 100 employees to a successful and growing public company with more than 4,000 employees. Allison has worked tirelessly ‘around the clock ‘ to ensure every need is met and expectations are exceeded and in 9.5 years of working at HubSpot, no one can recall anyone uttering a single negative word about Allison. This is probably because, as her boss adamantly says, the company would be “lost at sea without her.” In everything Allison does, she goes above the call.

Jennifer is Executive Assistant to Yuchun Lee, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Allego, a Boston-based mobile, video and sales-readiness software company. She has been with the organization since its inception in 2013 and has worked to help build the infrastructure and processes of the business while handling the day-to-day operations of a start-up, including human resources, benefits, facilities, accounting, and fiscal planning. Jennifer’s partnership with Lee dates back to 2004, when she joined marketing technology company Unica, which Lee co-founded and led to a successful IPO and subsequent sale to IBM. She began her administrative career more than 25 years ago at Epsilon Data Management, a direct marketing service company. While pursuing her college degree in parallel, Jen learned the invaluable fundamentals of being an administrative assistant from her mother, who also worked at Epsilon. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts with a Business minor from Northeastern University.

Megan is a dynamic professional who exemplifies grit and forward thinking to optimize outcomes, improve experiences and deliver venerated support. With a B.S. in Hospitality Management, Megan was schooled in the Ritz-Carlton philosophy and embodies its principles. Having supported CEOs for the last 14 years, Megan understands the significance of being your best self every day, going above the call of duty and continually striving for excellence. Megan began her career by helping to launch a start-up. Adapting and problem solving became the norm and fueled her passion for proactivity, process improvement and continual learning. Strategically partnering with the founder quickly became her favorite aspect of being an EA and set her trajectory. Megan’s current role is extremely rewarding and demands the best of her on a minute-to-minute basis. Megan embraces the challenges given to her and excels at being versatile, delivering results and exemplifying a stellar work ethic.

Nicole Gallagher has been an Executive Administrative Assistant to the CEO and President and Manager of Administrative Services at Fulcrum Therapeutics since April 2017. Prior to joining Fulcrum, Nicole’s 18-year career has included roles in Administration at Abcam, Tapestry Networks, Aviva Life Insurance and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. In her role at Fulcrum she has earned the trust and respect of her colleagues and has worked to develop close bonds and strong working relationships with range of stakeholders, including patient communities and vendors. In her role as head of administrative services she is the primary Fulcrum contact for many vendors, manages needs related to the board of directors and supports internal and external communications strategies. She drives many efforts designed to maintain a positive and welcoming culture of teamwork and collaboration at Fulcrum. She is especially dedicated to inspiring team members with the stories of patients, saying, “To see and hear from them tells us what we’re working towards and makes it more real.”

Dina Dell’Olio currently serves as an Executive Coordinator and Project Administrator for Community Servings, a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering medically tailored, nutritious, scratch-made meals to chronically and critically ill individuals and their families. Dina has been in the Administrative profession for 17 years and has been with Community Servings for the past 5. She works tirelessly supporting the CEO as well as Community Serving’s 25 Board members and senior leadership team. Dina’s peers describe her as a strong leader who is community focused, and an instrumental part of their organization. She is often the connecting force between the very diverse departments within Community Servings and strives to make sure everyone, from colleagues to clients, is treated equitably. In fact, Dina is a leader in Community Serving’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion group to ensure all employees feel valued.

Beisy Navarro is an executive assistant to Harvey Lazarus with Concord Wealth Management/Life Planning Group. She has been under Harvey’s tutelage for the past 14 years. Graduating from Regis College with a business degree in 2010, she has gone on to be life insurance and securities licensed. Beisy’s main responsibility is to make sure all business is processed correctly and that all clients are happy and content with their financial decision(s.) Once initial point of sale is made, Beisy then becomes the lead point of contact to all client’s to serve them with the highest degree of integrity and professionalism. She also becomes the liaison between Harvey and the clients trusted advisors. With 14 years of experience working with Harvey, Beisy has learned how to conduct business in insurance needs, estate planning and retirement strategies. Beisy’s loyalty to Harvey’s practice has earned her the ability to become a junior partner within the firm.

Kayla McMahon is the Business Operations Manager at InkHouse, a media, marketing and design agency. She facilitates the seamless communication among InkHouse’s Human Resources, Finance and IT departments to ensure InkHouse is operating smoothly and efficiently in the agency’s Boston, New York and San Francisco offices. She also supports InkHouse’s Co-Founder and CEO as Interim Executive Assistant. She’s tasked with implementing InkHouse’s award-winning culture, from coordinating team events, planning community activities and providing unique benefits to the company’s 115+ employees. This includes facilitating the onboarding process for new employees and screening potential hires. Prior to joining InkHouse in 2014, Kayla taught preschool at The Hollway Child Study Center at Lasell University. She received a dual Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College. When not in the office, Kayla is often found running after the two 5-year-old twins that she nannies or salsa and bachata dancing.

Kate Olson is the Office Administrator for RAIN Group, a global sales training company that has helped hundreds of thousands of salespeople, managers, and professionals significantly increase their sales results. In addition to overseeing the company’s headquarters in the Boston area, Kate assists consulting partners across the U.S., and international practice directors in Bogotá, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Mumbai, Seoul, Sydney, and Toronto. A former event planner and restaurant manager, Kate joined RAIN Group in 2016. In this role she’s responsible for balancing schedules for company executives, qualifying prospects, assisting with RFPs, planning international conferences, coordinating travel, organizing workshop materials, and more. Kate is a graduate of Cumbria Institute of the Arts in Carlisle, UK with a B.A. in Performing Arts, and holds a M.A. in Public Relations and Event Management from the London College. An escape room fanatic, Kate enjoys singing and recording music, developing stage shows, and cooking.

Lisa Marie Guidi is the Manager of Administrative Services and Executive Assistant to the CEO at Kyruus. She received her BA from Arizona State University, then earned her Series 6, Series 63, and Life & Health licenses after graduation. While still in school, she began her career at JPMorgan, where she developed a curriculum for new employees, and worked her way from an entry level position to that of a Personal Banker. With a relocation to Boston, Lisa Marie made a career change to utilize the skills she enjoyed most, entering the world of administrative work. Since joining Kyruus, she has been supporting the CEO and overseeing the rapid growth of the office ever since. She enjoys driving cultural engagement through philanthropic work trips, planning Quarterly Launch Parties, and facilitating office moves every other year. When she’s not at the computer or attached to a toolbox, she enjoys refurbishing furniture, rescuing puppies, and rocking the mic at karaoke.

Currently a Senior Executive Assistant at ENGIE Impact, Heather Evans serves as a strategic partner supporting two C-Suite executives in accomplishing the company’s ambitious international business objectives. During her collegiate years while stage managing, she found she most enjoyed supporting those on stage so they could be at their best. Many years later while managing an estate, she found value in observing and anticipating what someone would need even before they knew. While working at a law firm, she discovered her resiliency by learning how to handle pressure, and when working with her first C-Suite executive she found exhilaration through a strategic partnership built on trust. With close to twenty years in the administrative assistant field, Heather is very passionate about this profession and strives daily to show the value that is added to a company that nurtures the strategic partnership between an executive and an executive assistant.