Profiles
Amy Brinkley
Amy Brinkley, Virtual Assistant
After a decade hiatus from the workforce, I enrolled at PCC to pursue an Associate of Applied Science/Computer Applications-Office Systems degree. During my last term of study, I was recommended by the department chair to Oregon Court Reporters Association who were in search of a student to help with the layout of their bi-monthly newsletter, In Brief. I was one of several students recommended. Having successfully completed CAS 231 (Publisher) I was thrilled for the referral. I met with the editor, created an annual agreement contract, and proceeded to artfully apply my newly learned skills.
Several court reporters contacted me with editing issues regarding contractual and business correspondence after seeing the professional layout of the newsletter. Having aced OS 120, Business Editing Skills, and recently graduated with honors, Phi Theta Kappa, from PCC, I was confident in my editing skills. Several individuals negotiated contract work with me, specifically in desktop publishing and business correspondence. Truly, I would have benefitted greatly from the organizational and business skills taught through PCC’s Virtual Office curriculum.
I continued networking through the college, court reporters, and at every opportunity presented. I have been successfully employed as a document specialist and virtual assistant to many organizations.
Kristy Schnabel
Kristy Schnabel,
Virtual Assistant
Hi, I'm Kristy Schnabel of It's Virtually Done, LLC, a virtual assistance practice. I've been a VA (virtual assistant) for over 5 years. It's great working from home, setting my own hours, choosing what work I want to do, and working with clients all over the nation.
You might be wondering how I ended up in this emerging profession. After getting my MBA at age 22, one of my first jobs out of college was as the Assistant to the President of a Software/Hardware company. I moved into Accounting and Finance holding such positions as financial analyst, grant accountant, and payroll accountant in both private and public sectors.
As a Financial Systems Administrator, I created computer user manuals and taught hands on computer classes. I enjoyed writing manuals so much that I retrained at PCC earning a certificate in Professional and Technical Writing. As a student, I loved working from home so much that I just had to find a home-based business. An internet search helped me find Virtual Assistance, one of the fastest growing home-based businesses. I trained through AssistU, and have been a VA ever since.
I'll be teaching the first course in the new Virtual Assistant Certificate program, "Creating a Virtual Office" (OS 250).