Going Virtual

I’ve been a member of Western New England Business Support Services (WNEBSS) for at least a decade, and would like to introduce you to our diverse and collaborative group. Technology may seem like it replaces a human in many instances, but it allows us to complete projects through networks, remote access, and document storage. Meet a few members, and get their take on technology.
 

Karen Blinderman (KayBee Marketing Resources and a WNEBSS founder) started her business full time in 1997. “We’ve come a very long way since the time, in my former career, where my office computer was connected to my home computer using PC Anywhere. We were so thrilled to make the connection at all; I was the only one among hundreds of office staff to want to work ‘virtually’ (i.e., from home). It was so new that our IT staff wasn’t sure how to make it work. Now we have a multitude of ways to stay connected digitally, and we don’t even think about it.”

Maryann Cruz (THINK Virtual Solutions, LLC) provides support to small and medium size businesses. She says, “Technology creates new opportunities for business. It expedites the way we communicate, network, market, manage and respond to clients.”

Vickie Hadge (Virtually Done by Vickie) has a global client list. “Technology is my best friend. Keeping in contact is essential to building relationships, keeping on schedule, and working in real time. I currently use Skype for instant messaging, audio calls, video calls, screen sharing, and file transfers. I also utilize virtual classrooms such as WebEx and Adobe Connect. The tools available in these technologies can be used to create a truly collaborative experience. Technology has brought me closer to my clients even if they are on the other side of the globe.”

You can see the old secretarial pool has been replaced with today’s tech savvy VA. Our members have experience in countless fields, and we each work in different specialties like marketing, finance, and career coaching.

WNEBSS was established in 2001. Members can be reached through WNEBSS.org.

Joan Long founded Essential Office Services in 1999, capitalizing on an extensive background in office support, a dusty English degree, and a need to break free of the cubicle. She has written articles for Healthcare Ledger and Agawam Advertiser, and currently works with local boards of trustees for two charter schools, provides virtual support to a financial planning firm and, in her spare time, toys with various creative projects. Joan can be reached at info@essentialoffice.net.