Meet the Voices of Imagine Admin
Administrative Professionals from across the country sharing bold ideas, real stories, and practical strategies.
Jacqueline Steinkamp & Jenn Escamilla
Executive Assistants
Biohub (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative)
Speaking on
Leading Through Change with Agentic AI: How to be a steady support for others as an EA— and use AI agents to work smarter along the way!
New tools don’t transform organizations. People do. In this practical session, Jacqueline Steinkamp and Jenn Escamilla explore the unique role Executive Assistants play in driving AI adoption across teams. Positioned at the center of communication, priorities, and workflows, EAs are often the ones who help new ideas stick. Jacqueline and Jenn share how AI can act as a daily “multiplier” to reduce friction in drafting, summarizing, planning, and organizing work while also demonstrating how EAs can lead adoption through simple change-management practices that help new tools become lasting habits for team members.
About Jacqueline Steinkamp & Jenn Escamilla
Jennifer (Jenn) Escamilla is an Executive Assistant at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative with nearly two decades of experience supporting C-suite and senior leaders across tech, gaming, and philanthropy. Known for her expertise in navigating complex organizational change, redesigning executive workflows, and building the operational infrastructure that keeps teams aligned and moving forward, Jennifer is a trusted strategic partner and passionate advocate for the EA profession. She is joined by her CZI colleague Jacqueline (Jackie) Steinkamp, an EA in Central Technology at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, who specializes in workflow optimization and integrating emerging tools like AI to drive team efficiency. Together, they bring a combined 44 years of experience and a shared belief in the evolving, strategic power of the modern EA.
Kathy A. Adams
Strategic Business Partner | Founder | Co-Founder
WTW and Your #1 Admin Advocate
Speaking on
Confidence Is A Skill Not a Personality Trait
Kathy Adams believes confidence is a skill, not a personality trait. In this fast, practical talk, she shares a confidence framework shaped by her work as an executive support leader and Co-Founder of The Black Executive Admin Network (The BEA Network). Attendees will learn how to speak with authority, document measurable impact, and advocate for visibility, scope, and growth so they can lead like strategic partners.
About Kathy A. Adams
Kathy A. Adams, MBA, is a Strategic Business Partner at WTW, Founder of Your #1 Admin Advocate, and Co-Founder of The Black Executive Admins Network. With 27+ years in the profession, she creates mentoring and development programs that help Black Executive Admins and Administrative Professionals expand their influence and leadership.
Beth Ager-Godwin
Executive Assistant
Austin Industries
Speaking on
Everything Is Fine, Until It Isn't. Then What?
Beth Ager Godwin lost a job she held for nearly 20 years. One day everything was familiar. The next day it wasn’t. In this candid talk, Beth shares what she wishes someone had told her about day 0, the first 24 hours, the next 48, and the week that follows when unexpected job loss turns your world upside down.
About Beth Ager-Godwin
Beth Ager Godwin is an Executive Assistant at Austin Industries, formerly with Interstate Batteries where she supported the COO for nearly 20 years. A 30-year veteran of the Administrative Profession, Beth is also the recipient of the Admin Awards' Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence in the Dallas, Fort Worth & Southwest Region
Sara Alston
Executive Assistant
CSG
Speaking on
Your LinkedIn Profile Just Got An Instant Upgrade
What happens when an Executive Assistant who once ran an award-winning virtual assistant business specializing in social media turns her attention to LinkedIn? Sara Alston shows Administrative Professionals how small shifts in language, positioning, and profile structure can transform a LinkedIn page from a static resume into a powerful signal of credibility, expertise, and professional impact.
About Sara Alston
Sara Alston is an Executive Assistant at CSG with 19 years in the administrative profession and holds the PACE Certification. Before joining CSG, she owned an award-winning virtual assistant business specializing in social media, helping professionals strengthen their digital presence and personal brands.
Michelle Bernard
Sr. Executive Assistant
Covetrus
Speaking on
Learning To Lead Without Rank
Executive Assistants lead every day without the one thing most leaders rely on: rank. No title. No formal authority. Yet EAs shape decisions, relationships, and outcomes across the organization. Michelle Bernard explores how influence, trust, and credibility allow Administrative Professionals to lead from wherever they sit.
About Michelle Bernard
Michelle Bernard is an Executive Assistant with Covetrus with 20+ years supporting senior executives. A 12-year member of the Admin Awards community and former Admin Awards board member, she is known for bringing calm, clarity, and trusted partnership to fast-moving organizations.
Judy Bingenheimer
Executive Assistant
MEC
Speaking on
Doing It Afraid
Judy Bingenheimer’s career started because someone else took a chance on her. Years later, she realized that if she wanted to move forward, she had to do the same thing for herself. This talk is about big opportunities that feel terrifying, and why the most important career move you’ll ever make might be the one you take scared.
About Judy Bingenheimer
Judy Bingenheimer is an Executive Assistant at MEC supporting the CEO and executive leadership team. A nearly 20-year Administrative Professional, she founded Midwest Admin Connection after attending an Admin Awards event, creating a community where Admins connect, speak openly about the work, and support one another.
Debra Bullis
Office Manager
Canadian Media Producers Association
Speaking on
The Feather Effect
Administrative Professionals release hundreds of small moments into their workplaces every day: a clarification, a boundary, a well-timed email. Debra Bullis calls this The Feather Effect. What may seem small travels far, shaping culture, communication, and confidence. You’ll leave seeing your everyday actions differently and recognizing that even the smallest “feathers” carry real influence.
About Debra Bullis
Debra Bullis is a Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) and Office Manager at the Canadian Media Producers Association. She also serves as Regional Director for IAAP Eastern Canada, creating spaces where Administrative Professionals connect, grow, and recognize the quiet influence they bring to their organizations.
Lori Byland
Executive Assistant
Intel
Speaking on
Admin Influencers: Shaping New Outlook
If you’ve ever thought, “Microsoft should ask Admins how New Outlook should operate,” you’re not alone. But that’s not quite how the story goes. Lori Byland shares how curiosity, personal growth, and new technology led to an unexpected opportunity to collaborate with Microsoft designers and engineers. New Outlook is coming, and this is a chance to understand it, prepare for it, and influence it while we still can.
About Lori Byland
Lori Byland is an award-winning Executive Assistant at Intel supporting a VP and GM with nearly 30 years in the administrative profession. A Microsoft Office Specialist, she collaborates with Microsoft on improving New Outlook and teaches professionals how to work smarter using productivity tools, emerging technology, and AI.
LaTisha Carter
Special Assistant to the COO
Chicago Public Schools
Speaking on
The Strategic Architect: It’s Not Preparation, It’s Mise en Place!
For years Executive Assistants have been called the “glue” of organizations. LaTisha Carter believes that’s far too small. In today’s fast-moving business environment, the real opportunity is to become the architect. This session explores the mindset shift from managing an executive’s time to actively shaping their impact.
About LaTisha Carter
LaTisha S. Carter is the Special Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer at Chicago Public Schools and a proud West Side Chicago native. With a background in hospitality leadership and a passion for operational excellence, she helps leaders turn strategy into action while advocating for Administrative Professionals to step into their role as true business partners.
Larissa Garman
Executive Assistant
Samaritan Ministries International
Speaking on
Success Shouldn't Feel Like Survival
One year. Three jobs. Two CEOs. Total burnout. Larissa Garman thought she was doing everything right until she realized success wasn’t supposed to feel like survival. In this honest talk, she shares the moment she chose alignment over title and why the healthiest career move might be the one that looks like a step backward.
About Larissa Garman
Larissa Garman is an Executive Assistant at Samaritan Ministries International and the 2025 Admin Award Winner for Administrative Excellence in Public Service. She is known for building strong executive partnerships and bringing clarity to chaotic environments while helping Administrative Professionals protect their well-being and redefine success on their own terms.
Lynda Giattino
Executive Assistant
Rubrik
Speaking on
When The Ladder's Leaning On The Wrong Wall
Lynda Giattino once climbed the corporate ladder all the way to way being offered a Director role at HBO. There was just one problem: she hated it. In this funny and refreshingly honest talk, Lynda shares why she made the bold decision to double down on the career she always loved, being an Executive Assistant, and what happens when you define success on your own terms.
About Lynda Giattino
Lynda Giattino is a Senior Executive Assistant at Rubrik with more than 20 years in the administrative profession, supporting C-suite leaders across media and tech. A proud Brooklyn native, she is passionate about elevating the Executive Assistant role and helping others build careers they genuinely love.
Iriss Gonzalez
Executive Assistant
Harris County Public Health
Speaking on
The Seasons That Build Us
Iriss Gonzalez has learned that the most powerful lessons often come in the most demanding seasons. Long days, difficult assignments, and behind-the-scenes work can feel invisible in the moment. But those seasons are not setbacks, they are preparation. This talk challenges Administrative Professionals to see their current season for what it truly is: training for the influence and leadership they are already building.
About Iriss Gonzalez
Iriss Gonzalez is an Executive Assistant in the Office of Planning & Innovation at Harris County Public Health. With more than 10 years of experience across healthcare, public health, legal services, and education, she brings strategic thinking, operational leadership, and bilingual expertise to complex initiatives while advocating for the leadership impact of Administrative Professionals.
Yesenia Hernandez-Brito
Director, Executive Office & Global Board Affairs
Healthcare Businesswomen's Association
Speaking on
Stop Disregarding Your EA’s Discernment
Yesenia Hernandez-Brito explores why when an EA raises a concern about team dynamics, business decisions, or personnel issues, it’s not speculation, it’s insight. Built from proximity, experience, and intuition, an EA’s discernment is one of the most underutilized leadership assets in an organization. She shares why the role naturally develops deep situational awareness and how leaders who listen sooner build stronger partnerships, make better decisions, and avoid problems before they surface.
About Yesenia Hernandez-Brito
Yesenia Hernandez-Brito is the Director of Executive Office & Global Board Affairs at the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, where she partners with executive leadership and manages governance for the organization’s global boards. A Master Certified EA Pro with more than 25 years of experience she also a recipient of the Admin Awards' Above the Call Award in the Washington D.C. & Mid-Atlantic Region.
Anne Marie Houlihan
Executive Assistant/Executive Business Partner
Currently Interviewing
Speaking on
When Personal Trauma Enters The Office Of The EA
When an assistant is working through personal trauma, the experience can quietly shape how they navigate their role. In this deeply human session, Anne Marie Houlihan reflects on the resilience required to balance professional responsibility with personal healing. Her story explores how small acts of self-compassion, clear boundaries, and supportive relationships can make it possible to keep moving forward
About Anne Marie Houlihan
Anne Marie Houlihan is an Executive Assistant and Executive Business Partner with more than two decades of experience supporting senior leaders in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, including Cubist, Biogen, Shire, and Ipsen.
Desiree Kramer
Executive Assistant
Huntington National Bank
Speaking on
Coming Home To Yourself
In the constant rhythm of responsibility, it’s easy for Administrative Professionals to lose touch with their own center. In this restorative and reflective session, Desiree Kramer invites attendees to pause and reconnect with what steadies them. Through grounding tools, directional work, and thoughtful reflection, she creates space for participants to listen inward and rediscover the clarity and wisdom that allow them to lead from a more grounded place.
About Desiree Kramer
Desiree Kramer is an Executive Assistant at Huntington National Bank, supporting the Regional President of the Illinois–Wisconsin market. With more than 26 years of experience in banking, she plays a key role in advancing regional consumer and business banking by supporting strategic initiatives, coordinating leadership priorities, and ensuring seamless operations across the region.
Julia Lee
Executive Assistant
Welborn
Speaking on
Ready To Rebound
Disappointment is inevitable. A missed opportunity, a mistake, a moment that knocks your confidence off course. But what happens after disappointment is what matters most. In this encouraging session, Julia Lee explores how Administrative Professionals can recover faster by shifting how they think about disappointment. Through surprising comparisons outside the administrative profession, she offers a simple mindset that helps turn moments of disappointment into opportunities to rebound and move forward with renewed confidence.
About Julia Lee
Julia Lee is an Executive Assistant at Welborn Foundation with more than 20 years of administrative experience across nonprofit, church, banking, and customer service environments. She holds an Associate degree in Business and earned the Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE). She currently volunteers on a local nonprofit fundraising committee.
Renita Marshall
Senior Executive Assistant
National Life Group
Speaking on
The Alchemy Of Adversity
Some leadership training doesn’t come from a classroom or a career ladder. It comes from life. In this powerful story, Renita Marshall shares how growing up without a safety net, navigating financial instability, and surviving domestic violence forged the resilience, intuition, and problem-solving skills that later defined her career. Told with humor, honesty, and hard-earned perspective, her message reframes adversity as something more than survival. It can become the foundation for leadership, purpose, and impact.
About Renita Marshall
Renita Marshall is a Senior Executive Assistant at National Life Group, supporting the Executive Vice President of Operations. With more than 30 years of experience spanning state government and the private sector, she previously served as Assistant to the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation. She holds an associate’s degree in Business Administration and a Certified Public Manager designation. Renita is also the founder and president of the Renita Marshall Helping Hands Foundation, a grassroots nonprofit that provides direct support to families with children facing unexpected financial hardship.
Kelly Olsakovsky
Executive Business Partner
Armada Law (AssistPro)
Speaking on
You’re Already A Strategic Business Partner - Whether You Know It Or Not
Many Administrative Professionals hesitate when they hear the word strategic. It can feel abstract, intimidating, or disconnected from the constant flow of tasks that fill the day. But what often goes unrecognized is that those daily decisions, observations, and connections are exactly what strategy looks like in practice. In this talk, Kelly Olsakovsky reframes the role of the Administrative Professional, showing how the insight gained from managing priorities, understanding team dynamics, and supporting executive decision-making already positions admins as strategic partners. The challenge isn’t becoming strategic. It’s recognizing the strategic value of the work already being done.
About Kelly Olsakovsky
Kelly Neely Olsakovsky, CAP, OM, is an Executive Business Partner at Armada Law with more than 25 years of experience supporting senior leaders across corporate, legal, and entrepreneurial organizations. Known for helping Administrative Professionals shift from reactive overwhelm to strategic execution, she focuses on building clarity, strengthening planning rhythms, and turning executive vision into measurable action. Kelly is a Certified Administrative Professional with a specialty in Organizational Management and a passionate advocate for elevating the strategic influence of the administrative profession.
Kelly O’Connor
Founder
Elevated Assistants, LLC and What Next Wellness
Speaking on
When The Unexpected Happens: Building Influence In The Middle Of Uncertainty
A Stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis and decades in the executive assistant seat taught Kelly O’Connor the same lesson: influence is often forged in disruption. In this candid session, she reflects on how uncertainty can sharpen perspective, strengthen voice, and shape leadership. From founding What Next Wellness, a nonprofit program designed to support women navigating the emotional rollercoaster of cancer treatment, to co-founding Elevated Assistants, LLC a program that shapes the future of executive support by unlocking the power of executive assistants. Kelly shares why who you become in uncertain moments ultimately defines your influence.
About Kelly O’Connor
Kelly O’Connor is Co-Founder of Elevated Assistants, LLC and Founder of What Next Wellness. With more than 20 years in the administrative profession, she rose from receptionist at McDonald’s Corporation to Head of the Executive Office at LegalZoom. In that role, she managed the administrative team, oversaw the C-Suite's day-to-day operations, and served on the core team that guided the company through its IPO. Today, Kelly is dedicated to helping Administrative Professionals strengthen their voice, leadership, and strategic impact.
Meredith Randall
Executive Assitant
Genworth
Speaking on
Act Like An ADULT
In high-pressure moments, emotions show up fast. A tense conversation, a surprising comment, a stressful situation. The reaction is human. The response is a choice. In this lively session, Meredith Randall shares a practical framework she calls “Act Like an ADULT.” It’s a simple, memorable approach for navigating emotionally charged moments that keep conversations constructive and relationships intact.
About Meredith Randall
Meredith Randall is an Executive Assistant at Genworth with more than 35 years of experience supporting leaders across small businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies. Meredith also helped spearhead the creation of an Administrative Professionals Network at Genworth, focused on training, development, and strengthening the administrative community.
Stephanie Richardson
Senior Executive Assistant
Capital Blue Cross
Speaking on
There’s Power In Numbers: Building an Admin Council That Moves the Organization
Administrative Professionals often work across teams but rarely have a formal structure that brings their collective insight together. At Capital Blue Cross, that changed with the creation of the Capital Administrative Support Team, known as CAST. Stephanie Richardson shares the story behind the development of the council, how it gained executive sponsorship, created structure and engagement, and ultimately helped strengthen collaboration across the organization. The initiative was later recognized nationally with the 2025 Admin Awards Team Achiever Award.
About Stephanie Richardson
Stephanie Richardson is a 30+ year veteran of the Administrative Profession, currently as Senior Executive Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer at Capital Blue Cross. She serves as co-chair of the Capital Administrative Support Team (CAST), which received the 2025 Admin Awards Team Achiever Award at the Admin Awards - Washington DC & Mid-Atlantic region. Stephanie also earned the Certified Administrative Professional designation in 2020 through IAAP.
Karyn Rivera
Executive Assistant
Mayne Pharma
Speaking on
From Diminished To Unstoppable
What happens when a workplace slowly chips away at your confidence? And what happens when you finally experience the opposite? In this candid session, Karyn reflects on the stark contrast between working for a difficult leader and later finding an extraordinary one. Her story reveals how leadership and culture shape not just performance but how we see ourselves, and why the right environment can unlock potential many professionals didn’t realize they still had.
About Karyn Rivera
Karyn Rivera is an Executive Assistant at Mayne Pharma with more than two decades of experience supporting executive leadership and strengthening organizational effectiveness. Known for her resilience and strategic, service-driven mindset, she focuses on operational excellence, collaboration, and building strong professional partnerships that elevate both people and processes.
Idannis Rosario
Executive Assistant
Boston Consulting Group
Speaking on
The Bridge Epiphany
Administrative Professionals are often described as the glue, the heartbeat of the office, or the Swiss Army knife who can do a little bit of everything. But Idannis Rosario believes those metaphors miss something essential. What EAs really are is the bridge — aligning different personalities, translating vision into action, and translating what her stakeholder wants into a team's understanding what that means. Rosario shares practical insights on managing working styles, building trust across teams, and shaping a culture that enables stronger, more effective performance.
About Idannis Rosario
Idannis Rosario is an Executive Assistant at Boston Consulting Group in New York with nine years of experience in administrative leadership, including two years as an Office Manager and seven as an Executive Assistant. She began her career in the fashion industry before transitioning into operations and executive support, managing the New York headquarters for FC Barcelona where she led office openings and launch initiatives.
Vanessa Rutz
Executive Assistant
Amazon
Speaking on
Resilience Is A Skill
Resilience gets talked about like a buzzword. But when life tests you for real, it stops being an idea and becomes something you have to live. After surviving sudden heart failure, Vanessa Rutz had to rebuild everything. Physically. Mentally. Professionally. That experience reshaped how she leads under pressure and how she turns adversity into impact. In this powerful talk, Vanessa explores what crisis reveals about leadership, why pressure clarifies who you are, and how the hardest seasons of life can forge the kind of strength that changes how you show up at work and in the world.
About Vanessa Rutz
Vanessa Rutz is an Executive Assistant at Amazon with more than 20 years of experience supporting senior leaders across organizations including Optum and General Mills. Known for her precision, operational excellence, and process improvement mindset, she is passionate about leadership, resilience, and helping others navigate high-pressure environments. Vanessa also shares insights on leadership and workplace wisdom through her writing on LinkedIn.
Sarah Sanford
Executive Assistant
NAVEX
Speaking on
Small Projects That Deliver Big Impact.
Administrative Professionals see operational gaps every day. The difference between staying a task-taker and becoming a strategic partner is choosing to solve them. In this session, Sarah Sanford shares a simple approach for turning everyday frustrations into pilot projects that create real business value. The result: more visibility, stronger executive trust, and a clear path from task execution to strategic problem solving.
About Sarah Sanford
Sarah Sanford is an Executive Assistant based near Portland, Oregon, supporting multiple C-suite leaders across go-to-market and customer services functions. With eight years of experience in founder-led businesses and SaaS environments, she has developed a playbook on creating operational clarity, building repeatable systems, and maximizing her executive's level of strategic output.
Magaly Santos
Chief of Staff
Toyota Motor North America
Speaking on
Behind The Scenes Until Literally You're Not
Administrative Professionals are often the architects of success behind the scenes. We solve problems, move ideas forward, and make leadership possible. But stepping into the spotlight ourselves can feel deeply uncomfortable. When Magaly Santos agreed to participate in the first-ever Admin Awards PSA, she found herself confronting a surprising truth: being seen can be just as challenging as doing the work itself. In this talk, she reflects on the vulnerability, nerves, and growth that came from saying yes to something outside her comfort zone. What she discovered is that visibility isn’t about ego. It’s about representation. And sometimes the bravest thing an Administrative Professional can do is allow others to see what leadership in this profession really looks like.
About Magaly Santos
Ike Saunders
Executive & Personal Assistant to Chris Kennedy
Chris Kennedy
Speaking on
Accomplished Assistants Know When to Speak Up, Pick Up, Stand up, And When to Shut Up
Accomplished assistants develop a kind of professional instinct that isn’t written in any job description. In this talk, Ike Saunders explores the subtle but critical art of timing, discretion, and situational awareness that defines truly exceptional executive support. Drawing from years of experience as the Personal & Executive Assistant to Chris Kennedy, a member of one of the most recognized families in the country, Ike reflects on how great assistants move through dynamic environments with judgment and confidence, knowing when to speak up, pick up, stand up — and when the best move is simply to shut up.
About Ike Saunders
Ike Saunders is the Executive and Personal Assistant to Christopher G. Kennedy in Chicago, supporting one of the country’s most prominent business and civic leaders for more than 15 years. He is also the founder of REACH – Regional Executive Assistants Cocktail Hour, a professional networking community he launched in Chicago in 2012 that brings executive assistants together through members-only events and a national peer network. Ike is the inaugural recipient of the Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence in Chicago. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Rollins College.
Rebecca Schafer
Executive Assistant to the CEO
MKSK
Speaking on
Culture By Design: Creating Shared Experiences That Bring Teams Together
Culture doesn’t just happen. It’s created through the everyday moments that help people feel welcomed, included, and connected. In this session, Rebecca Schafer explores how Administrative Professionals can strengthen a “one firm” culture across multiple offices by intentionally designing shared experiences. From simple traditions to creative, budget-friendly ideas, she shares how thoughtful planning can reinforce core values, spark conversation, and help employees feel like they truly belong.
About Rebecca Schafer
Rebecca Schafer is Executive Assistant to the CEO at MKSK, where she works at the intersection of strategy and service to strengthen systems and support leadership impact. Though relatively new to the administrative profession, she brings a unique perspective and passion for building operational infrastructure that advances an organization’s mission and culture. Rebecca is especially focused on creating environments where people feel included, valued, and inspired to contribute.
Misty Schutt
Executive Assistant
Jobs for the Future
Speaking on
How To State Skill & Impact
Two moments changed how Misty Schutt sees administrative work. The first came after a disastrous first week in her very first admin job. The second came years later when she overheard a senior leader repeating the language she had used to describe her team. The realization: leaders repeat the words we give them. Misty shares a simple framework to turn everyday tasks into clear statements of skill and impact.
About Misty Schutt
Misty Schutt is an Executive Assistant at Jobs for the Future with 17 years in the administrative profession supporting senior leaders across higher education and mission-driven organizations. She is known for building systems that protect executive time, improve decision-making, and keep complex workstreams moving while helping Administrative Professionals name the real skills behind what they do.
Erika Serrano
Executive Assistant
SCAN Health Plan
Speaking on
Where AI Stops And Admins Begin
AI is amazing - I use it all the time. It drafts emails, organizes thoughts, summarizes meetings, and never complains about calendar chaos. It’s fast, efficient, and honestly kind of impressive. But let’s be clear. AI can schedule a meeting… it cannot calm down a stressed executive five minutes before that meeting. It can suggest a response… it cannot read the room, catch the tone shift, or know when to send flowers instead of a follow-up. AI is a powerful tool - but it’s not navigating office politics, protecting relationships, or anticipating the “unspoken” priorities anytime soon. That's all us.
About Erika Serrano
Erika Serrano is an Executive Assistant at SCAN Health Plan, supporting the Vice President of Pharmacy and cross-functional leadership across Pharmacy and Population Health. With 18 years of experience across healthcare and financial services, she specializes in executive decision support, operational strategy, and managing complex initiatives that require coordination across teams, priorities, and regulatory environments.
Nicole Sment
Senior Executive Assistant to the President
Universities of Wisconsin
Speaking on
How Humor And Humility Can Save Your Sanity And Your Job
Every admin makes mistakes. The difference between being average and exceptional isn’t avoiding them. It’s how you handle them. In this hilarious and honest session, Nicole Sment shares real stories from the front lines of executive support, including the time a simple mistake sent an entire board of directors dialing into a very unexpected phone line. Through humor, humility, and a willingness to own our missteps, Nicole shows how mistakes can become powerful moments of connection, growth, and leadership.
About Nicole Sment
Nicole Sment is Senior Executive Assistant to the President of the Universities of Wisconsin with more than 20 years of experience in administrative support. A former professional actor in Chicago, she brings storytelling, curiosity, and a playful approach to her work as she explores smarter, more collaborative ways for administrative professionals to work and connect.
Chanté St.Thomas
Executive Assistant
Hoffman Construction Company
Speaking on
The Calm In The Construction Storm
In construction, pressure isn’t occasional. It’s constant. Deadlines compress, contracts shift, and problems rarely arrive one at a time. In this powerful story from the middle of the storm, Chanté St.Thomas explores what it means to anchor a room when everything feels urgent and unstable. Her message challenges the idea that calm is simply a personality trait. Instead, she shows how steadiness in high-pressure moments is a leadership skill built through preparation, resilience, and emotional discipline—and why the quiet composure Administrative Professionals bring to chaos is often the force that keeps projects and people moving forward.
About Chanté St.Thomas
Chanté St.Thomas is an Executive Assistant at Hoffman Construction Company with more than 15 years of experience supporting executive leadership across construction, government, and corporate operations. Her work spans contract coordination, executive communications, large-scale event logistics, and complex operational planning in high-pressure environments.
.png)
Syreeta Taylor
Executive Assistant
UNC Charlotte- College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences
Speaking on
If You Don't Believe Your Voice Matters, Don't Expect Anyone Else To
Nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps taught Syreeta Taylor something fast: if you don’t believe your voice matters, no one else will. In this powerful talk, she shares how finding the courage to speak up transformed the way she leads, influences decisions, and shows up as an Administrative Professional.
About Syreeta Taylor
Syreeta Taylor is the Executive Assistant to the Dean of the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences at UNC Charlotte and a nine-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran. She holds a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and is passionate about helping Administrative Professionals stop playing small and start using their voice. She is a recipient of the Admin Awards' Leadership Award in the Washington & Mid-Atlantic Region.
Brandi Whitson
Sr Exec Assistant to CEO
Pizza Hut
Speaking on
Maybe We Have Personal Branding All Wrong
When people hear the word brand, it often sounds like self-promotion. But your professional brand is not about visibility. It’s about trust. In this thought-provoking session, Brandi Whitson challenges Administrative Professionals to rethink what a “personal brand” really means in our role. Drawing from her experience supporting the CEO of Pizza Hut, she shares how reputation, judgment, and the quiet moments no one sees are what truly shape how leaders experience you and why the strongest brands in our profession are built through service, consistency, and impact.
About Brandi Whitson
Brandi Whitson is Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO of Pizza Hut at Yum! Brands, where she partners closely with C-suite leadership at the center of global executive operations and enterprise initiatives. With more than 30 years of experience supporting CEOs and senior leaders across organizations including Yum! Brands, Ryan LLC, Bottle Rocket Studios, McAfee, and Intuit, she brings deep expertise in executive partnership and leadership operations. Brandi is the recipient of the Admin Awards Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence in the Dallas, Fort Worth & Southwest Region.
Cynthia Willliams Young
Guest Speaker
Southwest Airlines, Retired
Speaking on
Say The Thing. Silence Isn't Support.
After decades at Southwest Airlines working alongside Colleen Barrett, the legendary Executive Assistant turned President and COO, and founder Herb Kelleher, Cynthia Young learned a simple truth about the Administrative role: sometimes the most valuable skill isn’t organization, diplomacy, or multitasking. It’s having the nerve to say the thing that needs to be said. In this hilarious and refreshingly honest session, Cynthia shares stories from inside one of the most celebrated corporate cultures in America and reveals why the assistants who earn the most respect are often the ones willing to speak up at exactly the right moment.
About Cynthia Willliams Young
Cynthia Williams Young is a human resources and organizational development leader with a career spanning education, public service, and corporate leadership. She currently serves as a Human Resources Consultant with People Results, helping organizations strengthen employee engagement and productivity. Cynthia previously held leadership roles at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Ambit Energy, and spent 21 years at Southwest Airlines where she helped build departments focused on employee relations, internal customer care, and culture. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of North Texas.
Leslie Wright
Executive Assistant
Emergency Physicians of the Rockies
Speaking on
Coming Clean Before You Get Dirty - A Lesson In Mistake Making
Leslie Wright learned one of her biggest professional lessons the hard way. When a critical shipment for a major event was missed, she had two choices: hope no one noticed or own the mistake. In this candid talk, Leslie shares the moment that changed how she approaches accountability and leadership. Her story reminds Administrative Professionals that mistakes happen to everyone, but integrity, transparency, and learning from the moment are what truly build trust and professional growth.
About Leslie Wright
Leslie Wright is an Executive Assistant at Emergency Physicians of the Rockies with more than 20 years of experience supporting events and complex projects across industries including wellness, nutrition, engineering, and healthcare.
Paul Xavier
Executive Assistant
Bain & Company
Speaking on
Let Me Finish
Paul Xavier had a boss who interrupted him. Again. And again. The third time, Paul stopped the conversation and said, “I need to finish this point.” That moment changed everything. In this candid talk, Paul shares why Administrative Professionals must trust their voice, the difference between being assertive and angry, and the surprising respect that follows when you speak with conviction.
About Paul Xavier
Paul Xavier is an Executive Assistant at Bain & Company with more than 35 years in the administrative profession across engineering, energy, construction, mental health, and consulting. A longtime mentor to fellow Admins, he believes confidence, experience, and assertiveness are some of the profession’s most powerful tools.
Britt Yaeger
Executive Support, Senior Manager
Indeed, Inc.
Speaking on
Managing Up, Down, And Sideways Without The Title
Administrative Professionals often lead across teams, departments, and power structures long before anyone gives them the title of “leader.” In this practical session, Britt Yaeger explores how to manage up, down, and sideways while building trust and influence at every level of an organization. From navigating different leadership styles to influencing peers and senior partners across functions, she shares how Administrative Professionals can develop the confidence, language, and boundaries needed to lead effectively without overstepping.
About Britt Yaeger
Britt Yaeger is Senior Manager of Executive Support at Indeed, where she leads and develops a global team of Executive Assistants supporting senior leadership. With more than a decade of experience partnering with C-level and executive leaders in high-growth environments, she focuses on building scalable systems that elevate executive performance and expand the strategic impact of Administrative Professionals.
Questions about Imagine Admin - A Festival of Ideas? We're standing by happy to help.