OIVAC - Online International Virtual Assistants Convention

OIVAC’s Steering Committee members are many of the VA industry’s most dedicated leaders and members who unselfishly share their time and talents while running their own successful businesses. They willingly agreed to plan and support the convention because of their dedication to its members and growth.

Sharon Williams

Committees: All
Sharon Williams is the owner of The 24 Hour Secretary and founder of the Alliance for Virtual Businesses and the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention. Sharon brings 25+ years of administrative, marketing and business management experience to her numerous ventures and diverse clientele. While specializing in digital dictation and transcription services, her passion is marketing and event coordination. She is a Master Virtual Assistant and Professional Real Estate Virtual Assistant. She has written three publications, Marketing Your VA Practice, Nuts & Bolts of Branding, and Racism in State Government. She is currently writing her 2nd Marketing book, expanding her Marketing coaching practice and launching a publishing emporium. Her expert team of internationally-based Virtual Assistants handle the responsibilities busy and often overwhelmed executives and entrepreneurs dislike or lack time to complete. We're open 24/7, always reachable and willing to help.

Janice Byer

Committee: IVAD
Janice Byer is the owner of Docu-Type Administrative & Web Design Services and brings 20+ years of experience to her clients, offering them professional administrative, web design and web hosting services. She is a Certified Canadian Virtual Assistant (CCVA), Certified Master Virtual Assistant (MVA) and has been honoured with several prestigious awards. She is also a Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Canadian Virtual Assistant Connection and takes pride in being involved in numerous VA organizations around the world. Janice lives in Caledon, Ontario where she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter doing things around their small community.

Andrea Cannavina

Committee: Speakers
Andrea Cannavina, a Master Virtual Assistant is the creative and technical force behind Law Firm Solutions, whose mission is to educate CEOs, Managing Partners, CFOs, HR Coordinators, IT Administrators and larger businesses about the proper setup and use of digital and web based technology to slash overhead, safeguard company and client information and improve overall productivity. Andrea provides vital support to busy professionals through customization of easy to use and implement processes allowing firm personnel and company representatives the ability to work remotely -- securely and professionally -- 24 hours per day/7 days per week - using nothing more than a phone!

Di Chapman

Committee: Speakers
Di Chapman is the owner of Become A Virtual Assistant, a free resource site for new and aspiring Virtual Assistants. She has a VA site, Iceni-it and is proud to be co-owner of The Alliance of UK Virtual Assistants, a free resource site for experienced Virtual Assistants in the UK. Di has been a college lecturer in IT and is a qualified trainer in word processing to the highest level. She was an IT trainer for Microsoft and IBM, Business trainer for the UK Government's Business Link and latterly she ran a Project Management Consultancy. She started as a VA in 2000 due to family commitments and has won 2 UK Awards for her work as a VA and for her commitment to the VA Industry. Di now lives in South Western France where she continues to work as a VA.

Anita Kilkenny

Committees: Website and Registrations
Anita Kilkenny from AKA Virtual PA established her virtual business in January 1994; however it wasn’t until 2000 that Anita became a full-time VPA. With a Bachelor of Business Degree (Office Admin) and over 17 years experience in the secretarial and PA field, Anita has extensive experience in the public and private corporate sectors. In 2002 Anita became one of the first in Australia to be awarded with the post nominal of Accredited Office Professional (AOP) and in 2003 was awarded her Master Virtual Assistant (MVA). Anita also won the 2003 AIOP Award of Excellence.

Laurie Dart

Committee: PR
Laurie Dart, owner of Writing Wisely, provides writing and editing services to entrepreneurs and small business owners from her home office in Portland Oregon . Some of her recent projects include press releases, e-book editing and e-course development. She is the author of the Everyday Guide to Writing Wisely and co-author of The Everyday Guide to Writing and Marketing Your e-book Wisely.

Becki Noles

Committee: Website and Blog
Becki Noles, Visionary of Virtual Accuracy has been at the forefront of stream-lining coaching and entrepreneurial businesses since 1998. Utilizing her background in marketing, publicity, corporate training, advertising and media, Becki custom tailors and implements individualized action plans for taking coaching businesses to the next level. As a Virtual Assistant her business partners with top business and executive coaches in the United States, Canada, Switzerland and the world over.

Lyn Prowse-Bishop

Committee: Registrations
Lyn Prowse-Bishop, MVA, ASO - Australia’s first certified Master Virtual Assistant - has been in private practice since February 2000 as manager of Executive Stress Office Support (eSOS™). We specialise in providing confidential executive secretarial services to independent professionals, consultants and small to medium sized businesses globally. Services offered include (but are not limited to) transcription (digital; tape; shorthand), document preparation, database design and maintenance, internet research, desktop publishing (newsletter, etc.) – together with a range of personal assistant services to ease the burden on independent professionals, consultants and businesses. For more information visit www.execstress.com

Kathie M. Thomas

Kathie M. Thomas founded "A Clayton's Secretary" in Australia March 1994 with plans to run a small home based secretarial service at home so she could be home for her 5 daughters. 18 months later, and very busy, she was looking for others to assist her with the workload when the Internet entered the scene. She quickly adopted this new technology and with it found a whole new way of doing business. Today she runs one of the oldest Virtual Assistant Networks in existence and has members in 16 countries. She also manages a blog specifically for the industry aimed to assist both clients and VAs to learn more about working virtually.

Kathryn Williams

Kathryn Williams is Managing Director of Completely Organised a virtual assistance business based in Abercynon, South Wales. Kathryn specializes in working with Corporate and executive level clients. In Jan 2008, Kathryn’s business won the Best Use of eCommerce at the Rhondda Cynon Taff Business Awards. Kathryn is one of the UK’s leading virtual assistants and was the first person in the UK to be awarded the GVA distinction by VAU.