OIVAC Media Kit

FACT SHEET

Organization: Online International Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC)

Founded: 2006, Randallstown, Maryland, USA

Headquarters: Randallstown, Maryland, USA

Structure: American owned; Privately held

Officer: Sharon Williams, Chairperson and Founder

TYPE OF ENTITY:

Collaborative group of international Virtual Assistants and Virtual Assistant organization representatives.

DESCRIPTION:

OIVAC: Annual international convention offering education, networking, training, partnering and intra-industry activities between successful VAs, industry member organizations, and businesses wishing to connect with the VA community.

IVAD: Designated the third Friday of May, annually, Virtual Assistants celebrate International Virtual Assistants Day (IVAD) and the Virtual Assistant Creed: Dedication, Experience, Expertise and Determination to Succeed of professionals providing administrative and other business support services, virtually. (DEEDS). The 5th celebration will be conducted on Friday, May 21, 2010, during the Online International VA Convention. Two industry awards will be presented: Thomas Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction award, honoring a VA who has contributed to the industry and provides a positive impact; and the Janet Jordan Achievement Award, presented to a VA who has reached a milestone in their short career.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The OIVAC’s mission is to provide educational, training, promotional and intra-industry communication opportunities amongst the Virtual Assistant industry; to promote the IVAD, and to increase awareness about the benefits of working with a virtual assist throughout the worldwide business community.

Story Ideas for Journalists

If you’d like to interview Sharon Williams, please contact her at (410) 521-7001 or send a fax to (410) 521-9742 or email here at OIVAC. Here are some possible story angles:

Celebrating 5 Years in Promoting the Virtual Assisting Industry:  OIVAC Returns in May

The 5^th Annual Online International Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC) is arriving virtually in your home office in May 2010.  With a “New Decade…New Way to Work” entrepreneurs and small business owners are consistently flocking to the support of highly-skilled, professional virtual assistants to off-load and grow their businesses like never before.  The Virtual Assisting industry grew by leaps and bounds in the last decade, and this new decade is sure to prove even more successful for industry growth.  With the ever-changing economic and technological landscape, 2010 and beyond will be a time for amazing growth in the virtual assisting industry.  Come ride the “New Decade…New Way to Work” wave with key players in the entrepreneurial and virtual assisting industries at the 5^th Annual OIVAC from May 20-22, 2010.

20,000+ Virtual Assistants Will Observe the 5th International Virtual Assistants Day: May 21, 2010

Ten years ago if any one had told Randallstown resident, Sharon Williams, that the nascent industry that she has been working so hard to promote would finally receive its own day of recognition, she probably would not have believed it. Williams is a virtual assistant, and a leader of the campaign to recognize Virtual Assistants, worldwide. On May 21, 2010, global virtual professionals will observe the 5th annual International Virtual Assistants Day (IVAD). They will celebrate their craft, and honor industry leaders and up and coming VAs who walk the pathways to successful VA practices.  It’s “A New Decade…A New Way To Work.”

New Decade…New Way To Work:  The Small-Business Owner and the Virtual Assistant

While there are many concerns about large companies outsourcing entire departments, small companies and home-based businesses have jumped on the outsourcing bandwagon, too. What’s different? Small business owners and entrepreneurs now achieve success by working with the leading suppliers of services – Virtual Assistants – administrative, graphic design, marketing, internet research, and transcription service providers, without worrying about overhead, benefits and office equipment or technology expenses.  While many VAs are American, the ranks have increased exponentially to include a large contingent of international virtual professionals. With the advent of new internet technologies an entrepreneur’s assistant can be located anywhere in the world.  The 5th annual Online International Virtual Assistants Convention will take place May 20-22, 2010, where VAs will showcase their talents and skills and participate in training and networking during an online, “live” interactive, international convention. No admission fee entrance to exhibitor halls will be available 24/7 for 45 days.  Members of the VA industry and vendors will showcase their services and products and describe why these new partnerships are the way to go in this “New Decade…New Way To Work”.

Eliminate the Taboo: Home-based Virtual Assistants, Most Valuable Asset in the Modern Office

It’s no longer taboo to hire homebased workers. Virtual assistants prove that as highly-skilled, mobile, computer-savvy independent professionals they overcome apprehension, distance and time differences to complete projects. VAs are experienced administrative and office support personnel turned business owners working from their home offices. Usually self-contained and often certified, they come from established careers in a variety of different industries – from event planning and marketing to accounting and real estate. These factors, along with reduced overhead and wider acceptance, now make outsourcing an attractive staffing option. An upcoming international industry convention (OIVAC) will showcase the expertise, training and professional growth of more than 20,000 home-based virtual professionals.