First Virtual Assistant Grads Finding Success

The first class of Virtual Assistant students graduated from Red Deer College at the beginning of June, and they are already finding great success in the workforce within their newly chosen profession.

The group of five graduates, hailing from Alberta and Saskatchewan, are all setting up their own businesses that offer a host of administrative professional services to clients locally, nationally and around the world.

The unique aspect of these businesses is that they are set up virtually, meaning that this group of new entrepreneurs is electronically connected to their clients from a home office, using the latest technology. While they aren’t located physically at their clients’ organizations, these administrative professionals are still able to provide efficient administrative support.

HOPE’S (Hope’s Online Professional E-Service) owner Hope Martin, from Outlook, Saskatchewan, has found her niche. Or rather her niche has found her! All of HOPE’S clients are pleased that she provides bookkeeping services for their small businesses located in Vermillion, Outlook, and as far away as Georgia, U.S.A. But that’s not all HOPE’S provides – Internet research, data entry, event and meeting planning are just a few of the business’ other services.

“I am a single parent of three young children and living in the middle of Saskatchewan with very few employment opportunities. Working outside of my home, paying daycare costs and having someone else raise my kids is not an option,” says Martin. “This Virtual Assistant program has prepared me well to start my home-based business and serve a growing number of clients.”

Another graduate, Lori Fraser from Red Deer, has established SAVY Business Solutions, which offers a variety of services from accounting to web design. She has produced projects for local businesses and individuals. Word of mouth advertising means Fraser’s client base continues to grow.

The Virtual Assistant program is the first program of its kind offered in Canada. Students learn a variety of entrepreneurial skills, technology skills and related knowledge to be able to provide office services virtually from their homes.

Classes for this program are delivered electronically to students who are off-campus, using a variety of methods, such as the WebCT chat rooms, web conferencing, and teleconferencing.

Online learning proved very helpful for Hope Martin, so she didn’t have to uproot her family and move to Red Deer. “The instructors were a great wealth of knowledge, wisdom and experience who helped me train to become a great Virtual Assistant,” says Martin. “The flexibility of the program helped me and my family prepare for the challenges, rewards and benefits of building my Virtual Assistant business.”

In addition to classes, students complete a 120-hour virtual practicum before graduating. Currently, the virtual practicum clients are located in London, England; Canada; and throughout the United States.

The Virtual Assistant programaccepted its first group of students in September 2003. This innovative program was created to help meet the continually changing needs of a global workforce.

The Virtual Assistant students who graduated at Red Deer College’s 41st Convocation Ceremony on June 4, 2005 are: Lori Fraser (Red Deer, AB); Carrie Goetz (Blackfalds, AB); Pauline McLaren (Lacombe, AB); Hope Martin (Outlook, SK); and Jodi Waddy (Alix, AB).

For more information, contact:
Bev Pederson
Coordinator & Instructor, Virtual Assistant Program
Red Deer College
Phone: (403) 342-3357
Email: bev.pederson@rdc.ab.ca
OR
Hope Martin
Graduate, Virtual Assistant Program
Red Deer College
Phone: (306) 867-8440
Email: hope.s@sasktel.net
OR
Lori Fraser
Graduate, Virtual Assistant Program
Red Deer College
Phone: (403) 309-0361
Email: savybusinesssolutions@shaw.ca