Kellie Portuese

** ***** **** **** ********* NJ *8867

phone: +1-908-***-**** cell: +1-908-***-**** Skype: kellieportuese email: acephv@r.postjobfree.com

Profile

Organized and self-motivated 10+ years executive administrator. Steady progression from receptionist to comprehensive executive support. Entered the work force in 1978 after finishing high school and attended Sydney Technical College Secretarial School. I commenced employment with the first of six law firms beginning as a receptionist and steadily moving into more senior and responsible roles. The practices were boutique and generalist ranging from criminal law, personal injury litigation, workers compensation, employment, real estate and property law, business and commercial law, wills/estates and family law. In 1993 I started out my own business, word processing for barristersʼ chambers in Phillip Street Sydney. In 1994 I was offered a fulltime secretarial position for three of Sydneyʼs very busy Senior Counsel. Their independent practices covered fields of construction, technology, commercial and equity, employment and industrial, constitutional and administrative law. l remained in this position until 2001 when I married and moved to the United States.

Strengths

• Initiative and willingness to attend to what needs to be done.

• Excellent interpersonal and professional communication.

• Organized.

• Capable of handling fast paced demands.

• Attention to detail.

• Ability to delegate.

• Manage multiple tasks, prioritize and manage time.

• Work under pressure with time sensitive deadlines.

• Entire working career has required autonomy, discretion, patience, diligence and an extreme level of confidentiality

and integrity.

• Professional, calm, practical, common sense demeanor and outlook.

• Ability to motivate, involve, direct, delegate and participate as needed.

• Client oriented.

• Willingness to change and learn as needed.

• Able to evaluate and problem solve quickly and proactively.

Experience

Legal Administrative Manager Frank Corsaro SC; Robert Goot SC; Max Kimber SC; State Chambers, Sydney, NSW Australia 1994 - 2001: construction, workers compensation, employment arbitration, construction and technology, commercial and equity, employment and industrial, constitutional and administrative law.

I supported three very busy Senior Barristers (Attorneys) managing their individual practices. This included but was not limited to:

• Initial contact point for attorneys, visitors and/or clients.

• Liaising with accountants and various professional organizations integral to efficient and compliant legal practices.

• Diary management:

- arranging travel, accommodation, (domestic and international) with outside agents as well as direct booking

- scheduling and arranging complicated conferences, luncheons

- arranging and scheduling court appearances.

• Client contact and collaboration re scheduling of social and business commitments.

• Receiving, reviewing, responding to and/or disseminating mail as needed.

• Co-ordinating work flow to satisfy all aspects of three separate offices.

• Responsible for deadlines with regard to submissions and filing dates for Courts.

• Draft and preparation of correspondence/documentation.

• Liaising with judiciary and clerical staff to arrange trials, hearings etc.

• Management of both personal and business accounts.

1

Kellie Portuese

38 Grove Farm Road Pittstown NJ 08867

phone: +1-908-***-**** cell: +1-908-***-**** Skype: kellieportuese email: acephv@r.postjobfree.com

• Library management and maintenance.

• Issuing of accounts and follow-up.

• Reconciling bank statements.

• Preparing GST (Australian Tax) returns.

In general, proactively anticipating and supporting these attorneys and practices in whatever manner was required.

Word Processor Cairns Word Processing Sydney, NSW Australia 1993 - 1994:

After leaving Price Brent I commenced my own business word processing for the legal fraternity in Phillip Street Sydney. This included prioritizing on a very large scale, typing of briefs, letters, advices, submissions, accounts and frequently on an urgent basis. I ran this business successfully for twelve months.

Personal Executive Assistant Price Brent Solicitors Sydney, NSW Australia 1992 - 1993: mid-sized commercial practice.

I supported the Managing Partner of this city law firm. He also headed up the Property Department. I was responsible for word processor section, managing juniors, filing system, arranging and preparation of confidential and general document/ correspondence and documentation, liaising with clients, planning/arranging, conferences, travel, luncheons.

Secretary/Paralegal McIntyre Stower and Bovey Solicitors, Cairns, QLD Australia 1990 - 1992: general practice with heavy criminal speciality.

The partner I worked for specialized in criminal law. My responsibilities were to support this part of the practice in whatever was necessary. This entailed preparation of clients and supporting documentation required for trial. Significant liaising with Police Prosecutors, Court Clerks, clients, witnesses and barristers. Frequently required to attend jails and sit in on conferences with barristers during preparation and trial. General administration and maintenance of systems for smooth running practice.

Arden Associates Solicitors Sydney Australia 1989 - 1990 primarily Criminal practice.

Baker & Heazlewood Solicitors Sydney/Parramatta Australia 1980 - 1986 general and heavy criminal practice. (This firm

became Baker Ryrie Rickards & Titmarsh).

Karp & Cooney Solicitors, Sydney Australia 1978 - 1980. Milne Berry & Berger Solicitors, Sydney Australia - 1978.

Knowledge/Skills

General computer skills; Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel. Apple Mac Pages, MYOB (Accounting package); Wordperfect; typing 80+; dictaphone; general document and correspondence management. Personal and business correspondence, computer management, diary management, filing and shredding.

Referrals

I will provide business referee details upon request.

Education

Hunterdon County Polytech Microsoft Office Suite (refresher) (Computer Word, Powerpoint Excel) 2010; Precept Ministry Continuing Education (Handling Difficulty Subject) 2009; Raritan Valley Community College (Corporate & Continuing Education) Interior Design 101; Blue Elephant Cooking School Bangkok; Daryl Alexander & Associates Human Resource Consultants (Australian Pharmaceutical Representatives Training Course) Australia; University of Technology Sydney (Criminology Certificate course only); Sydney Technical College (Secretarial School) Sydney NSW Australia; Canley Vale High School Canley Vale NSW Australia.

Hobbies: Reading, movies, sharing our home with family and friends. Goals: PUP leader, Pilates instructor, learn another language - Italian.

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