Executive Administrative Assistant-experienced

Portland, OR | i6x37o@r.postjobfree.com | 818-***-****

Maggie Barnett

Administrative Assistant & Office Manager who has made a career out of bringing organization to chaotic, deadline- driven environments, as evidenced by continued success in support roles for 3 different Los Angeles Times offices. Looking to reestablish administrative career in Portland, after taking time off to nurse sick relative completely back to health.

Excellent ability to predict and prevent office catastrophes through inclusive communication style, elegant writing, reliable sense of humor, and ability to remain calm in crisis situations. Utterly reliable taking only 2 months of vacation in 15 years.

Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook), Mac iWork and iLife, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, PeopleSoft, Lotus Notes, and Microsoft Entourage. Excellent web research skills.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Senior Administrative Assistant

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Los Angeles, CA

2004-2008

Keeping chaos productive for 15 years..Drove administrative operations for extremely busy Travel Editor and Real Estate Editor, plus a staff of 11 reporters, taking over a disorganized office with few formal policies. Played key role in lessening office-wide paper-based correspondence, entering backlog of contracts and bills into proprietary database and shifting calendaring to web-based Outlook.

• Managed calendars for 2 insanely busy Editors, including meeting coordination with ministers of tourism from all over the world and arrangement of attendees, catering, and venue for internal meetings.

• Became trusted written correspondent for supervisors, always bringing quick resolve and preventing escalation: pacified reader requests, resolved vendor disputes, and diplomatically addressed writers' concerns.

• Established filing system, contract delivery protocol, and document-tracking log to closely monitor the project-based hiring of 150 consultants, with an influx of 30 new consultants per year.

• Expertly reconciled expense reports to appease inflexible software, verifying up to 35 line items per travel writer for a week's worth of work. Pitched in on reconciliation efforts for Managing Editor in secretary's absence.

• Served as first-point of contact for 4 phone lines bringing in 50-75 calls per day. Pre-qualified proposals from real estate agents and tour companies and addressed complaints from readership.

ABOVE AND BEYOND...Completely organized boss' office and set up desktop filing system as a surprise while she was out on sick leave. Always looking for ways to bring efficiency to supervisors' work-Lauren Beale, Real Estate Ed.

Administrative Assistant / Intern Supervisor / Desk Assistant 1993-2004

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Chatsworth, CA

Supported up to 60 deadline-driven staff, including Managing Editor, several department managers, and news and copy desks of LA Times' Valley Edition. Took on progressively higher levels of responsibility with duties spanning reception, scheduling, filing, correspondence, intern coordination, and ergonomics.

• Took leadership over interning support staff, training new recruits on policies and procedures, setting up work assignments, delegating administrative tasks, and evaluating overall performance.

• Picked up added role of ergonomics administrator, evaluating work stations, researching and ordering office equipment, setting up consultations with physical therapists and surgeons, and meeting with LA Times health and safety experts, doctors, and equipment manufacturers.

• Helped keep in-house library organized, cataloguing, tracking, and shelving reference books, directories, periodicals, and the like during peak periods.

• Personally wrote business and feature stories in addition to cop reports which required ongoing communication with the police. Also, took dictation from reporters in the field, transcribing and submitting stories to the Editor.

• Joined 2 other receptionists in fielding non-stop calls from readers, contributors, and whistle blowers.

ABOVE AND BEYOND...Mitigated longstanding tension between support staff and reporters and management, taking an inclusive approach on projects to increase bi-directional communication and, ultimately, productivity-Terry McGarry, City Ed.

Desk Assistant (for 40 staff)

LOS ANGELES TIMES: San Diego, CA

EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES MA & BA, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA

1992-1993

Impressionist painter, swimmer, and volunteer with The Reading Lab (San Diego), United Way (Los Angeles), and Dress For Success (Portland). Freelance writer and illustrator for the Los Angeles Times since 1993.

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