Kathy Ritchie, MVA, Editor

Janice Byer, Lead Columnist

Janice Byer has owned and operated Docu-Type Administrative & Web Design Services 
(http://www.docutype.net) since 1998 after graduating from the Human Resources Development Canada's Self-Employment Assistance Program. 

Specializing in Virtual Office Assistance and Website Design, Docu-Type has become a business and a lifestyle that she is extremely proud of. Her mission statement, "To be a happy, successful person whom others can admire and want to learn from", has been something she has lived by. Each day she provides services for her clients and assistance to her fellow small business owners to help them become successful and stay successful. 

Janice's background includes over 15 years in the corporate sector and 5 years in the small business sector. Now she also has 3 years of small business ownership experience to add to her accomplishments. 

Her articles are written by a Virtual Assistant for Virtual Assistants. They are 'been there, done that' articles designed to help the VA/small business owner to reach new heights. Her articles are not only featured in the RSSHerald, but they are also read and seen in numerous online publications and websites and in many international print publications as well.

In 2000, Janice was proud to accept the Most Successful Start Up 2000 award, presented by the Pinnacle Awards for Women of Distinction, and the Home-Based Business of the Year 2000 award, presented by the Brampton Small Business Enterprise Centre, in conjunction with the Brampton Board of Trade, the City of Brampton, and the Towns of Caledon and Orangeville, all located in Ontario, Canada. 

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Clara D. Fyffe - IAVOA Corner

Clara Fyffe is the owner of All-Write Virtual Office, established in July 1995 in Evansville, Indiana.

Prior to opening her business, Clara worked in the accounting office of a major auto dealership. When that office reorganized, she found herself out of work and divorced. In hopes of improving her life, Clara chose to return to college and signed up at the University of Southern Indiana. In May 1992, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications, Journalism and Creative Writing. Clara had always enjoyed writing and worked as a reporter for the campus newspaper, "The Shield." Following graduation, she wrote feature articles for the "Boonville Standard" newspaper. She then worked as editor for the regional print magazine "Road Trippin'" and advanced to writing her own monthly column, "Mom's Musings," an ongoing series of articles relating to the trials, tribulations, triumphs and tricks of her college student son.

Following a serious auto accident in 1994, resulting to injuries to her back and legs, Clara found that she could no longer work outside the home. After talking to another woman who wanted to close her home secretarial business, Clara learned all she could and opened her own company, then named "All-Write Creative Writing and Printing." She did most of her marketing by word of mouth, but also used the Internet, searching out those with like interests, joining multiple "writing chat rooms" to make her presence known. By doing so, she acquired many high-paying projects.

In November 1998, Clara moved to Bloomington, Indiana, to be near her family. She immediately sought out the expertise of her local SBDC and took courses to further her abilities for re-opening her business in its new location. She also chose a new name, "All-Write Virtual Office," and created a new logo, as well. She set up an extensive home office and got to work, enjoying every minute of it.

Then, in September 2002, a direct hit by an F-4 tornado destroyed Clara's home, office and car. It took nearly a year - and the support of the IAVOA community - to get through the insurance red tape and re-outfit her business in a new location and home. One year later, she was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and underwent brain surgery on October 8, 2003. Two years later, she is again moving her business forward. As before, the IAVOA community helped tremendously in supporting her and urging her not to give up.

Currently, Clara is marketing with zeal and writing as often as she can. Her main areas of business are proofreading, writing, re-writing, and editing of business correspondence, as well as assisting future writers with their projects. She also performs transcription of all kinds. Writing and layout of newsletters is another area she enjoys. Clara is an avid worker in the Media Department of her church, developing and printing their weekly Bulletins and creating the PowerPoints of Announcements and the Pastor's Message, as well as any other necessary creative projects.

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Sharon Williams, MVA, AVS Corner

Sharon formed her secretarial service in 1990, initially offering business management and administrative support to entrepreneurs. She utilized her experience in project administration, business and technical writing, and event management to grow the company from a sole proprietorship to a prosperous corporate entity. Her employment background includes serving as president of a 7,000-member union, working as a program compliance hearing officer and in the early stages of her career as an administrative assistant to a director of a city agency.

Throughout the years, Sharon instilled the entrepreneurial spirit into her family, all of whom own their own businesses. During the summer months, her grandchild works beside her, learning the business and how to interact professionally with clients.

Sharon has written comprehensive studies for state government, is the chairperson of the local African-American Chamber of Commerce, and has organized numerous local, national and international events. She is certified as a Master Virtual Assistant.

Sharon is the proud owner of The 24 Hour Secretary, a virtual assistance and secretarial company that is open 24/7, PowerMakers, Inc., a public relations, event planning and marketing firm, and Good Health Choices, a healthy-choices corporation.

Sharon is a graduate of Antioch University, Yellowsprings, OH, with a B.A. in Business Administration and a concentration in labor relations.

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