GeekGyrls is a group of some of the most well-known, well respected Gyrls in their industry. Call us geeks – we’ll thank you! This amazingly talented group of gyrls possess a ton of knowledge and experience in their respective industry niches and we’ve all come together to educate and amuse you with our knowledge, charm and our sparkling personalities! 
At this time, we are “geeked” to be working with the following guest bloggers:
 Cheryl Allin |
 Katie Baird |
 Anna Baron |
 Candy Beauchamp |
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 Andrea Cannavina |
 Jeannine Clontz |
 Kathy Drewien |
 Alyssa Gregory |
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 Pam Ivey |
 Andrea Kalli |
 Patty Keller |
 Bev King |
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 Laura Monroe |
 Lanel Taylor |
 Caroline Wright |
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Cheryl Allin
Cheryl Allin, owner of the Virtual Assistant social network VirtuAllin is a veteran of the Virtual Assistant industry and an avid techie & early adopter. She is a real estate virtual assistant, joomla website specialist and provides internet marketing support for a wide array of industries. She actively leverages her knowledge of website design and marketing to assist fellow Virtual Assistants gain visibility and support via Twitter, VirtuAllin and Search4VAs.
A former Arabic linguist for the Army and dot bomb employee, Cheryl launched VirtuAllin in 2001 and quickly began specializing in real estate support and search engine optimization. She gained her Certified Real Estate Support Specialist (CRESS) designation in 2002 and has remained the only Virtual Assistant firm recommended by RE/MAX of New Jersey’s central office for the last seven years. Cheryl’s drip email marketing system Real Estate Drip Email Campaigns (REDEC) was featured in the September 2008 issue of REALTOR Magazine.
Cheryl works from her home in Lakewood, Washington with her husband, Vance a 3D modeler and type 1 diabetic where they share in the joy of remaining home with their two youngest children and George, the terribly curious kitty. They often Twitter and Facebook at each other while sitting just two feet apart. When not being geeky, Cheryl loves great TV like House M.D., reading Koontz or killing at Sudoku.
Katie Baird
Katie started out in Iowa in 1953, and after sojourns in Colorado, the Philippines, and Illinois,somehow ended up in Prescott, Arizona circa 1984.
After 20 years as a middle school teacher, she changed gears in 1996 and created a Mac-driven virtual assistance practice, Loose Ends. Her specialty is web support. She blogs about the virtual assistant life at LooseEnds blog and celebrates her adopted home town at a community site called AboutPrescottArizona.com.
Known as ktcosmos online, in the real world she answers to Katie, Mom, Mamaw (grandma), Yollama, Sweetie, McMahon, or Momarazzi, depending on who you’re talking to.
She loves being her own boss, but even more loves her big old family (3 boys + a bonus son and daughter and more grandkids every year), kayaking, photography, knitting, racquetball and baseball. Oh, and apple pie. But only if homemade. And coffee ice cream. And skinny iced lattés.
Anna Baron
Anna Baron is a well established Virtual Assistant and has been in business since 1997.
She is a real estate virtual assistant, virtual assistant for coaches and a virtual assistant for speakers, as well as providing marketing services for any small business or entrepreneur. In addition, Virtual Assistant Anna Baron is active in other Virtual Assistant mentoring related programs such as VAstartup where she mentors and coaches other virtual assistants. She also authored the ebook Boot Camp for Virtual Assistants.
Anna started her career offering executive administrative services and became an IVAA Certified Virtual Assistant in 2001. In 2002 she began offering Internet marketing services and now offers custom web sites with SEO techniques built-in and excels at social media marketing. She also holds the certifications and designations of: Certified Real Estate Assistant, Certified Real Estate Support Specialist (CRESS) and is highly recommended by Allen Hainge of AFHseminars (CyberStars) as a preferred Virtual Assistant.
Anna was listed in Florida Real Estate’s 2007 Real Estate Solutions Guide and has been featured in the Dallas Business Journal, Planet Realtor, Texas Realtor Magazine, as well as being interviewed and featured in the book “The Entrepreneurial Parent” by Paul and Sarah Edwards.
Anna lives in Allen, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. She’s a frequent visitor to the local Starbucks where the baristas, Jen and Coral, know her not only by name but by her coffee – a venti caramel machiatto, quad shot with extra caramel. She is the proud mother of 3 girls and a son that has her wrapped around his finger. A sign in her office says “Live, Laugh, Love” all which she strives to do on a daily basis.
Candy Beauchamp
Candy wears many hats… full info at her personal landing page
She is the owner of OffAssist virtual bookkeeping, which began as a concept in 1999 and officially opened its doors in 2002. She is also the chief question answerer at 2 Minutes With A VA.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, taking photographs and spending time with her husband two children at her home in Austin, TX. Candy credits her success to her amazing family and friends, who have stood by her while growing OffAssist into what it is today.
Candy also volunteers as a mentor and served on the Board of Directors of the International Virtual Assistants Association in many capacities, including President. She also is an administrator over at VA Networking.
Andrea Cannavina
In April 2001, after more than a decade working with high powered solos and equity level partners at some of the largest firms in and around NYC, Andrea founded LegalTypist, Inc. – the premiere virtual assistant service to the legal profession.
Through the years, Andrea developed a network of only the best in legal secretarial talent while researching, testing and implementing the tech needed for her network to work securely through the Internet with attorneys across the US. Today, LegalTypist services over 40 small firms and process the initial drafts transcription of firms up to 50 attorneys.
Along with helping attorneys and administrators understand their options when it comes to upgrading to a digital workflow, Andrea frequently lectures on technology, security and confidentiality concerns which any business working on or through the Internet needs to address.
The mother of two, Andrea lives on Long Island with her husband, Dan. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, cooking and hanging with her family and friends.
Jeannine Clontz
Jeannine Clontz, owner of Accurate Business Services specializes in REALTOR, speaker/coach support and works with clients to improve productivity by helping them to setup and implement powerful marketing programs on and off the Internet.
Jeannine is a writer, author and speaker on many business topics, including ethics, and recently started a Virtual Assistance Coaching program, VABizCoach. Her successful co-authored book detailing the process for starting and growing a VA practice, Entrepreneurial Freedom, has received rave reviews and is being utilized by several community colleges nationwide as a part of their business curriculum.
Jeannine is an avid volunteer (too much to enter here) and mentor, and has served the VA industry in many capacities, including as president of the IVAA.
She is married, has a grown daughter, and lives just south of St. Louis, MO. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, swimming, reading, writing, and travel.
Websites:
Blog:
Kathy Drewien
Kathy Drewien is the owner of KD and Company. Kathy is a straight talking real estate broker with a passion for technology. She holds the advanced Council of Residential Specialists (CRS) designation and recently featured on the cover of the CRS “Communicating Across the Generations” issue . Kathy began her real estate career in 1995 with her nationally recognized AtlantaRelo website. Long recognized as a “techie agent”, Kathy openly shares tips, tricks and strategies for online marketing success with other agents – locally and nationally.
Who Is Kathy?
In 1994 I closed my private practice as a psychotherapist specializing in the family dynamics of alcoholism. After 15 years of working in hospital and private settings, I was simply burned out. Didn’t have a clue what direction I wanted to go; so I spent some time working in a temp agency as an administrative assistant. That’s how I was introduced to real estate — a successful agent in Atlanta needed an assistant. “Well, I can do that.” Hired on the spot.
Welcome to the World Wide Web
The mid-90s were pioneer days. I jumped in head first. My website targeted folks relocating to Atlanta and decided to become a full time real estate agent. By trial and error I learned html, created email campaigns, developed online relationships with prospective clients, and sold homes to the folks that lived in my computer.
For what seemed a very long time, I felt all alone in my belief that internet marketing and real estate fit hand-in-glove. Then I met Ira, another real estate agent who shared my belief. Oh, the power of affirmation! There is nothing quite like the high of being with like-minded techie entrepreneurs.
Exit Web 1.0 – Enter Web 2.0
My love of technology, and it’s application for business growth, has not diminished. I continue to learn and grow through ongoing relationships with folks that live in my computer. Over the years I have taught colleagues, family, and friends how to benefit from the power of computers, websites and tech gadgets.
Alyssa Gregory
Alyssa is the president of avertua, LLC, a virtual assistant firm in Stewartsville, NJ. Since 2003, Alyssa has been providing innovative solutions, exceptional service and unrivaled quality to help small businesses run faster, be stronger and work smarter.
Prior to starting Avertua, Alyssa was the owner of a full-service design firm and has more than 8 years of business ownership under her belt. She provides business support, design and desktop publishing services to her clients.
In 2008, Alyssa’s first virtual assistant book was published, entitled: VA Secrets Revealed! An Insider’s Guide to Being a Successful Virtual Assistant. She is the founder of the Virtual Assistant Hub, a website created for collaboration and knowledge sharing among virtual assistants and clients of virtual assistants.
Alyssa loves to write, and many of her articles can be found on her small business blog, the Small Business Idea Generator. She is a blogger on Sitepoint.com, one of the largest informational websites for designers and developers in the world. She is also a Managing Editor on Type-A Mom, and frequently guest posts on other blogs.
As a member of the International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA), Alyssa is an IVAA Certified Virtual Assistant (CVA). She also volunteers as the RFP Coordinator for the organization. She will be speaking at the 8th Annual Virtual Assistants Summit in April 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
Alyssa is a social media enthusiast and can frequently be found networking on the top social media sites. When she’s off the clock, Alyssa loves spending time with her husband and two children in their home in New Jersey.
Pam Ivey
Pam Ivey, a Virtual Business Manager and VA Solution Specialist, is the principal of My Creative Assistant, Assistant for Authors and Visual Persuasions Canada, as well as owner of a terrific industry association, the Canadian Virtual Assistant Network (CVAN). She is also co-founder of another association with an anticipated launch date in the very near future – CASPAA – Coaches, Authors, Speakers Professional Assistants Association. Pam has also co-founded another association/training resource with Anna Baron called REVA Institute and we expect to in the second quarter of 2009. My high-level goal is to help to increase the awareness of the virtual assistant industry with business leaders and influencers in North America and around the world.
I partner with my clients to support them in their efforts to grow their business by providing marketing, administrative and strategic services so they can concentrate on core activities of their business that 1) generates revenue and, 2) they love to do!
Andrea Kalli
Andrea Kalli Virtual Trainer and Assistant, LLC offers a wide variety of business services, to include: Internet and Social Marketing Strategist/Coach/Assistant, editing for Podcasts/Audio/Video/Teleconferences/Audio Books, and Productivity training and support for Microsoft Outlook and Windows SharePoint Services. Her primary 2 areas of focus are to work with businesses to achieve greater online presence in building their business and brand, and to maximize business productivity through deeper learning of using Outlook and SharePoint.
Andrea Kalli has lived in a suburb of Denver, CO with her husband, Darryl since 1989. Born in Quantico, Virginia in a military family, she moved quite a bit when she was very young, but the family had settled in Southern California by the time she started school. She has two grown children, Chris and Amanda, and has a passion for gardening.
Her various websites are:
- website: www.virtualassist.net
- E-Learning Center for on-demand training: www.virtualassist.net/elearning
- blog: www.virtualassist.net/blog
- podcast: Outlook, SharePoint, and Business Technology Podcast
- Small Business Podcast Directory
Patty Keller
What do you get when you mix an entrepreneur with a sales person? Patty Keller, owner and founder of AnotherME. After 18 successful years of sales in the telecom and technology industry, she found herself a victim of the “Dot-Com Bomb.” In 2002, she put her sales and marketing skills to work and created AnotherME; a Real Estate Virtual Assistant business.
Starting locally and learning the business, she began working with the real estate professionals in her hometown of Atlanta, GA. Today AnotherME has grown into a Multi-VA practice; with 14 VA’s located in 7 states and supporting real estate professionals around the country. Specializing in Listing Coordination services and Closing Coordination/Transaction Management, AnotherME also offers marketing and social networking packages.
Finding the win-win for women is her passion. Whether it’s the woman who chooses to leave a career, stay at home with her children and only work from home, or the woman who chooses a full time real estate career and needs help with her business so that she has time for her family. AnotherME offers a win-win solution for its Clients and Virtual Assistants.
Patty is a NAR certified Real Estate Professional Assistant, a member of IVAA, IREAA, and the Women’s Council of Realtors. In her spare time, she is involved in her Kappa Delta Sorority Alumnae Association, works as a Senior Manager with SendOutCards.com and loves the hunt, challenge and rewards of real estate investing!
Bev King
While others may claim to be The First Real Estate Virtual Assistant Bev King actually holds that title.
Global Connection Virtual Office started in 1997 and was founded by Bev King. Bev has an extensive background in Real Estate with focused training and experience on Commericial and REO Listings. Bev has started her career in Real Estate in 1984 as an appraisers assistant and became a licensed agent in 1990. Since that time Bev has been instrumental in providing professional Real Estate Services and promoting the VA industry throughout the country.
Laura Monroe
Laura Monroe is a certified Professional Real Estate Virtual Assistant that specializes in Listing Coordination/Management, custom Marketing Design, Internet Marketing and Social Media Management. Being the owner of her own virtual assistant company Laura brings a strong foundation of real estate marketing & branding, business management, and is up to date on cutting edge technology used in real estate today.
With a passion for creativity and thinking outside the box, Laura works with each client for seamless communication, high levels of productivity, and follow-through of all the details from open to close.
Laura lives in Northern California with her husband and 2 children. Her latest hobby is traveling the wine country of Napa Valley , among other favorites are skiing in Lake Tahoe and day trips to San Francisco; all located in her backyard.
Lanel Taylor
Lanel began this journey she calls life in southern California the oldest of four children. Her family then moved to northern California where she finished high school and college and began her career in the accounting field. After many years working in the high stress, busy corporate world as a senior level accountant she made the, what some would say crazy, decision to start a small side business, Taylored Office Solutions. In mid 2005 she heard of this small town in the Idaho panhandle, packed her stuff, and moved determined to make it work.
Today Lanel keeps busy balancing life as the owner of Taylored Office Solutions and enjoying the beautiful four seasons (something she never experienced in all her years in California). Summer finds her spending every possible minute camping at, walking by or boating on one of the 18 beautiful lakes surrounding her. Autumn you’ll find her gazing at the gorgeous changing leaves and praying for one more day of sun. Winter finds her slip, sliding through the ice streets loving the snow (until about February when she’s counting down the days until spring). While Spring finds her planting her flowers and wishing for a bigger yard and more time to grow a bigger garden.
Lanel is the lead bookkeeper at Taylored Office Solutions, Inc. which specializes in bookkeeping solutions for small businesses. She also serves on the board of directors for the International Virtual Assistant Association where she’s volunteered for many years. Lanel also cofounded the Inland Northwest Virtual Assistants Alliance which helps support local VAs and bring awareness to the local business community on the Virtual Assistant industry.
If you don’t find her at her desk, Lanel’s probably slipped out to spend some time with her niece and nephews who all live locally and love their Auntie time.
Caroline Wright
The one with the “delightful British accent,” Caroline Wright has been in the virtual assistant business since 2000. Her company, The Wright Solution, provides marketing, lead generation and administration support to small business owners with the mission to increase productivity and efficiency, and deliver the highest standards of quality and care.
Although British by birth, she has lived and worked in many different countries in the last twenty years. Prior to being a VA, her career spanned cruise ships, luxury villa property management in Greece and private club membership marketing in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Portsmouth, England.
She is a Certified Virtual Assistant and Board member for the International Association of Virtual Assistants, serving as Education Director and Membership Director for the Association. She is also an active member of the DVVAA, the VA association local to her current home in New Jersey.
Caroline’s hobbies include cooking, hiking and travel – especially to their Greek home on the island of Spetses each summer.
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