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Tawnya has contributed to the industry in such a way
that she has provided a positive impact on many others and helped them
each to
build a successful business.
Message from Tawnya:
"Winning this
award has truly grounded me as I was thoroughly surprised by the amount
of support sent my way throughout this nomination process. Although
my name is on this year’s award I by no means accomplished this
by myself. To
those of you that have been my inspiration, my friends as both clients,
fellow VAs and the wonderful members of VAnetworking.com, I thank you
from the bottom of my heart. It has been my goal from the beginning to
give new and established VA's a place to congregate to share ideas, experiences,
and to know that we're not alone and I hope to continue to be able to
do this in the years to come.
I have practiced my three
'P's of success within my own VA business and wish to share these ethics
with the VA community. They are: Persistence, Passion
and Populace. A persistence to never give up and keep pushing through your business
plan no matter what obstacles stand in your way. A passion and solid
desire to reach the vision you have for you and your business. And populace,
the networking with likeminded people in the VA industry.
It is with these thoughts
in mind that I graciously accept this year’s Thomas
Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction Award. This
award represents every single VA who has contributed to the VA
industry by helping to create social networks like VAnetworking.com
wherein people who, on one front may be business competitors, still
have the time and compassion for an industry to help those just
breaking in to it. I think that this VA family, that I have watched
grow over the last 10 years, is a testimony to the moral fiber
of the people involved in an industry that I am proud to be a part
of.."
Therefore, I accept this award on behalf of
every virtual assistant who works long hours to make our industry an
indispensable service to small-business owners worldwide. Winning this
award further inspires me to continue spreading goodwill by helping to
empower more VAs to create their businesses and educating entrepreneurs
about our capabilities."
Personal
Bio:
Tawnya was
born and raised in a small fishing village in eastern Canada with a
population of just 500 called Bewdley, Ontario. It is such a small
village that they still only have dial up internet! From there
she graduated from high school and went on to college to become
a Legal Secretary. Tawnya
married, had three children and then thirteen years later found
herself divorced and a single mother starting all over again from
scratch. It was at this point in her life that she made a decision
to go back to University obtained her certifications in Multimedia
and Internet Marketing Studies and pursue her dreams of being a
VA full-time.
In 2004, Tawnya
hooked up with Arnold, the man of her dreams and settled
into a wonderful new life of family and love. Her children are
growing into beautiful young adults with just one son now living
at home who keeps her active at the sports arena watching him play
hockey year round. Tawnya proudly watches and supports her other
son and daughter who are working on their careers to become a plumber
and an accountant.
Tawnya loves
to travel anywhere she can go during her down time and her next dream
trip is to head to New Zealand hopefully in the summer/fall of this
year. Other than that, it will be day and weekend camping trips in
beautiful British Columbia. Always looking for more adverture to
inspire and keep her active, Tawnya is going back to school
in June to earn her pilot's licence at Arnold's new flight school.
Business
Bio:
A long-time active member of the VA community, Sutherland founded VAnetworking.com,
the largest online global social network for successful and aspiring
Virtual Assistants.
Tawnya is also the creator of the internationally acclaimed Virtual
Business Startup System—which provides all the information, tools,
and resources for a VA to build a viable virtual assistance business
in just 30 days.
Tawnya began her own administrative support VA business, Mediamage
Business Solutions, in 1997 but has since focused on providing Internet
Marketing services helping her clients turn clicks into cash. Tawnya is
a Certified Internet Marketing Business Strategist and Multimedia Usability
Specialist graduating in 2002 from the University of British Columbia.
A true entrepreneur, Tawnya also owns, operates and markets her family's
aviation companies Mile
High Customs, The
Aviation Black Book, ALM
Custom Carvings and Mile
High Productions.
Tawnya’s newest venture
in the VA industry is hosting and producing the internet radio show, The
VA Talk Show which informs, educates and entertains virtual achievers
globally.
Here are just some of the comments by her peers:
"I
hired Tawnya Sutherland in 2003 for her services as a Virtual Assistant.
Tawnya has always performed above and beyond the call of duty for me
and performed flawlessly. Her knowledge and skills are absolutely the
best. Her integrity and professionalism are without reproach. Her services
have been so valuable to us that I have been reluctant to tell my colleagues
about her!"
"Congratulations on making
VAnetworking.com such a success! I’ve
been a quiet member there for over two years and it has always been the
best free source of information available to help me build my business
the right way. Tawnya, I don’t know what I
would have done without you and all your hard work here at VAnetworking.
Your fingers may have been worked to the bone and I’m sure your
back is aching many nights, but I am just one of many people who can
say your efforts have made being a Virtual Assistant a lot easier than
it might have been without you in the industry."
"Tawnya has always been
professional, courteous and very easy to deal with. Her work is delivered as promised with great attention
to detail. Her expertise in website marketing and delivery methods
is excellent. I would recommend Tawnya and her company to my colleagues,
friends or family. I
trust her completely with my work."
"I really do owe you. It is because of VAnetworking.com (which
really equates to you) that I am able to work from home and be here for
my son. You
have no idea how much that means to me (as well as my whole family). Moreover,
VAnetworking is where my business partner and I met. Not only do
we have an amazing working relationship but she is also someone
I count among my very dearest of friends. Thank you so very very much
Tawnya!!"
"Tawnya's website
url comes through my Google Alerts on a daily basis promoting one
thing or another about the virtual asisstant industry. Thank
you Tawnya for bringing more awareness to virtual assistants
worldwide through your powerful marketing skills."
We congratulate and
thank Tawnya for her contributions and dedication to the success and
growth of the Virtual Assistant Industry and individual Virtual Assistants
around the world.
Tawnya will not only receive the recognition and
respect of everyone in the Virtual Assistant industry, she will also
receive:
- A physical award to adorn her
office
- An award graphic to use on her website
- An award certificate to use in her marketing
material
- "Book Yourself Solid" by Michael Port
- "Expanding You Business, One Subscriber at a Time" by Heather Jacobson
- 1 Year Subscription to the Virtual Assistant
Revolution
- The Everyday Guide to Writing Wisely from Laurie
Dart
- VA Success Stories Interview from Sharon Williams
- Business Building Ebook Library by Janice Byer
- The Virtual Assistant's Guide to the Multi-VA Business Ebook by Michelle Jamison
- 2 Way Feedback Ebook by Jennifer McCoy
- Entrepreneurial Freedom Ebook by Jeannine Clontz & Lauren Hidden
- One Full Year of Podcast Hosting from Penny Haynes
- 3 Month membership to Coaching Club from Linda Anderson
- The Fifth Edition of Forms & Templates for the Virtual Assistant Business by Susan Totman
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