What makes a ‘gold-standard’ Executive Assistant in the government contracting community?
The WashingtonExec Executive Assistant Committee, led by Chairperson Maria Cornell of CGI, discussed the subject with keynote speaker Carols Echalar. Echalar, a Global Human Resources (CHRO) and Operations Executive, has worked for Forture500 companies, global defense organizations as well as federal IT contractors.
Carlos is President and Chief Advisor of the Workforce Advisory Group, LLC, a full-range service provider of labor implementation services across the Human Resources (HR), Financial, and organizational growth and transformation sectors. Workforce Advisory Group’s capabilities include business process design, organizational integrations, organizational analysis, organizational reporting, change management, ongoing organizational optimization and organizational-enabled Human Capital business process outsourcing.
The group of top career-EAs from the Greater Washington, D.C. government contracting community agreed that the position requires them to understand all aspects of the business, as well as work collaboratively with others who support and work directly with the C-suite. Often times an EA is crucial in making sure the executive/executives who they support meet appropriated business targets, that the organization is able to adapt at a moment’s notice, and that the needs of the business are prioritized appropriately.
Echalar suggested to attendees that they begin to actively consider their professional development goals and then create a solidified personal road map in order to grow and add value to the business. He also acknowledged that during times of budget restraints and cutbacks, those in professional support roles are often the first to be cut in order to reduce overhead costs of the business – assistants are being asked to do a lot more with less backing.
A large number of WashingtonExec Committee members have supported their executives for a long period of time, through moving up the corporate later, acquisitions and new appointments; Echalar reminded members that it is important that they do not lose sight of their own professional development and ambitions over the executives they support.
“In order to grow, transform, and excel in your current role, you need to have those you support invested in optimizing and enhancing your responsibilities and output. If the individual you support does not have a vested interest in your leadership development, then the position might not the best fit for you, and I encourage you to consider other options,” said Echalar.
The evening concluded with Echalar encouraging members to develop and build trusted relationships within their organizations, as well as through professional forums, such at the WashingtonExec EA Committee.
The evening was sponsored by Mark Gray, Vice President and General Manager at URS Corporation, on behalf of Debbie Dotson.
WashingtonExec hosts three Executive Assistant Committees, which together incorporate more than one hundred individuals from the government contracting industry. The 2014 WashingtonExec Executive Assistant Committees will be chaired by Trish Stover (Leidos), Debbie Dotson (URS) and Donna Burnette (ManTech International). The 2013 WashingtonExec Executive Assistant Committees were chaired by Lisa Robinson (Six3 Systems), Maria Cornell (CGI Federal) and Barbie Sandy (Oceus Networks). Our founding Committee Chairpersons include Jana DiCarlo (Serco), Martise Gibbs (CGI) and Reggie Hill (SRA International).
Previous guest speakers for the groups include Sid Fuchs, President and CEO of MacAulay-brown, Inc. (MacB), Mac Curtis, President and CEO of The SI Organization, Donna Morea, former President of CGI and founder of the Adesso Group, and Melissa Hathaway, former Acting Senior Director for Cyberspace for the National Security and Homeland Security Councils and President of Hathaway Global Strategies.
Read Jana DiCarlo’s latest guest columns on WashingtonExec Is Your Executive Assistant the Whole Package? and 7 Keys to Executive Success: A View from the Desk Outside Your Door. DiCarlo was EA to Ed Casey, Acting CEO of Serco Group plc, and now supports Dan Allen, who holds Casey’s former post as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Serco Inc.
