The Elite Prelude to the Conference for Administrative Excellence
One Day. Two Expert Trainers. The Skills That Move You From Task Manager to Strategic Partner.
The Elite Assistant Certification™ is a one-day, in-person masterclass for executive and administrative assistants who are already good at the job and want to be seen as more than support. You'll spend the day working, not just listening, and you'll leave with a certificate, .6 CEUs, and a plan you can start using the next morning.
A One-Day In-Person Immersive Masterclass
October 12, 2027 | Red Rock Resort | Las Vegas, NV
Elite Assistant Certification for Executive Assistants
Embark on a transformative journey of professional excellence with the Elite Assistant Certification™—a premier, one-day, immersive training designed exclusively for ambitious executive and administrative assistants eager to elevate their capabilities.
The Shift
Good Assistants Finish the Task.
Elite Assistants Ask Why First.
Diving straight into the task
Taking a strategic pause to ask the right questions first
Taking notes in the meeting
Adding value at the table before, during, and after
Looking busy to prove your worth
Staying calm and composed when the stakes are high
Explaining everything
Making your point in 10 words or less
Reacting in the moment
Responding with intention
Avoiding hard feedback
Giving feedback that moves things forward
Who Should Attend
Built for Assistants Who Are Ready for the Next Level
You don’t need a certain title or a certain number of years. You need to be ready to do the work for a full day. Past graduates say there’s something to take away no matter how long you’ve been in the field.
Executive Assistants supporting one or more leaders
Administrative Assistants growing into a more strategic role
Chiefs of Staff and Executive Secretaries
Anyone in a support role who wants a seat at the table and the skills to keep it
How the Day Works
You Won’t Sit and Listen All Day
This is a working session. You’ll sit at a table with a small group of peers, and you’ll talk, draw, debate, and practice. Lisa and Peggy move around the room, answer questions, and push your thinking.
Hands-on from the first minute
The day opens with a quick drawing exercise on what a leadership mindset looks like, and it keeps that pace. Brain teasers, partner work, a vocabulary challenge, and real workplace scenarios fill the hours.
A small room on purpose
Class size is kept small so everyone gets heard. Graduates point to this again and again as the reason the day worked for them.
A workbook you'll keep using
Every attendee gets the Elite Assistant workbook, full of frameworks, question lists, and action plans. It's built to sit on your desk long after the class ends.
The Curriculum
Two Sessions. One Complete Toolkit.
The morning is about how you think and lead. The afternoon is about how you communicate. Together, they cover the skills executives notice most.
Session One - Morning
Peggy Vasquez
Strategic Thinking and Leadership Excellence for Elite Assistants
Peggy shows you how to think past the task in front of you, earn real influence in the room, and carry yourself like the strategic partner you already are.
You'll Leave With
- Sharper critical and strategic thinking you can use on your next project
- Better questions that bring clarity to your executive's decisions
- More value and visibility in leadership meetings
- Stronger executive presence under pressure
- A personal action plan to put it into practice right away
Critical and Strategic Thinking
Learn to question assumptions, challenge your own biases, and look at a problem from more than one angle. You’ll practice the Strategic Pause, a simple habit of stopping long enough to analyze and ask questions before you start doing. Peggy also shares her six favorite questions for understanding how your executive makes decisions.
Earning and Keeping Your Seat at the Table
You were invited for a reason. Learn how to add value in leadership meetings by studying the agenda, asking strategic questions, preparing for roundtables, and following up with clear actions and decisions. You’ll also learn how to read the room for your executive, noticing body language and reactions they might miss.
Building Trust and Collaboration
See how one-on-one meetings with your leadership team can build trust and expand your role. You’ll get the questions to ask, practice giving and asking for feedback with a Stop, Start, Continue model, and learn how to build cross-functional relationships that feel genuine instead of forced.
Self-Leadership
You can’t lead others well until you lead yourself. Explore a simple model built on intention, influence, and impact, look at how much of your time actually goes to leadership, and learn how to fall forward when something doesn’t go as planned. Peggy closes with three big decisions that shape how you lead yourself.
Executive Presence and the 7 C's
Executive presence decides who gets access to opportunity, and those decisions are often made when you’re not in the room. You’ll work through the 7 C’s: composure, connection, charisma, confidence, credibility, clarity, and conciseness. That includes the filler words and phrases that chip away at how others see you.
Session Two - Afternoon
Lisa Olsen, MS
Strategic Communication for Impact and Influence
Lisa focuses on what you say, how you say it, when you say it, and how it lands. You’ll learn to communicate with purpose and get your point across in fewer words.
You'll Leave With
- A clear picture of how others perceive your communication
- Tools to read and adapt to different communication styles
- A self-assessment of the habits holding you back
- Brevity skills for emails, debriefs, and meetings
- Three communication goals and a way to hold yourself accountable
The What and Why of Strategic Communication
Start with a hands-on exercise that shows how fast assumptions creep into everyday communication. Then look at three questions that tell you whether your communication is working: Am I adding value? Are people interested? Is there a two-way exchange?
Communication Dynamics and Styles
Explore the visual, verbal, and vocal sides of communication, along with timing and today’s new standards. You’ll also learn four communication styles (Direct, Expressive, Social/Amiable, and Analytical) so you can read others better and build rapport faster.
Habits That Hold You Back
Lisa covers nine habits that hurt your influence, including reacting instead of responding, assuming you’re understood, interrupting, and gossiping. You’ll assess which ones show up in your own work, then get practical tips to stop interrupting and drop the filler words that weaken credibility.
The Power of Brevity
Take the Brevity Quiz. Can you summarize an hour of complex information in a two-minute debrief? Can you write an email that gets to the point in five lines? You’ll learn how to hold controlled conversations with a rhythm, a purpose, and a point.
Challenging Conversations and Feedback
Learn to respond instead of react, using simple checks like the 10, 10, 10 rule. Lisa brings in key ideas from Crucial Conversations, the Goldilocks Test for getting your tone just right, and a feedback approach that focuses on what comes next instead of what went wrong.
Elite Assistant Certificate
A printed certificate, presented at the end of the day to everyone who completes the full course and takes part in all activities.
.6 CEUs
Continuing education units you can add to your professional record.
The Elite Workbook
Every framework, question list, and exercise from the day, in one place you can come back to.
Two Action Plans
You'll finish each session with a written plan for what to start doing right away, so the learning doesn't stay in Las Vegas.
A New Network
Graduates often say the connections they made at their table were as valuable as the content.
What You Walk Away With
More Than a Certificate
Why It Matters
An Investment That Pays off at Work
The certificate is the part you can frame. The skills behind it are what your executive and your organization notice, and you can start using them on your first day back.
Career Advancement
Strategic thinking, executive presence, and confident communication are what leaders look for when they decide who's ready for a bigger role. You'll leave with a credential to point to and the skills to back it up.
Credibility With Your Executive
When you prepare strategically for meetings, ask better questions, and make your point in fewer words, your executive starts treating you as a partner. That trust is what opens the door to more responsibility.
Value to Your Employer
Your organization gets an assistant who anticipates needs, solves problems before they grow, and supports leaders with more clarity. Every attendee leaves with a written action plan, so the training shows up in your work right away.
The Agenda
Your Day at a Glance
October 13, 2027 | Red Rock Resort | Las Vegas, NV | All times Pacific
8:00 - 8:30 am
Check-In
8:30 - 9:00 am
Welcome and Opening Activity
with Lisa and Peggy
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Session One: Strategic Thinking and Leadership Excellence
with Peggy Vasquez
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Lunch on your own
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Session Two: Strategic Communication for Impact and Influence
with Lisa Olsen
4:00 - 4:30 pm
Wrap-Up and Certificate Presentation
Each session includes a 10-minute break. Water is available in the room, and you’re welcome to bring coffee from the Starbucks inside the hotel.
From Past Graduates
Why Assistants Recommend Elite
Meet Your Trainers
Taught by Former Assistants Who’ve Done the Job
Lisa and Peggy both started in administrative roles and worked their way up to supporting senior executives. Together, they bring more than 55 years of experience to the room. They teach what worked for them, and they’re honest about what didn’t.
Peggy Vasquez
International Speaker | Empowerment Coach | Best Selling Author
- Former Chief Executive Assistant
- 25+ years in the administrative profession
- Author of NOT Just An Admin!, Mean Girl No More, and The Roadmap to Empowering You
- Certified Situational Leadership Trainer
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Athena Leadership Award recipient
Lisa Olsen
Office Dynamics Certified Trainer | Professional Development Specialist | Speaker
- Former Senior Executive Assistant at Intermountain Health
- 30+ years as an executive assistant, administrative manager, and educator
- Master's degree in Organizational Leadership
- Adjunct faculty in Business Communication and Leadership at Ensign College
- Certified World Class Assistant, teaching Office Dynamics programs for 15+ years
Registration
Choose How You’ll Attend
Take the Elite Assistant Certification on its own, or pair it with the full conference. Elite is held the day before the conference opens.
In-Person + Elite Certification
October 12 - 15, 2027-
Access to All Sessions
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Access to Elite Assistant Certification Course
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Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks
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Social Fusion Mixer
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Joan Burge Gala
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Conference & Elite Certification Workbooks
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Networking Opportunities
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Certificate of Attendance (CEUs TBD)
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Elite Assistant Certificate (.6 CEUs)
Call 800-STAR-139
Elite Certification
October 12, 2027-
Access to Elite Assistant Certification Course
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Elite Certification Workbook
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Networking Opportunities
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Elite Assistant Certificate
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.6 CEUs
Call 800-STAR-139
Elite Assistant Certification Brochure
FAQs
No. You may sign up and attend the Elite Assistant Certification Course in person at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, NV without attending the conference.
This certification course is exclusively available in person to ensure the highest level of engagement and hands-on learning.
Executive Assistants, Administrative Assistants, Chiefs of Staff, Executive Secretaries, or any administrative or strategic support professionals aspiring to perform at the top of their game.
One-Day Certification: Rather than studying books and watching videos for months, an individual can achieve this certification in one day of intensive, hands-on training.
Created By Administrative Training Pioneer: This certification is the brainchild of Joan Burge, an administrative training and education pioneer since 1990.
Created From 55+ Years Of Experience: The content has been developed and will be taught by two exceptional facilitators, Lisa Olsen, and Peggy Vasquez, with more than 40 years of combined experience in the executive and administrative assistant arena, who bring a wealth of knowledge and practical skills to the program.
Tailored To The Modern Professional: Our course is tailored to the modern professional, blending proven techniques with contemporary concepts. We aim to elevate participants to an elite status in their field, equipping them with cutting-edge knowledge and techniques.
Hosted By The Industry Leader: This course is being hosted by Office Dynamics International, the leader in the development and creation of sophisticated training programs for administrative professionals around the world.
An Energizing, Hands-On Experience: The course has been crafted to keep you engaged and filled with interactive activities so you can put into practice all you are learning. Plus, you will have lots of fun!
Interactive Learning: This fast-paced masterclass defies the traditional sit-and-listen seminar model, inviting you instead to engage actively with the content and your peers. Through a series of thought-provoking exercises, collaborative discussions, and real-world scenario analyses, you will be an integral part of a vigorous educational experience. Prepare to be immersed in a vibrant atmosphere where every moment is an opportunity for growth and every interaction is a step towards your transformation into an elite assistant.
Each attendee will receive a course workbook. You may want to bring a writing pad or journal to take your own notes. Laptops are not permitted as they can be distracting to other attendees and the facilitators.
Individuals who complete the entire day course will receive .6 CEUs.
The course fee includes an array of valuable resources and benefits:
- A contemporary, expertly crafted course workbook, designed to enhance your learning experience.
- A Certificate of Completion, acknowledging your participation and achievement.
- Training led by world-renowned experts in the field, offering a unique opportunity to learn from the best and gain insights from their extensive knowledge and experience. This is a chance to absorb wisdom from top authorities, ensuring a rich and invaluable educational experience.
Should you be unable to attend the Elite Assistant Certification Course for any reason, a full refund, less a $200 cancellation fee, will be issued if we receive notice by August 1, 2027. After August 1, 2027, all Elite Assistant Certification registrations and no-shows are subject to the full fee. This policy applies to standalone Elite Assistant Certification Course registrations. If you registered as part of an All Access Pass, see the All Access Pass Cancellation.
By registering, you agree to our Registration Terms and Conditions.
Attendees will be awarded a beautifully-printed Certificate of Completion at the end of the day. To receive this certificate, it is essential to attend the entire one-day course and actively participate in all learner activities. This ensures a full and enriching educational experience, leading to this notable recognition of your commitment and engagement.
We have secured a room block at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. You may book your room at the discounted rate here. Rooms in our block will sell out, so don’t wait.
Valuable and Relevant Content:
Many participants found the course invaluable for its focus on topics critical to executive assistants and administrative professionals, with actionable insights for real-world application. As one attendee shared, “It dealt with some very important topics for our roles as EAs and professional admins.”
Engaging, Interactive Learning:
The course’s smaller, interactive setup allows for dynamic discussions and peer-to-peer learning. “There was lots of interactive discussion with the instructors, plus breakouts with our table allowed for sharing of best practices and new insights,” said one participant.
Strategic Skill Development:
Attendees appreciate the emphasis on strategic thinking, communication, and accountability, which elevates their impact as partners to executives. “Being strategic challenges you to take personal responsibility for your communication,” explained one attendee, adding that the course “provided valuable instruction and examples of how to achieve that effectively.”
Expert Presenters with Real-World Experience:
With instructors who deeply understand the administrative community, participants gain insights from seasoned experts. One participant noted, “Lisa and Peggy make a great team and provided excellent information relevant to our work in the admin community.”
Lasting Connections and Professional Growth:
The course fosters invaluable connections with fellow administrative professionals, creating a sense of community and shared growth. One participant said, “The conversations and connections made during this day were invaluable. It was an excellent opportunity to learn and grow, and I’m grateful for the chance to put what I learned into practice immediately.”
Ideal for All Career Stages:
Whether new to the role or a seasoned professional, the course offers something for everyone. “There’s always something to take away, no matter how long you’ve been working in the field,” said a participant.
Unlock a World of Professional Opportunities with Elite Assistant Certification™
Embarking on the Elite Assistant Certification™ journey offers a multitude of benefits, each designed to propel your career to new heights and solidify your standing as a top-tier administrative professional. Here’s how this certification can be a game-changer for your career:
Career Advancement:
The Elite Assistant Certification™ serves as a powerful catalyst for career growth. By mastering advanced administrative strategies and innovative methodologies, you position yourself as a prime candidate for promotions and more prestigious roles. This certification is a testament to your commitment and expertise, making you a standout in the competitive job market.
Skill Recognition:
Upon completion, you’ll receive a certification that’s not just a piece of paper but a symbol of excellence in the administrative field. This recognition validates your skills and knowledge, setting you apart from your peers. It’s a tangible proof of your dedication to continuous learning and professional development.
Enhanced Credibility:
Holding this certification enhances your professional credibility, showcasing your expertise to employers, colleagues, and clients. It reflects your ability to keep pace with the evolving demands of the executive support role, ensuring that you’re not just meeting but exceeding industry standards.
Networking and Collaboration:
Participants of this program join an elite network of professionals, fostering opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and professional growth. This network becomes a valuable resource, offering support and opportunities long after the certification program concludes.
Strategic Partner Transformation:
This certification elevates your role from an assistant to a strategic partner. You’ll learn to anticipate needs, provide innovative solutions, and contribute to key business initiatives. This shift in role and perspective is essential for thriving in today’s dynamic business environment.
Personal Brand Enhancement:
Holding the Elite Assistant Certification™ adds a prestigious edge to your personal brand. It communicates a message of excellence, commitment, and professional integrity, making you a sought-after asset in any administrative or executive support role.
By investing in the Elite Assistant Certification™, you’re not just enhancing your resume; you’re opening doors to new possibilities and setting the stage for a future rich with opportunities and achievements.
