Claim Your Throne: Redefining Influence in the Administrative Profession
Discover how administrative professionals can embrace influence, shape strategy, and own their leadership role with Joan Burge’s empowering insights.
The 2024 Joan Burge Innovation Award Winner
Joan Burge
In the distinguished realm of administrative excellence, Andrea Jones-Pascoe, the 2024 Joan Burge Innovation Award recipient, stands out for her vision and leadership at Canadore College, which was presented at the 31st Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence. This year, Joan Burge also made history by recognizing a runner-up for the award for the first time—Derecia D. Walters, Senior Executive Assistant at the Development Bank of St. Kitts & Nevis—for her exceptional contributions to improving customer care, team dynamics, and inclusion at her institution, further highlighting the depth of innovation within the administrative profession.
As the Executive Assistant to the Vice President, Andrea transformed a simple comment into a bold initiative: creating an intergenerational daycare program that bridges the gap between seniors, children, and young adults. This innovative model not only fosters meaningful connections through storytelling, crafts, and gardening but also strengthens community ties and creates a unique opportunity for experiential learning.
In collaboration with Canadore College and the Lindsay Weld Center for Children, Andrea spearheaded the development of a living lab environment where college students gain hands-on childcare experience while contributing to a program that will serve children. Her work ensures that students from the college’s Early Childhood Education program are immersed in real-world scenarios that enhance their training and prepare them for their future careers.
Beyond childcare and education, Andrea’s project is truly innovative in its social impact. It builds a space where generations can interact and share experiences, bridging gaps in understanding and creating a nurturing community. For seniors, this interaction fosters a renewed sense of purpose and connection, while for children, it provides enriching learning experiences from an older generation. This model not only meets the current needs of her community but serves as a blueprint for future intergenerational programs in other regions.
Andrea’s passion for bringing people together, supporting community development, and creating lasting impact is at the heart of her leadership. She rallied her team, college executives, and community partners to make this dream a reality, earning praise from all involved. Her ability to transform challenges into opportunities for growth, collaboration, and innovation exemplifies the spirit of the Joan Burge Innovation Award.
In Andrea’s own words, her work “is going to be a real game changer and a model that others can use.” Her vision, persistence, and innovative thinking have created a new benchmark for how administrative professionals can lead meaningful, large-scale projects that impact organizations and communities alike.
Similarly, Derecia D. Walters’ contributions at the Development Bank of St. Kitts & Nevis were lauded for their innovative approach to solving internal challenges. By implementing a Service Quality Officer role, regular team huddles, and inclusion projects for junior staff, Derecia has successfully enhanced customer satisfaction, fostered team unity, and created a more inclusive environment. Her ability to transform challenges into growth opportunities exemplifies her leadership and was a key reason she was selected as a runner-up for this year’s award.
As we celebrate Andrea Jones-Pascoe and Derecia D. Walters and their remarkable achievements, we are reminded of the profound influence that administrative professionals can have on their organizations.
Andrea’s and Derecia’s projects are more than just innovative initiatives; they are powerful symbols of what can be accomplished when leaders innovate with heart, transforming simple ideas into groundbreaking solutions that uplift entire communities and reshape institutions.
Share this post
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY THESE ARTICLES
The 31st Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence – The Influential Assistant
Recap of the 31st Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence with a focus on this year’s theme: The Influential Assistant.
Reasons to Attend a Live Virtual Conference for Assistants
When you envision a conference for assistants, you typically imagine rooms filled with speakers addressing the latest developments in the administrative industry, vendors showcasing products that make office life easy, or attendees meeting up for engaging discussions. However, virtual learning
