Administrative Support Conference

March 30-31, 2023

Marriott Downtown Tacoma 

You work hard all year supporting your school.  

Now your school has the opportunity to support you and your professional development.

Join your NWAIS colleagues for a two-day conference this March for administrative and executive assistants in independent schools for a two-day conference exploring the theme: 

Setting Yourself Up For Success

"It's a great opportunity to recharge your batteries and reflect on ways to improve your work environment."

-  2019 Attendee

Who Should Attend:

• Executive Assistant and Head’s Assistant
• Assistant to the Development Office, Business Office, or Division Offices  
• School Registrar
• Administrative Assistant
• Receptionist
• School Secretary
• Office Manager

"It is a wonderful way to gain perspective about the job and learn from your peers."

-  2019 Attendee

Tentative Agenda

March 30, 2023

1:30-2:00 Registration

2:00-2:30 Welcome and Introductions

2:30-3:30 Keynote - DEIB and Duct Tape: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging from the Front Desk

3:45-5:00 Smack Down and Round Tables

5:00-7:00 Reception & Dinner

March 31, 2023

8:00 Breakfast

9:00-10:30 Priorities and Boundaries: Developing Your Leadership As An Administrative Assistant 

10:45-11:45 Bridging The Connection Between Personal Well-Being and Professional Success

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:00 Harnessing Resilience As Your Superpower 

2:00-2:45 Book Club: The World's Worst Assistant

2:45-3:00 Wrap up and Goodbyes

 "Since administrative assistants/receptionists/office assistants are often the only people in their schools with their specific jobs, a conference like this is a much-needed opportunity for them to connect with people who are aware of their unique issues and can provide advice, support and encouragement!" - 2019 Attendee

Featuring Sessions to Help You Set Yourself Up For Success, Including: 

Keynote Address with

Chaya Keefe and Brandon Jacobs

of Carney, Sandoe and Associates

Presenting:

DEIB and Duct Tape: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging from the Front Desk

Administrative assistants are the duct tape of schools – versatile, called on to fix everything/anything, keep things together. However, when it comes to conversations and training surrounding one of the largest areas of school life, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), most institutions unintentionally leave the those who serve as the first point of contact out of these conversations. In an effort to help bridge this gap and provide the necessary tools for administrative assistants, the presenters in this session will cover the following:  

• Foundational concepts and lexicon of DEIB 
• Understanding of how implicit bias and stereotype threat play as a critical barrier to achieving an equitable and inclusive interactions with others, in addition to the systematic implications of databases and software tools
• Active dialogue and reflection on how to intentionally center equity and inclusion when addressing the impact of microaggressions, micro-affirmations, and identity with community members
• Empowering participants to leverage existing skills in relationship building and empathy as administrative assistants
  

This session will be interactive and participant-focused in building the tools needed to expand the work of DEIB with those who play central roles in our schools. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding, a stronger knowledge base and a handful of takeaways to help improve their capacity to strengthen DEIB work at their school. 

Also Featuring: 

Susanne Carpenter, Carpenter Leadership Consulting

Presenting:

Priorities and Boundaries: Developing Your Leadership As An Administrative Assistant

As an Administrative Assistant, you are likely juggling calendars, arranging meetings, or dealing with scheduling conflicts in addition to your regular workload. Additionally, you have access to information that others may want, and you may also do your job so effectively that others may come to you with more work. How do you keep up with the increasing demands on your time?

In an age of constant connection, managing conflicting priorities and setting clear boundaries is the key to success.  In this workshop, we will talk about concepts and strategies to deal with the shifting sands of your day-to-day and provide you with takeaways for setting boundaries, committing to them, and most importantly, communicating them to others.

And Two Sessions with Dr. Heather Denniston

Bridging The Connection Between Personal Well-Being and Professional Success

You are stressed, overwhelmed, and on the brink of burnout. You feel like you have no time for self-care, and it doesn't matter because you'd have no clue what to tackle first. Join Dr. Denniston for this fast-paced, action-packed hour revealing wellness strategy secrets to leave you inspired and ready to act. 

You Will Learn:

• "Illness to Wellness Spectrum" - Why we are in a constant well-being headwind
• The three secrets about stress you don't know
• Your most crucial well-being system is like a teeter-totter
• You can't change anything about your health until you start with this

And

Harnessing Resilience As Your Superpower 

What if you could build resilience as a renewable fuel, and it had nothing to do with bouncing back or getting on with it? Join Dr. Denniston for an eye-opening hour that will leave you armed with secret tools to amplify your energy in the most stressful times. 

You Will Learn To: 

• Guard your energy for ultimate influence
• Use curiosity and a growth mindset as secret weapons
• Cultivate courage and grit to make you bendier
• Mine for joy to build leverage in chaos
• Discover your "Wellness Why" true north

Read More About Our Speakers Here

Plus Lots of Opportunity For Connecting and Networking including: 

The Inaugural Administrative Support Book Club! 

The final session of this year’s conference will be a “book club” session, where you will be invited to gather and chat about what we can learn from the book:The World’s Worst Assistant

We look forward to sharing what we learned from their hilarious mistakes AND the opportunity to connect and build community!

Get your copy today.

Pricing and Registration

Conference Fees Will Include Programming as well as a Reception and Dinner on March 30, and Breakfast and Lunch on March 31.

To receive the early bird or regular discount, your registration must be complete and payment must be postmarked or received by the stated deadline.

• For registrations with payment by check, payment must be postmarked by the stated deadline
• Online registrations completed by credit card must be completed by 11:59pm on the stated deadline.

Registration is Now Open for This Event.

Sign Up Today!

"You will not regret the connections that you will make, and the content you will receive!" - 2019 Attendee

Location 

Marriott Tacoma Downtown - 1538 Commerce Street - Tacoma, WA 98402

Accommodations

You are encouraged to consider joining the many attendees who stay on-site. The residential experience maximizes the opportunity to connect with colleagues and immerse yourself in the professional development.

NWAIS has arranged for a special rate of $149 per night to stay at the Marriott Downtown Tacoma. To take advantage of this rate, reservations must be made by February 28, 2023.

Make your reservation today using this link

"Admin Assistants in schools do not have many opportunities for professional development, nor are there many people at our schools who understand the scope of our jobs. Not only does this conference allow for professional growth, but it gives us the opportunity to connect with our peers from other schools, recharge, and brain storm solutions to problems that are unique to schools." - 2019 Attendee

Substitutions and Cancellation

Substitutions may be made any time prior to the conference. Written cancellations received by March 20, 2023 are eligible for a refund after a $50 cancellation fee. Cancellations received March 20, 2023 are ineligible for any refund.

NWAIS May Help Cover Travel Costs

The NWAIS travel reimbursement policy is designed to reimburse candidate and accredited member schools for some travel costs. This policy applies to a school’s total travel expenses (not the cost of rooms and meals), no matter how many people the school sends to the workshop. If your school spends more than $150 dollars on travel for this event and is traveling a distance greater than 250 miles you will be reimbursed a percentage of your expenses. 

"I think its worth attending to be in a cohort of other people who do similar work. Often times our job is very isolating and the stress level is high so having to spend time with others who also feel the same way makes feel like our job is valuable and unique."- 2019 Attendee