Congratulations are in order!

Do you know Sonya Ford, CAP-OM? She is an up and coming Manager at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA and a member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Sonya was recently recognized in the OfficePro magazine for obtaining the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) and Organizational Management (OM) certifications. U.S. News & World Report recognized and interviewed Sonya on her accomplishments. So, we decided to also ask Sonya some questions pertaining to her career.

Question: How long have you worked in the administrative field?

Sonya: I've worked in the administrative field for over fifteen years.

Question: What was your first job title in this field and what is your job title now?

Sonya: My first job title in this field was Administrative Assistant for Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. My current job title is Office and Special Programs Manager at Carnegie Mellon University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Question: How did you get started in this field?

Sonya: I studied Business Administration/Management at Robert Morris University. After I obtained my Bachelor's Degree, I worked part time at several different companies and even temped, to gain experience in the field.

Question: What's the biggest challenge you've faced in your career?

Sonya: The biggest challenge I've faced in my career has been keeping up with the constantly changing technology. I stay up to date by attending seminars at my current job and, through my involvement with IAAP.

Question: What are the three top priorities in your current position?

Sonya: The three top priorities for me on my current job are; Creating our department's weekly entrepreneurship newsletter, managing the department's expenses through reconciling receipts and staff expense reports and, acting as a bridge between the students, other staff and, our department through daily e-mail interactions.

Question: How did you study for these certifications?

Sonya: Studying for the certification exam was one of the most challenging things I've done in my career. It was difficult finding time to study all of the materials while working full time. I used materials that were available in the chapter and, also purchased a study guide through Metcalf, as well as my own research.

Question: If your employer pays for your membership and certification, how did you present it to him to be able to justify the expense?

Sonya: I met with my boss last year regarding support for my IAAP membership. He was very willing to assist me because he could see my dedication and participation in the monthly meetings and other activities and, despite budget constraints, he agreed to support my yearly membership dues. Before he approved this, he asked me to explain my membership and to give him a better understanding of what IAAP is. I did that and, he saw the value in it for me.

Question: What advice would you give others in the administrative field?

Sonya: My advice to others in the field would be to always continue learning and being active in your current job as well as through professional organizations. The more you learn, the more valuable you become. You are able to stand out from your peers, get promoted and, even look into other careers with more responsibility.

Question: Now that you have the CAP and OM certifications, have you been given higher-level responsibilities?

Sonya: I have not been given higher responsibilities because of my CAP-OM designation, however my responsibilities continue to increas due to my willingness to take on more projects and wanting to be an asset to my department. What I learn from my membership with IAAP helps me to take pride in my job and encourages me to continue learning through on-the-job training and, webinars offered outside of my job. I keep my boss informed of each activity. He has become more aware of my involvement in the Administrative Professionals Week seminar and other activities within IAAP and supports them all.

To learn more about IAAP's certifications and the organization, go to www.iaap-hq.org.

Again, Sincere Congratulations!