Posts Tagged ‘administration’

A Team Effort: Why This Award Isn’t Just For Me
By: Ashley Sparhawk, 2020 recipient of the Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence

Ashley Sparhawk, 2020 recipient of the Colleen Barrett
Award for Administrative Excellence

Thank you so much to Colleen Barrett for selecting me to be this year’s recipient. I am thrilled to be named the 2020 Denver Admin Awards recipient of the Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence. I was so humbled just to be nominated, so it is truly an honor to receive this prestigious award in your name.

Thank you Admin Awards for putting on such a fun and meaningful event! It’s been a tough year, but you all pulled off a great event. When Christine Fiero (2018 recipient of the Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence) brought the Admin Awards to my attention by nominating me last year, I knew I had to be involved (win or not) with this fantastic and unique organization for years to come. The Admin Awards is such a wonderful tribute to administrative professionals’ hard work and importance around the country.

I would like to recognize all the talented and hardworking admins nominated (especially the other Colleen Barrett finalists Bonnie Azevedo and Lori Lucero, plus my everyday partner at Global, Marisa, also a finalist in the Office Manager of the Year category). I’m honored to call you my peers.

Thank you everyone who nominated me! I owe this to you.

I want to dedicate this award to my boss, Michelle Sie Whitten, President and CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. I would not be here if it weren’t for you.

Michelle works tirelessly day in and day out to ensure that people with Down syndrome are given better lives through education, research, medical care and advocacy. It’s such an honor to work alongside you every day, to learn from you and to help transform the lives of people with Down syndrome.

Seven years ago, Michelle took a chance on me. Listening to and learning from Michelle over the years has been the most amazing and rewarding experience. She’s taught me how to be a strong woman in the workplace, a thoughtful colleague and how to always push for the best.

Michelle has this great gift of pinpointing the best qualities in her staff, maximizing on what they’re good at and elevating those talents to then help the greater good of our organization to ultimately to help individuals with Down syndrome.

I really wanted to make a difference in the world and I found that at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. I love what I get to do every day. We work so hard, but we also have fun. And of course nothing beats that rewarding feeling of knowing that we are truly making a difference.

Thank you to the Admin Awards and Colleen Barrett for this honor. I will continue to strive to be a strong woman in the workplace, provide excellent customer service to my colleagues and constituents, and embody this award’s spirit.

Most of all thank you Michelle. I’m honored to call you my colleague, my friend, my role model.

Denver Metro Admin Awards LIVE! 2020 Finalist Tribute Video

Denver Metro Admin Awards recorded LIVE! 2020