2007 recipient

Judy Beebe, an executive assistant with PB, is the winner of the 2007 OfficeTeam Administrative Excellence Award.

“I'm truly honored to be named this year’s Administrative Excellence Award winner,” said Beebe, who has been with PB (formerly Parsons Brinckerhoff), a leading planning, engineering, and program and construction management organization, for 22 years. “When I first heard the news, I experienced disbelief, then shock, then elation,” said Beebe, who works in PB’s Seattle office. “Soon, I realized that expectations of me would probably be even higher now. But those who know me know that I enjoy a good business challenge!”

Beebe was chosen as the winner from more than 200 nominations received from throughout the United States and Canada. An eight-member judging panel selected Beebe based on her commitment to professional development and operational efficiency, her dedication to leadership, and the many meaningful contributions she's made to her organization.

For instance, Beebe served as coordinator for PB’s internal networking group for administrative staff when it was first formed. During her term, she helped develop an administrative-certificate program that emphasized career development and advancement. To date, more than 200 support staff have received certificates, which, Beebe says, has created “a sense of pride and professionalism” among the company’s administrative team.

Beebe’s mentor, Susan Killen, said that Beebe “raises the bar for her peers. Her natural inclination is to lead, and she constantly seeks ways to improve administrative processes.”

Beebe serves as the lead administrative assistant for the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement project. She handles all of the administrative requirements for the project managers and supervises a staff of 10 administrative assistants.

Beebe has led both PB's United Way campaign and the company’s quality improvement team, the first administrative professional to do so. Moreover, she has organized a series of PowerPoint training sessions for administrative staff, in addition to brown-bag workshops to help coworkers improve their team-building skills and other interpersonal abilities. “Judy planned events that helped our office work together better, turning a potentially negative situation into an opportunity to raise morale,” said Killen, PB’s West Coast environmental services manager, who has known Beebe for more than 17 years. “The feedback Judy received from the attendees following the trainings was overwhelmingly enthusiastic and positive.”

Beebe also served as coordinator for “Computer Tutor,” a column that appears in PB Network, an in-house publication that is often shared with clients. She has encouraged many administrative staff members to contribute articles to the newsletter, which has enabled her colleagues to receive public recognition for their expertise.

An active member of the Society for Design Administration since 1983, Beebe currently is the secretary on the organization’s national executive committee. She has written white papers for the association on various business topics and served as the Seattle chapter president. “Joining a professional organization was one of the most important steps I took in furthering my career,” Beebe noted.

In addition to her professional-development activities and regular attendance at company-sponsored training sessions - including those addressing topics outside her official duties - Beebe demonstrates her commitment to lifelong learning by avidly reading books on business, management and leadership. She said the ability to plan, manage, adapt and understand others’ work styles is critical to an administrative professional’s success.

When asked what she enjoys most about her job, Beebe said it is the team with which she works. “It truly is an amazing, diverse group of talented people, and I look forward to coming to work each day,” she noted.

Beebe was honored on April 24, 2007, in Los Angeles during the live broadcast of the Targeted Learning Corporation’s Annual Briefing for Administrative Professionals, a live, interactive training event for support staff. In addition to receiving an extensive prize package, Beebe attended the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) International Convention and Education Forum in Tampa, Fla., July 29 - August 1, 2007.