Multifaceted executive assistant with an extensive background in handling confidential and complex office administration duties for mid -to high-level management. Excellent communication skills, successfully utilized in preparing to liaise with people and individuals internally, and externally. Recognized for working well under a deadline-driven environment. Ability to take initiative when necessary. Capacity to adapt to new challenges and propose solutions to streamline workflow and office administration when necessary. QUALIFICATIONS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS ●Provided administrative support to the publisher and editor which freed him up to facilitate and guide company operations and to ensure company goals were met. ●Organized and maintained calendars for the Opinion department’s editorial board. Scheduled regular and special meetings of newsmakers, including candidate endorsement interviews for the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 general elections. ●Ordered supplies, maintained office inventory, and maintenance of office equipment. Reduced supply expenses by 50 percent by negotiating with suppliers, saving $500,000 annually. ●Customer care liaison between readers and the Readers Representative, responding appropriately to non-escalating issues and/or forwarding escalating issues, such as inaccuracies in news coverage as needed. ●Brainstormed story ideas for the weekly entertainment section as well as special projects, including the newspaper’s summer issue, Passport. ●Developed an Obit Task Force to streamline data entry and overtime cost of daily obituaries. As a result, guidelines were implemented saving $12,000 annually in overtime. RELATED SKILLS ●Research-oriented ●Proficient in Microsoft Word and Outlook ●Detail-oriented ●Multi-tasker ●Problem solver ●Advanced secretarial duties ●Excellent listener ●Interpersonal skills ●Organizational skills ●Self-motivated ●Exceptional written and verbal communication skills ●Time management skills