The Complete Guide to the OfficeNinjas 2021 All-Star Award Winners

Feature image of Hilary Phillips, Director of Sales Operations at MongoDB.

Administrative+ professionals are some of the most amazing people we know. They literally power the world’s organizations with their ingenuity, commitment, tenacity, and leadership — often without the recognition they richly deserve.

That’s where we come in.

As part of our mission to elevate the Admin+ profession, we launched the OfficeNinjas All-Star Awards. This annual program celebrates THE best and brightest executive assistants, office managers, administrative business partners, and operations coordinators.

We help them shine even brighter by showering them with love… and lux prizes, too! In addition to having their stories shared in an in-depth OfficeNinjas feature article, this year’s All-Stars also received graciously curated prize packages from Onyx, a corporate gift company, and personalized All-Star Award plaques.

During 2021’s Admin+ Month festivities, we honored five outstanding individual OfficeNinjas All-Stars AND one truly remarkable OfficeNinjas All-Star Team. To find them, we invited executives, colleagues, and Admin+ professionals across the U.S. to nominate their office dynamos.

The bounty of responses we received in return confirmed what we already knew: Admin+ professionals make high-value contributions in countless and creative ways, and people ARE taking notice.

This has truly been a life-changing experience for me. A fellow Ninja took the time to nominate me and get this glorious ball rolling. And now my boss is more educated on the Admin+ world. I feel so special and so loved right now. I’m so proud to be part of the OfficeNinjas community, and to be sharing this week with Nicole, Tonya, Amy, Sherrisse-Lee, and Jill and the GOOLT team. I thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone’s All-Star stories. I feel like there is so much more I can learn and do. Thank you, fellow All-Stars, for keeping me motivated! — Culley Stine, 2021 OfficeNinjas All-Star

If you haven’t yet gotten to “meet” this year’s OfficeNinjas All-Stars or to experience their insightful featured stories, we assure you that you’re in for a treat. Expect to walk away enchanted, inspired, and ready to make some big moves of your own.

Meet the 2021 OfficeNinjas All-Stars

Slalom GOOLT, Seattle, WA and Worldwide

Meet 2021 OfficeNinjas All-Star Team Slalom.

Slalom’s six-person Global Office Operations Leadership Team, AKA “GOOLT,” manages, supports, and oversees over 120 Ninjas across more than 36 global locations.

How do they manage to get the job done without sharing office space… let alone the same time zone?

It all comes down to a relentless commitment to working on how they work.

Learn more about this ongoing process — and so much more — in our Q&A with Slalom’s GOOLT team leader, Jill Kinison.

Amy Spellman, Overland Park, KS

Meet 2021 OfficeNinjas All-Star Amy.

Amy Spellman’s official title may be Executive Office Manager, but she unofficially rocks another role at SelectQuote Insurance Services: Director of Fun.

Amy’s rare gift for bringing people together has never been more vital — or valued — than it has over the past year.

Even more impressive? She manages to be the “heart of [her] company’s culture” while simultaneously supporting the SelectQuote leadership team with her characteristic creativity, positivity, and capability.

Prepare to be uplifted by our interview with 2021 OfficeNinjas All-Star Amy Spellman.

Sherrisse-Lee Lewis, North Salem, NY

Meet 2021 OfficeNinjas All-Star Sherrisse-Lee.

Look in the dictionary under “challenging the status quo,” and you might find a photo of HERE to HERE Operations Project Director, Sherrisse-Lee Lewis.

The first person in her family to graduate college, Sherrisse-Lee has adeptly navigated the challenges of being a minority woman in a predominantly male industry — while also serving as a leader, coach, and facilitator of knowledge transfer in her workplace.

If you’re ready to take the reins in your professional life, and you’re looking for some inspiration, our interview with 2021 All-Star Sherrisse-Lee Lewis is a must-read.

Tonya Carter, Bay Area, CA

Meet 2021 OfficeNinjas All-Star Tonya.

As EA to the CEO at Maxim Integrated, Tonya Carter has spent the past year doing everything from aggregating COVID-19 case data for the company’s 31 global offices to helming its brand new assistant development program.

While her accomplishments are impressive on their own, Tonya’s entrepreneurial take on the Admin+ role is one all Ninjas should hear: She views her contributions as an investment in the empowerment of others and in the success of her organization.

To learn more about this innovative mindset, be sure to check out our illuminating interview with 2021 All-Star Tonya Carter.

Ready to advance your career?

Then you belong in OfficeNinjas Collective, a modern career accelerator for Admin+ professionals who want to grow their business acumen and make higher-value contributions.

Join OfficeNinjas Collective

There’s more relevant learning, inspiring peers, and actionable takeaways happening inside.

Nicole Godinez, Los Angeles, CA

Meet 2021 OfficeNinjas All-Star Nicole.

The Ninja life is in Nicole Godinez’s blood. It’s also in her soul. As an EA at Capital Group, Nicole brings her whole, authentic, and committed self to everything she does — including to her honorary role of the team “Unicorn.”

Nicole’s strong work ethic, problem-solving zeal, and can-do attitude have a massive impact on her team and organization, but she’s not content to coast. In addition to prioritizing her own professional development, she’s eager to do her part to dispel antiquated perceptions about the Admin+ profession. Nicole wants to ensure that more Ninjas get the opportunities they greatly deserve.

Nicole’s interview shows why she’s a true force to be reckoned with… and the embodiment of an OfficeNinjas All-Star!

Culley Stine, Washington, DC

Meet 2021 OfficeNinjas All-Star Culley.

Think your Admin+ role is confined to its job description? Think again. In her 21 years as a Ninja, Culley Stine has pushed the boundaries of every position she’s ever held — and enjoyed a flashing rise from waitress to director for her efforts.

While supporting the president and CEO of Healthcare Distribution Alliance, Culley continues to break ground by approaching her work life with two questions: “What else can I do?” and “What can I do better?”

2021 All-Star Culley Stine is living proof that your Admin+ job is what you make of it. Read her insightful interview, and then get ready to start moving some goal posts of your own.

Cheers to the 2021 All-Stars!

We are beyond proud to honor the efforts and accomplishments of these tireless Admin+ pros. Not only are they working to carve out their own careers, but they’re committed to doing their part to pave the way forward for the evolving Admin+ profession.

We encourage you to mine their articles for ideas and inspiration. Then, show your support by doing what the Ninja community does best: supporting each other! Be sure to leave a comment to let our All-Stars know how they’ve impacted you.

Onyx generously gifted each All-Star winner with a luxury gift package.

Onyx is our #1 preferred corporate gift provider — and a true champion of the Admin+ community!

Get 10% off your Onyx order! 💫
This Admin+ Month special is for new clients until 7/2021. To redeem, contact ninjas@onyxworldwide.com.