When an Office Ninja is leading the charge, the laws of time and physics don’t seem to apply. Somehow, they’re in three places at once, completing five different tasks. Bosses and teams don’t always witness their sleight of hand, but they certainly feel it. Check out this message from a Ninja’s CEO:

We are an Inc. 5000 company and have been featured in Forbes, Inc., Vistage, and Entrepreneur Magazine. As the CEO, I wish I could take credit for this … but I can’t. I have this other half that people don’t see. She makes sure my calendar is always 100% correct, notifies me before I know I have a problem, and fixes things before it’s noise to me. Without her, I would probably be locked up in an asylum.

As you know, a Ninja’s work isn’t an illusion or trickery. It’s not magic. It’s a PHENOMENON. And this Admin Day — we reveled in it.

On April 24, 2019, office managers, executive assistants, admin professionals, and workplace operators (aka “Ninjas”) from 45 cities, 19 states, and as far as Canada and Ireland, descended on Bespoke in San Francisco for OfficeNinjas’ 7th Annual Admin Bash — the biggest Admin Day celebration in the world!

(Check out our video for a taste of the day’s magic … and get pumped for next year!)

And why is Admin Bash so memorable year after year? Because it isn’t like your typical professional development events. Nor is it a trade show. Instead, we blend the best elements of a networking experience with authentic interactions, carefully curated vendor partners who get the admin role, and an all-out celebratory vibe.

Much like the hundreds of Ninjas who attend each year, Admin Bash is also something of a phenomenon. Here are a few highlights from this year’s celebration!

The New Friend Phenomenon

This year, we cooked up new ways for both local and out-of-town Ninjas to meet more of each other and truly connect.

Ninja Confessions

We started by celebrating the night before Admin Bash with Kickoff Night: Ninja Confessions, a fun(ny), get-to-know-you gathering at Le Colonial Restaurant.

Over French Vietnamese cuisine and vibrant cocktails, brave Ninjas opened up to each other about some of their most hilarious (and embarrassing) moments on the job. Nothing bonds strangers together faster than personal stories of public mortification and folly… right?

OfficeNinjas brings people — the smartest, funniest, and most inspiring people — together in amazing ways.
— Jennifer S., Operations Manager, San Francisco

Unwrapping Awesome

Another excellent way to befriend somebody new? Give them a gift. Because who doesn’t like gifts?!

We ditched typical ice breakers for an activity we call Unwrapping Awesome. At registration, each Ninja snagged a wrapped gift from a large table of many wrapped gifts. Later, on our signal, we instructed attendees to walk up to a Ninja they didn’t know, introduce themselves, exchange their gifts and unwrap (awesome) together! Sometimes the simplest intros are the sweetest.

Unwrapping Awesome was a perfect way to break the ice with someone new. I was able to meet two additional people that I wouldn’t have connected with otherwise. It’s so nice to have a takeaway and make the interaction really personal.
— Sarah D., Manager of Business Initiatives, Denver

The Engaging Vendor Phenomenon

Admin Bash isn’t all revelry. Well, it is — but our carefully curated partners make it actionable revelry. They know how to make vendor introductions productive and fun.

I loved the vendors’ energy — especially the ones who came out encouraging people to try their activity, and engaged with neighboring sponsors.
— Angela P., Office Manager, San Francisco

From Furnished Quarters’ Moving Box Packing Challenge, 7X7 Executive Transportation’s Electric Car Races, and Keurig Commercial’s K-Cup® Pods Toss, to Benchmark Resorts & Hotels’ Classic Games Station, Ashbury Images’ Prize Drop and Aunt Flow’s spinning Wheel of Misfortune — our partners kept Ninjas smiling like kids at a carnival.

Meanwhile, partners like Bevi, Caviar for Companies, The Level Hot Pantry, and Safeway came with delightful treat towers and refreshing sampling stations.

Oh Snap! Visuals brought their popular gif photo booths and a lot of confetti. And Ahhh Massage did exactly what they do best.

Vendor partners are a big part of what makes Admin Bash special — and we don’t let just anyone in. Each partner you see at the event have been carefully vetted to ensure they deeply understand the Ninja role and provide admin pros and workplace operators with what they actually need.

The Obscene Giveaways Phenomenon

If you thought our Admin Week Flash Raffles were epic, you … were absolutely correct. And at Admin Bash, the giveaways were out of control.

This year, we pulled so many raffle tickets, Bash MC Andrea Minkow had to ice her arm afterward (probably). And the Ninjas? They walked away with over 30 prizes worth a grand total of $20,000!

I was blown away by both the swag bag contents and the array of and number of raffle prizes! It just kept on going!
— Sarah D., Manager of Business Initiatives, Denver

We couldn’t do it without the generosity of our raffle sponsors. They came through with big ticket items:

• Luxury getaways to Canyon Ranch, Ventana Big Sur, Vail Resorts, The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, Hotel Nia, and Hyatt Palm Springs.
• Top-Notch dining experiences at Roka Akor, La Mar SF, Testarossa Winery, and Harris’ Steakhouse.
• High-end products from Moshi and Williams-Sonoma, and delicious eats from KIND Snacks, Hi5 Produce, and Sun Basket.
• Air travel for two from Delta Air Lines, Away luggage from Furnished Quarters, and a spa experiences courtesy of Bevi and Bespoke.

And too many more to mention. Don’t worry if you didn’t win — some of our partners are offering Ninja-only deals. Don’t miss out!

The Flash Dance Phenomenon

One minute you’re talking and laughing with some new friends. The next minute you’re getting swept up into a spontaneous dance party. That’s just how it is sometimes (when you’re celebrating at Admin Bash).

2018 All-Star and Office Vibe Manager Verlance Friar may have had something to do with it.

I knew this was coming since around 1pm when I met Verlance. Only one way to describe it: EPIC!
— Zoila P., Industry Partner | Technology + Office Manager, Los Angeles

With help from Gatsby Entertainment’s DJ crew, Verlance got his wish.

It looked like people wanted to dance, and I like to physically bring them to the floor where we were all getting down. We even got [OfficeNinjas co-founders] Nancy and Edwin to cut a rug!
— Verlance F., Office Vibe Manager, San Francisco

The Mouth-Watering Fare + Custom Cocktail Phenomenon

You’ve got to stay nourished and hydrated if you’re gonna cut a rug all night. Tonic Beverage Catering and 415 Catering were up to the challenge with custom cocktails, a cookout-worthy popsicle cart, and an elote station that brought corn on the cob to a whole new level.

I loved the food and thought the presentation, quality, and taste was great!
— Sarah D., Manager of Business Initiatives, Denver

There were so many choices, it would be impossible to pick a favorite! Every Ninja we asked struggled to limit themselves to just one.

THOSE TACOS – I seriously had like four of them. And the paletas were an incredible touch!
— Zoila P., Industry Partner | Technology + Office Manager, Los Angeles

The After-Party Phenomenon

The Heartfelt Gratitude Phenomenon