Getting to Know Our Instructors

Kelly Johnson, VA Technical School Instructor and VA Kelly Johnson

During my childhood, I attended ten different schools and lived in all four quadrants of the United States.  Some of the states I have called home include Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, California, North Carolina, New Mexico, Michigan and Colorado. 
*I have 13 years of dance experience in ballet, jazz, tap and drill.  I still remember the exhilaration and sense of achievement of balancing “on my toes” for the first time.   *My husband and I met in high school, and we will celebrate our 15 year wedding anniversary in May 2008.  We have two cats, Chloe and Lexi, who feel they rule the house!  

*I had the wonderful opportunity during the summer of 1990 to take a student tour to Europe.  We visited 5 countries in 24 days – Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France and England.  It was a whirlwind trip, but a great way to absorb many different cultures and have a new appreciation of history.   *I graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in English (emphasis in secondary education) and a minor in Psychology.  

 *I taught high school Speech and Psychology and middle school Language Arts and Social Studies.  I also assisted in coaching forensics and cheerleading.  
*I worked for a company called the Visiting International Faculty Program which brought teachers from foreign countries to the U.S. to teach and be cultural ambassadors for up to three years on a cultural exchange visa.  I had the chance to work with teachers from New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Columbia, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, England, Mexico and Spain.   

*In September 2004, I started my business, Cornerstone Virtual Assistance.  I feel fortunate to be a part of this profession, and each day I look forward to the projects I conduct for my clients.  As a virtual assistant, I get to focus on what I love to do which is supporting a client’s business so my clients may focus on what they love to do.  This win-win situation allows both of us to contribute our strengths in achieving business goals.   I manage a variety of tasks for my clients such as website maintenance, proofreading and creating newsletters/ezines, online article submissions, book publishing support, podcasting, event coordination, set up and maintenance of shopping carts, presentation support (creating media kits, creating Power Point presentations) and teleseminar support (reserving bridge lines, creating handouts, registrations).  

*As a former English teacher, reading is very close to my heart, so I am like a kid in a candy store when I visit a book store.  I always come out of the store with a least one bag of books.  When I am not reading, I enjoy bike riding, watching movies, and snorkeling.

Contact Information Cornerstone Virtual Assistance Website: www.cornerstoneva.com
E-mail: kjohnson@cornerstoneva.com
Phone: 303.840.5994



Kathy Sparks, VA Technical Instructor Kathy Sparks

Probably one of the best days in my life was the day I read the article in Inc. Magazine about this new profession - Virtual Assistants. Since then, I've "lived" virtual assistant.
I've been a VA for over eight years as an online business manager and virtual assistant partnering with clients nationwide who are successful professionals in marketing, selling, coaching, creative design, .com companies and engineering.

I have over 15 years of experience in Information Technology, Market Research, Management, Programming, Administrative Assistance and Customer Service. Corporate experience in high technology manufacturing, publishing and insurance.

I live in a small town in Western Colorado with awesome views of the the San Juan Mountain Range out my office window. I play tennis, ride bikes, snow shoe, ski, walk, and generally enjoy life a whole lot!

I was one of the first graduates of Assistu, the premier Virtual Assistant training program.

"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life."

"A Positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results."
  ~~ Anonymous