Celebrating 32 Years

As we settle into the month of October, I am reminded of what a special time of year this is for me [Sherry]. You see, it was 32 years ago that I acted on a longtime vision of servicing clients all over the country while working from my office in Ohio. Personal computers and the internet were not readily available at that time and the word “virtual” hadn’t been coined yet. How was it going to happen? God only knew!

Yet, on a colorful day in October 1992, with a typewriter, a box of business cards and an ad in the local paper, “Sherry’s Office Service” was born. By the end of the week I had my first client: a local contractor who worked out of his truck. He had no office or staff and desperately needed administrative help. When he saw my ad, he thought he would give it a try. As I mentioned, he didn’t have an office so we decided that he would simply fax or mail his paperwork to my office, phone in appointments that needed scheduled and bids that needed to be typed, mailed and processed. We were essentially working “virtually”.

Pioneering the Virtual Assistant Industry

At the time, I had no idea that I was becoming a part of a very small, exclusive group of ‘Pioneers’ that started the virtual assistants Industry or that I would go on to become the first to carve a niche serving financial advisors.

By 1996, my dream of working for clients all over the country finally came to fruition. With the help of the internet, personal computers and a new tool called a “website”, I was able to get the word out about my company. It didn’t take long for my new website and new name, “Gal Fridays – The Paperwork Professional”, to catch the attention of the media. Within two months of launching the website, I landed my first out-of-state client, and the rest is history!

By December 1999, it was time for another name change and tag line; one that would better reflect the exemplary, broad-range capabilities of our virtual office, “Total Office, Inc. – A New Way to Get Things Done” – a name that would grow with the future vision of the company.

In 2022, we made the strategic decision to transition our entire staff to W-2 employees, phasing out subcontractors. This move was driven by our commitment to enhancing security, which is a top priority for us. As we become a more integral part of our clients’ teams, by having W-2 employees, we can provide the consistency and support that our clients value.

As you can see, my dream from long ago has far surpassed what I first imagined on that October day. Together with my husband James and a dedicated staff, we continue to build our legacy of helping financial advisors grow and serve their clients without the added costs of hiring, training and maintaining an employee. It’s our passion to help make their dreams come true as well! To my family that believed in me, to our clients that put their trust in us, our talented and dedicated staff and all the people that have made and continue to make our dream a reality, we say “THANK YOU!” We truly could not have come this far without you!

Copyright © Total Office, Inc 2024

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