January 2004

Virtually from Paradise

Rhonda J. Cua Barut

With its technical team in Oklahoma, an Operations Manager in California, and a CEO that is always traveling—Wincelerator Corporation clearly understands the essence of working virtually. Which is why there was no hesitation when CEO Cheyenne Ehrlich considered a Virtual Assistant for the company’s customer support.

Enter Rhonda J. Cua Barut, Owner of The Office Assistant (TOA) in Hawaii. A former legal assistant with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Maui, Barut established TOA in 1999 by providing secretarial services in the offices of clients.

Over a year ago, her husband’s part-time business grew to the point of needing its own “office assistant.” Not willing to let go of an already established business, Rhonda joined the International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA) to learn more of the Virtual Assistant field. Supported by clients who valued her services, she quickly transitioned into working completely from home and created a web site promoting The Office Assistant’s services.

Wincelerator CEO, Cheyenne Ehrlich, came across this web site and offered Rhonda the opportunity to take over the handling of customer support E-mails. The company produces and direct sells software over the Internet. Its first program of the same name, Wincelerator, enhances the browsing speed of Internet surfing. In addition, they produce a RAM optimizer program called Memcelerator.

If Rhonda runs into an issue that she is unable to resolve, a member of the technical department is just an IM (instant message) away. “We love Rhonda,” states Ehrlich. As the company grows, so has The Office Assistant, which now includes Barut and two associates assisting virtually in the comfort of their own home offices.

The Office Assistant’s regular clientele also includes businesses from a variety of industries: conference planning and management, boutique hotel, shopping center, designer milliner, public relations, non-profit, and so forth, including a patent company in Nevada.

Rhonda J. Cua Barut is an Ethics Checked™ Virtual Assistant, President of the No Ka Oi Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and a member of Toastmaster’s International. She can be reached at www.the-office-assistant.com.

Cheyenne Ehrlich, CEO of Wincelerator, can be reached at www.wincelerator.com.