Hi! I'm Sheryl Snitkin, owner of Urban Admin. It seems that everything is "Urban Something" these days. When choosing my business name, I wanted something that seemed to flow off the tongue. Plus, I'm very urban. I was born and raised in New York City, and currently live in the inner city of Minneapolis.

My career started in the early 1980s as a file clerk. I moved on to a receptionist position (before the days of voice mail), and laddered up to providing Executive Assistant support to C-level executives. When the economy tanked in 2008, I was downsized along with many of my colleagues/friends. The thought of competing with many respected colleagues for the few positions that were available wasn't something that I wanted to do. By this time, I had about 25 years of business operations on my resume. I wanted something more. Something different, but familiar. New, but recognizable. Enter – the world of Virtual Assistance!

I spent a good part of 2009 in the VTP (that's the Virtual Training Program for you non-AssistU folks). When I found out I had graduated from the program it was one of the happiest days of my life. Since then, I've been learning new things every day. Anastacia says that even if we learn 500 new things every day, we'll never know everything. But I'm determined to give it a shot.

As a VA, I'm a generalist. There are very few professions that I don't want to work with. But I especially enjoy working with GLBT-owned businesses/GLBT activist groups and pet service professionals. Why, you ask? My moms (yes, that's plural) were together for 40 years until one passed away a couple of years ago. They were pioneers in the gay rights movement, and I'm committed to continuing their work. I also enjoy working with pet service professionals (cat sitters, dog groomers, and similar types of businesses). My two cats, Patrick & Janis, are my babies (and they know it). Anyone who has a special interest in pets has a special place in my heart.

I've been an admin for over 25 years and I've found that it's the type of work I really enjoy. My success comes from seeing the people I support be successful. I enjoy celebrating victories with my clients, and I'm there as a sounding board when things aren't going so great. Behind every smart business owner is a talented virtual assistant!

Outside of my business, I enjoy studying Mesozoic Vertebrate Paleontology (dinosaurs), re-learning how to play the alto saxophone, reading quality books, and enjoying the company of friends. I'm also a "neat freak" and I enjoy organizing – anything and everything! My friends call me "Felix Unger on steroids" and I have to say they're right about that. My favorite dinosaur is the stegosaurus, and I love anything purple. I especially love purple stegos.

Thank you for taking the time to read about me. If you'd like to learn more about my business, my strange hobbies, or if you'd like to tell me about yourself, head on over to my purple website!

For more information about Sheryl, please visit her website at www.urban-admin.com.

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