Trillium Digital would like to take the time to commemorate Administrative Professionals Day^® not just because it is usually the office managers, secretaries, and administrative assistants who are in charge of ordering our coffees and selecting their office's Keurig® single-cup brewer, but because at companies like Green Mountain Coffee, as in most workplaces, they are the backbone of the organization (and some of our favorite people, too).

Since 1952, the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) has honored office workers by sponsoring Administrative Professionals Week (April 23-28 this year). Outside of employee birthdays and major holidays, it is one of the largest workplace observances.   The event is now celebrated worldwide, bringing together millions of people for community events, educational seminars and individual corporate activities recognizing support staff.

The theme for the 2012 Administrative Professionals Day® is: “Admins, the pulse of the office.”

"Administrative Professionals Day will mark its 60th anniversary on April 25, 2012. Over those decades, the job of an administrative professional has changed dramatically thanks to new tools, techniques and seismic shifts in the economy and culture itself. But admins have remained the steady center of efficiency through it all, helping ensure that jobs get done right, on time and under budget. Admins are one of the engines of business, particularly in a complex economy. In a world that demands the accurate and speedy movement of digital information, admins are masters of data. And they do this while maintaining their more traditional role as the gatekeepers for many customers, clients and employees. Quite simply, admins are the pulse of the office."

According to the IAAP, administrative professionals are one of the largest segments of the office workforce. Here are some fast facts:

More than 4.2 million administrative assistants and secretaries, along with 1.4 million supervisors of office and administrative support workers, were employed in the United States in 2006 (U.S. Department of Labor).




A total of 476,000 administrative professionals are employed in Canada, including 365,670 secretaries, 26,390 executive assistants and 84,140 clerical supervisors (Statistics Canada).




More than 255,000 administrative assistant and secretarial positions will be added in the U.S. between 2004 and 2014, representing growth of 6.2%. More than 438,000 office supervisor positions will be added. (U.S. Department of Labor)