My last name is, in the words of Winston Churchill, "...a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key." The key is that it's unique, just as each VA-client relationship is unique. High-level virtual assistance is all about strong relationships. Trca is pronounced Ter'-cha, a name of Bohemian origin (now part of the Czech Republic). And Black from my husband's family, the ultimate easy-to-pronounce name!

I love to see people succeed and be able to live and work in ways that truly bring them happiness. Virtual assistance allows me to use my talents and pursue work I am passionate about while supporting the success of others. After nine years of experience in administrative assistance and related fields, and a previous related business, I founded Alloy Virtual Assistance in 2005.

My journey to virtual assistance began as a child. As any small business owner, a VA must be a visionary entrepreneur, an effective manager, and a skilled technician, and my imagination as a child certainly reflected that. I didn't just play office, I played employment office. (I've always been a stickler for detail.) My make-believe business was "W.H.O."—an acronym for "We Help Out" and linked imaginary employees to employers. And I still have the plastic, pink phone I used in that office. Another of my favorite playtimes as a child was to sell things. But I didn't settle for the usual lemonade. For me, it was big marshmallows steeped in hot cocoa and individually packaged. I also sold "tickets" which were actually receipts for the subscription to the daily newspaper. (Remember when paper carriers used to collect payment?) My tickets were good for absolutely nothing, but I loved selling them to my family members (truly a captive market). And then there were the many theatrical productions I enthusiastically attempted to produce. Who says that you can't stage "The Wizard of Oz" in a backyard with just three compliant cousins and a bed sheet thrown over the clothesline?!

After graduating from Simpson College (Religion and Political Science) and Iowa State University (Public Service & Administration in Agriculture—a program structured around sociology, economics and political science) and a foray into non-profit program and research positions, I took the courageous step of admitting to myself that I was happiest when assisting others so that they could do the executive and program work. But I found conventional administrative assistant positions unfulfilling, and I knew there must be a way to make the most of my talents and my independent spirit. It was after a period of intense introspection, reflection and searching that I discovered Virtual Assistance and, even better, the training program and community of AssistU. I knew that I had found the answer to my professional calling.

I treat my career as a VA with the dedication that the profession, my clients, and I deserve. I am constantly seeking new opportunities to learn, to broaden and deepen my skills. I was voted by my peers at AssistU as 2010 Techie of the Year, 2009 VA of the Year, 2009 Most Supportive Community Member, and recognized for my contributions to the community as Top Portal Poster in both 2008 and 2009. I earned the designation of Certified Professional Virtual Assistant in 2010.