Speaking Topics
Technology
Automation and the Impact on the Workplace
Automation is impacting every area of the workplace, from the reception desk to the executive suite. Learn what is here already, what is on the horizon, and how you can be prepared for the coming Artificial Intelligence tsunami.
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Any Microsoft Office topic can be covered from tips and tricks to beginner through advanced topics, including going in-depth on specialized narrowly focused topics. Custom programs can created as needed. Sample program topics:
Microsoft Office
- Digital Photograph Manipulation in Microsoft Office
- Organizing Your Data In Microsoft Office
- Reducing Redundant Tasks in Microsoft Office
- Sharing Data Across Microsoft Office
- Timesaving Tips in Microsoft Office
- Tips and Tricks (can be focused on any Office program)
Microsoft Word
- Field Codes in Microsoft Word
- Find Out About Find and Replace in Word
- Forms in Microsoft Word
- Mail Merge Mania
- Macros in Microsoft Word
- Step Into Word Styles
Microsoft Excel
- Charts and Graphs in Microsoft Excel
- Conditional Formatting in Microsoft Excel
- Formulas in Microsoft Excel
- Manipulating Data in Microsoft Excel
- Pivot Tables in Microsoft Excel
Microsoft PowerPoint
- Advanced Options for Microsoft PowerPoint
- Animations and Transitions in Microsoft PowerPoint
- Finessing Your Presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint
- Mastering Templates in Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Outlook
- Conquering Your Calendar in Microsoft Outlook
- Controlling the Chaos of Your Outlook Inbox
- Outlook Customizations
- Juggling Multiple Calendars in Microsoft Outlook
- Taming Your Tasks in Microsoft Outlook
- The Ins and Outs of Outlook
PowerSearching the Internet
Being able to search for information on the internet in a more focused way can save you hours of time and loads of frustration. Learn the ins and outs of advanced internet search techniques that will narrow your results down from millions to precisely what you need.
Windows Tips and Tricks
Microsoft Windows is a phenomenal operating system that provides myriad ways to customize your computer, search your files and control your experience. Learn more about what you can do with this program.
Career Advancement
Building Your Skills Portfolio
These days, you can't wait for Corporate America to build a career path for you. You need to carve out your own niche in the world. Learn the secrets of making yourself marketable by building a skills portfolio that will carry you through the challenges that life throws at you. Discover how you can create some simple tools to document your past accomplishments as well as assess your current skill set. Create a career map and develop an action plan to highlight your strengths and overcome your weaknesses. Learn about the myriad ways you can enhance your reputation and improve your career opportunities. Chart a course for your own success! Be proactive and prepared for your next performance review or job search. Whether you are just starting out or are a career veteran, you need this edge.
The Electronic Job Search
This enlightening program will walk you through the steps of the electronic job search from determining which job search sites best meet your needs to setting up job search agents and identifying the most effective way to enter your data into online application forms. We'll discuss key factors of formatting your resume whethere it is being submitted as a cut and paste résumé or attachment and also look at the various ways hiring companies will be searching their database of candidates so that your resume will float to the top in their searches.
Negotiating Your Career
This program walks you through negotiating your best job offer. We'll discuss why people don't try to negotiate better terms in job offers and why they SHOULD! We'll look at the various factors in a job offer and which have room for flexibility. We'll discuss the timing of your negotiations and how to start as well as how to put yourself in a position of power. Finally we'll look at some of your available options and the key factors to success. These tips will help you become more confident about negotiating your career choices!
Social Media for Career Advancement
This session will walk us through the many ways we can utilize social media for career advancement - from networking to job searching to skills development and more. We'll discuss the pros and cons of social media as it relates to your professional development. Learn how you can take full advantage of this technology and communication style to enhance your career.
Professional Development
Becoming the Renaissance Employee
All too often, our employers pigeonhole us into certain roles, convinced that we have a certain set of skills and they know our potential. This program will help you to get beyond feeling like a small cog in a big machine and discover new ways of encouraging your employer to consider your skills in a new light. We'll discuss critical thinking skills and suggest methods to become more of a partner to your boss and company. We'll explore how you can expand your role into new areas and develop new skills (but more importantly new approaches to your current job). You'll get a better understanding of the different perspectives you can bring to your job to solve problems and become a more valued employee in the process.
Conflict Resolution Skills
Workplace drama costs companies millions of dollars every year, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Identify the major causes of conflict and better methods of resolving workplace disputes peacefully. Sometimes all it takes is a new perspective.
Planning Large Scale Events
Pulling off a large scale event flawlessly requires months of intense planning and action. Learn the key components of organizing a large event and ensuring everything goes smoothly. We’ll also discuss the important debriefing steps to ensure future events build on the success of the past and don’t repeat the mistakes.
Proofreading 101
Developing your proofreading skills means that you look at much more than whether words are misspelled or not. Learn about the many different facets of proofreading and why each is a critical component in your documents.
Tech Tools for the Savvy Admin
Staying aware of websites, software and apps that can help us do our jobs more efficiently will ensure that our skills stay cutting edge. Learn about some of the newest programs out there to help us get more done in less time and with less effort.
Troubleshooting Videoconferencing Issues
Virtual meetings save us so much time and money, but they can be extremely frustrating when something goes wrong. Learn some of the most common issues and how you might be able to address them without involving your IT folks. We’ll also discuss best practices for preventing issues in the first place.
Working More Effectively
Are you overwhelmed by having too much to do? Would you like to have more balance in your life and more time for YOU? This energetic and informative presentation will showcase 50 tips to shave time off your tasks both at work and at home by advance planning, streamlining, reorganizing, eliminating, delegating, utilizing technology, and combining tasks. You'll learn to work more effectively and accomplish more in less time. Cumulatively, these tips will add up to HOURS earned. How would you spend an extra hour a day?
What people are saying about us
T. Carlos
Your study group was highly effective and you are truly an outstanding facilitator. I went into the exam confident and left the exam confident. Thank you for the guidance. I look forward to earning some of my CAP points through your training.
K. Jackson
My first attempt at the CAP exam, last September, was not successful. In fact, my score was a gut wrenching 498.98. However a fellow IAAP member encouraged me to take Marie Herman's CAP exam study group and I complied. As a result of that awesome decision, today, I am happy to report that I passed the April 2018 CAP exam! I appreciated everything the study group had to offer. Most specifically, the tips, resources, ability to watch recorded sessions when I could not make the live ones and the unwavering encouragement and support of Marie and all the study group members. If you are planning to sit for the CAP exam, I highly recommend Marie Herman's CAP exam study group. You will not be disappointed!
M. Boyette
Because of the training from Marie, we are better Administrative Professionals. Marie, thank you, I know for sure I would not have passed if it were not for your study group. One of the best investment I've made.
Ja. Parker
I recognize how often I remember the items you taught us! Thank you for making us all better Administrative Professionals! I continue to pull from that memory bank constantly! You are a blessing.
N. Hollands
I find myself enjoying my job more, too! Thank you, Marie, for the sharing of knowledge at an affordable price!
S. Anderson
Perfect! It worked! Thank you so much Marie. I googled until my head hurt…just your easy way of explaining helped! Thank you.
T. Zerone
I have attended quite a few of your webinars over the past year. I have to say that yours are so well organized and the fact that you provide a summary of materials afterwards is what really makes a difference. Hands down, your programs are the best that I have attended to date and provide concrete skills that can be readily applied on the job. Thanks for all that you do!
N. Dispenza
Thank you again for the CAP study group opportunity. I passed the exam and am convinced the outcome would have been different had it not been for your study group. Truly, I don’t think I would have passed without it. The way you presented the material, the study tips, online access, the staying FRESH reminder, all contributed to a successful outcome. When I started on this journey, I didn’t know where to begin finding study materials. It was my very good fortune that your study group was recommended. In turn, I would highly recommend it to future CAP candidates. It is an invaluable resource. I look forward to taking more of your classes.
Je. Parker
I just wanted to drop a note to thank you for work you did on this past study group. I joined late and then while I was unable to participate in the actual “live” sessions the ability to access the recordings and watch them on my own time was absolutely perfect! The amount of information you provided was amazing. I am so pleased with the information learned, the ability to see how it related with some things we are doing in our organization and to be able to utilize the new information in my current position, that the study session was well worth it regardless of test results. It also has me completely excited to go on to the next learning opportunity. I look forward to participating in future learning opportunities with you. Kudos to you for going full time with your passion and best wishes for great success.
C. Rabara
I wanted to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to participate in your online training session last week. It was wonderful and I've already tried doing a few of the tricks you taught us!
A. Cook
Thank you so much for the webinar last night. You are the best instructor I've ever had on Microsoft products. Your explanations are clear and concise, and your speaking manner is very understandable. I'm really enjoying the CAP study group, too, and feel as though I will be very prepared to take the exam.
N. Marks
Really great stuff, some of which I'm doing, but I should do more of. Good time for review. You also get bonus points for presenting really well remotely. That is HARD to do! Thanks again!
A. Lupkoski
There are hundreds of IAAP members who have benefited from your wisdom, advice, guidance and call-a-spade-a-spade comments over the years, so your circle of influence has been wide. I always know that a Marie Herman posting will leave me either educated, laughing or inspired.
P. Hart
Marie, I attended a CAP study group with you and received my certification in March 2015. I was promoted from Office Manager of one plant to Operations Accounting Manager over 15 plants. Huge salary increase too. Thanks for all your help.
D. Schultz
I attempted the CAP exam one other time without taking a structured course and really not knowing what materials to study and I did not pass my first time around. With the structured class that Marie offered and the support from all you awesome admins out there, I can attest, it all made a difference this time around for me and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work through this with all of you!