Yellowknife (Apr 21/03) - Secretaries know all. And if they don't, they probably know where to find out.

Sherrey Solmonson thinks Secretary Week is important. - Kathleen Lippa/NNSL photo

When it comes to running a business, secretaries, receptionists and switchboard operators are the wheels that keep the operation running day after day.

Those faces and voices behind the front desk of most offices in Yellowknife, keep track of crucial files, letters and phone calls.

One week out of the year has now been designated as their time -- a time when people should stop and think about their role, and thank them.

Sherrey Solmonson welcomes the recognition that comes from National Professional Secretaries Week.

As the office administrator for the Centre Square Mall, the mall's office tower, Northern Heights Condo, and the Parkade, Solmonson does "a little bit of everything," and likes it because "it's never a slow day."

From accounting, to parkade leases, correspondence to merchants, and dealing with late condo fees, Solmonson also answers about 15 calls a day.

She's heard it all. People complain about loitering, and want repairs made to condos. And then there are the requests to page people in the mall.

"I don't do that," she said about paging people. "If someone is in the mall, I have no way of knowing where they are."

As a receptionist with so many responsibilities, it is important for Solmonson to have a boss that gives her direction, while understanding the level of control she must have in order to do her job.

"Having that communication is essential in any job," she said.

Patrice Williams, switchboard operator and receptionist at Creative Basics says she has a great boss right now and it makes a world of difference.

"A good boss is a friendly boss. And I have one," said Williams.

Williams has been in this line of work for about four years.

"We do most of the 'yes' and 'no' work," she explained. "It's good to remember us. We're important. We're the first person you see. We need to be treated like we're special."

There are "good and bad customers," said Williams. "So you have to make sure they're all right all the time."

Williams' job involves transferring calls, and order entry.

In an average day she tackles between 35 and 40 calls.

"It's busy. It's crazy here," she said.

Dealing with government secretaries as well as private businesses with office supply orders, just plain friendliness is what makes the day go smoothly for Williams.

"You have to love to socialize, and be friendly," she said.

But perhaps no customer is as tough as the nervous dental patient.

Janet Bishop, office receptionist for dentists Dr. Mahmoud Rajabi, Dr. Roger Armstrong, and orthodontist Dr. Masoud Haghi, knows all about it.

She just tries to keep it simple so there's an easy flow to the office's 30 patients or so a day.

"We're important people," said Bishop.

In an average day, Bishop and another receptionist field about 60 calls a day. She books appointments, and bills patients.

Bishop likes the job because it is "busy all the time. It's good." And she praises her bosses for being understanding of her role everyday.

"We keep everybody going," she said. "It's the little things that make the big things happen."