SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
AnnMarie Houghton is a problem solver.
She works as an executive assistant for the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce and is never happier in her work than when she is juggling clients and members, answering phones and offering referrals.
AnnMarie Houghton, executive assistant for the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, registers participants at a Yellowknife conference. - photo courtesy of AnnMarie Houghton |
"It's really all about helping Yellowknife grow," she told Yellowknifer. "I love being able to help people, answer all their questions or get them to the people who can."
Houghton moved to Yellowknife in 2011 when her husband, an RCAF officer, was re-posted here from Winnipeg. The family, including two boys now aged 10 and 12, lived in Winnipeg for five years, during which Houghton had her own home-based sports photography and graphics business. With the plethora of photographers and small market - at least compared to a southern city - here in Yellowknife, she decided to try her hand at administration instead.
"I just knew it was time for a change and I love working with people and solving problems, so it just made sense," she said.
Houghton has professional training in rehabilitation and has previously worked in a hospital setting, and said she feels her education is more useful in her current position than one might think.
"It's all about psychology, sociology, getting to know, and working with people," she said. "I wanted to deal more with the public and this job is perfect for that."
One of the aspects of her work Houghton enjoys most is that it's never static. She said although this week she is in the midst of organizing a trade show, including helping exhibitors with concepts and set up for their booths and booking entertainment, next month she will be working on a completely different project, dealing with members seeking to expand their businesses.
Some things, however, remain constant.
"We're at the core a service and referral business," she said of the chamber. "When I come in, I deal with e-mails from members, phone calls and accounting right off the bat."
While her favourite part of the job is the problem solving and working with people, Houghton is not a fan of the physical work that is required for events.
"One of the pitfalls of this job is there's a lot of transporting things from one location to another and setting up tables," Houghton said. "But after that's done I get to go back to the smiling and talking to people, and that's the good part of the job."
