Happy Administrative Professionals Day! Today we celebrate the people who are crucial to the flow of information that makes all the work at CDCR and CCHCS possible – those efficient, hardworking, organized individuals who keep this massive department running smoothly and provide teamwork, heart, and support to the work done by our custody staff and health care providers. Please join me in thanking them for their work, not only today, but every day.
Administrative Professionals Day began in the World War II era as a result of the United States’ shortage of administrative personnel. The National Secretaries Association was formed in 1942 to recognize the contributions of the profession, support employees in their work, and recruit more people to administrative professions. In 1998, the name changed to the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), with the first Administrative Professionals Day observed in 1952.
Together, CDCR and CCHCS employ more than 60,000 people. They work in every division and fulfill important roles and functions that keep our department moving forward, all striving together to meet our mission of preparing people to successfully return to society. Our administrative professionals are critical to this important work. They keep calendars in order, organize and process mountains of documents and information, track competing priorities, and keep our divisions on track 24-7.
I started in our Department as a Word Processing Technician, and that experience has benefited me throughout my career. I know just how tough and demanding administrative jobs are, and while words can never adequately express how grateful I am for your work, I hope you know how very appreciated you are.
Thank you for all you do in supporting the department in often-unseen but critical ways. Ask any executive anywhere, and they will tell you they are only as good as their support team. That is certainly true at CDCR and CCHCS. Thank you sincerely for all you do.
Respectfully,
JENNIFER BARRETTO
Undersecretary, Administration