Kelly Poelker–author, speaker, publisher, writer, and certified Master Virtual Assistant (MVA) is the President and driving force behind the Another 8 Hours virtual assistant team. Over the past 20 years Kelly has gained valuable insight into the world of business, specifically in the areas of: establishing policies and procedures; employee supervision and management; employee training; domestic and international customer service; sales forecasting; budgeting; marketing communications; designing sales aids; planning successful meetings and events; purchasing; sales support; office management; vendor and client relations; an array of other general administrative tasks; and, small business management.

Kelly started Another 8 Hours part-time in February 2000 while working full-time as a sales and marketing coordinator for a major raw materials supplier. Another 8 Hours, headquartered in Illinois , experienced rapid growth and within 10 months Kelly made the decision to take it full-time. While building a successful practice she also managed to establish herself as an expert in the virtual assistant industry by co-authoring what is now considered the VA industry “bible”: Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA (3 rd ed. Rev, Another 8 Hours Publishing). Other books include Bizy’s Guide to Starting Your Own Virtual Assistant Business , and the Bizymoms Cookbook, all of which were co-authored with Diana Ennen. Kelly is a regular speaker and co-host for the (first-ever) annual VA Conference, now entering its sixth year. In a continuous effort to uphold the standards of the industry, Kelly also mentors new and established virtual assistants through a weekly group chat, as well as one-on-one coaching.

Kelly has been interviewed for various online publications and books about home-based business and the virtual assistant industry. She has also gained local and national media coverage in publications such as, Entrepreneur Magazine, HOMEBusiness Journal, The Chicago Tribune, and Corporate & Incentive Travel, in addition to Internet-based radio shows including MomsTown Reality Radio and WAHM Talk Radio.