Meet the STEPS Global Advisory Council

One of the most respected advocates for assistants in the world, Bonnie worked for 25 years as a celebrity assistant to actress Olympia Dukakis and is the author of Staff Matters, People-Focused Solutions for the Ultimate New Workplace, and Be the Ultimate Assistant. She was named one of the Top 100 HR Influencers of 2024.

A native New Jerseyan and a Rutgers University grad, Bonnie knows that the secret sauce for an ultimate workplace is cultures of respect and embraced diversity.

Traveling to 14 countries and 38 states to teach and speak, Bonnie’s clients include the Wharton School of Business, British Parliament, Four Seasons Hotel, Starbucks, and Amazon.

Bonnie is a TEDx speaker, has been published in Harvard Business Review, and her work was profiled in Forbes. Known for her passionate commitment to transform the workplace, she works to end discrimination, close the wage gap, and break the cycle of workplace bullying.

Brenda Rogers-Ford is the Executive Assistant to the CEO of Reliant Rehabilitation. Before moving to the healthcare industry, she was in the restaurant industry for over 16 years and held roles such as Chief of Staff at Gordon Ramsay North America (GRNA); Field Administrative Manager for the Dallas Field Office at McDonald’s USA, and Vice President of Administration and Executive Assistant to the CEO at Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group (DFRG).

Brenda held the designation of Certified Administrative Professional® from 2005 until 2022, and she earned the Advanced Certificate for the Executive Assistant (ACEA) in November 2017.
Brenda is a native Texan who lives in San Antonio with her husband, Avery, and their pup, Bailey. She loves cooking, traveling, and watching classic movies. In April 2019, Brenda introduced “Wuthering Heights” with Ben Mankiewicz on Turner Classic Movies.

Dana Gavita is a seasoned Executive Assistant with over 15 years of experience supporting high-level executives across industries, including environmental consulting, private wealth management, healthcare, and higher education. Currently serving as Executive Assistant to the CEO at Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc., Dana is a strategic partner known for her exceptional organizational skills, discretion, and ability to manage complex projects and communications with executive leadership and board members.

Her career has been defined by her proactive approach to problem-solving, time management, and her ability to streamline operations and conserve executive time. Dana has a proven track record of managing calendars, coordinating travel, organizing high-impact meetings and events, and handling confidential information with integrity.

Before her current role, Dana supported multiple partners at Waldron Private Wealth, where she served as a gatekeeper and liaison, ensuring seamless communication and operational efficiency. Her earlier roles at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC further demonstrate her versatility and commitment to excellence in administrative support.

Dana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pittsburgh Technical College, along with diplomas in Business Management and Administrative Assistance from CCAC, and a culinary diploma from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute.

Her dedication, creativity, and interpersonal skills make her an invaluable asset to any executive team.

Debbie Gross is a, trainer, career coach and speaker as well as the author of an Amazon best seller, The Office Rockstar Playbook. She has over 30 years of experience in the administrative profession and she knows what it takes to create excellence in the administrative role and wants every administrative professional to know how to become a true Office Rockstar.

Diana Brandl holds a degree in International Administration and Management. She is an international speaker, coach and consultant focusing on Digital Transformation, New Work, Personal Branding, and Leadership. Diana is the host of the Executive Office Insights Podcast and a LinkedIn Learning instructor. She has been named Woman of the Week by the Global Digital Women and was called as one of the 45 top global voices by The EA Campus. She is a Digital Nomad and loves to work from all over the world.

Jane Hyun is the leading authority for leveraging culture and differences to drive business growth and innovation. She is the pioneering author of Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling, Leadership Toolkit for Asians, and the co-author of Flex/the New Playbook for Managing across Differences. Often called an “interpreter,” she has been a trusted coach for over 20 years to thousands of leaders at Fortune 500 companies, including PepsiCo, Clorox, Merck, and USGA, helping build their cross-cultural effectiveness.

Jane has been featured on CNN, CNBC, and NPR and has written for Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fast Company, and the Wall Street Journal on the topic of culture and leadership.  As a sought-after speaker, Jane has keynoted at Microsoft, ESPN, The Conferences for Women, and MBA programs.  Recently, Jane received the Marshall Goldsmith 50 Leading Global Coaches Award as the #1 Coach for Cultural Fluency

She enjoys helping people flourish in their workplaces and in their communities.

Melinda is a Senior Executive Assistant at Southwest Airlines, where she supports the Vice President and Chief Audit Executive.  Melinda leads the Executive Assistants Professional Development program within Southwest Airlines, for training and development. Beyond her day-to-day responsibilities, Melinda is an active advocate, contributor, and resource for the administrative community. She has served as an advisory board member for The Admin Awards, contributing her expertise to recognize and celebrate excellence within the administrative profession.

Outside of her professional pursuits, she is surrounded by a loving and loud family, including four sons, three daughters-in-law, and six amazing grandchildren. Her hobbies include hiking, cooking, reading, gardening, and traveling whenever she can manage the time.

Nalcia Peralta is a highly experienced Executive Assistant with over 20 years in the field, currently supporting the Executive Vice President of Operations and Technology at NBCUniversal/Telemundo. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she excels in calendar management, global travel coordination, and handling sensitive executive operations. Backed by a degree in Psychology, certification as a Florida Notary, and expert-level proficiency in today’s productivity tools, Nalcia brings both precision and adaptability to every task. Known for her poise, discretion, and ability to navigate cross-cultural environments, she is a trusted partner in driving executive effectiveness. Outside the office, she enjoys gardening and spending quality time with her family.

An Advocate, Leader, Author And Powerful Influencer In The Work Of Cultural Change

Rosalyn Taylor O’Neale is a powerful influencer drawing from a distinguished career spanning over forty years and fifty countries. Rosalyn has held executive positions at Campbell Soup Company, MTV Network, and Cook Ross.

Throughout her journey, Rosalyn has garnered recognition for her exceptional leadership and advocacy. She was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America, Top Executives in Diversity, and 100 Top Executives in America. Additionally, she earned her place among the 100 Most Influential LGBT People of the Year, the Audre Lorde Wisdom Award, and received the prestigious “Candace Women of Achievement” award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Rosalyn holds a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) from the University of Louisville, and her contributions have been featured in esteemed publications such as the ABA Forum and Diversity Journal. Her perspectives and expertise have been quoted in influential magazines like Black Enterprise, Cable World, Forbes, CIO Magazine, and Harvard Business Review. She is the author of four books including her latest, the second in the 7 Keys 2 Success series: Nothing’s Changed, But Everything’s Different.

Tara M. Sims is a dynamic leader and accomplished Regional Administrative Manager at a leading global real estate management firm. As the founder, owner, and CEO of Evolved Assistant, a virtual assistant agency, and author of the book Evolved Assistant: Unlocking Success in a New Era for Administrative Professionals, Tara is recognized as an authority in administrative excellence. She has over two decades of experience supporting C-suite leaders and senior executives. Tara’s passion for elevating the role of administrative professionals is evident in her work, her writing, and her speaking engagements, where she inspires others to unlock their full potential and drive organizational success.