“Are you a one-woman operation?
Oh, gosh, no! It takes a lot of hands on deck to be able to provide everything we do. I feel I would be doing you a grave disservice by trying to be a Jane of All Trades (and mistress of none). So I’ve put together a great team—and here they are:
Dana Fortier, Owner & President, brings over 15 years law firm and administrative experience to the helm of Fortier Virtual. As a legal assistant, Dana specialized in litigation support and management. As a department supervisor, her focus was on efficient support and streamlined processes. As a virtual business manager, she takes on the challenge of creating client relationships that work in a seamless manner, encompassing all her clients’ requests and ensuring that their work is completed in a professional manner and they are able to focus on building their business and enjoying their life.
Dana started her career as a teenager working in a small law firm, which led to continuing on that path for the next almost 20 years. After being a legal secretary, then a legal assistant, then finally a litigation department supervisor, she has brought all of that experience into her virtual business services company and through that knowledge and experience, she is able to provide hands on experience and training for every single need a business requires.
As a “serial volunteer”, Dana currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Virtual Assistants Association as their Director of Research & Development. She has served in the past on the Live and Online Summit Planning Committees, and as the Coordinator of Virtual Assistant Connections. (Wait! There’s more!) Personally, she has been an active volunteer with the PTA, Girl Scouts of America and the International Order of Rainbow for Girls.
Dana is married to Paul, and they have two children – Danielle (13) and Jack (5). They live in Novi, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, and enjoy Tigers baseball games and movies. In her spare time, Dana enjoys a good book, being with her family and friends, and cooking.
beyond the office was founded by Terri Orlowski in 2006. Having recently relocated to her hometown of Pitts
burgh, PA, she is excited to be back among family and old friends, looking forward to developing new relationships with area professionals.
Having had the goal of being a small business owner for many years, she decided to turn over a decade of professional administrative experience into a successful business venture. In her “corporate days”, she worked in many fields, including supporting busy real estate offices and mortgage consultants. Other past experience includes supporting the Pittsburgh Police Department, a family-run law firm, and bustling medical offices and business centers.
As a business owner, she is dedicated to customer service, striving to provide customers with an accurate description of her abilities before any agreements are signed or work is begun. If for any reason a customer is not satisfied, she does everything within her power to make them happy again.
In her personal life, she is very involved in her local community, volunteering in several ways to assist other military families. She remembers what is was like to be transplanted to a new place where you don’t know anyone and where everything is foreign. Through programs like COMPASS and the Navy Family Ombudsman Program, she endeavors to help other spouses and family members become more familiar with the military community and local area.
Both in business, and in her professional life, she strives to learn new things and challenge herself to grow and learn. This means that she is constantly discovering new technologies and methods that can be beneficial to her clients.
For over 15 years, Theresa Nelson has had the opportunity to hone her skills while working for several Fortune 500 companies, corporate law firms and several solo-practitioners. While in these positions, Theresa was able to incorporate her great organizational and muli-tasking skills to support several executives and lawyers in relation to corporate contracts, litigation and administrative work.
Throughout Theresa’s professional experience, she realized through research that there was a need for the small business owner/entrepreneur that wasn’t being met. After supporting many busy professionals and lawyers and maintaining her cubicle existence, Theresa decided to take control of her career and started Professionally Virtual. Today, Theresa helps her clients simplify their busy lives, so they can focus on the true aspects of their business.
Lara Nieberding, owner of The Data Digger, takes research to a whole new level.
