Michelle Holmes was awarded the OPSA/Emmanuels National Office Professional of the Year 2007/2008 on 5 September at the glamorous Secretaries Day luncheon at Emperor’s Palace. The event, which was attended by 1 200 of the country’s top Office Professionals, marked the culmination of a three-month process to determine the leading Office Professional in South Africa. She is the twenty-fourth woman to receive this award! The first Office Professional of the Year was named in 1983.
Michele is the PA to Gary Taylor, the Head of Group Operations at Discovery. She has 9 years experience as a PA. Michele assists Gary with the day to day runnings of the Group Operations within the Discovery Group.
Michele is a member of various bodies, namely OPSA (The Association for Office Professionals of SA), the Discovery PA EXCO and the Discovery Chartered PA initiative. She is actively involved in FORA (Friends of Rescued Animals and the Discovery PACSI team which supports various charity organizations.
The runner-up is Pertunia Radebe. Petrunia is a senior PA at The Development Bank of SA.
Michele walked away with the following prizes (valued at over R100 000):
- A Chevi Spark for the year courtesy of General Motor Auto Cliff
- Insurance for the car covered by Siyanqoba Seminars
- R12 000 hair vouchers from Gary Rom
- A free 3 day cruise on the Melody from Starlight
- A complimentary weekend for 2 at Kievits Kroon on a bed and breakfast basis
- 2 coaching sessions from Equinimity
- Full day pampering session from Hands on Treatment
- 1 year free membership at Planet Fitness
- Full day spa treatment from Mangwanani Spa
- Shopping vouchers valued at R2000 from Truworths
- Gift hamper valued at R1500 from Revlon
- Pamper hamper from Designer Group
- R250 gift vouchers from Exclusive Books
- Full day spa from Tranquil Water Spa
- Free attendance of SAPRO from Siyanqoba Seminars
- Hamper from Crabtree and Evelyn
- A lazy weekender at the Indaba for a 2 night stay on dinner, bed and breakfast basis plus an African Revitalisation Spa Package for 2 at the Mangwanani Private Africa Day Spa
- Tickets from State Theatre
- Gift from Milen Design
- A 5 course dinner for 2 from Prue Leith
- R1000 voucher from Health Spa
- Free suit from SMAT
- Hamper from Loreal
- One night stay for 2 at the Sheraton on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis
- 2 night stay from Protea Hotels
- 5 days car rental from Avis
- Hamper from Jean Bare
- Hamper from Swiss Lady Chocolates
- 2 nights accommodation for 2 at 10 2nd Avenue Houghton Estate
- Getaway for 3 days at Ingwenya Africa Retreat valued at R20 000
- Office chair from CN Group valued at R4000
- Voucher from Tuscan BBQ