Hidden Gems: Meet Bonnie Schutz of Tandem Resource Solutions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Schutz.

Hi Bonnie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a woman in my “second act” so to speak. I am a 27 years career administrative professional from corporate America. A “corporate dropout.” After many years in all the shoes of every type of admin position there is, I wanted more. At the suggestion of my bff at the company I worked for in 2015, I started a side hustle as an administrative recruiter. I loved helping other admins get their next best gig and mentoring them through the process.

Two years later, I decided to take the leap and leave my job to make my company, Tandem Resource Solutions (a.k.a. TRS), my full-time gig. My stars aligned and I left my job. I was recruiting admins throughout the Denver area. However, recruiting required a lot of “sales,” which I was not good at – in terms of finding companies that would want to utilize an independent recruiter. I needed to find a way to make things work, and to fill the monetary cracks between recruitments. All I knew was how to be an admin. So, I took a risk and responded to an ad on Craigslist for a virtual assistant. It was legitimate! Yay!

When I put myself out to the world on LinkedIn – that I was running a company that recruited admins and provided virtual assistance, the fruits of my relationships in the past flourished. People started coming to me in droves asking to work for me. Flash forward to today. I now own and operate as a virtual assistance agency and still do a bit of recruiting, mentoring and operations consulting. I have a team of almost 30 Virtual Assistants that support our clients. Myself, still supporting two clients as a VA.

TRS has grown threefold since 2019 and we are basking in the glow of having been the remote working experts before it was cool. I have made it my mission to support a team of VAs that primarily consist of SAHM’s, single mothers, military wives, BIPOC VAs and women who’ve been aged-out of corporate roles.

TRS has a wide variety of clientele from small biz owners, to artists, to corporate executives, consultants and coaches, etc. With perseverance, grit and the right mindset, my business continues to grow and I am finally able to do the things I’ve not been able to do in my corporate past, such as write, be creative, participate in events, speak on podcasts, take much-needed vacations, follow my passions, and so on. I never in a million years thought in the second half of my career I’d be doing these wonderful things!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest obstacles and challenges in doing what I do, lie in self confidence, overcoming imposter syndrome and being gracious in the face of adversity. I am a consummate people person and often do not put myself, my health and my well-being first.

As you know, we’re big fans of Tandem Resource Solutions. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Tandem Resource Solutions works in tandem with both solo-virtual assistants and clients. We take the administrative burden and minutiae off the plates of busy people to help them avoid burnout and stress. To allow them the time they need with family, friends and self-care.

You should know that TRS is on a mission. On a mission to build a team of SAHM’s, single mothers, military wives, BIPOC VAs and women who’ve been aged out of their corporate roles.

We specialize in general admin support, executive assistance, marketing and social media, project management and more. We are known for our in-tandem model. A model where your designated VA always has a “mouse in their pocket” from which to pull best practices, share knowledge, learn new software tools, etc.

What sets you apart from others is that we have a very passionate team that is well plugged into the industry. Myself, I am on the board of the Association of Virtual Assistants and am always continuing to research and learn, as well as partner, rather than compete, with my fellow VAs and VA agencies.

Brand wise, I am most proud of the recognition we’ve received for supporting the special categories of VAs that we do.

Your readers should know that TRS is a collaborative, forward-thinking, supportive VA agency and passionate admin recruiting firm. We are always working “in-tandem” behind the scenes to produce the best pairings/relationships and outcomes. Win/win. We offer month to month contracts and special discounts for signing on for six month plus terms of service. We have an amazing referral program that pays/gifts the referrers when a new client signs, and again after they’ve completed three months.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the fresh air and beauty that lies in Denver. I’m a semi-native, having been here in Colorado since about 2 years old. It’s a diverse, forward-thinking city that always has so much going on! So many things, for all it’s people and all their interests.

What I like least about Denver is not really about Denver. I, funny enough, don’t feel like I am outdoorsy enough to truly fit in here in Colorado. It is my home and will always hold a place in my heart, but I’m done with the snow (which Denver luckily doesn’t get too terribly much of), and ready, when I am able to get my business where it needs to be, to find that next best city where there is no winter. It’ll be difficult to compare to Denver, of that I am sure.

Pricing:

• Intermediate VA Services – 10 hours per month = $475
• Intermediate VA Services – 20 hours per month = $675
• Intermediate VA Services – 40 hours per month = $1,200
• Experienced VEA Services – 20 hours per month = $825
• Experienced VEA Services – 40 hours per month = $1,400

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tandemresourcesolutions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tandemresource/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TandemResourceSolns