Hi! My name is Laura Jo Richins. My friends and clients call me Laura Jo. I live in sunny Mesa, Arizona, with my husband and three of our five children.
 

I am the owner of Richins Business Support Solutions. I am a virtual assistant partnering with my clients to provide administrative support for their businesses. I work from my home office using all the conveniences of modern technology to keep in touch with my clients.

If you are not familiar with virtual assisting, visit AssistU to find out more.

As an independent business owner, I work with my clients to help them achieve their short- and long-term goals for growing their businesses. We ‘meet’ regularly to review and plan. We brainstorm. I help them develop more efficient and effective processes. I coordinate the work that needs to be done by either by doing it myself or finding the needed resources to get it done. If this is the type of help you are looking for, let’s talk. I am very good at what I do.

Where do I come from…
(This is not the really deep “Where Do I Come From” question”)

I was born in South Laguna, California, and moved to Mesa, Arizona, when I was two weeks old. Other than some time away to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, I’ve always lived in Mesa. I’m the oldest of six children. I’ve had an interest in anything clerical since 8th grade when I took my first typing class—on a manual typewriter (am I showing my age?).

In high school, I took typing and shorthand and participated in the Cooperative Office Education (COE) program. My senior year I received awards for Top Typing Student and Top COE Student. I worked as a bank teller my senior year and then left to attend college.

Over the years, some of the jobs I’ve held include:

• Office manager for a sales office
• Owner, with my husband, of a commercial landscape maintenance company
• Executive assistant to the VP of marketing at a software company
• Executive assistant to three partners at a large CPA firm
• Owner of a secretarial services business
• Most recently, vice president of marketing, manuals and menus for the nation’s largest dietary consulting firm

In an effort to find balance in my life and to spend more time with my husband and children, I made the decision to return to working my own business. It has been a wonderful journey filled with learning new things, making new friends, and partnering with some incredible clients.

Testimonials

Laura Jo has redefined for me what it means to manage my business. Her authenticity and highly specialized knowledge in the areas of computer management, bookkeeping, marketing strategies, and overall business organization have been priceless. She is dedicated, enthusiastic, brilliant, and a true asset to the growth of my business. She is filled with professional visionary ideas that have already proven successful. Businesses can deeply benefit from her expertise and assistance.
Jennifer Crews ~ Owner, Intuitive Teachings, LLC 

Working with Laura Jo has made such a difference in my business and in my life. She is able to get to the heart of the matter and help me see clearly, not only what I need to do to move forward, but how to get there, and then she makes sure that I follow up and do it!. Her ability to brainstorm is amazing! She has helped me reach peace in my life through helping me reach peace in my business.
Janet Smith ~ Owner, Assist Virtually

Laura Jo is amazing. She recently worked with me to help me create a presence for AssistU at an industry event in another country. We were unable to attend, so the question was how to give attendees a true sense of who we are as a company, and what we can offer them, without being there for them to see and interact with.

I had an idea of how to do it, and asked Laura Jo to run with my idea and let me know if it was doable. She did just that--and found the right vendors and the right products to make it happen at the right price. I was impressed! But then I changed my mind, and with that, the whole focus, scale and scope of the project. Laura Jo handled the shift without seeming to bat an eye, and again, handled everything fabulously well. Unfortunately, a product vendor I asked her to work with, dropped the ball, and with nearly no time to make another plan, Laura Jo designed and implemented a wonderful substitution that, while not giving us quite the presence we originally hoped for, appropriately represented us to conference attendees.

Through it all, she was a joy to work with, never made her challenges with the work mine, and, in fact, always managed to relieve my stress as things were seeming to fall apart. She is the consummate professional, is detail oriented, unflappable, upbeat, and reliable. Work with her. You'll see what I mean! 
Stacy Brice ~ President and CVO, AssistU

It’s not often that you find someone with the experience, skills and business savvy that Laura Jo possesses. She not only has a sincere appreciation for her clients and their businesses, but she also continually goes above and beyond by contributing valuable ideas and insights. That’s the sign of a true partner and trusted advisor.
Ed Gandia ~ Owner, Gandia Communications, Inc.

Wow! Laura Jo has excellent computer skills and was always willing to jump right in and learn a new program. Her communication skills, both written and spoken, are professional, informed, insightful, and always warm, friendly, and engaging.
Laura Allen ~ Owner, WOWVA