OUR STORY: Pioneering the "Virtual Office"

Long before the catch phrase "Virtual Assistant" came along; Sherry Carnahan was paving the way from afar.

In 1992 with a box of business cards, a typewriter and a newly purchased word processor Sherry Carnahan opened for business offering office services to contractors working out of their trucks. The phrases “Virtual Outsourcing” and “Virtual Assistant” hadn’t been coined yet but that was exactly what she was doing. Instead of sending tasks via email or through online CRM’s, contractors would call in or mail their various tasks.

In 1996, with the help of the internet and readily available personal computers, Carnahan changed the name of her company to —Gal Fridays, now a division of Total Office, Inc.  With over twenty-five years of experience working with financial professionals, she planned a strategy to target the Financial Planning Industry. Within two months of launching a new website, Gal Fridays contracted with the first of what would eventually be a long line of out of state financial advisor clients. 

In December 1999, after an intense naming and branding campaign, Carnahan changed the Gal Fridays name to Total Office, to reflect exemplary, broad-range capabilities in office and website administration. It is also a name that would grow with Carnahan’s vision for her company that had forged a niche in serving the unique needs of the Financial Planning industry, many who were also authors and speakers. 

Celebrating 20 Years in Business

By 2012, Carnahan’s company was celebrating their 20th year in business and still growing! Not to become stagnate with the status quo, Carnahan announced that they were expanding their marketing department by creating a new division of her company, Red Dress Marketing.  This new division will focus it's attention on the growing Social Marketing needs of their growing list of clients.

Today, there’s no end to the pioneering spirit that lives inside Mrs. Carnahan.  Her passion for new ideas and helping follow Entrepreneurs like herself is what keeps her going, for what will surely be another 20 years!

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When not running their company, Sherry and her husband James can be found participating in area charity 5K Run/Walks, traveling in their motor home visiting their six children, writing and donating their time and resources to Operation Orphan (a rehabilitation center for orphan and injured wildlife), Haven for Pets (a cat and dog rescue) and the Kenmore Community in which they live.