Participants of the All-Island Judging competition was held on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the Holiday Haven Resort, Runaway Bay, St. Ann. From left to right; All Island Boss of the Year, Raymond Grant, Portland Chapter; Runner-up All Island Boss of the Year, Emil Holgate, St. Catherine Chapter; Mercella Shaw Bryan, Boss of the year for the St. Ann Chapter; Cammaleta Harrison, Boss of the Year for the Kingston Chapter; Richard Vernon, Boss of the Year for the St. James Chapter; Sherri-Gae Brown, Administrative Professional of the Year for the Portland Chapter; Deborah Smith-Brown, Administrative Professional of the Year for the St. Ann Chapter; Julian Clarke, Administrative Professional of the Year for the St. James Chapter; Joy Davis, Runner-up All Island Administrative Professional of the Year, St. Catherine Chapter, and Peta-Gaye McEwan-Lewis All Island Administrative Professional of the Year, Kingston Chapter.
All-Island Administrative Professional of the Year & Boss of the Year Competitions
The last full week of April each year is celebrated worldwide by Administrative Professionals as Administrative Professionals Week. During this period, national associations including the Jamaica Association of Administrative Professionals undertake several activities to mark the significant contributions that secretaries and other office professionals have made to their respective organizations and society as a whole. A theme is selected each year.
One of the major activities leading up to this Week is the All-Island Administrative Professional and All-Island Boss of the Year Competition, which usually takes place on the first Sunday in April at various locations Islandwide. This event features administrative professionals and selected managers competing against their counterparts from other parishes for the respective titles. The winners will then represent the association at various activities throughout the celebration period and subsequent year.
This event was first held in April 1976 and the St. Ann Chapter emerged double winners with adjudged All Island Boss of the Year, Mr. Kirby Harrison, and All Island Secretary of the Year, Ms. Ida Martini. In 2010, the title was renamed All Island Administrative Professional of the Year in keeping with the name change of the career to encompass all administrative roles and responsibilities within the organization.
Notable winners of the Boss of the Year Competition have been banker Peter Moses representing the Kingston Chapter, the late Ernest Smith representing the St. Ann Chapter, and Dr. Paul Ivey, representing the Portland Chapter. Winners of the Administrative Professional of the Year competition have led their respective chapters to major milestones or have been promoted to managerial capacities within their organizations. One major stand-out is Ms. Gloria Henry who represented the St. James Chapter. Gloria is currently Vice President of the Port Authority of Jamaica and President of Global Services Association.