BALTIMORE, MD – Alliance for Virtual Businesses (A4VB), a collaborative teaming of virtual professionals and virtual assistant organizations dedicated to educating the global business community about the virtual assistance industry, today declares May 19, 2006 International Virtual Assistants Day (IVAD).

Officially registered with Chases Calendar of Events, the recognized authority of special days, weeks and months, IVAD will appear in the 2007 edition and will be held annually on the third Friday of May. The inaugural celebration of IVAD, sponsored in part by the International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA), coincides with a three-day assembly sponsored by the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC) running from May 18 – 20, 2006 . Virtual Assistants worldwide will display the free IVAD logo and creed on their websites.

Virtual Assistants or VAs are independent entrepreneurs who work remotely and use the latest technology to deliver professional administrative, creative, managerial, technical, business back-office and/or personal support services to busy clients.

Since 1996 more than 5,000 professionals around the world have become VAs. More than 90 percent of them are highly-skilled working mothers who choose to start their own businesses in order to achieve a better work/life balance. According to a study conducted by Brenner Books in conjunction with A4VB in 2004, the United States accounts for the largest number of VAs followed by Canada, Australia and Great Britain.

“This will be a very special day for everyone involved in the VA industry because it will allow us to bring together all VA organizations and their memberships under on umbrella,” says Alliance for Virtual Businesses founder Sharon Williams. “IVAD acknowledges the importance of the industry’s contributions to the stability and growth of the small business community as well as showcases the accomplishments of trailblazing industry leaders who best exemplify our creed: Dedication, Experience, Expertise and Determination to Succeed (DEEDS).”

About Alliance for Virtual Businesses

E stablished in June 2003 the Alliance for Virtual Businesses™ is a volunteer-directed organization, whose primary mission is to promote the growth of free enterprise between virtual assistants, entrepreneurs, small businesses, corporations, associations and other business entities. At the web site client-related case studies, industry-related demographics, interviews, media kits, PowerPoint presentations, and a wealth of other types of information are available to facilitate learning about this industry. For more information, contact Sharon Williams by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or visit the website at www.allianceforvirtualbiz.com.

About Online International Virtual Assistants Convention

OIVAC is an international convention of Virtual Assistants providing learning, training, networking and information-sharing experience conducive to the hectic schedules of work-at-home and virtual entrepreneurs. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or visit the website at www.oivac.com.

About International Virtual Assistants Association

The International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional education and development of members of the Virtual Assistance profession, and to educating the public on the role and function of the Virtual Assistant. For more information visit the website at www.ivaa.org.