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It was unanimous. From television celebrities to delegates - everyone agreed the 4th Annual Administrative Professionals Conference held on April 30, and organized by Keyano's Office Administration students was a major success.

Bridget Ryan, Co-host and Producer of CityTV's Breakfast Television was the keynote speaker. She delighted the audience with her animated style and hilarious anecdotes relaying episodes from when she started her career in New York.

"My mantra is do-over," said Ryan. "It is fantastic and empowering to face your fears, whether you are rappelling from the side of a 32-storey building or being buried in an avalanche, and I have done them both," she said.

Ryan is going to be in town along with her cameraman, Jason Carter until tomorrow, covering different aspects of life in Fort McMurray.

"I'm very impressed with Fort McMurray and Keyano College. This is a wonderful town with great people," Ryan enthused.

This year 155 delegates attended the Conference, which featured 20 professional development sessions ranging from planning for financial security to being active at work. Mayor Melissa Blake welcomed the guests during a continental breakfast. She emphasized the importance of such events. "Professional development is very important and so is the need to network," she said.

Agatha Wojtkiewicz, a former Office Administration student at Keyano College pitched the idea for the Conference four years ago, along with a fellow student. She is now successfully employed by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo as an Administrative Assistant in the legislative and legal department and attended this year's event.

"We asked our instructor, Gina Langager why couldn't we organize our own Conference, instead of just studying about it, and she said 'let's do this'" recalls Wojtkiewicz. She was delighted with this year's event. "It's a great chance to freshen up your skills, and network," she said.

The Conference was started as an opportunity for administrative professionals in the Wood Buffalo region to participate in professional development, to provide networking opportunities and to provide recognition for the invaluable contributions they make to their organizations.