Suzy Beggin McKenna
Suzy Beggin McKenna
815-541-0897 - Suzy@SuzyBeggin.com
I am looking for full-time work in or near Stockton, Illinois. My experience is in administrative support, bookkeeping, marketing, writing and event planning. With over 20 years of experience providing administrative and operational support, I have developed a strong ability to manage priorities, anticipate needs, maintain confidentiality, and keep the day-to-day operations running efficiently.
As my experience shows, I have excelled at many different positions, and I enjoy learning new things.
Work Experience
Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper / Human Resources
Oak Leaf Construction; McConnell, IL
October 2024 to Present
Construction company specializing in remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, home additions, roofs, and decks.
- Create invoices. Maintain log of accounts receivable. Send reminders to late payers.
- Accounts payable. Maintain log of payments due. Print checks.
- Balance checkbook (two accounts)
- Research and select construction management and estimating software (JobTread). Transfer data. Train owner and employees to use JobTread.
- Maintain a detailed spreadsheet of costs for each individual construction project.
- First contact with potential customers. Answer phone, enter contact information into JobTread database, schedule phone call consultation or on-site visit, and send a welcome email and/or text message.
- Greet walk-in visitors.
- Take in-person customer payments. Send links for online customer payments.
- Record purchases to manufacturers for their rebate and rewards programs.
- Maintain a record of subcontractors and their W-9 forms. Annually request copies of subcontractors’ Certificates of Insurance. Compile an annual list of subcontractor payments to create 1099 forms.
- Submit applications and renewals for city and state contractor, electrical, and roofing licenses. Maintain a calendar for license renewals.
- Weekly payroll of approximately 15 employees.
- Process and remit mandatory employee wage garnishments, including child support disbursements, in compliance with state and federal regulations. Notify state agencies when employee was no longer being garnished.
- Onboarding of new employees, including W-4 and I-9 forms, and review the employee handbook. Train new employees in WorkForce (employee timecard application).
- Last contact for terminated employees. Hand-over final check and receive keys, credit cards, and uniform shirts from terminated employees.
- Redesign and update employee handbook.
- Text monthly meeting reminders to staff. Order food for monthly staff meetings.
- Answer staff questions on their vacation and PTO hours.
- Maintain OSHA record of reportable injuries. Create annual OSHA report.
- Maintain log of requested vacation and PTO hours. Post time-off requests on employee work schedule.
- Maintain retirement program (Simple IRA). Report employee contributions and company contributions to investment firm monthly.
- Design advertisements for local newspapers. Design postcard mailers.
- Design and automate email campaigns
- Write script, select actors, and direct the filming of two TV commercials (for Oak Leaf Construction and Oak Leaf Plumbing). Approve final editing.
- Daily FaceBook posts for approximately one year.
- Maintain office supplies.
Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper
Dakota Plumbing / Toni’s Plumbing; McConnell, IL
February 2026 to Present
Oak Leaf Construction purchased Dakota Plumbing (February 2026) & Toni’s Plumbing (March 2026). I added the plumbing company duties to my existing Oak Leaf Construction duties.
- Research and select the software used for scheduling, invoicing, quoting, and client communication (Jobber).
- Train company owner and plumbers on Jobber.
- Update product prices in Jobber.
- Set-up new QuickBooks account. Create income and expense categories.
- Interview, hire and train staff for plumbing dispatching and administrative work.
- Maintain employee files.
- Weekly payroll for nine employees.
- Process and remit mandatory employee wage garnishments, including child support disbursements, in compliance with state and federal regulations. Notify state agencies when employee was no longer being garnished.
- Accounts payable
- Accounts receivable, including counting and preparing daily deposits.
- Balance three checkbooks.
- Submit application and renewals for plumbing contractor license, individual plumbing licenses, and individual plumbing apprentice licenses. Register applicants for state license examinations.
- Design and automate email campaigns
Farm & Retail Business Owner (Self-Employed)
Suzy the Shepherdess; Stockton, IL
2000 to Present
I sell 100% wool yarn at historic events, yarn shows, and online, all from my own sheep raised on my small farm using 19th century farming methods. In 2023 I sold my farm and moved the sheep to a friend’s farm, so I no longer tend to the sheep daily, but I still sell their wool. All of my sales are online or out of my tent at shows and events (there is no brick and mortar store).
- Design and maintain personal website promoting my sheep and yarn (SuzytheShepherdess.com)
- Design and maintain Etsy page (suzytheshepherdess.etsy.com)
- Write bulk emails to promote upcoming events and products.
- Process credit card payments.
- Ship orders.
- Customer service. Personal contact with every online order.
- Organize show schedule and attend shows. Put up tent and display products.
- Maintain all company records.
- Pay sales tax and business registrations in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Bookkeeper / Operations Assistant
Explorers World Travel (Tour Operator); Elizabeth, IL
July 2011 to October 2024
I worked for a safari guide, working behind the scenes to keep the tours organized. I started working one day a week as the Bookkeeper. After one year I was asked to work two days a week as both the Bookkeeper and the Operations Assistant, and my time increased to 25 hours each week.
- Enter data into accounting software (started with Peachtree, then switched to QuickBooks).
- Process credit card payments.
- Maintain calendar of Accounts Payable due dates.
- Maintain multi-sheet Excel workbook of hotel/camp rates.
- Make hotel, camp, charter flight, meals and safari guide reservations.
- Check, Double-Check and Triple-Check tours.
- Design and update website.
Event Organizer
Stephenson County Fiber Art Fair; Cedarville, IL
January 2024 to Present
Organize a one-day vendor show for spinners, weavers, knitters, etc. The annual event includes 20 vendors, multiple workshops, and attracts 200 to 250 visitors each year.
- Maintain database of vendors and potential vendors.
- Maintain database of visitors and potential visitors. Send information packets to vendors by mail and email.
- Organize workshops, update instructors on workshop tickets sold.
- Design and update website (scfiberartfair.com)
- Write promotional updates; send promotional updates by email and on Facebook
- Design promotional brochure.
- Correspond with Illinois Department of Revenue to ensure all vendors have proper paperwork
- Organize volunteers
- Hire helpers
- Handle any problems that may come up during the event day
Database Operator / Blog Writer / Yarn Monkey
Fiber Wild! (Yarn Shop); Galena, IL
July 2011 to October 2017
I started working one day a week in the shop as a Yarn Monkey with a few hours a week from home doing database work and writing the blog. After one year I discontinued working at the shop but continued working a few hours from home each week.
- Yarn Monkey: Gather yarn for shipments, assemble yarn kits, ship orders.
- Import Excel spreadsheets into Campaigner e-mail marketing website.
- Write weekly yarn blog.
- Update calendar of workshops on Visit Galena website
Administrative Assistant
Willett, Hofmann & Associates, Inc. (Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors); Freeport, IL
Gastel & Associates, P.C. (merged with Willett, Hofmann & Associates in October 2005)
April 2004 to July 2011
Both were consulting engineers and land surveyors. I started with Gastel & Associates and continued with Willett, Hofmann & Associates after they purchased Gastel & Associates in 2005.
- Process payroll information, distribute payroll, and maintain database of employee billable hours, vacation and sick time for eight employees.
- Calculate proper payment of all payroll taxes and make timely deposits, including federal, Illinois and Wisconsin taxes.
- Calculate unemployment taxes and make timely deposits.
- Serve as the first contact for clients. Record necessary information and gather relevant files so that Department Head is fully prepared when returning a potential client’s call.
- Create invoices for both lump sum and time & expense jobs. Make deposits when payments are received. Maintain payment log and follow-up on late payers.
- Maintain log of accounts payable. Pay bills timely.
- Design client-specific Statement of Qualifications (SOQ).
- Create job-specific bid documents and specifications.
- Type text to insert in CAD drawings.
- Research land ownership at county courthouse.
- Submit monthly DBE reports for government jobs.
- Balance checking account and maintain checkbook balance.
- Prepare monthly retirement savings report and submit with payment to investment firm.
- Serve as point of contact for business insurance. Submit Certificate of Insurance to clients when requested.
- Coordinate all employee outings and other company activities.
- Maintain company website.
- Type, file, answer four-line telephone system, greet visiting clients, maintain office supply cabinet and other general office duties and miscellaneous items.
Executive Director
Stephenson County Historical Society; Freeport, IL
July 1998 to April 2004
The Historical Society consisted of an Italianate Mansion built in 1858, log cabin (1840s), one-room school house (1910), and a Farm & Industrial Museum.
- Plan programming, special events and exhibits. Arrange for traveling exhibits. Schedule tours for private groups and school groups. Train volunteers to serve as tour guides.
- Research exhibits to ensure accuracy.
- Write grant proposals and apply for funding. When grants are awarded, prepare necessary paperwork, progress reports and final reports.
- Present off-site programs promoting the Historical Society to clubs and organizations.
- Write Newsletter.
- Update Society’s website.
- Work cooperatively with the media. Actively seek positive publicity for the Historical Society.
- Serve as a representative of the Board of Directors on various community committees and programs.
- Prepare an annual budget. Keep records of all Society income and expenses.
- Prepare payroll and pay all associated payroll taxes.
- File work requests for general maintenance.
- Type, file, answer telephone, return correspondence, and other general administrative duties and miscellaneous items.
Business Owner
Pack ‘N’ Post; Freeport, IL
July 1995 to August 2000
- Maintain all company records.
- Plan advertising schedule. Design print advertisements and proof all copy.
- Maintain daily Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable records.
- Prepare all invoices. Pay all payables.
- Order office supplies and re-sale inventory.
- Professionally package customers’ items.
- Hire, train and supervise support staff.