Executive Leadership Support Forum: Dallas: Speaker Interview

Susan Palmgren
Executive Assistant to VP-CTO
Tenet Healthcare

Susan Palmgren is the Executive Administrative Assistant in the Tenet Healthcare Information Systems Department. She has more than 35 years’ experience in executive support.

Susan, 56, joined Tenet in March 1998 and is responsible for executive support to the Vice President/Chief Technology Officer at Tenet Healthcare. In 2004, she accepted the opportunity to lead the Tenet Office Professionals group which is made up of approximately 50 administrative staff. The objective is to assist members in the continuing development of administrative skills and professional growth. Tenet Office Professionals provide the members with new employee orientation, mentoring, an on-line resource guide and group educational sessions. Prior to joining Tenet, she supported the Managing Director and General Partner of JHM Enterprises and JM Executive Alliance. She was responsible for coordinating the due diligence for their clients prior to their IPO. During her ten plus years at Black and Veatch Engineers, she provided administrative support for two Partners, as well as, the liaison and trainer to five regional offices on their project forecasting, tracking and invoicing system.

Susan graduated from Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kansas. Her interests include supporting City House in Frisco, Texas; Alzheimer’s Association, Girls Scouts of America and is a member of Stonebriar Country Club and serves as the Co-chair on the Entertainment committee.

Susan will be one of the distinguished executive assistant contributors at the Executive Leadership Support Forum: Dallas.

Why is the Executive Leadership Support Forum important for executive assistants?
To network with peers and learn how to advance yourself in your career.

Tell us about a career accomplishment of which you’re particularly proud.
In 2004, I accepted the opportunity to lead the Tenet Office Professionals group which is made up of approximately 50 administrative staff. The objective is to assist members in the continuing development of administrative skills and professional growth. Tenet Office Professionals provides the members with new employee orientation, mentoring, an on-line resource guide and group educational sessions.

In your mind, what is one tool you can’t live without or find especially helpful in your position?
Adobe Sign – – makes it faster and easier than ever to securely sign and manage documents across devices. Having this e-sign solution makes it easy to prepare, send, track and manage any document I need signed. The document can be signed from an iPhone, laptop, iPad….. It has been approved by our compliance and legal departments which expedites our documents no matter if you are in a meeting, near a fax machine or printer. No more print – sign – scan – – all electronic.

How do you define success within your role as an executive assistant?
Loving your job and knowing that your manager is there to support you and offer you advice when needed. Having a good relationship with your manager for the past 20 years is my way defining SUCCESS!