Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 4, 1 April 1990 — This capital secretary loves a challenge [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

This capital secretary loves a challenge

By Deborah Lee Ward Common sense, integrity, efficiency and responsibility. These are the pnme characteristics of a top professional secretary, according to Coreene Zablan, named Secretary of the Year for 1990 by the Oahu chapter of Professional Secretaries lnternational. Since 1980 Zablan, the former Coreene Choy, a 1974 graduate of Kamehameha Schools, has worked for state Rep. and Bishop Estate trustee Henry Peters. A former cruise attendant aboard the Aikane Catamarans, working for Rudy Choy (no relation), Zablan made her career change when she wanted to do something different, and spend more time with her husband and daughter. However, she found her responsibilities and demand on her time grew as she moved from receptionist, to a position as personal secretary. "It's not a 9 to 5 job," she says, adding "I love my job." Zablan finds her most challenging responsibility is learning how to deal with many kinds of people that eall or visit her boss, a public figure with a large constituency. Though not originally trained as a secretary, Zablan leamed on the job and has continued to take classes at Cannon's Business College. She views education as a continuing aid in professional development. Her studies are helping her to attain her goal to be a certified professional secretary, a rating whieh ean be obtained by passing a two-day, 12 hour series of six exams in business law, office technology, office administration, accounting, psychology, human relations, economics and management. Her long-term goal is to obtain her

degree in secretarial science to enhanee her posi tion by being better prepared for a changing work environment. According to PSI Hawai'i division presidentelect Gladys Rodenhurst, Professional Secretaries International is an organization dedicated to professional development of secretaries through education and public service. It reflects the growing recognition of the professional secretary. PS1 has approximately 400 members in Hawaii, 38,000 nationally, and 40,000 internationally. Nam Snow, government and regulatory affairs manager for Bishop Estate, praised Zablan for her strong memory recall, especially for figures, and her "super organization" whieh helps her stay on top of work tasks and priorities. Zablan will represent the Oahu chapter at a meeting next month on Maui of all PSI chapters in Hawai'i, and compete with other chapter secretary nominees for the Hawai'i division title. Division finalists in eaeh regional district will be rated by education and experience, and district winners will to to the international convention in July. Last year Colette Takemoto of the No Ka Oi chapter on Maui won in the southwestdistrictcompetition and made it to the international convention. Zablan is treasurer of the Oahu chapter of PSI. She joined PSI in 1987. Officers of the chapter for 1989-1990 are: Aulani Ahmad, president: Barbara Van Dine, president-elect; Gwen Joseph, vicepresident; Dot Uehima, secretary; Darryl Jean Shimizu, immediate past president. Zablan is the da> 'ghter of the late Cornelius and Eleanor Choy of the Big Island. She is married to

Robert Zablan. Daughter Shannon, 12, attends Kamehameha Schools. During the legislative session Zablan's work keeps her very busy. At other times she enjoys traveling. Her recommendation to anyone considering a career as a professional secretary is: "It's a really great job. Good secretaries are hard to find. A top secretary must be up on her training, especially with the rapid changesin technology today. The biggest asset is to have good eommon sense. Training is also important — focus on it in a positive way."

Coreene Zablan