Catherine Shaw
La Mesa,CA
Summary
Highly trusted Executive Business Partner and CEO Assistant with extensive experience serving as the right hand to founders and executive leadership in fast-paced, high-growth environments. I don't simply manage a CEO's administrative workload; I learn the business around the CEO to anticipate needs, protect priorities, and help leadership operate at its best. Experienced in complex calendar and travel management, executive communications, strategic projects, VIP and stakeholder relations, events, and confidential business matters. Seasoned in developing and maintaining centralized project tracking systems to ensure executive commitments, deadlines, and follow-up items are at the forefront. Known for exceptional discretion, sound judgment, relationship building, and autonomous execution while representing leadership with professionalism and integrity.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Development & Office Manager
CRAFTSMAN PLUMBING
08.2025 - Current
- Serve as a strategic operational partner to executive leadership, supporting business planning, operational decision-making, and organizational priorities.
- Partner with executive leadership to build and scale a brand-new service business by strengthening operations, implementing business systems, onboarding and developing the infrastructure necessary to support long-term growth and organizational excellence.
- Oversaw day-to-day business operations and employees, including scheduling, customer communications, technician coordination, vendor management, invoicing, AP/AR, bookkeeping, payroll administration, and operational reporting.
- Implemented standardized business processes, policies, employee handbook updates, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enhance accountability, efficiency, and scalability.
- Utilize QuickBooks, ServiceTitan, and Gusto to streamline financial and operational workflows.
- Coordinate office administration, onboarding, purchasing, workers' compensation reporting, and vendor relationships.
- Supported marketing initiatives, managed Google Business Profile, and enhanced customer experience.
- Build organized systems that enable sustainable business growth while serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership.
- BNI member and networking partner
Executive Business Partner to the Managing Member
FOUNDERS EQUITY
04.2024 - 08.2025
- Functioned as the strategic operational partner and trusted Executive Assistant to the Managing Member.
- Onboarded to establish Founder's Equity in the Private Equity/Search Fund sector by supporting executive leadership in business and personal needs, investment initiatives, operational excellence, and organizational growth.
- Managed the business acquisition and venture search
- Coordinated sourcing activities, managed deal flow, supported transactions, conducted due diligence, performed market research, and prepared executive reports to streamline decision-making.
- Gatekeeper allowing personal and business matters/time to be respected and honored.
- Managed executive priorities across multiple companies and personal needs by coordinating strategic initiatives, complex calendars, travel, executive communications, and confidential business matters.
- Protected executive focus by anticipating competing priorities, resolving scheduling conflicts, and enabling leadership to focus on high-value business initiatives.
- Oversaw accounts payable, accounts receivable, expense management, purchase orders, invoicing, bookkeeping support, and financial documentation.
- Led vendor sourcing, contract coordination, procurement, and stakeholder relationship management.
- Built scalable operational workflows, electronic filing systems, documentation standards, and business processes that increased organizational efficiency.
- Planned and executed executive meetings, investor events, board materials, off-site meetings, and business functions, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
- Served as the communication hub between executives, investors, attorneys, consultants, portfolio companies, and vendors while maintaining absolute confidentiality.
- Acted as an extension of executive leadership by exercising sound judgment, anticipating needs, solving complex operational challenges, and independently driving projects forward.
- Transitioned from Founder's Equity to starting and building Craftsman Plumbing.
Executive Assistant / Care Coordinator
Acru Health Precision Chiropractic
San Diego, USA
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Coordinated patient operations and optimized office workflows for physicians and executive leadership in fast-paced healthcare practice, managing scheduling and developing policies and procedures to enhance patient care and community outreach.
- Client intake, diagnostic scanning and health experience interviews.
- Managed social media content and creation, slide show presentations, and customer testimonials.
Founder & Wellness Coach
FemFit Life Wellness
San Diego, USA
01.2009 - 01.2023
- Founded and operated a successful wellness business, overseeing strategic planning, business operations, marketing, budgeting, client experience, and program development while building a loyal client base and managing all aspects of day-to-day operations.
Personal Assistant to the President
Yeiser Research & Development
El Cajon, USA
02.2013 - 07.2014
- Served as a trusted partner to the President by coordinating executive communications, product launches, recruiting initiatives, vendor relationships, marketing projects, executive travel, and strategic business initiatives.
- High level confidentiality as Personal Assistant managing personal/family duties, errands, schedule, travel and communications.
Executive Assistant / Office Manager
Soitec
San Diego, USA
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Supported the executive leadership and the Business Development team during a period of rapid (international) organizational growth by managing executive operations
- Onboarding and creation of office policies and procedures.
- Domestic & international travel, board and leadership meetings, large-scale stakeholder events, marketing, trade show management, vendor coordination, and office administration.
- Liaison between international headquarters for all business functions.
Senior Administrative Assistant / Training Coordinator
LPL Financial
San Diego, USA
01.2003 - 01.2009
- Executive Assistant to the SVP of Training and Development
- Former Executive Admin to the VP of Advisor Training
- Oversaw enterprise-wide training logistics for about 3,000 employees, managing executive reporting, WebEx administration, corporate training programs, conferences, and cross-functional communication.
- Calendaring, travel, trade shows, and large-scale conferences.
- Managed internal Management Training requirements, sessions and attendance.
Education
General Studies
Cuyamaca College
El Cajon, CASponsorships & Social Media
Mission Trails Little League
Board Member Animal Rescue Volunteer
The Animal Pad
Fundraising Volunteer
Make-A-Wish San Diego
Event CoordinatorEvents & Marketing Committee Member
San Diego Center For Children
Skills
- Strategic Executive Partnership
- Business Operations Administration
- VIP Relations & Hospitality
- Gatekeeping & Executive Liaison
- Project Management
- Executive Calendar & Priority Management
- Networking Event & Philanthropic Coordination
- Community Engagement Events Communications
- AI & Productivity Tools
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Vendor & Stakeholder Management
- Board & Committee Coordination
- Policy & SOP Improvement & Development
- Executive Communications Presentations
- Relationship Building Problem Solving
- Staff & Workflow Management
- Confidentiality & Discretion
- Reporting & Workflow Management
- Trusted Decision-Maker & Autonomous Execution
- Executive Travel & Itinerary Management
Technology And Business Systems
Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) • Google Workspace • Microsoft Teams • SharePoint • Asana • Zoom • QuickBooks • Gusto • CRM Systems • Adobe Acrobat • DocuSign • Canva • Dropbox • Digital Document Management • Calendar & Scheduling Systems • AI & Productivity Tools
Timeline
Business Development & Office Manager
CRAFTSMAN PLUMBING
08.2025 - Current
Executive Business Partner to the Managing Member
FOUNDERS EQUITY
04.2024 - 08.2025
Executive Assistant / Care Coordinator
Acru Health Precision Chiropractic
01.2022 - 01.2024
Personal Assistant to the President
Yeiser Research & Development
02.2013 - 07.2014
Executive Assistant / Office Manager
Soitec
01.2010 - 01.2013
Founder & Wellness Coach
FemFit Life Wellness
01.2009 - 01.2023
Senior Administrative Assistant / Training Coordinator
LPL Financial
01.2003 - 01.2009
General Studies
Cuyamaca College
Sponsorships & Social Media
Mission Trails Little League
Animal Rescue Volunteer
The Animal Pad
Fundraising Volunteer
Make-A-Wish San Diego
Events & Marketing Committee Member
San Diego Center For Children