1. Shelly L. Novakowski
7127 Youngstown Avenue
Hudsonville, MI 49426
616-745-0961
s.novakowski@att.net
Skill Summary
Compliance/Institutional Review Board ▪ Office Manager ▪ Project Planner/Coordinator
Senior Executive Assistant ▪ Administrative Management ▪ Meeting Planner/Coordinator
Budget ▪ Public Relations/Communications ▪ Goal Setting/Implementation
Career Highlights
2010-2013 Compliance Specialist I
Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI
Reported to the Director of Compliance. Served as coordinator of the Institutional Review Board
(IRB) and back-up coordinator of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC); pre-
reviewed protocols and made recommendations regarding compliance issues relating to the IRB.
Assisted in coordinating internal compliance monitoring and auditing activities; assisted in
conducting periodic risk assessments and identified potential areas of compliance vulnerability
and risk. Provided administrative support to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) chair and IRB.
Responsible for ensuring all IRB and Federal-Wide Assurance registration documents were
current. Assisted in the development and implementation of human subjects standard operating
procedures (SOPs) and electronic protocol submission tracking system.
2001-2010 Senior Administrative Assistant
Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI
Reported to the Director of Research Administration. Provided additional administrative support
to the Director of the Van Andel Research Institute and Office of the Director. Responsible for
coordinating laboratory site visits and annual scientific retreats. Scheduled Principal Investigator
(PI) staff meetings, recorded and transcribed minutes for these meeting and other meetings as
requested. Assisted with coordinating annual scientific report. Provided administrative support
to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) chair and IRB. Pre-reviewed protocols submitted by PIs,
drafted approval letters for the chair, handled communications between the chair, IRB members,
and PIs, scheduled IRB meetings, reviews, maintained files of IRB protocols and board member
appointments. Responsible for ensuring all IRB and Federal-Wide Assurance registration
documents were current.
1996-2000 Executive Assistant
Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Omaha, NE
Reported to the Executive Vice President. Provided administrative support to the Executive Vice
President and President. Responsible for coordinating Board of Trustee meetings, recording
minutes and maintaining permanent Board records. Responsible for coordinating Future Trust
Board meetings and other executive meetings. Extensive interaction with senior executives on
the Board of Directors, Governor’s office and other legislative office, chamber members and
community organizations. Initiated appropriate responses to inquiries and work requests in
absence of executives, scheduled calendars and travel arrangements.

2. Shelly L. Novakowski
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1995-1996 Office Manager/Executive Secretary
Drake Extrusion, Inc., Ridgeway, VA
Reported to the Chief Executive Officer. Provided administrative support to the CEO and senior
management staff. Responsible for setting up business office systems in the new U.S.
headquarters and plant operations for a British firm, Readicut International PLC. Established
administrative procedures and office filing system. Coordinated proposal requests for office and
facility telephone system and computers, selected office equipment, designed and selected
stationary and business forms. Responsible for administration of employee benefits program.
Planned and coordinated grand opening and dedication events for the new facility. Governor of
Virginia was keynote speaker.
1993-1995 Senior Secretary
Virginia Museum of Natural History, Martinsville, VA
Reported to the Director of Research and Collections. Provided administrative support to the
Director and six curators. Extensive contact with curators’ professional colleagues on a national
and international level. Responsible for preparing educational and scientific manuscripts,
published in-house newsletter, coordinated meetings, recorded and transcribed minutes,
prepared department budgets, department purchasing, scheduled travel plans. Established new
comprehensive filing system and assisted the Director in the development of an inter-library loan
system between colleges and the museum. Supervised and trained volunteers.
1991-1993 Administrative Assistant and Employment Coordinator
AmeriStaff Companies, Inc., Martinsville, VA
Reported to the Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Provided administrative support to
the Senior Vice President and Office Manager. Interviewed and placed job applicants for
temporary and permanent positions. Responsible for recruiting temporary employees for largest
corporate account (200-300 employees annually). Compiled data for payroll and government
agencies. Developed and implemented administrative policies and procedures for office.
Supervised and trained new employees.
1987-1989 Project Coordinator
Herman Miller, Inc., Zeeland, MI
Reported to the Director of System Sales and National Sales Manager. Provided administrative
support to the Technical Sales Group. Prepared department budgets and reported results of
expenditures to executive management. Developed sales aids and program materials for field
sales. Coordinated distributor and sales force conferences. Researched and prepared
information for five government General Services Administration (GSA) contracts and price lists.
Supervised and trained clerical assistants.
1984-1987 Executive Secretary
Butterworth Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI
Reported to the President. Coordinated all Board of Trustee meetings and other corporate
meetings. Extensive interaction with all levels of management and medical staff. Prepared
executive department budget. Coordinated and maintained all hospital contributions,
memorials, art collection and other special projects. Developed informational program for
executive support staff. Supervised and trained clerical assistants.

3. Shelly L. Novakowski
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1981-1984 Executive Secretary
Northern Michigan Hospitals, Petoskey, MI
Reported to the President and Vice President of Marketing and Development. Coordinated and
recorded all Board of Trustee meetings and various department meetings between executive
offices and medical staff. Coordinated and assisted in development and marketing research
projects. Served as liaison between executive legal counsel and hospital staff concerning patient
lawsuits. Updated and coordinated hospital and medical staff bylaws and administrative policies.
1976-1981 Marketing Staff Assistant
Rapistan Division/LSI, Grand Rapids, MI
Reported to the Marketing Manager. Coordinated advertising materials with advertising
agencies, publishers and participated in planning marketing research projects. Coordinated trade
shows and exhibits. Prepared marketing and advertising materials for national and international
sales teams.
Executive Secretary
Reported to the Director and Marketing Director for The Technics Group. Provided
administrative support to a staff of 16 consultants on national and international level.
Responsible for coordinating and producing proposals and compiled data for monthly client
billing. Participated in trade shows. Supervised and trained clerical assistants.
Education
Patrick Henry Community College
Martinsville, VA
Humboldt Institute
Minneapolis, MN
Hart High School
Hart, MI
Additional Study
Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R), IRB 101 & 202
Human Resource Management (SHRM), Pacific Institute
Microsoft Office, MS Outlook, Excel, Access, Power Point, Topaz