About Mika

Making Things Happen for Solopreneurs Since 2008

If you are looking for a partner who can:

strategize with you to market your business online
free you up from the technology and administrative overwhelm
manage and implement your projects
develop and manage websites and more

…then you have come to the right place.

Mika Howard is committed to guiding busy, purpose-driven solopreneurs to achieve business growth without being bogged down by technology challenges and the latest marketing strategy trends.

With 25+ years of experience working as an administrative and project coordination professional, her mission is to help you make things happen by providing support in various aspects of marketing and technology so that YOU can focus on your genius. Mika’s expertise as a tech-savvy VA includes WordPress and HTML websites, various email marketing programs, Infusionsoft, 1ShoppingCart, social media, digital publishing, database management, and strategies to use these tools to get results.

Your Expertise + My Technology/Marketing Savvy = Infinite Possibility

How I became a VA

Owning a Virtual Assistance practice and working as a Virtual Assistant is a dream come true for me. While I was in the corporate world, I always loved taking care of the administrative work, utilizing my organizational, technical, and management skills. But as the time went by, the downside of the corporate world gradually started affecting my personal outlook. As I started seeing more value in quality life, it became so clear that working for a company would not allow me the flexibility to achieve the quality of life that I most wanted. And I was too entrepreneurial to fit in a corporate box for the rest of my life… I needed to embark on a journey to open a new door in my life.

Then, I was naturally drawn to the Virtual Assistance profession. The more I learned about it, the more I felt that I was meant to be a VA. An exceptional VA.

I have completed the renowned 20-week rigorous VA training course with Assist University (“AssistU”). (If any of you reading this are interested in becoming a VA, I strongly recommend to check out AssistU’s VA training program.) Now I am so proud to call myself a Virtual Assistant.

My business name “MTH Virtual Assistance” stands for what I am (my initials) and for what I do (Making Things Happen for my clients). It came to me one day out of nowhere, and I instantly decided that it’s the perfect name!

My current clients are in various industries, but they all have one thing in common: their passion toward their work. They are all exceptionally talented in their fields, and turned to me for help to create more time so that they could do more of what they truly love to do. I genuinely enjoy being a part of their businesses and working towards their goals together.

Can you tell how much I love being a Virtual Assistant?

My Background

General

Born and raised in Japan. I communicate fluently in both English and Japanese.
I also lived in Tallahassee, Florida for 1 year as a student at Florida State University, and in Toronto, Canada for 7 years.
Have been residing in Orange County, California for about 20 years now, surrounded by 4 guys that I absolutely adore (husband and three sons).

Education

B.A. in English from Dokkyo University, Japan
Have taken interpersonal/non-verbal communication classes at Florida State University
Completed Marketing and Direct Marketing programs offered by University of Toronto, Canada
Completed and successfully graduated from AssistU’s Virtual Training Program
Attended various professional seminars/training programs including:
- ONTRAPORT Certification Course
- Online Success Blueprint System and Coaching Business Intensive by Ali Brown
- Techie VA’s Expert Infusionsoft Class
- Tame the Internet Monster’s 1ShoppingCart Class
- AssistU Grad Classes and Internship Program
- American Management Association‘s Project Management Course
- American Management Association‘s Debit & Credit Course
- Franklin Covey‘s Achieving Your Highest Priorities Workshop
- Writing Policies & Procedures
- Effective Communication
- Various PC applications

Work Experience

In Japan, Canada, and US.
20-years experience in corporate executive/administrative assistant and various coordinator positions. The titles I held in the past include Executive Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Recruiter, Project Coordinator, Marketing & Media Relations Coordinator, and Production Coordinator.
Have worked in a variety of industries ranging from Information Technology to Marketing, to Service, to Legal, and to Building Product Manufacturing. Yes, I am versatile and adapt easily in a record time!

Interests

Spending time with my family (husband of 15+ years & 3 teenager/tweener sons) tops the list! We enjoy family walk, going to parks, playing games, and simply talking & laughing together.

I enjoyed frequent traveling while I was single. Now, with a bigger family, we do not travel often. But we do try to plan out-of-state trips whenever possible to visit our extended family members.

I totally love Yoga, especially Ashtanga. It not only charges me up with energy, but also helps me to focus, breathe deep, and be centered.

Reading is another thing I enjoy. Love getting those Aha! moments from great reads.