While mostly behind the scenes, assistants keep offices humming

It's good to be the boss.

You get to make all the rules, work when you want and choose the tasks you want to do, at least in theory. But not everyone can be in charge, as most of us know.

Someone has to do the things the boss doesn't, with those particular duties often falling on the unsung heroes of the working world: the assistant. Nearly every profession has one: doctors, lawyers, dentists, teachers, late-night talk show hosts.

We talked to seven assistants in various fields about their jobs and why they do them. All of them said their work is satisfying and meaningful.

VETERINARY ASSISTANT

Who: Autumn Jones, 34

Title: Licensed veterinarian technician. Some states call them veterinary nurses. While veterinarians do diagnosis, surgery and prescribing medications, technicians do most of the rest, such as taking X-rays, drawing blood and measuring vital signs. Jones received a bachelor's degree in animal science from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1997, so she was able to take a licensing exam with no further study. The usual licensing path requires completion of two years in an accredited veterinary technician program.

Where: Desert Inn Animal Hospital, 3065 E. Desert Inn Road, for the past 12 years. "I've worked in animal hospitals since I was 16. I started in the kennel."

Did she ever want to be a veterinarian? "My goal was originally to become a veterinarian," she said. "But I realized the reason I love my job as a technician is because of the time I spend with the animals. Vets spend a lot less time with them." Doctors get paid more, but they also tend to have more student debt, something that Jones found unappealing.

Average salary: $29,850 nationally; $33,180 in Nevada

Challenges: "The really sick case that comes in and you know there's nothing you can do."

Rewards: Healing sick animals. "The most rewarding part is when you get to see the bond between pet and owner."

DENTAL ASSISTANT

Who: Laura Simpson, 34

Title: Certified dental assistant, often confused with dental hygienists who clean teeth. A dental assistant can do a variety of things, from sitting chairside with the dentist to being an X-ray technician. Simpson assists with procedures and coordinates patient treatment plans. First certified in California after attending a six-month course 14 years ago. A friend inspired Simpson to become a dental assistant. "It was quick (training) and something I could do anywhere no matter where I traveled."

Where: Dr. James J. White's dental office, 1140 N. Town Center Drive

Average salary: $33,170 nationally; $34,320 in Nevada

Did she ever want to be a dentist? No.

Challenges: People who have had bad experiences at the dentist. "Dentistry is easy," she said. "Everyone walks through that door thinking you're this evil person. It's just a matter of getting that believability, likability and trust with patients."

Rewards: "Being able to help patients get what they want to be happy and healthy." She also enjoys the variety. "It's an interesting field, if you're not comfortable doing one thing, you could slide into a different position."

TEACHING ASSISTANT

Who: Ranae O'Connell, 61

Title: Teacher's aide

Where: Faiss Middle School, 9525 W. Maule Ave., in a severe learning disabled classroom for the past three years. O'Connell had a short training period where she learned about autism and how to assist special needs and wheelchair-bound students. She doesn't have a degree. O'Connell felt she has a lot to offer as a teacher's aide. She home-schooled some of her nine children, who are now grown.

Average salary: $23,560 nationally; $27,880 in Nevada

Did she ever want to be a teacher? If she were younger, she might consider going to college for a teaching degree. "I just love working with children," O'Connell said. She spends her time helping students read, escorting them to other classes and assisting them with personal needs. In her off time, her 26 grandchildren keep her busy.

Challenges: None.

Rewards: The relationships she has forged with teachers and school administrators, as well as helping the children. "It's very rewarding and enjoyable work. Children keep you young."

LAWYER'S ASSISTANT

Who: Susan Russo, 55

Title: Litigation assistant (formerly called a legal secretary). Often confused with paralegal or legal assistant. Russo assists two attorneys by scheduling their various court dates, client meetings, depositions and other appointments. She also files documents with the court or opposing counsel. She handles a lot of correspondence, mostly by e-mail. Also tracks attorney time records for billing purposes. The Internet has streamlined her job; when Russo started, she had to cut and paste documents with real scissors and paste.

Where: Bailey Kennedy Law firm, 8984 Spanish Ridge Ave. Russo started out 33 years ago as a legal secretary, the past 23 of them in Las Vegas. She attended two years of college and acquired specialized knowledge on the job. Certification programs are available but not always necessary, depending on the law firm.

Average salary: $41,640 nationally; no information for Nevada

Did she ever want to be an attorney? "I never wanted to be an attorney, I've seen the long, hard hours they put in and I didn't want to do that," Russo said.

Challenges: Tackling all that e-mail.

Rewards: Every day is a little different. "The cases we take are interesting and the people that I work with are fabulous. You couldn't get a better group of people; we have lunch every day in the conference room and go out to lunch on Fridays."

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Who: Linda Button, 58

Title: Executive assistant (secretary) for the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer and then "whoever needs me." Button took shorthand in school but never used it. There are programs that offer executive assistant certificates, but training requirements vary by employer. Button makes appointments, occasionally does correspondence and oversees the telephone system staff. She also handles employees' profit sharing and acts as a buffer between customers and the bosses sometimes. Talks to about 70 people every day and they all want something different.

Where: El Cortez, 600 Fremont St., where she has been for 36 years.

Average salary: $42,340 nationally; $43,270 in Nevada

Did she ever want to be the boss? No. "When I was young, everybody I knew wanted to get married. That didn't always work out, so you had to have something to fall back on."

Challenges: Juggling the requests of dozens of people.

Rewards: Helping others. She likes the consistency of her job.

CHIROPRACTOR'S ASSISTANT

Who: Ezequiel "Cleo" Hernandez, 46

Title: Chiropractor's assistant. CAs must be certified in Nevada. Hernandez studied anatomy, X-rays and treatment modalities before taking his exam. He does muscle therapy, stretching and procedures other than diagnosing and adjustments. It takes six to 12 months to become certified.

Where: Nicola Chiropractic, 1049 S. Rainbow Blvd., for the past two years. Hernandez was in retail for 23 years before leaving his job to become a chiropractor's assistant.

Average salary: $41,000 nationally; no information for Nevada

Does he want to be a chiropractor? No, but Hernandez does want to be a physical therapist. He plans to attend a university program, which will take about five years to complete.

Challenges: Balancing school with work.

Rewards: "Seeing people who come in hurt leave feeling better. It's one of the best jobs I've had working with people. Here, you get to see the true person; it's a whole different way of looking at people."

GRADUATE ASSISTANT

Who: Alex Moore, 24

Title: Graduate assistant. Their duties vary depending on the area of study and the university, but they usually assist professors with teaching, grading, research and other duties. Moore helps conduct the research of his adviser while also working on math cognition research for his doctorate. He also does the grading and holds office hours for a professor's basic statistics course.

Where: University of Nevada, Las Vegas psychology department

Average salary: $31,710 nationally; no information for Nevada

Does he want to be a professor? Yes.

Challenges: Getting by on a graduate assistant salary for the years it takes to complete a Ph.D. and also, juggling research duties. "It's not the most lavish life but it's manageable. I'm paid enough to pay my bills and go have a good time sometimes."

Rewards: Being able to conduct research in his areas of interest.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.