Public relations officer at the St Ann Parish Council, Kaydian Harty was selected on Sunday as the top Jamaica Association of Administrative Professionals (JAAP) professional for 2016/2017.
With JAAP having branches in five parishes it was expected that five contestants would have been in the finals, however, only three were present at the Bay View Eco Resort in Port Antonio to face the panel of judges.
"It is a win that the St Ann Parish Council should rightly claim because they have groomed me into the professional that I am; so this is not for me, this is for the St Ann Parish Council," a beaming yet humble Harty told Rural Xpress on Tuesday.
It is another straw in the young professional's hat, having being crowned Miss Jamaica Teen in 2003 while attending Iona High School.
The win means a lot to Harty but, according to her, it would not have been possible without the backing of those at her workplace.
"I'd like to speak from an organisational perspective, as an employee of the St Ann Parish Council," said the University of the West Indies graduate. "I like to call myself a parish council baby - I did my internship at the St Ann Parish Council, I was the PR intern in 2011 under the tutelage of the now secretary manager, then director of administration, Miss Claudia Carter and I had an excellent internship; it was really a chance to grow."
A bit sceptical at first, Harty nevertheless decided to enter the competition and was duly selected as winner for St Ann.
"I was sceptical because I think I am still growing as a professional, but like my boss (Carter) said, 'you're a work in progress and not because you're a work in progress means you don't have something to offer, and doesn't mean you're not doing something good that you should be recognised for.' "
This encouragement served as motivation beyond the parish finals and into the national finals.
But nothing quite prepares a contestant to emerge on top, and winning is always something special. So when she was announced winner:
"I was shocked," Harty conceded. "When they announced the second runner up there were just two of us left and I was still thinking maybe it's not me. When it came time for them to announce the winner everybody shouted 'St Ann!' so I guess everybody wanted St Ann to win and saw that St Ann was deserving of being the winner. And that kind of made me feel good. I was overwhelmed and humbled at the same time and I am of course very happy that I could take home the title to St Ann and more specifically to the St Ann Parish Council," said Harty.
For the year, Harty will fulfil her duties as stipulated by the JAAP. For her, personally, she wants to help others.
"I want to assist other administrative assistants and administrative professionals to become more rounded individuals. I want to concentrate on personal development because if you develop yourself and you're comfortable with who you are, then that increases productivity in the workplace."
For her victory, Harty received several prizes including w weekend for two at Royalton hotel in Trelawny and six months Gleaner subscription.