"We've gone from me being over-calendared and over-subscribed to appointments to [L'Tanya] helping me work into having one day a week that is a productivity day. And what that has done for me is — I don't even know if I can measure it really. It's taken so much stress out of my work week because I know that day is protected."
— Cynamon Willis, Executive
The Challenge
Cynamon Willis, an executive at Ambling Properties, found herself in a constant state of reactive chaos. Her calendar was overloaded with no breathing room, and critical tasks were slipping through the cracks.
"My calendar [and] email [were] out of control. Nobody was really managing my days for me and I was always late to meetings. I was missing conference calls or calling in 15 minutes after they started."
The overload wasn't just logistical — it was strategic. With her days consumed by back-to-back commitments, Cynamon had no space to think ahead or focus on the company's long-term direction.
"My calendar was too stacked with no margin and I did not have time to focus on the strategic business goals. I was more responsive than proactive to have time to really focus on what's next or what's ahead of us."
When Cynamon and fellow executive Kevin King realized they were both struggling with the same problems, the need for support became undeniable. On top of their daily challenges, the company had just completed a major capital transaction and was revamping its entire business strategy — making organized, proactive executive support more critical than ever.
The Solution
BELAY matched Ambling Properties with Virtual Assistant L'Tanya Miles, and the partnership clicked almost immediately. Cynamon was struck by how seamless the onboarding felt, even across three busy executives.
"In our opinion, it was a perfect match. I have been very surprised — because the match went so well — how quickly we all started working together. The transition of having L'Tanya taking over these things and helping us implement was not even painful at all."
L'Tanya quickly earned the trust of all three executives — Cynamon, Kevin, and Thompson Gooding — and began managing their calendars in a way that protected both their professional productivity and their personal lives. She also took on research projects, supported recruiting efforts, and handled an expanding range of personal and professional tasks.
"I'm able to guide [each of them] because they're ready to unveil. With each of these executives, it was very easy to make the trust connection. I appreciated that they as executives were able to open up [so that I could] run with it."
That trust grew deep enough that L'Tanya was eventually invited to attend Ambling's annual company meeting in person — a testament to how fully she had become part of the team's day-to-day life.
"She delivers on the things that we ask of her. She cares and she genuinely responds in a manner that you forget that she's a BELAY employee. She's part of the Ambling family."
— Cynamon Willis, ExecutiveThe Impact
The most tangible result of working with L'Tanya was something Cynamon had never experienced in her entire career: a full, protected day each week with no meetings.
"We've gone from me being over-calendared and over-subscribed to appointments to [L'Tanya] helping me work into having one day a week that is a productivity day. And what that has done for me is — I don't even know if I can measure it really. It's taken so much stress out of my work week because I know that day is protected."
Within five months, the Wednesday productivity day had become a cornerstone of Cynamon's week — something she described as previously unthinkable. "That is something that I thought was impossible. L'Tanya helped me get everything lined up to where she found me a day a week."
Beyond the calendar, the impact extended to how Cynamon shows up in every area of her life.
"For me, the win is the relationship and the results of the things we've worked on together that have made all of us better. I'm positioned to be better, not only for the company but for my family because of [L'Tanya]."
Looking ahead, Ambling Properties plans to deepen the partnership. With significant company growth on the horizon, they want L'Tanya to grow alongside them — a clear sign of how fully she has become part of the Ambling family.