"I would not have attempted that, [or] wouldn't have even applied, had it not been for [Jme's help]. Bandwidth-wise, I don't think I mentally would've thought I had the time to do it. And in reality, I wouldn't have been able to free up enough time."
— Clay Morgan, Executive Director
The Challenge
Clay Morgan had spent a decade as Executive Director of BNI Middle Tennessee, Kentucky, and Southern Indiana — one of the most demanding regional leadership roles in the world's largest referral networking organization — without any dedicated administrative support. As his responsibilities grew, so did the nagging sense that things were slipping through the cracks.
Despite recognizing the need for help, Clay hesitated. He wasn't sure whether his workload truly justified the investment in an executive assistant, and having never managed a virtual assistant before, he was uncertain whether he could execute the process effectively.
"I knew I wanted help, but did I have enough work to really justify having an executive assistant?"
After completing BELAY's intake surveys and self-assessments, Clay arrived at a candid realization:
"I realized I probably had been delaying what I needed to do for about three or four years if I was being totally honest with myself."What he needed most was a partner who could guide him through an unfamiliar process, provide a vetted pool of candidates, and offer reassurance that if the relationship wasn't the right fit, he wouldn't be left without recourse. As Clay put it, BELAY was, as a package, very reassuring to him.
The Solution
BELAY matched Clay with Virtual Assistant Jme Medina, who quickly became a cornerstone of his daily operations. Jme took ownership of calendar management and communications — providing the extra set of eyes Clay needed to stay on top of a schedule that was constantly evolving.
"Being a small business owner, you wear a lot of hats and even if you wear them well, there's a constant feeling in the back of your mind that something is slipping through the cracks... I [enjoy] having an extra set of eyes on my calendar and on my communications."
The partnership was built on structured, consistent communication. Clay and Jme established regular check-ins for quick alignment and a weekly deep-dive strategy meeting to get below the surface and refine how they worked together. This rhythm gave both parties the clarity and momentum to keep improving.
"Having my assistant be someone who thinks [about] people first and also communicates from both a direct but a very supportive kind of frame of reference, and uses that kind of positive language was key for me."
"There are so many things to be done in business, and as a small business owner, if you're so busy trying to do all the things that you have to do to make your business successful, that is going to leave only so much time, if any, to be able to work on growing your business."
— Clay Morgan, Executive DirectorThe Impact
The impact of working with Jme went far beyond task management. With administrative burdens lifted, Clay gained something he hadn't had in years: genuine mental bandwidth. That space led to a milestone he described as something he never would have pursued otherwise — he applied to and was accepted into an MBA program at the University of North Carolina.
"I would not have attempted that, [or] wouldn't have even applied, had it not been for [Jme's help]. Bandwidth-wise, I don't think I mentally would've thought I had the time to do it. And in reality, I wouldn't have been able to free up enough time."
Jme also introduced new approaches to email management and file organization that streamlined Clay's internal processes in ways he hadn't anticipated. Most importantly, Clay was able to reallocate his time toward revenue-generating activities — shifting his focus from keeping up with the day-to-day to actively driving business growth.
"BELAY has helped me focus in on my growth strategy by giving me back the time to focus on growth."