About Us
“You don't need anybody's permission to grow but your own.”
Sunny Nunan,
Co-Founder of The Beacon Institute and Admin Awards
Founded in 2012, the Admin Awards became the first program in the world to publicly celebrate the incredible achievements of Administrative Professionals. Inspired by my mother, who retired from the profession just shy of her 80th birthday, today the Admin Awards is the Administrative Profession's highest honor and operates across multiple U.S. cities.
Through this journey, we've spent countless hours listening to Admins— your aspirations, great ideas and yes, frustrations. These conversations inspired our 'advocacy backed by action' commitment by responding to your needs through events, surveys, reports, and actionable insights, always aiming to advance the profession.
Recognizing the progress made and the challenges that still lie ahead, we felt compelled to combine recognition with leadership development, advocacy, and community-building—empowering high-achieving Admins to thrive in roles that often feel isolating.
The Beacon Institute is our answer to these needs—a platform inspired by the Admins we serve, amplifying your voices and driving the evolution of this essential profession, just as the Admin Awards redefined what it meant to be behind the scenes, but not invisible through public recognition.
The Beacon Institute’s
Founding Principles
Principle 1
Every Member Belongs Here
Administrative Professionals have been excluded from too much for far too long. Beacon is a place where everyone belongs. Our strength comes from our mixed experiences, unique backgrounds and diversity of thought. This means no one is ever excluded or treated poorly because of their race, gender, sexual orientation or where they are on their career path.
Principle 2
Kaizen
We, as lifelong learners united by Beacon, strive for meaningful personal and professional development. We draw inspiration from Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of constant improvement. To achieve this, we understand that genuine growth occurs when we embrace unfamiliar ideas, information and perspectives. This requires maintaining an open mind, even when our existing beliefs are challenged, as it's through this challenge that we truly evolve and transform.
Principle 3
Confidentiality
Nobody understands the need for confidentiality more than Administrative Professionals. Discretion and extreme confidentiality is inherent and critical to the profession. Within Beacon, members are expected to uphold this virtue during all interactions, fostering trust and discretion at all times.
Principle 4
Let’s Have Some Fun!
At Beacon, we wholeheartedly believe that life is meant to be lived to the fullest. We understand that amidst the demands of work and learning, it's essential to take a step back, let loose, and have some fun! Beyond being a platform for education and community, Beacon is a refuge where camaraderie thrives, shared experiences flourish, and joy fills the air.
Principle 5
Commitment & Deliberate Practice
True growth thrives on intentional effort and focused priorities. Your Beacon journey mirrors your investment. Structured to streamline high-value networking, elevate learning, and enlightenment, it’s critical that you commit to active engagement. Attending live events, engaging in discussion with fellow Beacon members, sharing resources and asking for help are all critical to getting the most out of your Beacon experience.
Meet The Team
Sunny Nunan
Founder at Beacon and Admin Awards
Sunny Nunan is the Founder and CEO of the Admin Awards, the first public recognition program in the world for Administrative Professionals created in 2012 which was inspired by her Mother, a career Executive Secretary. She is also the proud Co-Founder of Beacon. Sunny is a first-generation college graduate of the University of North Texas.
Sunny is a recipient of the WINGS YMCA Award for her passion for servant leadership and serving women in the workplace, and was awarded the Entrepreneurs for North Texas North Star Award for her years of service as Chairperson of Freedom Day, a post 911 service day initiative. Sunny’s background is in sales and marketing for Epsilon, Royal Caribbean, DCEO Magazine and her first entrepreneurial venture, Core24 which she dissolved after 9 years to focus exclusively on her greatest passion, serving Administrative Professionals. She is the proud wife of Ben Nunan, mother of 2 awesome kids Sydney and Scout and three Border Collies.
Ben Nunan
Co Founder at Beacon & COO at Admin Awards
Ben is a native Australian and after a successful career in the Royal Australian Airforce as an aerospace engineer and test and evaluation expert, Ben now leads the operations for the Admin Awards and Beacon. A graduate of the Australian Defense Force Academy and 20 year veteran of the Royal Australian Air Force, Ben relocated to Dallas from Australia after meeting his soon-to-be wife. Ben loves family, music, good cheese, is a watch enthusiast and he also loves cooking. Ben has learned to love his steppies, Sydney and Scout and his three Border Collies, Raleigh Jojo and Benji.