Sure, executive assistants can do everything from keeping a calendar to managing receptionists, but their true job is simple: to keep the boss’ head on straight.

Well, maybe not that simple.

Executive assistants, who act as the main consiglieri to high-level business executives or government officials, have become a critical component of a business team. Depending on the employer, executive assistants perform a variety of functions — ones that involve extensive communication, organizing, managing, networking and even event planning.

And as any savvy business person knows, the executive assistant literally acts as the executive’s gatekeeper.

“She is really a very vital person for me in terms of managing day-to-day operations of the city,” says Reno City Manager Charles McNeely about his executive assistant, Teri Yeoman. “I couldn’t do my job without her. She makes me look good.”

McNeely says the optimal assistant is one who is not easily rattled and can “manage a lot of different activities at the same time.” Add to that the ability to be personable with anyone from high-level dignitaries to random people from the public, and you have a good candidate, McNeely says.

And finding a good one can strengthen the leader of an organization, notes Valerie Glenn, president/CEO of Reno-based advertising firm Rose/Glenn Group.

“(She) allows me to focus on the things that I should be focused on in terms of being a CEO of a growing company,” Glenn says about her executive assistant, Debbi Wesner.

Here’s the scoop on two local shining stars:

Executive assistant and office manager to Valerie Glenn

Wesner was simply bored working her government job and thought it was time to make a change almost 10 years ago.

She landed at the Rose/Glenn Group as a receptionist, and three years later was promoted to be CEO/President Valerie Glenn’s executive assistant and manages the office of 28 employees.

Now, the 44-year-old Wesner is anything but bored as she makes travel arrangements for Glenn, types up correspondence and manages the office, which includes supervision of the receptionists and coordinating office parties.

“I am kind of a jack of all trades,” Wesner says. “I’m very detail oriented. I think that helps, and I am pretty much a perfectionist, which probably slows me down sometimes because I want things done exactly the right way. I drive my husband nuts sometimes.”

Making it even more challenging for Wesner, a mother of two daughters (17 and 20), is she does it all part time working from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“There is never really a dull moment around here,” Wesner says. “There is always something new.”

And her boss appreciates it.

“I don’t know that I knew how to have an executive assistant at the beginning, and I don’t think she knew how to be one,” says Glenn, adding that Wesner is the only executive assistant she has ever had. “We both have just grown, and it is just an incredible team that we have. It’s wonderful.”

Executive assistant to Charles McNeely

It’s not easy being the middle person between the city manager and the public, not to mention the politicians.

Aside from supervising staff, Yeoman’s job is to always point McNeely in the right direction while keeping him focused, and to guide those who have business with the city to the right place.

“My job is to make sure he looks good all the time,” Yeoman says.

“The next thing is in order to make him look good, you have to have a global view of the organization,” she continues. “You need to understand each person’s role in management in that organization so you can effectively guide and advise and be a partner in management with that CEO.”

Since she was 7, Yeoman had wanted to be a secretary. After being sidetracked, she became an executive assistant 20 years ago. But it wasn’t until nearly 10 years ago that the 57-year-old mother of two sons saw the perfect job. Already with a passion for office work, Yeoman saw an opportunity to work in a position that mattered and fit what she did best.

And what makes her good at her job?

“Flexibility is No. 1, and with that flexibility you have to be organized and you have to be able to organize others,” Yeoman says. “Otherwise you are not effective at all, and you can fail.”