When the pandemic pushed much of the world into remote work, many businesses scrambled to adjust. But for Nichelle Craig, Founder and CEO of TEVA Solutions, the shift wasn’t a reaction, it was already in motion. What began as a quiet transition into virtual systems long before it became mainstream eventually evolved into a fully remote, scalable team supported by VALUE Virtual Assistants.
Today, TEVA Solutions runs smoothly with a dedicated team of bookkeepers, an executive assistant, and a manager. All of whom play a vital role in the company’s growth.
Starting Early: Building a Virtual System Before It Was Popular
Long before remote operations became necessary, Nichelle was already laying the foundation for a cloud-driven business.
“We had begun before COVID to put our systems as virtual systems, and so we were set up when COVID happened. We had a lot of online systems and ways to organize information and get paperwork from clients that they were just struggling to figure out because they had never been in a situation where they needed to do it, and people were still a little skeptical of virtual systems.”
While others were only beginning to explore virtual setups, TEVA Solutions was already comfortable with cloud-based documents, online communication channels, and virtual workflows. The company’s systems were strong enough that the transition during COVID felt more like acceleration than disruption.
Because of that early preparation, an unexpected realization followed: if the systems work anywhere, then the people could come from anywhere too.
“As we started to grow, I realized I could use an outsourcing company. It had never really occurred to me before, but because our systems were all virtual on the cloud, we could employ people from anywhere in the world, so that was kind of cool.”
The First Step: Hiring Their First VA
Nichelle didn’t start with a full team. She began with one person, one experiment, and one priority: finding someone who could help support her operations as the business grew.
“I don't know if I got lucky, but my first VA hire was Khaye, and she is really, really good, so it wasn't hard to hire the next one through [VALUE] VA.”
VA Khaye joined TEVA Solutions as an executive assistant, a role Nichelle had never outsourced before. At first, the intention was simple: try outsourcing and see how well it could integrate into the company’s systems.
Nichelle quickly saw how effective the partnership could be. The quality of work, the responsiveness, and the work ethic exceeded her expectations. Over time, Khaye expanded into both administrative and bookkeeping responsibilities and became central in helping TEVA Solutions maintain its momentum.
She handled operations meetings twice a week, kept tasks aligned through monday.com, organized deadlines, tracked follow-ups, and ensured things moved from idea to action. The use of note takers and meeting recaps helped her provide clear weekly progress and accountability.
“When I first hired Khaye, I was trying to figure out how you do team building virtually, not only virtually, but with a completely different culture than I had worked with before or that I come from. I asked Khaye to put together a PowerPoint about her culture and no requirements, no specifics. I just wanted to see what she would give me. And it was a really great presentation… I was really delighted and surprised.”
That presentation became a marker of trust, a reminder that virtual teams can feel personal, meaningful, and deeply connected.
Scaling Smart: Growing a Remote Team With Confidence
The success of the first hire made the next steps clear. As client demands increased, TEVA Solutions expanded their team gradually and strategically.
“And so we’ve hired another bookkeeper, actually two other bookkeepers, and now we have a manager through [VALUE] VA.”
The growth wasn’t random. It followed a thoughtful system: As new clients came in, workload increased. Once a bookkeeper reached capacity, TEVA Solutions added another one. This allowed them to scale in real time without ever overwhelming their team or compromising quality.
“Using VA has been great because it's a ratio between the clients we have and the clients we're getting and the resources that we use, and we're able to start people part-time or a third of the time, and as we get clients, the resources grow with us, and then when we have maxed out one bookkeeper, we hire another one.”
Over time, the impact of this model became tangible. The team’s ability to consistently complete month-end work, meet deadlines, and avoid long-term unresolved issues strengthened dramatically. Nichelle also emphasizes how the VAs’ positivity, collaboration, and willingness to learn brought a consistent energy to the business.
“The VAs [from VALUE VA] have a very positive, hardworking culture, and they bring that to work with them.”
As the team grew, TEVA Solutions also refined its roster replacing resources who weren’t aligning with the processes or culture. One of the advantages Nichelle appreciated was how fast and smooth this transition could be with VALUE Virtual Assistants support.
“We’ve had some VA resources that after a couple weeks just were not working with the culture or, you know, not doing what we asked them… and it’s been very easy to interview and switch out that resource.”
This ability to adjust quickly ensured they could move forward with the right people in the right seats. The bookkeepers who remained became stronger, more accountable, and deeply familiar with the unique needs of each client.
“They’ve actually developed and are doing great at finishing their tasks and really understanding their clients… Everyone is proactive and collaborative, and they’re always trying to do better.”
Nichelle saw measurable improvement not only in task completion, but in accountability. Her bookkeepers developed a habit of tracking their work, consistently closing tasks on time, and collaborating with the manager to ensure financials were ready when expected.
A Remote Team That Truly Feels Like a Team
As TEVA Solutions continued to evolve, the structure, communication systems, and processes became the backbone of the company. For Nichelle, tracking tasks is important, but the true measure of success is whether work is completed accurately, on time, and aligned with expectations.
“It’s really about the results at the end of the month, and are we getting those results.”
With monday.com, Google Chat check-ins, Hubstaff activity tracking, and a manager reviewing financials, they built a workflow where everyone knows what needs to be done and what happens next. This clarity enables Nichelle to step back from the day-to-day and focus on growing the business rather than operating it.
“The whole idea is to have a company where the day-to-day and the processes work with the people that are working in the day-to-day. Because I want to be working for my company and figuring out how we grow.”
Sharing the Experience With Others
As TEVA Solutions continued to grow through the support of her virtual team, Nichelle naturally found herself recommending VALUE Virtual Assistants to business owners facing similar challenges. Her experience was strong enough that she confidently shared it with peers exploring new staffing options.
“Yes, I have. I have three businesses that I can think of that I have shared. One is actually using you.”
Her referrals extend even to companies that aren’t fully virtual. She believes that the growing reliance on digital tools makes virtual assistance a viable option for more businesses than many owners initially assume.
“I think a lot of companies now, there’s pieces of their company that are virtual… a VA resource could work for them, I think.”
For Nichelle, it’s not just the practicality but it’s also the people. She highlights the professionalism, positivity, and collaborative nature of her VAs, qualities she says make remote work surprisingly seamless.
“[VALUE] VA is a great option… cost-wise, people-wise, the culture is very polite and happy and collaborative.”
Her willingness to recommend VALUE Virtual Assistants reflects her trust in the system, the support, and the talent behind her virtual team.
Advice for Organizations Transitioning to Online Teams
Many of VALUE Virtual Assistants’ clients just like TEVA Solutions once did are shifting from an in-office setup to an online team. Nichelle’s advice is grounded in firsthand experience.
Her first lesson: start small, understand the cultural difference, and communicate clearly.
“I had to learn how to communicate in a way that was very direct and clear. I couldn’t just say, ‘Call this client and tell them to meet me.’ Now I understand I have to say, ‘Call this client, tell them I’m available on Friday at eight, call them first, then send an email.’”
Her second lesson: build strong internal processes because virtual teams thrive on structure.
“Everything that we do hinges on process… that’s really what kind of drives the whole system.”
For Nichelle, success with a virtual team isn’t accidental. It’s the result of systems, communication, and the right people, all working in harmony.
A Partnership Built for Growth
TEVA Solutions’ journey from early virtual adoption to a thriving remote team is a testament to what’s possible when a business embraces online systems and pairs them with the right support.
The partnership with VALUE Virtual Assistants didn’t just fill positions. It helped build a culture, strengthen processes, and create a team that Nichelle proudly relies on.
Transform the way your team works. Connect with VALUE Virtual Assistants today for a free consultation and find out how the right partnership can drive success.
