This Rockwell Secretary Is Epitome of Confidential : Careers: Executive’s aide knows how to keep a business secret--and does it. She has her boss’s confidence.
SEAL BEACH — They say that if you want to know what’s really going on at a company, you should ask a secretary.
But if you want to know what’s going on at Rockwell and you ask Sondra Williams, don’t expect her to tell you.
Williams has spent 27 years with the Seal Beach defense company, the last six as executive secretary to Sam Iacobellis, the Rockwell executive vice president known for overseeing development and production of the B-1 Bomber.
Her secret to success: keeping secrets.
Besides fielding calls from the White House, Congress, Gov. Pete Wilson, NASA and hordes of top corporate executives, Williams must often handle confidential material, either related to Rockwell’s top-secret governmental projects or, these days, to impending Rockwell layoffs.
“You have to be discreet and make sure you don’t say the wrong thing. It’s very hard to do,†Williams said. “Especially because people come up to you and say, ‘I heard a rumor about some layoffs in one of the divisions and you have to say: ‘Oh, I don’t know anything about it.’ â€
But her boss has complete faith in Williams’ ability to maintain confidentiality.
“She is the best, a top professional. Anything she knows, I never worry about getting out. People know they shouldn’t try to probe. In the strictest sense she is a confidential secretary,†Iacobellis said. “She has good judgment.
From her ocean-view office stocked with so many aircraft models it looks like an air and space museum, Williams keeps track of and arranges Iacobellis’ chaotic travel schedule. Always on call, she often receives calls at home from top executives trying to track down Iacobellis, who oversees not only major programs like the Space Shuttle and B-1, but works actively in many organizations, including those involved in business retention like the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Business Roundtable.
Once when he was in New York, she received a late-afternoon call from the White House, requesting that Iacobellis be there the next day for an announcement. Knowing he was dining in New York, she immediately made travel arrangements for him to fly to Washington the next morning, then faxed him his new agenda at the hotel. He called her at home when he got in from dinner, pleased she had taken the initiative to make travel plans, knowing he would not turn down a White House invite.
“When I took the job as a high-level secretary, I knew that would be expected of me,†Williams said. “The hardest thing is finding enough time to do all the things that need to be done, because everything I do reflects on the company, my boss and me. I’m a hard worker, dedicated.â€
Williams also has the ability and the authorization to make judgments on her own. Several months ago, the state of Kansas made a big push to entice Rockwell to its borders, sending Iacobellis a letter signed by the Kansas governor every other week, then following up with a phone call.
Finally, Williams told the governor’s office: “I hate to tell you this, but he is working to keep companies in California. You are wasting your time and money.â€
But Williams can’t always be so forthright. Even this week there is something confidential that she knows about an international trade matter, which would have an impact if it was made public.
That she knows about it came out while she was being interviewed for this article. Rockwell’s public relations person, trying to make points with the interviewer, pressed Williams, asking if the matter truly was confidential.
“I just can’t say,†said Williams, smiling apologetically.
Inside the business of entertainment
The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
