Bad Manners and Brimstone

Right JEM, but what you wrote sounded like you were indicating that only billable people can have a business impact.  Even in a law firm, someone in a support department or role can implement changes that result in large cost savings for the firm. Small changes to credit card processing methods, for instance, can net thousands in reduced processing fees. 

The fact that colleagues who do the same work as JPCher have previously been promoted would indicate that it's possible in her role to do what is needed to get a promotion.

I suspect from what the new lady said that this is just a bad time within the business and it will not be considered.