misa News
MISA Woman of the Year 2014
The MISA Woman’s Forum Woman of the Year has become something of an institution, so the Awards Evening,
held on 5 November 2014 at the Indaba Hotel, Fourways, was eagerly anticipated, with four strong women in the
running for the 2014 award.
Virna takes
coveted title
home to
Bloemfontein!
Amanda Homan of Hyundai
Automotive SA represents the
Western Province Region. She
is an industry stalwart and
has a passion for developing,
supporting, and mentoring her
female colleagues in the retail
motor industry.
Virna Potterton was crowned
as the 2014 MISA Women’s
Forum Woman of the Year at a
glittering gala event – complete
with the flamboyant Rocco
de Villiers as guest artist – in
Johannesburg at the beginning
of November.
Not looking for
Super Woman
Bloemfontein-based Virna was
the Regional Finalist for the Free
State/Northern Cape Region in
this year’s MISA Woman of the
Year Award and is the Financial
Manager at Imperial GM in
Bloemfontein.
➲ Virna Potterton is congratulated by Martlé Keyter,
MISA’s CEO (Operations) and Louise Bennett, MISA
Women’s Forum national chairperson
Being involved in community
work is second nature to Virna
and her family. “My father
believed everyone should have
a Bible,” she recalls, “So one
of my first memories is how
my father would buy everyone
Bibles, while my mother and
my aunt knitted baby clothes
for charity.” Virna has continued
the family tradition and is
involved with various projects
at children’s homes in Bloemfontein,
supported by her husband, who is also in
the motor industry.
Regional Finalists
The Regional Finalists in the MISA
Women’s Forum Woman of the Year
awards also play an important role in their
respective areas.
Karen Watson was the Regional Finalist
for the Eastern Cape Region and is the PreOwned Sales Manager at Maritime Motors
in Port Elizabeth.
“We are proud to have Virna as
the 2014 MISA Women’s Forum
Woman of the Year,” says Martlé
Keyter, MISA’s CEO Operations
and National Co-ordinator of
the MISA Women’s Forum.
“What impressed the judges
was Virna’s compassion and
dedication to the community,
but also her level-headedness
TRADE UNIONS ARE
in terms of balancing her career
NOT ALL THE SAME !
and being a mother and a wife.
JOIN MISA AND
“We are not looking for a super
EXPERIENCE PEOPLE
woman
WHO REALLY CARE in the MISA Woman
of the
AND MAKE A Year. We are looking
DIFFERENCE.
for someone who makes a
difference in the lives of others
➲ The finalists, from left to right: Karen
Watson, Virna Potterton, Claire Bouwer, and
Amanda Homan
Karen grew up in the retail motor industry, as
her father ran a Mercedes-Benz dealership
and her mother was also involved in the
business.
Claire Bouwer, F&I at Kia Motors, Fourways
was the Northern/Highveld Region’s finalist.
She has an absolute passion to make a
difference in the lives of the less fortunate,
especially children. “Children are at the
mercy of those around them,” she says.
“Even in dire circumstances they are still
happy and resilient.”
| words in action
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Membership is open
in one way or another and who
to all Office -, Stores -,
can serve as a role model for
Sales - and Clerical
employees,other women in the retail motor
Artisans
industry. She must have the potential
and Apprentices in
tothe Motor Industry. personally and
grow and develop
professionally yet she must also be able to
maintain a good work-home balance. We
(011) 678 has
believe Virna6328 all of those qualities.”
(021) 551 2822
Virna wins a 2710
(031) 201 working trip to the
International 0102
(041) 364 Labour Conference in Turin in
2015 as 447 5339 prize.
(051) part of her
THE INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE
december 2014 / January 2015