Saleswoman leads the field with a flourish

Joan Maguire, named Sales Woman of the Year last week, knows she has the perfect job.

For one thing, the corporate sales manager for Atlantis Casino Resort Spa grew up in Reno, graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, and takes great pleasure in helping her hometown flourish.

And while Maguire has worked in sales for only about five years, she knows the career fits her personality.

"It's all about caring about people," she says."When you have a passion for that, sales is the place for you to be."

A judging panel for the Professional Saleswomen of Nevada agreed, picking Maguire from a field of five finalists for the award.

Other finalists included:

* Cheryl Dey, the president and founder of Directional Media Services, a yellow pages advertising agency.

* Debbie Fombola, a mortgage consultant with American Mortgage Brokers.

* Tressa O'Lear, president of RTP Inc., the operator of Together, a Personalized Introduction Service.

* Barbara Williamson, who works with her family in B&W Wholesale Distributing, a company that sells casino supplies and advertising specialties.

Maguire told the judges that she believes her greatest accomplishment has been learning to balance her time,manage her health, work with passion, and focus on the moment when she's with her family.

The judging process, she said,"has been an amazing opportunity to reflect on my career." She's involved in the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, the Sparks Chamber of Commerce and Western Industrial Nevada.