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.

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 Financial Manager at Imperial GM in Bloemfontein.

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 Finalists for the Eastern Cape Region and is the Pre-Owned Sales Manager at Maritime Motors in Port Elizabeth. 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."

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 motor retail industry.

Not looking for Super Woman
"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 in terms of balancing her career and being a mother and a wife. "

"We are not looking for a super woman in the MISA Woman of the Year. We are looking for someone who makes a difference in the lives of others in one way or another and who can serve as a role model for other women in the retail motor industry. She must have the potential to grow and develop personally and professionally yet she must also be able to maintain a good work-home balance. We believe Virna has all of those qualities."

Virna wins a working trip to the International Labour Conference in Turin in 2015 as part of her prize.

Click here to view some photos of the event and view more on www.misa.org.za

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