Face to Face - December 2007

Face to Face

Mary LaMeres-Pomin

Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer

Assist-2-Sell, Reno

Years in Nevada: 40

Years with Firm: 20

Type of business:

Residential Real Estate Company

Biggest Business Challenge:     

Taking a new concept like “full-service discount real estate” and launching it nationwide.

What do you like best about your job?    

Watching our franchise offices succeed and seeing lives improve financially due to hard work and dedication to the business.

If you could start over and choose a different profession, what would it be?  

It would have to be something that allowed me to work with people on solutions to improve their lives.

How do you spend your time when you’re not working?

I like visiting my family in Montana and spending long weekends at Lake Tahoe.

Little-known fact about yourself:

I love being a mom.

Best Business Advice:

Dream big!  Don’t let anyone tell you your idea is bad or won’t work.  If you believe in it and it is good for people, go for it.  Don’t get hung up on business plans; be willing to change quickly.

How has the housing slump affected your business?

The "housing slump" is not affecting all markets equally. While most areas of the country are experiencing a slowdown, the areas most impacted are those that experienced a huge run up in home values over a short period of time. In areas where appreciation was more moderate, the prices are holding or only dropping slightly and buyer activity remains good. While home sellers who need to sell are disappointed because they can no longer expect to sell for the inflated prices of the past, they welcome the savings on commission that we offer.

Dyann Rios Widman

CEO

Lasvegasjobs.com, Las Vegas

Years in Nevada:    13                                  

Years with Firm:    3

Type of business:

Employment Advertising Web site

Biggest business challenge:

Customer Service is my biggest challenge. I feel a responsibility and aspire to provide a level of service that creates a confidence and dependability. I want to talk to as many of my clients on a monthly basis so that any challenges they have become my challenge to solve and turn into productive tools.

What do you like best about your job?   

Knowing that what I do helps people take the next step in their career and helps my clients be more successful in their company.

How do you spend your time when you’re not working?

I have three grown children and I am a new bride with a husband who is my best friend.   

Best Business Advice:

Always be honest and do what you say you are going to do. Deliver a great product and service, and let your success be measured by your happiness, not your checkbook.

What would you like your legacy to be?

Great mom, great friend and a successful businesswoman.

How does the business community's view of an uneducated workforce make your job more difficult?

There will always be a certain percentage of the available workforce that is less educated. There are jobs available for this group and I encourage my employers that have the entry level positions to recruit on our Web site and at our job fairs. I suppose it doesn't make my job more difficult, it just means that we as a community need to be more creative with recruiting and retaining employees