Bio
Joanne is the retired President of Blystone Equipment Company of NV, a construction equipment company founded by her father, Joe W. Blystone, in Las Vegas in 1951. Blystone Equipment was the original dealer in Las Vegas for many major brands of construction equipment. Due to the changing dynamics of Las Vegas, Joanne and her father chose to close the company in 1994. Mr. Blystone passed away in 1995. Joanne remains retired and active in community service.
She is a former Member and Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Summerlin Hospital serving on their Quality Committee and Physicians Accreditation Committee. She served for over 20 years on the State of Nevada Petroleum Board, responsible for remediation of gas and oil spills in the State of Nevada, as well as the State of Nevada Public Works Board, responsible for oversight of construction for the State of Nevada. She was a 49 year member of the Vegas Chamber of Commerce serving on their Board of Trustees from 1991 – 1996 as Vice Chairman of Business and chairing Leadership Las Vegas Program from 1991-1996 having been a member of the Leadership Las Vegas Class of 1990. She was also President of the Prospectors and served on the Government Affairs Committee. She chaired the first Chamber Preview LV and received the Circle of Excellence Award twice in 1994 and 2008.
Her construction industry service includes: First woman elected to the Board of LV Associated General Contractors, Member of Government Affairs Committee, Chaired Public Relations Committee; Member of National Association of Women in Construction serving as Chapter President and on the National Board of Directors as well as National President of the NAWIC Education Foundation, a non profit foundation publishing construction textbooks and education programs.
Her community service encompasses serving as founding Vice President of the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow; First woman member and first woman to serve as President
Las Vegas Southwest Rotary Club; Chartering Treasurer Nevada Forum of the International Women’s Forum and continues to serve as Membership Chair; Super Summer Theatre at the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, Board of Advisors since 1987, Gala Honoree 2019; “Distinguished Leadership Award” from the National Association for Community Leadership; Executive Committee member Community College of Southern Nevada Foundation; Bishop Gorman High School Board of Regents; “Credit Executive of the Year" for Credit Managers Association of California; Past President and founding member of the Southern Nevada Institute of Credit; 2002 “Woman of Distinction Award” from National Association of Women Business Owners.
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