When you are named employee of the year in an organisation that has about 4000 people on its payroll, then you have got to have some special qualities.
Wanganui's Sue Sloan obviously has those qualities in abundance, because she has been awarded that accolade by the Ryman Healthcare group, and chosen from staff working in 30 villages across both New Zealand and Australia.
Mrs Sloan had initially been nominated for a kindness award but her special qualities saw her chosen as the group's best of the best. She received her award at a special function in Melbourne last week.
Jane O'Connell, another of the staff at the St John's Hill retirement village, was nominated as best sales adviser and made it to the top three in that category.
Mrs Sloan has been working at Jane Winstone for the past eight years and is currently administrator for the complex.