For Women’s History Month this year, we are highlighting five women in real estate who are part of the Dickson family for their extraordinary leadership and commitment to giving back—Nancy Fennell, Rebecca Dickson, Mary Jurkonis, Natalie Richardson, and Lil Schaller.
Whether they’re helping clients buy or sell a home or organizing a charitable event for a local nonprofit organization, these dedicated individuals inspire others to follow their dreams and make our community a better place to live.
They are also continuing the legacy of our founder, Fianna Dickson. As Fianna’s business partner, sister-in-law, and friend, our CEO, Nancy, shared how it inspires her to be surrounded by hardworking and strong female leaders.
“I am blessed to work with many women in Dickson Realty who inspire me daily,” Nancy said.
At Dickson Realty, we believe that every day is women’s day and are proud of our team of women in real estate for their leadership and expertise. To learn more about what we love about them, keep reading.
5 Women In Real Estate Who Are Making History
Nancy Fennell, Broker/Owner and CEO at Dickson Realty
Nancy Fennell holds many titles—art enthusiast, business owner, community philanthropist, dedicated friend, mother, party-planning extraordinaire, wife, world traveler—the list goes on. She is also the Chief Executive Officer for Dickson Realty and has helped guide us towards becoming the region’s best real estate company. Because of her extraordinary leadership skills, Nancy was inducted into the Nevada Women’s Fund 2016 Hall of Fame. In 2018, she was also featured as one of the top Women To Watch by Nevada Business Magazine.
“Over the years, I have found that competency eventually overcomes all prejudices,” Nancy said. “At a certain point, with experience and hard work, women embrace their confidence, which levels the playing field.”
In addition to being a businesswoman, Nancy supports and serves on the board of many local organizations in Northern Nevada, including the Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, the Community Foundation of Western Nevada, the Nevada Museum of Art, the University of Nevada, Reno, and more.
With an incredible heart and generous spirit, Nancy inspires us all to be better and do good in the world.
Rebecca Dickson, Broker/Owner and Vice President Of Luxury
Rebecca Dickson, daughter of our founder, Fianna, continues her family’s legacy of women in real estate becoming leaders in their field.
She embraces the philosophy of a professional and yet takes a personal and dynamic approach to business. As a top-producing real estate agent for more than 30 years, she has an expert understanding of custom home sites, land development, luxury home sales, relocation, and water rights in Northern Nevada. Rebecca has also helped establish the sales and marketing departments for residential developments such as Caughlin Ranch, Montreux, and Saddlehorn.
She is a member of internationally known real estate companies, including Luxury Portfolio, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Reno/Sparks Board of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors.
Rebecca also serves as the Trustee for the Community Foundation of Western Nevada and is Chair of the Steering Committee for Fianna’s Healing Garden at Renown Regional Medical Center.
Mary Jurkonis, REALTOR and Office Manager at Incline Village
Not only is Mary Jurkonis our go-to expert for real estate in Incline Village and Crystal Bay, but she is our number one resource for charitable causes in the North Lake Tahoe community. As a board member for Tahoe Family Solutions (TFS), Mary provides vital services to women and children in need. She is also the co-founder of Tahoe Cooking Queens, a nonprofit organization that fundraises for hunger relief through Project MANA, an organization that’s part of the Sierra Community House.
“My first stop in any house is the kitchen!” Mary said. “In 2004, a friend and I started ‘Tahoe Cooking Queens’ as a way to raise money for Project Manna, the local food bank in North Lake Tahoe. We have raised over $30,000 for this non-profit by offering cooking classes in Incline Village and Truckee.
With her integrity and drive to help others, Mary is a naturally-born leader, and we’re lucky to have her on our team.
Natalie Richardson, REALTOR and Office Manager at Damonte Ranch
The Northern Nevada real estate market can be challenging, considering the many variables before buying or selling a home. That’s why it’s essential to have someone in your corner, fighting for your side of the transaction and proactively driving the process forward.
As a REALTOR who knows the area and understands individual client needs, Natalie Richardson is just the person for the job. She is also the leader of our Damonte Ranch team, helping us accomplish our goals, no matter how big or small.
Before joining Dickson in 2015, Natalie worked in the financial industry with top companies such as Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, and Bank of America. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in international business from the University of Nevada, Reno. So, she’s very passionate about supporting her alma mater.
To give back to the community, Natalie commits her time, energy, and resources to support the Dickson Community Fund. As a proud partner of the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, the Dickson Community Fund donates to community members and organizations in need.
“As a company, the community is such a big part of who we are,” Natalie said. “I'm happy to be a part of it. I'm so happy that our company took the initiative to put this together.”
Lil Schaller, Broker/Owner/Partner, and Office Manager at Truckee Office
Lil Schaller became the broker/manager/partner assumed the role of office manager for our Truckee office in May of 2007. Since then, she has cultivated and transformed it into an environment of support, harmony, and trust for clients and team members.
“My goal as broker/manager/partner at Dickson Realty Truckee is to make my agents the most successful that they can be, and it's working!” Lil said. “I love the energy and camaraderie we have—a great recipe for success with clients as well as each other.”
With more than three decades of real estate experience, Lil has an exceptional ability to help others achieve their dream goals of owning or selling a home in the Sierra Nevadas. She represents Truckee's humble and small-town charm while effortlessly highlighting the region’s unlimited opportunities for fun and growth. As treasurer of the Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors, she demonstrates her commitment to excellence in our field as well.
