Family business plays a major role in our economy. It is estimated that family firms comprise 80 to 90 percent of all business enterprises in North America and contribute almost 50 percent of our nation’s Gross National Product. This year Nevada Business Journal selected the winners of the “Family Business of the Year Awards” by asking members of the business community to nominate those family businesses that help make the Nevada economy strong. The following businesses were selected based on their innovation, record of growth, contributions to the community, financial stability and the quality of life they provide for their employees.
Small Business (less than 50 employees):
BURKE AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
Burke and Associates began in the early ’80s when Tim Burke decided to build a contracting firm in Las Vegas that would exceed his clients’ expectations. His brother, Kevin E. Burke, joined the company four years later. Together, they made Burke and Associates a successful general contractor, handling both public and private projects throughout Southern Nevada. Since 1984, the firm has enjoyed steady growth, completing projects for clients such as Bally’s Hotel & Casino, Peccole Corporation, the Clark County School District, J.W. Marriott and Del Webb.
Kevin Burke, who currently serves as president of Burke and Associates, began his career with Proctor & Gamble prior to joining the company in 1989. When asked if it was important to work elsewhere before joining the business, Burke said, “It definitely helped to work outside of the company before joining it. You bring a different perspective to the firm. It was great to work for Proctor & Gamble and have that big company experience. I was able to bring a lot of those things to Burke and Associates when I came over.”
The company’s philosophy is simple, said Burke: “Exceed your customer’s expectations and do more than the community expects. It is based on simple values that never become outdated. Be passionate about your business, your client and – most importantly – your people.”
Burke devotes numerous hours to professional and community organizations such as the UNLV Foundation, Nevada Development Authority, Junior Achievement, Chamber of Commerce and American Institute of Architects.
“I recently lost my brother, Tim, the CEO and founder of Burke and Associates, Inc.,” Burke said. “My passion is to continue to grow Burke and Associates, Inc. while maintaining the same exceptional project service that we are known for, and with the continued success of our business to continue to increase our involvement in children’s charitable organizations. Our greatest challenge as we look five and 10 years ahead is to grow at a comfortable pace so that we don’t outgrow our people. We want to continue to recruit the most talented professionals to enable us to fuel our planned growth.”
MANPOWER INC.
Founded in July of 1964 by Bea and Michael Katz, Manpower of Southern Nevada has grown into one of the largest staffing agencies in Las Vegas. What started out as one office in downtown Las Vegas has grown into six offices in Southern Nevada and two in Northern Arizona. In 2001, the Katz’s Manpower franchise placed over 7,400 people in positions and serviced some of the top corporations in the country.
Andy Katz, president of Manpower Inc. of Southern Nevada, learned the business from his father, Michael. Andy began his career with Manpower in 1984 in Denver. He started as branch manager, rose to regional manager and now serves as president. What does Manpower do differently than other placement agencies? Katz said, “Our motto says a lot – ‘Find the best employee in everyone’. We want workers to feel comfortable and enjoy what they do. If they like their work, they’re more productive and more apt to stay.”
The company is ranked number 58 in the Top 100 Private Companies in Las Vegas, serving 1,300 clients in 2001. The national organization was named to Fortune’s list of America’s Most Admired Companies and the local office was voted the number one temporary help contractor in Nevada by Nevada Business Journal readers in 2002.
Katz said, “The advantage of a family-owned business is you have total control and don’t report to anyone. I also like it for sentimental reasons. My parents started the business and I want to keep the ownership within the family.”
Manpower is very active in the community, donating both time and money. Katz is active on the board of directors or advisory board of: the Las Vegas Art Museum, Clark County Public Education Foundation and the American Heart Association, just to name a few. Manpower believes in giving back to the community and regularly contributes to the United Way of Southern Nevada, Opportunity Village, UNLV Alumni Association and various other organizations.
The company retains a loyal and dedicated staff by offering great benefits and a family atmosphere, said Katz. A hands-off management style, profit sharing plan and family activities complete the package. Katz said, “I like the spirit here. We have an extended family atmosphere and consider all employees an extension of our family.”
MID-SIZED COMPANIES (50 TO 250 EMPLOYEES):
PALM MORTUARY
What began as a small funeral home in 1926 has become Southern Nevada’s largest funeral services company. Palm Mortuary started with four employees and one mortuary location. Today, it has 204 employees and seven locations. The Palm Mortuary story is one of growth and commitment, and it remains family-owned and -operated by the Knauss family.
Ken Knauss, president, enjoys working in a family-owned business, saying, “The main thing I like is that I am able to call my own shots and I can make quality long-range decisions rather than worry about the short-term impact of what I’m doing. One of the main risks is having your assets in one place, but the rewards outweigh the risks. I make my own decisions and when they’re successful, that’s rewarding. I can plan my company’s growth.”
Palm Mortuary has received several awards for its community-minded advertising programs, ranging from plaques to Addy awards. The Las Vegas chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE) recognized Palm Mortuary Inc. as an outstanding corporate donor.
The company has developed and continues to develop new options, ideas and choices. In 1958, Palm Mortuary built Southern Nevada’s first mausoleum. In 1967, it started selling a concept called pre-need planning and was instrumental in developing state regulations to protect the consumer and the industry. Today, Palm Mortuary offers a myriad of options from cremation scattering to private mausoleums. It opened the Palm Memorial Design Center this summer, which adds a new dimension to how loved ones are remembered, with state-of-the-art computer generated graphics available for granite memorials.
TORTILLAS, INC.
Tortillas Inc. was originally established in 1979. The first tortilla factory in Nevada, it started as a dream of founders Jose Gutierrez and his son, Gus. The owner of Tortillas, Inc., Gus Gutierrez, said his 50-person staff doubled when his new $3.4 million factory opened in the summer of 2002. “We outgrew our space,” Gutierrez said. “It’s been a lifelong dream to have our own space, and now it’s happened.” Financing for the project, arranged by Moran Financial Services, was provided by Nevada State Bank and the SBA 504 program. The dedication of the new factory was attended by Governor Kenny Guinn, U.S. Senators Reid and Ensign, and many other local dignitaries.
Originally, the company started with a small tortilla machine that produced about 200 dozen tortillas per hour. Today, the new factory has enabled the company to double its corn tortilla output from 2,400 dozen an hour to 4,800 dozen an hour. It also produces flour tortillas at a rate of 800 dozen an hour. It is estimated the factory will eventually employ 200 workers.
Gutierrez started Tortillas, Inc. by loading tortillas in the back of his car and searching door to door for clients. Now, the company has a client list that boasts hotels, casinos, the King Ranch Markets and the Ricardo’s restaurant chain. It has become the leading supplier and distributor of quality tortilla products in Nevada.
LARGE COMPANIES (MORE THAN 250 EMPLOYEES):
CASHMAN EQUIPMENT
Cashman Equipment is Nevada’s exclusive Caterpillar construction equipment dealer. It provides new and used equipment for sale and rental as well as high quality parts and service to the construction, paving, mining, logging, truck engine and power systems industries throughout Nevada. The company was founded in 1931 by James “Big Jim” Cashman to provide Caterpillar tractors to the crews building Hoover Dam. The company’s current CEO, Mary Kaye Cashman, represents the third generation of family members to run the company. It is one of only two Caterpillar equipment dealerships in the world owned by a woman.
“Cashman Equipment is one of the rare family-owned businesses in Nevada that has been able to continue ownership through several generations. From James Cashman Sr. to James Cashman Jr. to my late husband James Cashman III, this company’s very foundation was built on family values,” Cashman said.
Since 1995, she has been determined to make Cashman Equipment everything Jim Cashman III would have wanted it to be. Cashman Equipment now employs a staff of 550 in eight locations throughout Nevada and Northern California. “[I want us] to be one of the top 10 highly-respected Caterpillar dealerships in the United States as a result of superior customer sales, support and service,” she said. “This will be evidenced when Cashman Equipment is seen as the primary resource for best practices and knowledge of successful business strategies.”
The company offers a multitude of services to help customers conduct business better and more quickly. Some technological improvements include online parts ordering and global positioning systems for equipment.
Cashman is an active member of the community and serves on the boards of a variety of corporate, service and educational organizations, including the Nevada Test Site Development Corporation, Mackay School of Mines Advisory Board at UNR at the and the UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees. The company also supports community-based organizations such as the United Way, Red Cross and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Cashman said the company’s employees appreciate its family ownership, since many have worked with the company for decades. “We have built a strong core of employees here at Cashman Equipment,” she said. “From our executive team to our management team, supervisor and employee base, we are striving to exceed our customers’ expectations. We’ve come so far. Together with our customers, we are setting the standard for CAT dealers nationwide.”
EUREKA CASINOS
Eureka Casinos owns and operates the Eureka Casino Hotel in Mesquite and the Eureka Casino in Las Vegas. It is part of a third-generation family business founded by Ted and Doris Lee. The Mesquite property was purchased in 1989. When the Eureka Casino Hotel opened in 1997, it was the second casino and the first hotel-casino resort owned by the Lee family.
Headed by President Greg Lee, Eureka Casinos has developed a dynamic team of casino professionals that has overseen a remarkable turnaround in Mesquite. “Running a family business has given me a tremendous opportunity to use my skills and challenge myself, to lead large numbers of people and to benefit a small community,” said Lee. “Because my family has been supportive and given me a great deal of freedom, the success of the business has given me a tremendous sense of self-worth. It has also given me confidence to pursue my own course, because while other companies have failed in Mesquite, we are still in business.”
Both properties have enjoyed great success by focusing on customers and providing a personal connection to create loyalty, said Lee. The Eureka Las Vegas has grown by focusing on its repeat customers, while the Eureka Mesquite has experienced a great turnaround by focusing on the local Mesquite and St. George, Utah markets.
Members of the Lee family are involved in various community organizations. They founded a family program at the Problem Gambling Center, endowed a chair at the UNLV Law School and are active in supporting the Las Vegas Philharmonic.
The Lees have created a family environment by getting to know each of their employees personally and by having an open-door policy. Lee added, “The reward of working with family members is that the business can take on the culture of the family. Hopefully, we can create a healthy environment for the entire organization and for all the employees. When the business feels like an extension of the family, there is a cumulative sense of accomplishment that is great. I think that is what people mean when they talk about their pride in the family business and the creation of a legacy.”
A family-owned business is much the same as any other company and needs to develop policies, communicate and plan well and keep the successful parts of its tradition in order to survive. But, perhaps the greatest, and most fulfilling, difference is: with a lifetime family membership, a family-owned business can be a source of great rewards, pride and prosperity.
