Most tasks require a certain amount of skill or education. Whether it’s applying for a specific job, learning to drive a car, or even cooking a meal, people tend not to jump right in without some sort of direction. Most of these things come with a certain amount of instruction. There are also classes a person can take to better prepare for attempting something new. One of the … [Read more...] about The PEACE Project: Preparing for Life’s Toughest Job

Today’s business environment isn’t what it used to be, but it would be cliché to say that the only constant is – change. Regardless of how you slice it, two factors are unshakably certain: the landscape of business will never be the same again, and the same tried-and-true methods of getting your product or service to market will be unreliable. The next decade will bring … [Read more...] about On Your Mark, Get Set, Change! Are You Ready for Tomorrow?

Nevada’s development authorities say our state is the best place in the country to start a business. But what kind of business? The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the industries with the fastest-growing wages and employment are technology-based. Are these businesses coming to Nevada, staying here and flourishing. Problems to be Solved The Milken Institute, an economic think … [Read more...] about Ones and Zeros: High Tech in Nevada Gets Mixed Reviews

Classifying workers appropriately is an important risk-management activity for any business. The Nevada Society of CPAs points out that employers who misclassify employees as independent contractors may find themselves liable for back payments of employment taxes in addition to stiff penalties and interest payments. In some cases, an employer could be required to provide … [Read more...] about Independent Contractor or Employee? How To Tell the Difference

In recent years, employers have been walking a tightrope increasingly fraught with danger. Employers must balance their need to monitor employees’ computer usage with employees’ privacy rights. The slightest misstep can result in a lawsuit. Nevertheless, it is imperative that employers perform this delicate balancing act. Why Employers Should Monitor Recent surveys estimate … [Read more...] about I Spy, Or Can I? Changing Workplace Privacy Laws

Q: On March 1 of this year, the attorney general issued an opinion that stated employees serving in the executive branch of Nevada government were barred from simultaneously serving in the Legislature, but employees of local governments were not. Why was this opinion issued? The first and most direct answer to this question is that we were asked to issue the opinion by the … [Read more...] about Separation of Powers Opinion: “Neither Simple nor Clear”

It may be hard to imagine, as you notice the rising fees on your bank statements, that banks also face big challenges. But what you may not be aware of is that the rising cost of doing business presents many challenges to banks. An increasingly competitive playing field, new tax requirements, stricter regulations and a rapidly changing economy all contribute to that cost. Here, … [Read more...] about Banking on Nevada: The Capital Interests of Nevada’s Banks

Developers of The District at Green Valley Ranch, an $85 million mixed-use project that blends retail, restaurants, office space and residential into an urban lifestyle setting, believe the complex could be the future of construction in the Las Vegas Valley. As available land for growth continues to disappear during the current Southern Nevada building boom, developments … [Read more...] about The District at Green Valley Ranch

As new businesses move to Southern Nevada, the demand for new industrial space has increased, especially in emerging development areas in the Las Vegas Valley. EJM Development Co. is helping to meet those needs by building new and advanced industrial and office space in Las Vegas. To prepare for the future and maintain a reasonable inventory of new industrial space to meet … [Read more...] about EJM Development Co.: Building New Commercial Hub in Southwest

The average new home in Southern Nevada now costs $210,000, and in Northern Nevada $227,000. These high prices are creating pressure in the resale market as well, and young families looking for housing are unable to afford it. Are these inflated prices caused by the increased cost of building materials, or higher insurance rates for homebuilders being passed on to the end user? … [Read more...] about The Sky’s the Limit: High Land Prices Affect Everyone

Casey Stiteler remembers Jan. 17, 2001 well. He was in the garage, lifting weights with his father at 7:30 p.m. when the hospital called to tell his parents the results of a CAT scan he had had earlier that day. It was a brain tumor, they told his father, and 12-year-old Casey needed to get to the hospital immediately. Stiteler, a straight-A student and avid baseball player, … [Read more...] about Make-A-Wish Foundation: Helping Dreams Come True