"No man can serve two masters." (Matthew 6:24) Should employees of state or local governments be allowed to serve in the Nevada Legislature? The Nevada Constitution clearly says no, but a 1971 ruling by then-Attorney General Robert List allowed the practice, and it has snowballed ever since. During the 2003 Legislature, 16 of the 63 lawmakers were public employees. Nevada … [Read more...] about Serving Two Masters: The Dangers of Double-Dipping by Legislators
ComputerCorps: Bridging the Computer Technology Gap
ComputerCorps is a non-profit organization in Carson City that refurbishes old computers and donates them to needy individuals and organizations. The group’s mission is to help people who are left out of the technology loop because they have no access to computers or training. It does this by focusing on three areas: the environment, education and entrepreneurship. … [Read more...] about ComputerCorps: Bridging the Computer Technology Gap
Economic Forecast 2004: Advice from the Experts
Keith Schwer, head of UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research, said at year-end 2003 the national economy is continuing to "gain traction," an image which brings to mind a vehicle struggling out of a deep rut. This may be as good a characterization as any of the way the economy is gradually recovering. Schwer said increased military expenditures, low interest rates and … [Read more...] about Economic Forecast 2004: Advice from the Experts
Industry Focus: Non-Profits
Nevada’s non-profit groups have faced hard times over the past two years, due to the national economic slowdown and the after effects of Sept. 11. To see how they have adapted to face this changing environment, we asked leaders in the non-profit field to convene at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 14 to discuss the challenges and issues they face. The gathering was part of … [Read more...] about Industry Focus: Non-Profits
Engineering Nevada’s Future: Experts Discuss Trends and Challenges
In a business climate in which growth and prosperity are the norm despite downturns in other states, local engineering firms are still facing challenges that could impact the future of Nevada. From managing growth and infrastructure to keeping up with technological advancements, the most successful firms are finding it’s all a balancing act. Kathy Smith, president of VPoint … [Read more...] about Engineering Nevada’s Future: Experts Discuss Trends and Challenges
Industry Focus: Construction Companies
Chief executives of Nevada commercial and residential building companies gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel on September 11 to discuss challenges and issues affecting the construction industry. The gathering was part of Nevada Business Journal’smonthly Industry Focus series. This month’s roundtable was sponsored by Lewis and Roca LLP. Lewis and Roca, a Southwest law firm … [Read more...] about Industry Focus: Construction Companies
November 2003: Business Indicators
After the 2001 recession – a short-lived and mild one by comparison with historical downturns – the U.S. economy has not followed a usual recovery pattern of rapid growth in the months after hitting bottom. With strong productivity growth limiting the need for workers, it is not surprising that the number of jobs has remained below the peak reached in early 2001. With the … [Read more...] about November 2003: Business Indicators
November 2003: Business Up Front
THE KEYS TO HAPPINESS AT WORK Giving employees something to smile about at the office may be as simple as offering them more control over their time, a recent survey suggests. One-third of workers polled said greater schedule flexibility would result in increased job satisfaction. The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a staffing service specializing in highly-skilled … [Read more...] about November 2003: Business Up Front
How Much Business Tax Will You Owe? It’s Anybody’s Guess
Do you sometimes get confused about what you’re doing? Maybe you feel overwhelmed by job responsibilities and deadline pressures. If you want to feel better by comparing yourself to people who are really stressed out and mixed up, consider your taxpayer-supported Department of Taxation. Ever since the legislative session ended, these state workers have been struggling to … [Read more...] about How Much Business Tax Will You Owe? It’s Anybody’s Guess
CAEO at UNLV Offers: Motivation for Education
The Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach (CAEO) at UNLV has been a quiet but prominent force in Southern Nevada since 1979. CAEO is a family of programs designed to help low-income, first generation and under-represented students in their pursuit of secondary, post-secondary and graduate educations. Although CAEO is reliant on 12 major federal grants, it … [Read more...] about CAEO at UNLV Offers: Motivation for Education
Back to School: Flexible Education Options for Adults
Ed Parker, American Kenpo Grandmaster, once said, "The intelligent man is one who has successfully fulfilled many accomplishments, and is yet willing to learn more." Many adults, having made their mark on the world in their current profession, decided in recent years to seek further education to enhance their current careers or to begin new ones. As these wage-earners began … [Read more...] about Back to School: Flexible Education Options for Adults
November 2003: Face to Face
Name: Brad W. Davies Title: President Company: Investment Management Consultants (IMC) Type of Business: IMC is a fee-based, registered investment advisory firm specializing in 401(k), pensions and high net-worth individuals. Location : Las Vegas Years in Nevada: 15 years Years with Company: 5 Years Biggest Business Challenge: Overcoming a small-company … [Read more...] about November 2003: Face to Face
No Child Left Behind: A Political Lightning Rod
Public education is one of Nevada’s two "Billion-Dollar Babies". Education and Medicaid state budget appropriations are each written in 10 figures. Money spent on education is a political lightning rod; it supercharges elections. For decades politicians have won and lost here based on this issue. That pressure is about to be redoubled, and controversies remaining from this … [Read more...] about No Child Left Behind: A Political Lightning Rod
Nevada Manufacturing Still Strong: Only State to Add Jobs Since July 2000
Over the past three years, every state in the union posted a loss of manufacturing jobs – totaling more than 2.6 million positions nationwide, many of them high-paying and highly skilled. However, Nevada proved itself as the only positive beacon in the gloomy picture by being the only state to increase the number of durable and nondurable goods-producing jobs in the same … [Read more...] about Nevada Manufacturing Still Strong: Only State to Add Jobs Since July 2000
The Sandwich Generation: Boomers Stuck in the Middle
The dramatic increase in longevity from 49 years in 1900 to 85 years in 2000 has created financial challenges unique to our times as members of the baby boomer generation find themselves part of the "sandwich generation" – caring for elderly parents while financing their children’s college tuition. To confront these financial hurdles, members of the sandwich generation must … [Read more...] about The Sandwich Generation: Boomers Stuck in the Middle