The U.S. economy continues to show signs of slow recovery from its deep recession. For third quarter, estimated real GDP growth was 2.0 percent at an annualized rate, up slightly from the 1.7 percent figure for second quarter 2010. U.S. nonfarm employment rose by 151,000 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in October, marking the first month of increase after four consecutive months … [Read more...] about December 2010: Business Indicators
What is your greatest hope for 2011?
“Economic diversification and education reform for Nevada. We need to bring new jobs and opportunities to the state. To attract businesses, we must produce an educated workforce and offer excellence in education. It is time to build a world-class education system and if we build it, they will come.” Laura Granier • Shareholder, Lionel Sawyer & Collins “I would have … [Read more...] about What is your greatest hope for 2011?
Political Integrity… A thing of the past?
For better or worse, by the time you read this, the 2010 mid-term elections will be over. It’s everyone’s hope that those who will soon take office will display more integrity as our elected officials than they did during their political campaigns. I recall a time in Nevada when politicians spent more time touting their accomplishments and platforms than they did smearing … [Read more...] about Political Integrity… A thing of the past?
Healthcare Check-up: Hospitals Feel the Pain
Due to the stagnant, unfavorable economy, fewer people are obtaining healthcare, to avoid incurring costs and payments. They’re cancelling appointments, not picking up their prescriptions, self-treating and postponing medical visits, surgeries, treatments and other services. For Nevada’s hospitals, generally this means fewer admissions, emergency room visits and … [Read more...] about Healthcare Check-up: Hospitals Feel the Pain
Business Leaders Under 40
The next generation of business leaders are eager young professionals that are facing economic times their predecessors never experienced. They’re having to compete with those same predecessors that are retiring later because of the recession and are facing challenges that no one could have anticipated. The following pages provide an insight into 20 of these young … [Read more...] about Business Leaders Under 40
Industry Focus: Universities
An interesting trend in any recession is the resurgence of students at the university level. Higher education sees an uptick when times are tough from people looking to further their education to be more attractive hires. This is no less true in today’s economy and universities throughout the state are dealing with the benefits and pitfalls of such an increase. Recently, … [Read more...] about Industry Focus: Universities
William Nelson: Piercy Bowler Taylor & Kern
Shareholder Las Vegas, NV Number of Employees: 70 Years in Nevada: 22 Years with Company: 17 What inspired you to get into your industry? People don’t usually think of an accountant as a people person, but my ability in this area led me to choose public accounting, believe it or not. As a public accounting firm, we work with a full spectrum of people in many … [Read more...] about William Nelson: Piercy Bowler Taylor & Kern
Nevada Commission on Economic Development: Driving Technology Commercialization
All the western states experienced budget crunches in the recent economic downturn. All the western states are looking for new business. And the cost of doing business in the western states is fairly similar across the board (California being the exception). Nevada needed a dynamic business platform to present the reasons Nevada is a great place to grow business. Nevada … [Read more...] about Nevada Commission on Economic Development: Driving Technology Commercialization
November 2010: Around the State
USDA Rural Development Announces $153 million in Support of Rural Nevada The Nevada State office of the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development has announced that $153 million was invested in rural Nevada communities during the Federal Fiscal Year 2010. These funds helped boost $23.7 million in business development and allowed 621 families to purchase … [Read more...] about November 2010: Around the State
What are you really saying? Interpreting body language
What is charisma? We all know it when we see it, but most find it difficult to define. How do we project this influence? What percentage of people have charisma? Maybe one percent of us. Who doesn’t want to have that kind of influence over others? One thing is for sure – body language skills make up the majority of this quality. Of course there are other elements at work … [Read more...] about What are you really saying? Interpreting body language
Uncertainty – The Intangible that Rules the World: Politicians’ incessant meddling keeps economic recovery at bay
The most relevant economist of 2010 may well turn out to be Robert Lucas. Lucas won a Nobel Prize in 1995 for pointing out how individuals’ changing expectations about the future can impact economic decision-making in the present. Expectations of higher taxes in the future, for instance, might encourage greater capital consumption today. Or such expectations might encourage … [Read more...] about Uncertainty – The Intangible that Rules the World: Politicians’ incessant meddling keeps economic recovery at bay
Office Market: Hard Times in a Soft Market
The office space market across Nevada remains mired in the lingering effects of over-building, scarce credit and a sour economy. But while things won’t get much better soon, insiders are confident they will, indeed, get better. The office market has been “a little bland the better part of the last six months,” says Dominic Brunetti, Vice President of the Office Properties … [Read more...] about Office Market: Hard Times in a Soft Market
Does Size Really Matter? Is Cheaper Always Better? Optimizing Health Benefits Open Enrollment for Employers and Employees
October and November is “open enrollment” season, when employees are able to enroll in a health plan or make changes to their current coverage. This is the time to provide answers to questions like “just how wide is the network of doctors and hospitals?” and “which plans give me the best value for my money?” And with all of the questions swirling around healthcare reform, … [Read more...] about Does Size Really Matter? Is Cheaper Always Better? Optimizing Health Benefits Open Enrollment for Employers and Employees
Industrial Summary: Third Quarter 2010
Las Vegas The Las Vegas Valley industrial market continued to signal weakness as new space entered a market already dealing with a supply-demand imbalance. As vacancies edged upward, reaching a new high, average asking rents declined modestly. Although several projects remain stalled or delayed due to a lack of demand and an abundance of supply, nearly 351,000 square feet of … [Read more...] about Industrial Summary: Third Quarter 2010
November 2010: Business Indicators
The U.S. economy continues to show mixed signs of recovery from its deep recession. For the second quarter, the final estimate for real GDP growth was 1.7 percent at an annual rate, down from the 3.7 percent figure for first quarter 2010. U.S. nonfarm employment fell by 95,000 jobs in August, marking the fourth straight month of decline. In a more positive direction, the … [Read more...] about November 2010: Business Indicators