Are political operatives the scourge of American politics, the corrupters of all that’s pure and just about our Democratic process? The answer, as with many things in our political world, is yes and no. The job of a political consultant is much like the job of a sports agent – they guide their client’s career by helping to make strategic decisions at critical times. They … [Read more...] about Political Consultants: Not Always Troublemakers
March 2008: Nevada Briefs
Kortek Services and Connecting Point Merge Kortek Services Inc., a Las Vegas-based technology solutions provider, merged with Ron Cook’s Connecting Point, a technology business continuity company. Kortek will be relocating to Connecting Point’s Fremont Street facility. Ron Cook has been named chairman of Connecting Point, Lester Keizer will be CEO and Lyle Epstein will be … [Read more...] about March 2008: Nevada Briefs
How will the stimulus package boost Nevada’s economy? Tax Credits Helping Families and Businesses
Decades of vibrant growth and the continued expansion of our economic base has made Nevada a great place to live, raise a family and run a business. Unfortunately, the arrival of 2008 has brought with it new concerns about the impact of record home foreclosure rates and rising mortgage prices, along with higher costs for goods and energy. Like Americans all across the … [Read more...] about How will the stimulus package boost Nevada’s economy? Tax Credits Helping Families and Businesses
Do you feel our “Sin City” image makes Nevada a tough place to raise kids?
Darren Hankel, Principal, Consultants in Marketing, Inc., Las Vegas “If you take a proactive role in parenting, you can instill core values and ethics that lead to a solid moral foundation. Even though my two daughters are young, I engage them in conversations so that I understand how they are interpreting the world we live in.” June Connelly, Executive Director, … [Read more...] about Do you feel our “Sin City” image makes Nevada a tough place to raise kids?
Brokering the Deal: More Than Just a Pretty Face
Suzette LaGrange, vice president of Colliers International Las Vegas, never had a second thought when it came time to decide on her lifetime profession. A native Las Vegan with a family background in business and development, she earned a bachelor’s degree in finance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and quickly rolled up her sleeves to begin full-time work at CB Richard … [Read more...] about Brokering the Deal: More Than Just a Pretty Face
March 2008: Business Indicators
The slowdown continues. U.S. GDP grew at a tepid rate of 0.6 percent for the fourth quarter of 2007. Job growth showed similar weakness, a decline of 17,000 jobs over the last month, leaving employment essentially flat. Indeed, it takes a substantially greater decline than last month’s job losses for a recession. End-of-year numbers may also be influenced by irregular events … [Read more...] about March 2008: Business Indicators
Retail Market Summary: 4th Quarter 2007
Las Vegas While the housing depression has led to a decline in retail sales growth in the Las Vegas Valley, an increase in retail employment indicated continued growth for the Valley’s retail market. The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation recorded 104,900 retail jobs in December 2007. Construction activity was high with 561,800 square feet of new … [Read more...] about Retail Market Summary: 4th Quarter 2007
March 2008: Face to Face
Pete Blakely President BJG / Architecture + Engineering Reno Years in Nevada: Native Years with Firm: 15 Type of business: Architectural and Structural Engineering Design Services Biggest Business Challenge: Creating the growth necessary to provide opportunities for my employees’ professional growth. What do you like best about your job? Interacting with … [Read more...] about March 2008: Face to Face
High Tech in Nevada: How Technology is Changing Nevada Business
Technology is rapidly transforming the way business is conducted, and technological change seems to be picking up speed. Consider how everyday life in the office has been altered just in the last five years: E-mail is rapidly making the fax machine as obsolete as the manual typewriter; beepers have been replaced by cell phones, which are in turn morphing into multifunctional … [Read more...] about High Tech in Nevada: How Technology is Changing Nevada Business
Nevada’s Public Education System: Ignoring Public Interest
Alexis de Tocqueville wrote in Democracy in America that “It is doubtless important to the good of nations that those who govern have virtues or talents; but what is perhaps still more important to them is that those who govern do not have interests contrary to the mass of the governed; for in that case the virtues could become almost useless and the talents fatal.” This … [Read more...] about Nevada’s Public Education System: Ignoring Public Interest
Identity Theft: Don’t Let It Happen To You!
Could you become a victim of identity theft? It’s more likely than you might expect. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your identification without authorization to commit a crime. When it comes to identity theft, prevention is the best defense. The Nevada Society of CPAs offers these tips and observations to help you avoid becoming a victim. Keep Your Eye On Your … [Read more...] about Identity Theft: Don’t Let It Happen To You!
Maximizing the Benefits of Employee Training
Employee training is recognized by most organizations as a critical requirement to stay competitive and profitable. Employee training, if done well, can be an excellent company investment. Unfortunately, in many cases, it ends up as money wasted with no positive impact on the employees’ performance or the organization’s bottom line. Many employees tend to look at a few days of … [Read more...] about Maximizing the Benefits of Employee Training
AmLand Development: Focusing on Trends
AmLand Development began as a modest homebuilding company nearly two decades ago. Today, the company – led by Wayne Krygier, chief executive officer and president, and Chet Nichols, executive vice president – has grown to become a notable mixed-use and residential developer in Las Vegas with a respected presence within the Las Vegas real estate and development … [Read more...] about AmLand Development: Focusing on Trends
The Entitlement Process: Slowdown or Showdown?
Whether commercial construction in Nevada is booming, holding its own, or slowing, depends on whom you talk to and the part of the state used as the reference point. Commercial development under construction in Clark County – particularly along that valuable corridor of land we know as The Strip – continues unabated, with cranes flying high and multimillion dollar projects … [Read more...] about The Entitlement Process: Slowdown or Showdown?
February 2008: Business Up Front
Consumer Electronics Industry Sales to Jump The consumer electronics (CE) industry is projected to post a 6.1 percent increase in revenues in 2008 with total shipments forecast to top $171 billion. The Consumer Electronics Association released its estimate of final shipment revenues for 2007, which totaled $161 billion, up 8.2 percent over 2006. The overall projection for … [Read more...] about February 2008: Business Up Front